December 2006

19 December 2006: A leading lecturer in history at NUI Galway has praised a book of short stories and poems by Galway-based senior writers as a "precious collection of stories about bygone times and a wonderful Christmas gift". The book 21 - An Anthology, comes from the Salthill/Knocknacarra Active Retirement Writers Group, and is edited by well-known Irish author Michael Gorman. Many of the stories retrieve a rich written heritage, reflecting a world that has long passed with stories of childhoods in Ireland in the 1940s and 1950s. According to Dr. Caitriona Clear, Lecturer in History, NUI Galway, "The recent past is often farther away from us than the distant past, a time that seems only slightly different but belongs to a different culture, a different way of looking at the world. These stories bring back memories of only cold water in the tap, ice on the inside of bedroom windows, the Rosary in the evening in every house, and boxes of biscuits strapped onto the backs of bikes brought to cousins' houses in the days coming up to Christmas. 21 - An Anthology captures the texture of life we would otherwise forget about". Michael Gorman, a Programme Director at NUI Galway's International Summer School for Writers, who facilitated and compiled the book, comments "My instinct in preparing this collection was to preserve what is most easily endangered, that which is close to hand. I have always been drawn to reticent people rather than those who shout loudest. So, here, in their own words, are twenty-one individuals from all over Ireland who have lived, worked in or retired to Galway". In a poignant twist, the book is dedicated to some of the 21 authors who have passed away since the time of writing, making 21 - An Anthology an even more precious collection of writing. NUI Galway's Adult and Continuing Education Centre has been involved in working with and supporting Active Retirement groups in Galway city and county for the past ten years. 21 - Anthology is published by NUI Galway and can be purchased for just €10 from Áras Fáilte, the information centre on campus. -ends-

19 December 2006: The U.S. Board of Galway University Foundation was formally launched by the Irish Consul General in New York, Mr. Tim O'Connor, at a reception hosted recently at the Irish Consul's residence in New York. Galway University Foundation generates financial support for NUI Galway's programmes and activities from a range of private individuals and institutions. The new board will help nurture lasting relationships with donors in the U.S. who share NUI Galway s vision for the future. The U.S. Board will be chaired by NUI Galway graduate Declan Kelly who is CEO of Financial Dynamics US. He will work to raise awareness of the University and assist with the monumental capital campaign that the University has initiated to improve the physical resources offered to its growing student body of 15,000. The development programme will include planned new buildings and enhancements of current facilities, all financed by University resources and a combination of government and private, philanthropic funding. Following the inaugural meeting of the Board in the US, the new members were introduced to a gathering of 150 prominent New York Irish Americans together with University Alumni and Friends. At the meeting, Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President, NUI Galway outlined his ambitions for the University "NUI Galway's Governing Authority recently authorised a visionary Capital Development plan, amounting to a €400 million investment in new buildings and enhancements to current facilities. This vision for our 'Campus of the Future' will ensure that we provide the platform from which the young people of today will make their contribution to ensuring that Ireland continues to hold it's place and to play it's part in the knowledge society of the future". The full list of the Galway University Foundation board members in the US are as follows: Declan Kelly, (Chairman), C.E.O Financial Dynamics (Graduate) Mike Higgins, M.D. Real Estate Finance & CIBC World Bank (Graduate) Aedhmar Hynes-McGovern, CEO, Text 100 Public Relations (Graduate) Frank Mooney, Partner, Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller Irial Finan, President - Bottling Investments, Coca-Cola Worldwide (Graduate) Dómhnal Slattery, Chairman & Managing Partner, Claret Capital (Graduate) John MacNamara, Chairman, Galway University Foundation Tom Joyce, Executive Director, Galway University Foundation Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President, NUI Galway The Board appointments are for three years. -ends-

