20 November 2006: Brendan McWilliams, author of the popular Irish Times column 'Weather Eye', will deliver a public lecture at NUI Galway at 7pm on 29 November, in the IT Building, room 125. The free public event, entitled 'From Elementary Curiosity to Chaos: A Brief History of Weather Forecasting', will take a fascinating look at the art and science of predicting weather through the years. McWilliams is a meteorologist, and for the past eighteen years he has written the daily Irish Times column, which is a fascinating and authoritative insight into our daily weather patterns. He is a former Deputy Director of Met Éireann and in the early 1990s served as Director of the Programme of Expert Studies on Climate Change on behalf of the Department of the Environment. According to McWilliams, "Our ancestors tried to predict weather changes by the appearance of the sky or by watching the behaviour of plants and animals. During the past 400 years our knowledge of the mechanics of the weather has progressed to the stage where accurate forecasts, based on the latest satellite technology, advanced computer models of the atmosphere and sophisticated communications networks, are taken more or less for granted. The current challenge for meteorology is to predict, not just tomorrow's weather, but the climatic evolution of our planet in the coming decades." The event is being hosted by NUI Galway's Environmental Change Institute (ECI), which leads research in areas such as Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Environment, Waste, Social and Economic Impact, Human Impact and Modelling Systems. Professor Gerard Jennings, Director of the ECI, commented, "This promises to be a fascinating and informational evening with one of Ireland's foremost experts on weather. In Ireland, discussing the weather is the perennial conversation piece and even more so now as people are noticing changing weather patterns and becoming more conscious of the human impact on our environment." For further information on the event, please contact Sarah Knight of NUI Galway's Environmental Change Institute on 086 3092663. - ends - Notes to editors Brendan Mc Williams is a meteorologist, and for the past 18 years he has written the daily Irish Times column 'Weather Eye'. He is a former Deputy Director of Met Éireann and in the early 1990s served as Director of the Programme of Expert Studies on Climate Change on behalf of the Department of the Environment. From 1998-2000 he was a Member of EU Fifth Framework Programme External Advisory Group on Global Change, Climate and Biodiversity, and has been, more recently, a Director and member of the Management Board of EUMETSAT, the European Meteorological Satellite Organisation in Darmstadt, Germany. He is an Honorary Life Member of both the Royal Dublin Society and the Irish Meteorological Society.

01 Samhain 2006:Tá Scoláireachtaí Spóirt, ar fiú breis is €90,000 iad, bronnta ar lúthchleasaithe OÉ Gaillimh ag Uachtarán na hOllscoile, an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, faoi Scéim Scoláireachtaí Spóirt na hOllscoile don bhliain seo. Is í seo an naoú bliain den scéim, a thugann tacaíocht do lúthchleasaithe a dhéanann éacht ina spórt féin agus atá ina mic léinn san Ollscoil. Cuidíonn an scéim scoláireachtaí agus sparánachtaí leis na mic léinn seo agus iad i mbun staidéir san ollscoil. Baineann buaiteoirí na bliana seo le réimse leathan spórt, lena n-áirítear Peil Ghaelach, Peil Ghaelach na mBan, Iománaíocht, Camógaíocht, Lúthchleasaíocht, Rámhaíocht, Badmantan, Cispheil, Galf, Sacar, Haca, Scuais agus Tonnmharcaíocht, agus is as réimse leathan áiteanna iad freisin. Tá ag éirí thar cionn leis an scéim le hocht mbliana anuas; d'imir go leor de na buaiteoirí ar son na hOllscoile i gcomórtais náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta agus d'éirigh go geal leo. Dúirt an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, go léiríonn an scéim tiomantas na hOllscoile do thacaíocht a thabhairt don fheabhas i gcúrsaí spóirt i measc a cuid mac léinn, agus é sin a éascú. "D'éirigh thar barr le Scéim na Scoláireachtaí Spóirt le hocht mbliana anuas agus tá an-chabhair tugtha aici do na lúthchleasaithe mic léinn a gcumas iomlán a chomhlíonadh. Léiríonn an tionscnamh seo tiomantas OÉ Gaillimh do chur chun cinn an spóirt, atá chomh tábhachtach sin ó thaobh saol sláintiúil a bheith ag na mic léinn", a dúirt sé. Tugadh €2,000 an duine arís i mbliana do dhá lúthchleasaí déag atá ar scoláireacht spóirt cheana féin agus atá fós san Ollscoil. Bronnadh scoláireacht (€2,000 an duine) ar naonúr mac léinn eile den