With only days remaining for Leaving Cert students to re-evaluate their CAO choices and submit their change of mind forms, NUI Galway would like to make students aware of some of the new courses in Engineering and Science being offered from September 2007. Students interested in pursuing a career in science can consider the new Physics with Medical Physics programme, listed as GY316 on the CAO form. The course is a response to the considerable demand for qualified medical physicists in Ireland, and will combine essential core physics modules with medical physics, chemistry, mathematical science, biology and anatomy. Graduates from the programme will be well qualified to proceed to professional medical physics training at Masters Degree level. There are also exciting career opportunities in the medical device and health care industry and in the health and safety sector. Prof. Tom Glynn, Head of the Physics Department, NUI Galway, said: "Graduates of this course will receive an education in physics, instrumentation, and computational techniques - with a strong emphasis on the medical applications. As well as pursuing a further career in medical physics, graduates will also have employment options in research, industry, teaching, energy and environment and in many other areas" Graduates from this programme can seek employment in the wide range of careers open to regular physics graduates but will also have a strong foundation in medical physics and will be well qualified to proceed to professional medical physics training at Masters Degree level. A Project and Construction Management degree, (GY410), will equip students with knowledge and an understanding of project management, particularly in the construction sector, is being offered as a four-year programme. The degree will enable students to embrace the challenges of modernisation, innovation and change in tomorrow's knowledge-based economy. Professor Padraic O'Donoghue, Dean of Engineering at NUI Galway said: "This new degree will equip students with a knowledge and understanding of project management, particularly in the construction sector, and enable them to embrace the challenges of modernisation, innovation and change in tomorrow's knowledge based economy." ENDS

Michael Dunning and Louise Murphy, both students of Biomedical Engineering at NUI Galway, have been selected as finalists to compete in the Siemens Innovative Engineer of the Year Award 2007, which takes place on Thursday 21st June at the headquarters of Engineers Ireland in Dublin. This prestigious award, now in its 9th year, is presented annually by Siemens and Engineers Ireland to a final year engineering student who has developed an innovative technology or product that is commercially viable. Michael, from Athlone, Co. Westmeath was short-listed for the award based on his research project entitled "A Self-Expanding Nano-Fibrous Biodegradable Stent." The goal of his project was to develop a stent, which will treat urethral strictures. Stents are small medical devices designed to be inserted into a vessel or passageway to keep it open. Louise, from Naas, Co. Kildare was short-listed for the award based on her research project entitled "Crimp Technology Assessment of Bare Metal Stents." The goal of her project was to analyse the performance of stents used during angioplasty. Angioplasty is a commonly undertaken procedure, in which an obstructed blood vessel is mechanically widened. Stents are tiny medical devices inserted into the artery to clear blockages caused by coronary heart disease. Ireland manufactures 80% of the world's coronary stents in Galway. Professor Sean McNamara, Head, Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, said: "The Department is very proud of the accomplishments of Michael and Louise in reaching the final round of the Siemens award, with projects based on technologies of interest to the biomedical engineering industry based in the Galway region. I am sure that both have benefited greatly from this experience and a win would be a bonus" Michael and Louise are two of six finalists to be short-listed for the award. The winner will receive a specially commissioned trophy