18 December 2006: Environmental researchers from the Civil Engineering Department and Environmental Change Institute at NUI Galway have been awarded a three-year research grant to develop, commission and assess innovative environmental technologies for treating wastewaters from small towns and large villages. The research is seen as a major initiative in developing sustainable environmental products and services for the domestic and export markets, as well as meeting the requirements of EU directives on water quality. According to Dr. Michael Rodgers, Civil Engineering, NUI Galway, who heads up the research, "This project is a strategic step towards developing the knowledge, skills and products Ireland will need in order to command a strong stake-hold in the burgeoning environmental technology industry. It is one of the fastest growing sectors in the EU, supplying €183 billion worth of goods and services a year, and is also highlighted in the Government's recent Strategy Document for Science, Technology and Innovation". The grant is co-funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the EU Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP), and the National Council for Forest Research and Development (COFORD) under the National Development Plan. Dr. Rodgers will carry out the research work with members of his twenty–person team of engineers and scientists from Ireland, China, Denmark, Spain and Poland. The present value of the team's contracts on such national and international environmental research projects is in excess of € 2.2 million. On location at a local authority site, the NUI Galway team will design and develop technologies to clean wastewater for discharge to any surface or groundwater body. Innovative environmental technologies will be developed to remove a range of contaminants from the wastewater, including organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, microorganisms, odours and solids. Nutrients from the wastewater will fertilise willow trees and the chipped willows will be used as biofuel. The performance of the technologies will be monitored by on-line analysers and sensors, and will be interrogated and controlled from NUI Galway's campus, while computer models will be built and calibrated to provide designs for a range of population sizes. Capital and running costs of different technologies will be evaluated and compared to provide design guidelines for consultants, architects, local authorities, developers, agriculture, industry and planners. The research will provide the basis for a unique Irish water and waste facility for leading edge research, knowledge creation, graduate training, and the development and commercialisation of eco-innovative environmental technologies. There is also scope for education, public information and policy planning. Dr. Rodgers continued "There is great support for the NUI Galway project from environmental technology stakeholders as they have also identified the industry's potential for market growth at home and abroad. All stakeholders will be invited to take part in the research project. It is expected that new commercial environmental products will be developed from this and other industry/higher education projects part-financed through national agencies that include EPA, COFORD, Enterprise Ireland, HEA, IRCSET, Marine Institute, SFI, and Teagasc". -ends -

18 December 2006: The first ever conferring of the Master of Science in Software and Information Systems (MScSIS) took place recently at NUI Galway. The MScSIS is a collaborative programme between NUI Galway and Regis University in Denver, USA. It was created in response to the rapid pace of change in the techniques and technologies employed within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry and the need for employee skills to remain up-to-date with these changes. Twenty-four students graduated in total with a further graduation taking place in Regis University. Commenting on the graduation, Seamus O'Grady, Director of Adult Education, NUI Galway said, "The class of 2006 represents a 100 per cent retention rate of those who started the course in August 2004. It is a wonderful testament to the work which NUI Galway and Regis have done to make this course a success". The two-year, part-time programme is delivered entirely on-line and is open to honours degree graduates in Science, Engineering or other relevant disciplines, and to other degree graduates with three or more years of relevant experience. "The programme is designed for people wishing to update their ICT skills with a specific emphasis on software development and/or databases, and who require the flexibility offered by online learning", explained Dr. Sam Redfern, Programme Academic Director. "It also suits professionals working in the ICT area who wish to formalise and gain accreditation for their skills". Course materials are written in self-instructional format, are easy to follow and are accompanied by continuous assessment exercises, research questions and a recommended course textbook. Each module is delivered over an eight-week period with specific topics outlined for study during each of these eight weeks. "Establishing a set timetable of study which guides the students as they undertake each module, ensures that they keep up to speed with the recommended programme schedule", according to Nuala McGuinn, Course Co-ordinator. "This is particularly important with distance learning programmes where students may fall behind in course work as they are not attending class on a regular basis". While there are no seminars or tutorials as part of this programme, the students are not alone. An e-tutor is assigned to each module and is available during each eight-week period to answer queries that they may have regarding course content and to provide individualised feedback on the weekly continuous assessment exercises. By combining the strengths of both Universities and the power of the internet, the MScSIS has become truly global with over 120 people currently studying for the MScSIS across Ireland, Europe, Australia and the US. -ends- Notes to Editors For further details please visit the programme website at www.it.nuigalway.ie/onlineITMSc