chéad uair, agus tugadh €1,000 an duine do 47 eile, faoi scéim Spáranachtaí na hOllscoile. Chomh maith leis na gradaim sin, bronnfar gradaim eile ar mhic léinn a mbeidh eagraíochtaí spóirt ag déanamh urraíochta orthu: dhá scoláireacht i bpeil ghaelach urraithe ag Cadbury's mar chuid d'urraíocht ar 'Craobh fé21 Cadbury's', trí scoláireacht urraithe ag Galway United, agus gradam urraithe ag Sports Med West. Ar na mic léinn a bhuaigh Scoláireacht i mbliana tá Cian Nihill as Maigh Cuilinn (Cispheil), a d'imir 41 uair d'Éirinn agus a bhí ar an duine ba mhó a scoráil pointí d'Éirinn i gCraobhchomórtas na hEorpa faoi 16 agus faoi 18; Richard Macey as Sligeach (Dornálaíocht) a bhuaigh an Craobhchomórtas Sinsearach Trom-mheáchain Idir-Ollscoile agus Craobhchomórtas Trom-mheáchain Éadroim na Breataine agus na hÉireann in 2006; Fiachra Breathnach as Leitir Móir, Co. na Gaillimhe, atá ar phainéal sinsearach na Gaillimhe (Peil Ghaelach); agus David Mannion as Cnoc na Cathrach (Rámhaíocht) ar bhí ar fhoireann na hÉireann sna Home Internationals in 2005. Tugann na Scoláireachtaí Spóirt deis do mhic léinn páirt a ghlacadh ina spórt féin ag an leibhéal is airde amuigh, dar le Tony Regan, Oifigeach Spóirt agus Áineasa na hOllscoile: "Cuireann Scéim na Scoláireachtaí Spóirt go mór le héiteas spóirt OÉ Gaillimh. Cuidíonn na gradaim seo leis na mic léinn a bhuann iad leanúint ar aghaidh ag forbairt a gcuid scileanna agus buanna agus iad fós ar an Ollscoil", a dúirt sé. -CRÍOCH-

……..including FREE screenings of classic film at the Omniplex in association with the Irish Film Institute 14 November 2006: To mark 100 years since the birth of John Huston, the Huston School of Film and Digital Media at NUI Galway, will host a unique two day conference, from 23-24 November, to celebrate the life and work of the legendary director. As part of the centenary celebrations there will be a public screening of a brand new print of The Misfits, starring Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift, at 7pm on Wednesday 22 November at the Galway Omniplex. The last film Huston directed, The Dead, from the James Joyce short story and starring Donal McCann with Angelica Huston, will be shown at 9pm on Saturday, 25 November at the Galway Omniplex. Entry to both screenings is free of charge. Huston had strong connections with the west of Ireland, having made Craughwell, Co Galway his home for 18 years, where his fine Georgian manor house St Clerans still stands. In between hunting and fishing – he was joint master of the Galway Blazers - Huston continued his international film-making career and made significant contributions to the Irish film industry. Parts of Moby Dick (1956), Macintosh Man (1973) and the original Casino Royale (1967) were shot in Ireland and he chaired the committee which produced the Huston Report (1968), which marked an early attempt to establish an Irish film board. Tony Tracy, Huston School of Film & Digital Media, NUI Galway, commented, "Huston directed 41 films over 46 years and was much celebrated by his peers and associates, with 15 Oscar nominations. However, he has been under-represented in movie literature and criticism. This conference seeks to redress such neglect and provide a forum for as wide a consideration of his contribution to cinema as possible." Highlights of the conference will be panel discussions, film critiques and keynote speeches by Patrick McGilligan, contributing editor of American Film magazine, Luke Gibbons of Notre Dame University and by Joseph McBride of San Francisco State University. The Conference is sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland and is supported by the NUI Galway Millennium Fund. For more information contact Tony Tracy (091 512188) / tony.tracy@nuigalway.ie -ends- Notes to Editors A hugely versatile and charismatic figure in American film, Huston directed 41 films over 46 years - the first being the film noir classic The Maltese Falcon (1941), while his last was The Dead (1987), adapted from the James Joyce short story. Huston had a long and distinguished career as a writer, director and later as an actor, notably as the chillingly corrupt Noah Cross in Polanski's Chinatown (1974). He was nominated, in various capacities, 15 times for an Academy Award (Oscar), winning twice for his work as writer and director for The Treasure of Sierra Madre (1948). He has the distinction of being the only director to direct both his father and daughter to Oscar success: the first in Sierra Madre and Angelica in Prizzi's Honor (1985). He was recipient of an AFI Lifetime Achievement award in 1983.