11 December, 2006: Details have been announced of NUI Galway's eighth annual Gala Banquet, which will take place at the Radisson SAS Hotel on Saturday 3rd March 2007, and will focus on volunteerism. The 2007 Gala Banquet will celebrate the ALIVE (A Learning Initiative & Volunteering Experience) programme that enables students to register for volunteering opportunities. ALIVE was established in 2003 to harness, acknowledge and support the contribution that NUI Galway students make by volunteering. Professor Ger Hurley, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs, NUI Galway, said, "NUI Galway is leading the way in integrating civic engagement with practical skills learned in the classroom (service learning). The ALIVE programme was established to support the contribution that our students and staff make by volunteering. The programme has to date offered over 700 NUI Galway students and staff volunteers the opportunity to help develop partnerships between the University and the community while advocating active citizenship". Income from the Gala Banquet itself will also contribute to this initiative. One of the highlights of the evening, which has established itself as a premier national event and one of the key social occasions in the West of Ireland, is the presentation of seven annual Alumni Awards. These awards celebrate the life-long value of an NUI Galway education and recognise individual excellence and achievements among the University's more than 60,000 graduates worldwide. The Alumni Awards are; Medtronic Vascular Award for Health Care and Medical Science; Seavite Award for Natural Science; Bank of Ireland Award for Business and Commerce; AIB Award for Literature, Communications and the Arts; TBD Award for Engineering, IT and Mathematics; Duais Hewlett-Packard don Ghaeilge and the NUI Galway Award for Law, Public Service and Government. Tickets for the banquet cost €150 each and €1,500 for a table of 10. For further information, please telephone 091 495266 or email: gala@nuigalway.ie -ENDS- Notes to Editors: Contact: Michelle Ní Chróinín, Press & Information Officer, NUI Galway 091-493361 or michelle.nichroinin@nuigalway.ie Biographies Seán O'Rourke, Winner of the AIB Award in the area of Literature, Communication and the Arts, graduated with a BA in 1977. He is one of Ireland's leading broadcasters and a stalwart of current affairs programming. After University, he joined the Irish Press Group, as a sports reporter, feature writer and political correspondent. Since 1989, he has been a programme presenter-editor with RTÉ, working on This Week, Morning Ireland, Today Tonight, Prime Time and Family Matters. He has been presenter of the News at One on Radio Once since 1994. Mr O'Rourke also presents The Week in Politics on RTÉ. Irial Finan, Winner of the Bank of Ireland Award for Business & Commerce, Irial Finan is EVP, The Coca-Cola Company and President of Bottling Investments and Supply Chain. The Bottling Investments Group is creating a totally new model for managing our consolidated bottling investments by creating what is essentially an internal bottler that will interact with our concentrate business in the same way as our independent bottlers. Irial has spent 25 years in the Coca-Cola bottling system, most recently as chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company SA, our third largest anchor bottler, with operations in 26 countries. Irial has been part of the Coca-Cola system since 1981. From 2001 to 2003, he served as chief executive officer of Coca-Cola HBC, during which time he managed the merger integration of Coca-Cola Beverages plc and Hellenic Bottling SA, and led the combined company s operations in 26 countries. From 1995 to 1999, he was managing director of Molino Beverages, with responsibility for expanding markets, including the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Romania, Moldova, Russia and Nigeria. Prior to that role, Irial worked in several markets across Europe. From 1991 to 1993 he served as managing director of Coca-Cola Bottlers Ulster, Ltd., based in Belfast. He was finance director, Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland, Ltd., based in Dublin from 1984 to 1990. Irial serves on the boards of directors of Coca-Cola Amatil, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Coca-Cola FEMSA, Coca-Cola HBC, and the Supervisory Board of CCE AG. He will also coordinate the Company's board representation with other boards. The general managers of the Company-owned bottlers report to Irial. He is also a non-executive director of Alltracel Pharmaceuticals and chairman of their Audit Committee. He also serves as a non-executive director for Co-operation Ireland. Irial holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from National University of Ireland in Galway and an Associate (later Fellow) of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants. Mairéad Ní Nuadháin, Duais Hewlett Packard Gaeilge. Is í Mairéad eagarthóir coimisiúnaithe ar chláir Ghaeilge, oideachasúla agus ilchultúir in RTÉ. Is í a bhunaigh "Léargas" agus bhí sí ina léiritheoir sraithe ar an tsraith fáisnéise Ghaeilge sin, a cheiliúir deich mbliana ar an aer i mbliana. Tá cláir shiamsaíochta agus cláir eile fáisnéise léirithe aici chomh maith i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge. Mar chuid dá cúram cláir a sholáthar gach bliain do TG4, tá sraitheanna ar nós "An Tuath Nua," "Bean an Ti," "Bia 's Bóthar," "Ardán" agus go leor clár eile curtha ar fáil, lena n-áirítear cúrsaí reatha, cláir spóirt, cláir irise agus cláir do leanaí. Ba í freisin a choimisúnaigh cláir ilchultúir faoi Éireannaigh nua agus cláir oideachais do RTÉ, mar shampla "Turas Teanga," "Families in Trouble," "Mono," "Who's Afraid of Islam?" agus "No Place Like Home." Is as Bealach an Doirín, Co. Ros Comáin í ó thús agus bhí cónaí uirthi tar éis na hollsoile i nGaillimh, áit a raibh sí ina comhalta de lucht bunaithe an Druid Theatre agus ina haisteoir leis an Taibhdhearc. Nuair a bhí sí in OÉ Gaillimh (Coláiste na hOllscoile, Gaillimh ag an am), bhí sí ar dhuine de na chéad reachtairí mná ar an gCumann Liteartha agus Díospóireachta (Lit and Deb). I mBaile Átha Cliath atá sí anois ach choinnigh sí an tsnaidhm leis na healaíona i nGaillimh, trína ballraíocht i mBord Macnas, agus tá sí ina ball freisin de Bhord Feidhmiúcháin an Celtic Film and Television Company. Professor Patrick Gullane, Medtronic Award for Healthcare and Medical Science. Upon graduating from NUI Galway in 1970, Dr. Patrick J. Gullane embarked on a career in otolaryngology - head and neck surgery - and in 1989 he was appointed as Otolaryngologist-in-Chief at the University Health Network in Toronto. In 1997 he was appointed as Wharton Chair in Head and Neck Surgery, Princess Margaret Hospital, and in 2002 as Professor and Chair to the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Toronto. Dr Gullane is recognised globally as a leader in the field of head and neck surgery and his professional achievements has been celebrated by, amongst others: The Harris P. Mosher Award, Triological Society, 1990; Millennium Society Award, American Academy of Otolaryngology, 2004; Distinguished Service Award, American Academy of Otolaryngology 2005; George Davey Howells Memorial Prize in Otolaryngology", University of London, 2005; Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Honorary Fellowship, 2006. Most recently Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, recognized Dr Patrick Gullane's leadership and contribution to his field with a "Tribute Event and Gala Evening" and an endowed Fellowship Chair. Dr Gullane is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Diplomat of the American Board of Otolaryngology. He has served as the President of the American Head and Neck Society and the President of the North American Skull Base Society, and is the current Vice-President of the Triological Society. He has published 210 papers in peer-reviewed journals and 56 chapters in textbooks and published 8 books on Head and Neck Surgery. He serves on the editorial boards of 10 professional journals. Dr Gullane has lectured as a visiting professor in 42 countries. He has facilitated the establishment of four University Chairs in Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstruction, from private funding donations in excess of $12.5 million. Brian O'Donnell, NUI Galway Award for Law, Public Service & Government Brian O'Donnell graduated from NUI Galway with a BA (Leg.Sci) (Hons) and LLB (Hons), 1974 and 1976. He was admitted to the Role of Solicitors in 1976. Having interned in general practice in Galway for two years Brian O'Donnell was appointed in-house counsel to IDA Ireland. In 1980 Brian O'Donnell was head hunted by William Fry, one of Ireland's largest law firms as a corporate law specialist. He was one of the youngest equity partners ever appointed at the age of 28. During the course of his career Brian O'Donnell acted for Irish Life plc in its privatisation; for Waterford Wedgwood plc in its acquisition of Wedgwood; represented Chevron's mining interests in Ireland; B.T. and BP's in its energy interests in Ireland. He has acted in many healthcare projects and hospital projects particularly the Mater Private Hospital. He advised Doyle Hotels, in its acquisition by Jurys plc and acted for the Irish Press Group for many years and had the task of chairing the liquidation meeting of Irish Press Newspapers Limited. He has also acted in the mergers of a number of regional newspaper groups and radio stations. Brian O'Donnell has acted as legal adviser in large family corporate mediation cases such as Doyle Hotels Group, Blarney Woolen Mills/Meadows & Byrne, Williams Group etc. Pro bono cases have been many, the best known of which was the Blaise Gallagher case where a quadraplegic boy received the then largest damages ever achieved in Ireland. Brian O'Donnell was the managing partner of William Fry on a number of