– The Challenge in Establishing a Knowledge Based Economy – 13 November 2006: Recently established Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in Irish Third-Level Institutions will not achieve their full potential unless adequate investment is made in fostering links between academic institutions and specific industries and the transfer of technology from campus to the company is strategically managed. In their new book, 'Strategic management of Technology Transfer: The new Challenge on Campus', NUI Galway academics James Cunningham and Brian Harney argue this approach is critical if the Irish government is to deliver a real return on its promised investment of €3.8 billion in a Knowledge Economy. Commercialisation programmes at universities need to be developed further to meet industry needs, ensuring that knowledge generated is translated into new products, processes and services. James Cunningham, Senior Lecturer in Management at NUI Galway, makes the following recommendations for the success of TTOs: Effective creation, exploitation and commercialisation of research from third level institutions to sustain economic momentum. Hard measures for performance metrics, with national and local targets to be put in place. Soft measures (cultural aspects) to be put in place to ensure that the hard measures performance metrics will be reached. The attraction to Ireland of the best PhD students in the world. The internationalisation of Irish research and researchers in worldwide centres of excellence. Researchers to become more commercially aware and actively seek market opportunities for their research with the support of well resourced Technology Transfer Offices. Cunningham and Harney have reviewed national and international best practice in this area and present a framework to guide the strategic management of technology transfer in the Irish Third-level context. They argue that with a planned investment of €3.8 billion, delivering on the return to Ireland Inc is what will mark the success of the Government's Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy. Technology Transfer Offices will play a crucial strategic role in this and Cunningham and Harney are the first to lay down specific guidelines on the role of TTOs and how they should be developed in order to ensure adequate return on this investment. NUI Galway established a dedicated Technology Transfer Office (TTO), directed by Dr Daniel O'Mahony, in 2005 who is responsible for the strategic management and commercialization of university developed intellectual property and technologies and in forging links with industries leading to collaborative projects and co-development of new technologies. The TTO has recruited Commercialization Executives or Technology Transfer professionals in biotech, in ICT/engineering and in Business Development, it has invested in IP management systems, reinforcing the university's investment in technology transfer and technology commercialization. The TTO has also received support from Enterprise Ireland (EI) in filling other posts for Technology Transfer Professionals under the EI €30 million support scheme to strengthen technology transfer offices in universities. It also manages both the Technology Transfer Initiative program (focused on developing industry collaborative projects) and the EDP program which supports entrepreneurs in the formation of High Potential Start-up companies. Since establishment of the TTO at NUI Galway there has been a substantial increase in filing of invention disclosure forms and in patent filing, along with a sizable increase in licensing, in the spin-out of university developed technologies into new companies and in other technology transfer / commercialization activities – key metrics for technology commercialization identified in the new book. In light of the success of the Celtic Tiger, Ireland is seen as a model for developing countries, particularly the recent new entrants to the EU. However the tendency to highlight Ireland as a benchmark for knowledge economies is premature – we still have a long way to go. "Strategic Management of Technology Transfer: The New Challenge on Campus" by James Cunningham and Brian Harney is available from Oak Tree Press at http://www.oaktreepress.com/. – ends – For further information, contact: Dr. James Cunningham, NUI Galway, Tel: 091 493472/087 2655970, email: james.cunningham@nuigalway.ie or Ruth Hynes, NUI Galway, Press Office, tel: 00 353 (0)91 493361 Note to Editors – About the Authors Dr James Cunningham is a lecturer in strategic management in the Department of Management, a research fellow for Centre for Innovation and Structural Change (CISC) and EMBA Programme Director at NUI Galway. Prior to joining NUI