occasions culminating in 1999 in its most successful period in its then 150 year history. In 1999 Brian O'Donnell surprised the legal establishment in Ireland by resigning from William Fry having decided to establish Brian O'Donnell & Partners, a specialist corporate law firm to concentrate on banking, finance, private equity, healthcare and acquisitions of both companies and assets. Shortly after establishing Brian O'Donnell & Partners the practice formed the first ever exclusive association between an Irish and a worldwide international law firm, US based Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP. Jointly both firms have worked on significant cross border transactions in the telecoms, technology and energy areas. In 2005 Brian O'Donnell and Dr Mary Patricia O'Beirn-O'Donnell (MB, M.MED SCI. NUI Galway 1977, MRC PSYCH) established Vico Capital. Vico Capital has become one of the most successful Irish based privately owned property investors abroad particularly in the City of London. During the last 18 months Vico Capital has acquired €650 million approximately of grade A offices blocks in Canary Wharf and in the City. Its tenants include Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and the British Government. Recently Vico Capital completed the acquisition of Sanctuary Buildings (a 230,000 sq ft grade A office block let to the British Government as the headquarters of the Dept of Education & Skills). Brian O'Donnell has been one of only a handfull of Irish lawyers included in the International Who's Who of mergers and acquisition lawyers and has been named in Global Counsel 3000 as Ireland's leading corporate and commercial lawyer. Dr. Reg Shaw, Seavite Award for Natural Science,graduated with a BSc in 1971 and subsequently with a PhD in 1974. He is currently Managing Director of the Wyeth BioPharma Campus in Dublin. Wyeth BioPharma Campus is one of the largest integrated biopharmaceutical facilities in the world with. It was officially opened in Dublin in September 2005. The facility produces Wyeth's best known drugs – Enbrel, a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, and Prevenar, a vaccine for preventing pneumococcal disease in infants. The product cycle - from cell culturing in a test tube through to bulk manufacturing, packaging and distribution – is, unusually for the industry, carried out on site. This model employed by the Campus is considered a frontier-type investment. Dr Shaw is heading the project to extend the product manufacturing cycle from basic product development right through to the finished product. Patrick & Thomas Coffey, TBD Award for Engineering, IT and Mathematics. Paddy Coffey established Coffey Construction in 1974, a building construction and engineering firm with brother Tom Coffey joining a few years later. The company is now one of the leading companies in the building, civil, environmental and specialist engineering industry in Ireland with such recognisable projects as the Dublin Outer Ring Road and the Leixlip-Ballycoolin Water Supply Scheme. It is also active in the Greater London area with projects such as the renovation of the Royal Albert Hall and the Slough S.T.W. In recent years, the Coffey Group have become involved in the Design, Construction and Operation of Waste Water and Potable Water Treatment Works, Directional Drilling, Trenchless Technology, Wind Farms and Asphalt Production. Great emphasis is placed on continuous professional development for both employer and employees and on quality, health and safety and sound environmental management. The Group considers these matters a primary responsibility and imperative for good business management. The Coffey Group will realise a turnover of €100m this year. The brother's company is a stalwart supporter of NUI Galway graduates and is well known as a nurturing ground for the University's engineering professionals and entrepreneurs. It employs students on placement (PEP) more than any other company since the initiation of the Civil Engineering placement programme and sponsors graduate students in Civil Engineering at NUI Galway.

11 December 2006: The Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at NUI Galway has announced the winners of the Schools' Science Essay Competition 2006, sponsored by Medtronic. First prize went to Leaving Certificate student, Paul Kelliher, who studies at Killorglin's Intermediate School, Co. Kerry. Runner-up was Sarah Grace of the Loreto Abbey Secondary School in Dalkey, and honourable mentions were achieved by Caoilfhionn Ni Chonghaile of the Sacred Heart School in Westport and Saraid McCarrick of St Attracta's Community School, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo. With prizes including laptops, iPODs and school science bursaries, hundreds of essay entries came from sixty schools across the country. Competition was steep, with a particularly high standard of writing amongst the students who reached the "Top 11 short-list" reviewed by a high profile panel of scientists and journalists. Commenting on the winning essay, competition judge and freelance science journalist Cormac Sheridan said, "Paul's essay crackles with ideas that are expressed with great verve. He is a writer with real intellectual energy and genuine potential". The competition, for which students wrote essays on the topic 'The Quest for Immortality: Who Wants to Live Forever?', was co-ordinated by REMEDI, a Science Foundation Ireland funded research centre at NUI Galway, and was sponsored by REMEDI industrial partner Medtronic. The competition aims to challenge young people to think about and express their views on recent advances in the science and technology field, a view eloquently expressed by Tom Kennedy, a member of the judging panel and editor of Science Spin magazine: "I like the competition because it gets participants thinking about science yet it has nothing to do with the points race. It is relatively easy to repeat given facts in a report or exam paper, but to write well about any subject it is necessary to understand it first." Organised as part of a joint REMEDI and National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science secondary school outreach programme called GRO (Galway Regional Outreach), the competition will run annually. REMEDI also runs additional school and general public awareness initiatives throughout the year which are designed to facilitate dialogue in the areas of stem cell and gene therapy research. The winning essays were selected by a high profile panel of judges which included: Prof Frank Barry (Scientific Director of REMEDI), Mr Leo Enright (Chair of the Discover Science & Engineering Steering Committee), Mr Tom Kennedy (Editor of Spin Science Magazine) and Mr Cormac Sheridan (Freelance Science Journalist). For additional information on REMEDI outreach programmes, visit www.remedi.ie -ends-

A major €400 million development project, announced today at NUI Galway, will put the campus firmly on the international stage in terms of facilities and research. The capital investment project will see almost 20 large infrastructural projects undertaken on the 260-acre campus, continuing the dramatic re-orientation of the campus to face the River Corrib. The planned development marks a significant investment in the future of education and research at NUI Galway that will bring huge benefits to the Western Region as a whole. Commenting on the plan, President of NUI Galway, Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, who unveiled the 'Campus of the Future' exhibition today, said: "This ambitious development plan responds not only to a growth of 40% in student numbers over the last six years but also to our role in supporting indigenous, high-value industries in Ireland. Already, we are home to the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science and the Digital Enterprise Research Institute, which are world-class facilities. We also have the Moore Institute which is undertaking pioneering research in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Our plans will build on this success and take every facet of the University to the highest class in terms of services, facilities and research, making us comparable to the best internationally." The €400 million investment package will be financed by University resources and a combination of government and private philanthropic funding. Flagship projects will include a new Sports Centre; a Cultural Centre; a state of the art Engineering building; a Human Biology building and an expansion of the Clinical Sciences Institute; and a Law School which will be linked to jury rooms and a court room to be developed by the courts as part of a pioneering strategic collaboration. Work on some of the new infrastructure projects has already begun with plans for further development to commence on other buildings next year. The 'Campus of the Future' programme commits to enhancing the University's physical infrastructure, while at the same time preserving and nurturing all that is excellent in the current campus. Development will harmonise the natural and built environments, preserving – and where possible adding to – existing walkways and open spaces. The aim is to create a riverside amenity which will be of enormous benefit not only to students and staff, but also to the broader community of the city and region. Dr Ó Muircheartaigh continued: "In charting the future direction for NUI Galway, we have set out a vision in which the continual enhancement of 'the student experience' is enshrined as a core principle. Students are at the very heart of what the University is about and these planned developments are designed to further that ethos. Although the campus is currently home to 15,000 students, the atmosphere remains one of friendliness, inclusion and acceptance of diversity. With the support of students, staff, alumni and the local community, we aim to retain all that is unique and wonderful about our campus and embrace the future with confidence." Commenting on the impact of investment of this scale on Galway City, Dr Ó Muircheartaigh said: "The plans reflect the importance of a strong university to the region as a whole and NUI Galway is central to ongoing development as our high quality students attract and retain national and multi-national investment. This programme is great news for Galway City. Dramatic changes are underway and we will be