Galway he lectured in the Department of Business Administration, at University College Dublin and worked as a strategy consultant. His research interests encompass three areas namely, strategy practice, strategy and the environment and entrepreneurship and technology transfer. His research has been published in leading journals and strategy books. He is the co-author of Enterprise in Action, now in its second edition, and he has completed commissioned reports for Udáras na Gaeltachta, Forfás, ICSTI and the Centre for Innovation and Structural Change (CISC). In addition, James has made a number of guest presentations on the subject of strategy practice, technology transfer and entrepreneurship. He also held a visiting professorship at the Department of Management and Organisation at Penn State University, Mr. Brian Harney holds a first class honours BA degree from the University of Dublin, Trinity College and a first class honours MBS (Corporate Strategy and Human Resource Management) from the National University of Ireland, Galway. In 2004 he was a recipient of the Irish Institute of Management Sir Charles Harvey Medal as one of the most outstanding graduates of a postgraduate Business Degree in Ireland. Brian has published in leading HR journals including the Human Resource Management Journal and in Advances in Industrial and Labor Relations. Brian's other main research interests include Strategy as Practice, University Technology Transfer and the determinants of HRM. Brian lectures in strategy and HRM at NUI Galway, and is currently pursuing a PhD, funded by a CISC scholarship, at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge where he is also the recipient of a Cambridge European Trust Bursary and a Fellow of the Cambridge European Society.

13 November 2006: Sports Scholarships amounting to over € 90,000 have been presented by NUI Galway President, Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, to athletes who are the recipients of this year's NUI Galway's Sports Scholarships Scheme. This is the ninth year of the scheme, which supports athletes who excel in their respective sporting fields and are students of the University. The scholarship and bursary scheme assists these students financially through their time in University and this year's selection of athletes is representative of many sports, including Gaelic Games, Athletics, Rowing, Ladies Football, Badminton, Basketball, Camogie, Golf, Soccer, Hockey, Squash and Surfing, and also includes a wide geographical spread. The scheme has been a phenomenal success over the past eight years, with many recipients representing the University with distinction at national and international level. Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President of NUI Galway, says the scheme shows the commitment of the University to supporting and facilitating sporting excellence in its students. "The Sports Scholarships Scheme has been a huge success over the years and has enabled top student athletes reach their full potential. This initiative illustrates NUI Galway's commitment to the promotion of sport which is so important in creating a balanced lifestyle for our students," he said. A total of twelve athletes, who are already on sports scholarships and are still studying at the University, have received € 2,000 again this year. A further nine students have received scholarships (worth € 2,000) for the first time, while an additional 47 students have benefited to the tune of € 1,000 each, under the University's Bursary scheme. In addition to these awards two students will receive Gaelic Football scholarships sponsored by Cadbury's as part of their sponsorship of the Cadbury U21 Football Championship; three scholarships sponsored by Galway United; and an award sponsored by Sports Med West. This year's Scholarship winners include Cian Nihill from Moycullen (Basketball), who has 41 International caps as well as being top scorer for U16 & U18 Irish teams at European Championships; Richard Macey from Sligo (Boxing), the 2006 Senior Intervarsity Champion at heavyweight as well as British and Irish Champion at light heavyweight; Fiachra Breathnach from Leitir Móir, Co. na Gaillimhe (Gaelic Football), a current Galway Senior panellist; and David Mannion, from Knocknacarra (Rowing), who represented Ireland in the Home Internationals in 2005. NUI Galway Sports & Recreation Officer, Tony Regan says the Sports Scholarship Scheme initiative encourages students to participate at the highest levels in sport. "The Sports Scholarship Scheme gives a tremendous boost to the sporting ethos of NUI Galway. These awards help the individual sports people continue to develop their sporting skills and talents at the University", he said. - ENDS -