consulting and including the public on individual projects at every appropriate stage." Highlights of the proposed developments fall into two broad categories of student facilities and teaching facilities: Services and Facilities A €21 million 6,500sqm Sports Centre Complex which will include a 25m swimming pool, gym, weights room, handball and squash courts, climbing wall, sports hall with three basketball courts, an aerobics/dance studio and multi-purpose activity spaces. The Cultural Centre which will consist of a multipurpose hall, a dance studio, a rehearsal and performance space, recording facilities, an exhibition room, a photographic studio and a new space for the University's Flirt FM Radio Station. Major improvements in infrastructure and mobility management including the building of a new entrance on Newcastle Road, internal roads and services, parking and transport initiatives, and a new crèche. Teaching and Research The development of a 14,000sqm Engineering Building which will house the University's five Engineering Departments in one location. The building is scheduled to open in 2009 and will be the largest single capital project undertaken in the University's history, at a cost in excess of €50 million. A new Human Biology Building, which will incorporate the Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Anatomy and Physiology Departments. In a central location, it will build on the established relationship between NUI Galway and UCHG Hospital allowing further collaborative research projects. Given the envisaged increases in the number of medical places required at NUI Galway, there is a proposal to increase significantly the size of the existing Clinical Sciences Institute to provide sufficient teaching, laboratory, library and staff accommodation space. The Law School will have 8,000sqm of accommodation and will be a pioneering strategic collaboration with the courts. It is intended to include lecture theatres, law libraries, jury rooms and a court room in the overall complex. The development of a 5,000sqm building for Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, consisting of a mix of offices, language laboratories, seminar rooms, lecture halls, libraries, Irish language archives, recording facilities and general exhibition space. The 'Campus of the Future' exhibition is open to members of the general public, as well as staff and students, at the Orbsen Building in NUI Galway, 10am-4pm, Mon-Fri, until 15 December. Thorough local consultation will take place on a project by project basis. Information is also available at http://www.nuigalway.ie/campusofthefuture/ - ends -

04 Nollaig 2006: Cinnteoidh mórthionscadal forbartha ar fiú €400 milliún é, tionscadal a d'fhógair OÉ Gaillimh inniu, go mbeidh clú agus cáil ar champas na hOllscoile ar fud na cruinne i dtéarmaí áiseanna agus taighde. Tabharfar faoi os cionn 20 mórthionscadal infrastruchtúir ar an gcampas 260 acra mar chuid den tionscadal infheistíochta caipitil seo, ag leanúint leis an athrú treo atá ag tarlú ar an gcampas, is é sin ag iompú i dtreo Abhainn na Gaillimhe. Infheistíocht shuntasach i dtodhchaí an oideachais agus an taighde in OÉ Gaillimh í an fhorbairt ar fad atá beartaithe, infheistíocht a chruthóidh buntáistí suntasacha don Iarthar trí chéile. Le linn dó a bheith ag labhairt faoin bplean, dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, a sheol taispeántas 'Campas na Todhchaí' inniu: "Is ann don phlean forbartha uaillmhianaí seo d fhonn freastal ar mhéadú 40% sa líon mac léinn atá againn le sé bliana anuas agus an ról atá againn féin tacú le tionscail dhúchasacha, ardluacha in Éirinn. Cheana féin tá an tIonad Náisiúnta um Eolaíocht Innealtóireachta Bithmhíochaine mar aon le hInstitiúid Taighde na Fiontraíochta Digití tógtha againn, agus is cinnte gur áiseanna den scoth atá iontu. Chomh maith leis sin tá Institiúid de Móra againn, institiúid atá i mbun taighde ceannródaíoch a dhéanamh sna Dána agus sna hEolaíochtaí Sóisialta. Cuirfidh ár bpleananna le rath den chineál sin agus cinnteofar go mbeidh gach uile ghné den Ollscoil ar an gcaighdeán is airde i dtéarmaí seirbhísí, áiseanna agus taighde, ionas go mbeimid ar chomhchéim leis na caighdeáin idirnáisiúnta is fearr. " Acmhainní na hOllscoile agus meascán de mhaoiniú rialtais agus de mhaoiniú daonchairdis, príobháideach a sholáthróidh an pacáiste infheistíochta €400 milliún. I measc na dtionscadal mór atá beartaithe tá Ionad Spóirt nua; Ionad Cultúir; foirgneamh Innealtóireachta nua-aimseartha; foirgneamh Bitheolaíochta Daonna agus leathnú ar an Institiúid Eolaíochta Cliniciúla; agus Scoil Dlí a bheidh nasctha le seomraí giúiré agus seomra cúirte atá le forbairt ag na cúirteanna mar chuid de chomhoibriú straitéiseach ceannródaíoch. Tá tús curtha le hobair cheana féin ar chuid de na tionscadail nua infrastruchtúir agus tá sé beartaithe tús a chur le hobair ar fhoirgnimh eile an bhliain seo chugainn. Tá clár 'Campas na Todhchaí' tiomanta d infrastruchtúr fisiceach na hOllscoile a fheabhsú, agus gach scoth-thréith de chuid an champais reatha a chaomhnú agus a chothú. Tabharfaidh an fhorbairt an timpeallacht nádúrtha agus na foirgnimh uile le chéile, agus áit ar féidir caomhnófar na bealaí siúlóide agus spásanna nádúrtha atá ann. Is é atá mar aidhm leis an tionscadal seo áiseanna cois abhann a chruthú, áiseanna do mhic léinn agus do chomhaltaí foirne, ach freisin do phobal na cathrach agus go deimhin an ceantar mórthimpeall ar an ollscoil. Chomh maith leis sin, dúirt an Dr Ó Muircheartaigh, "Le linn dúinn cinntí a dhéanamh maidir le treo OÉ Gaillimh sa todhchaí, shocraíomar an fhís a bheadh againn, is é sin fís ina dtugtar tús áite 'd'eispéireas na mac léinn'. Gan mic léinn ní bheadh Ollscoil againn agus tá na forbairtí ar fad atá le déanamh deartha le cur leis an éiteas sin. Cé go bhfuil 15,000 mac léinn ag freastal ar an gcampas faoi láthair, is léir fós gur campas cairdiúil atá againn, agus áirimid agus glacaimid le héagsúlacht ar an gcampas seo. Le tacaíocht ó mhic léinn, comhaltaí foirne, alumni agus an pobal áitiúil, tá sé mar aidhm againn na nithe sainiúla agus iontacha a bhaineann lenár gcampas a choinneáil agus aghaidh a thabhairt ar an todhchaí go muiníneach. " Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Dr Ó Muircheartaigh nuair a labhair sé faoin tionchar a bheadh ag infheistíocht chomh mór leis seo ar Chathair na Gaillimhe: "Tugann na pleananna léargas ar an tábhacht a bhaineann le hollscoil rafar a bheith againn sa cheantar seo trí chéile agus tá ról lárnach ag OÉ Gaillimh i bhforbairt leanúnach mar go meallann agus go gcoimeádann ár sármhic léinn infheistíocht náisiúnta agus ilnáisiúnta. Is cinnte gur dea-scéal atá sa chlár seo do Chathair na Gaillimhe. Tá athruithe suntasacha á ndéanamh agus beimid ag dul i gcomhairle leis an bpobal agus ag lorg tuairimí ón bpobal faoi thionscadail ar leith nuair a bheidh sé sin feiliúnach". Tá idir áiseanna do mhic léinn agus áiseanna teagaisc san áireamh sna forbairtí atá beartaithe againn: Seirbhísí agus Áiseanna Ionad Spóirt 6,500 méadar cearnach ar luach €21 milliún. San áireamh san Ionad Spóirt seo beidh linn snámha 25 méadar, giomnáisiam, seomra meáchan, cúirteanna liathróid láimhe agus scuaise, balla dreapadóireachta, halla spóirt le trí chúirt leadóige, stiúideo aeróbaice/damhsa agus spásanna gníomhaíochta ilchuspóireacha. San áireamh san Ionad Cultúir beidh halla ilchuspóireach, stiúideo damhsa, spás do réamhchleachtadh agus taibhiú, áiseanna taifeadta, seomra taispeántais, stiúideo grianghraf agus spás nua do Flirt FM, Stáisiún Raidió na hOllscoile. I measc na bhfeabhsuithe móra atá beartaithe in infrastruchtúr agus bainistíocht gluaiseachta tá bealach isteach nua a thógáil ar Bhóthar an Chaisleáin Nua, bóithre agus seirbhísí inmheánacha a fheabhsú, tús a chur le tionscnaimh pháirceála agus iompair, mar aon le crèche nua a thógáil. Teagasc agus Taighde Tá Foirgneamh Innealtóireachta 14,000 méadar cearnach le tógáil, foirgneamh ina mbeidh cúig Roinn Innealtóireachta na hOllscoile. Tá an foirgneamh seo le hoscailt in 2009 agus beidh sé seo ar an tionscadal caipitil is mó riamh san Ollscoil, foirgneamh a chosnóidh sa bhreis ar €50 milliún. Tá Foirgneamh Bitheolaíochta Daonna nua le tógáil ina mbeidh an Roinn Cógaseolaíochta & Teiripice, Roinn na hAnatamaíochta agus Roinn na Fiseolaíochta. Tá an foirgneamh seo le tógáil in ionad lárnach agus cuirfidh sé leis an ngaol atá bunaithe le fada an lá idir OÉ Gaillimh agus Ospidéal na hOllscoile, Gaillimh, rud a chinnteoidh go mbeidh níos mó tionscadal taighde ar siúl eadrainn. Bunaithe ar an méadú a bhfuil súil leis sa líon áiteanna do mhic léinn leighis atá ag teastáil in OÉ Gaillimh, tá moladh déanta cur go mór le méid na hInstitiúide Eolaíochta Cliniciúla chun a dóthain spáis a chur ar fáil do theagasc, saotharlanna, leabharlann agus comhaltaí foirne. Beidh 8,000 méadar cearnach de chóiríocht sa Scoil Dlí agus comhoibriú straitéiseach ceannródaíoch a bheidh ann i gcomhar leis na cúirteanna. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh léachtlanna, leabharlanna dlí, seomraí don ghiúire agus seomra cúirte san fhoirgneamh nua seo. Tá foirgneamh 5,000 méadar cearnach le tógáil d'Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. San áireamh san fhoirgneamh seo beidh oifigí, saotharlanna teanga, seomraí seimineár, léachtlanna, leabharlanna, cartlanna Gaeilge, áiseanna taifeadta agus spás ginearálta do thaispeántais. Tá tuilleadh faisnéise faoin bhforbairt atá beartaithe ar fáil don phobal in Áras Oirbsean in OÉ Gaillimh, ó 10am-4pm, gach lá as seo go ceann coicíse. Beimid ag dul i gcomhairle leis an bpobal áitiúil faoi na tionscadail éagsúla de réir a chéile. Tá faisnéis le fáil ar http://www.nuigalway.ie/campusofthefuture/ freisin - críoch - Chun tuilleadh faisnéise a fháil, déan teagmháil le: Michelle Ní Chróinín, Oifigeach Preasa & Faisnéise, OÉ Gaillimh 091-493361 nó 086-8168268 Nótaí do na hEagarthóirí Tionscadal Méadair chearnacha Foirgneamh Innealtóireachta 14,000 Scoil Dlí 8,000 Ionad Spóirt na hOllscoile 6,500 Tionscadail na hInstitiúide Eolaíochta Cliniciúla 6,000 Foirgneamh na Bitheolaíochta Daonna 6,000 Leathnú na Leabharlainne 6,000 Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge 5,000 Ionad Tráchtála 3,500 Ionad Cultúir 2,760 Leathnú Áras Dán na Mílaoise 2,500 Eolaíochtaí Matamaiticiúla 1,600 Domhaneolaíocht & Aigéaneolaíocht 1,565 Cothú Sláinte 1,400 Oideachas 1,300 Oideachas Aosach 1,000