along with a cheque for €2,000. A further prize of €1,250 will be awarded to the winner should he or she decide to continue with post-graduate studies in engineering at an accredited University or IT. The award is open to final year engineering students of Engineers Ireland accredited engineering degree courses from Universities and Institutes of Technology, north and south of the border. Each the year competition receives applications from 14 participating Universities and ITs who nominate two student projects each for the award. The Siemens Innovative Engineer of the Year Award encourages young engineering students to be innovative in their work and to think about the practical and commercial applications of their research. For further information on the award logon to: www.engineersireland.ie ENDS

Tá Céim Dhochtúireachta Oinigh sa Litríocht le bronnadh ag OÉ Gaillimh ar an mbealoideasaí aitheanta, an tUasal Tom Munnelly mar chomhartha aitheantais ar na blianta fada dá shaol atá caite aige ag bailiú agus ag foilsiú idir amhráin tíre agus béaloideas in Éirinn. Bronnfar an chéim oinigh ar an Uasal Munnelly ag searmanas bronnta an tsamhraidh anseo san Ollscoil Dé Máirt, an 19 Meitheamh 2007. Tá aithne ar Tom Munnelly mar dhuine de na príomhbhailitheoirí d'amhráin Bhéarla thraidisiúnta na hÉireann ar fud na cruinne; tá breis is 20,000 amhrán bailithe aige go dtí seo. Is de bhunadh Bhaile Átha Cliath é an tUasal Munnelly agus tá sé ag obair mar chartlannaí/bailitheoir i Lárionad Uí Dhuilearga do Bhéaloideas na hÉireann sa Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath. Sa bhliain 1978 bhog sé go hIarthar Chontae an Chláir agus ó shin i leith tá os cionn 4,000 amhrán bailithe aige ó amhránaithe traidisiúnta ón gceantar. Lena chois sin, tá amhráin, ceol agus béaloideas bailithe aige i bhformhór de chontaetha na hÉireann. Seo a leanas a bhí le rá ag an Dr Pádraig Ó Héalaí, iar-Léachtóir le Gaeilge in OÉ Gaillimh: "Is cinnte gur áis iontach a bheidh sa mhéid oibre atá déanta ag Tom Munnelly do dhaoine a bheidh i mbun staidéir ar bhéaloideas na hÉireann amach anseo. Thiomsaigh sé innéacs den fhilíocht bhéil Bhéarla ar fad atá le fáil in Imleabhar 1 go 2000 de lámhscríbhinní Chartlann Bhéaloideas Éireann, thart ar 18,000 mír ar fad, mar aon le córas aicmiúcháin a fhorbairt don ábhar seo bunaithe ar mhúnlaí a nglactar leo go hidirnáisiúnta. "Cé gur chruthaigh Tom go hiontach mar chartlannaí, is cinnte go bhfuil obair éachtach déanta aige mar bhailitheoir den traidisiún béil. Tá breis is 1,000 uair an chloig d amhráin agus seanchas bailithe aige agus níl bailiúchán chomh cuimsitheach d'amhráin thraidisiúnta Bhéarla curtha le chéile ag aon duine amháin riamh in Éirinn agus atá ag Tom. Cuireann an méid seo ar fad go mór leis an mBailiúchán Náisiúnta Béaloidis agus cuireann sé go mór leis an mbunachar sonraí a bheidh ar fáil amach anseo do scoláirí sa réimse seo." Tá an tUasal Munnelly ar dhuine de bhunaitheoirí Chumann Cheol Tíre Éireann, d'oibrigh sé mar Chathaoirleach ar Thaisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann agus ar Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy agus is iomaí ról a bhí aige ar an gComhairle Ealaíon. Is léir ón mbaint a bhí aige leis na comhlachtaí seo mar aon leis an ról a bhí aige i gcumainn stairiúla agus ceol tíre áitiúla, scoileanna béaloidis agus féilte amhránaíochta a bhunú, go bhfuil an t-uafás oibre déanta aige le cur le saol cultúrtha na hÉireann. I mí na Bealtaine 2007, bronnadh Festschrift, 'Dear Far-voiced Veteran' (curtha in eagar ag an Dr Anne Clune) ar Tom. Bailiúchán aistí scríofa ag 28 údarás idirnáisiúnta faoi cheol agus amhrán na hÉireann atá ann chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar a bhfuil bainte amach aige. Ag an Searmanas Bronnta in OÉ Gaillimh bronnfar Céim Dhochtúireachta Iarbháis ar theaghlach an Uasail John Mulqueen, fear de bhunadh Chill Rois, Co. an Chláir, ach a bhí ag cur faoi i dTuar Mhic Éadaigh, Co. Mhaigh Eo. Céimí de chuid an Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath agus Iowa ba ea John, mar aon le Léachtóir Cúnta i Roinn na hInnealtóireachta Sibhialta, fostaí san Fhoras Talúntais agus Teagasc agus saineolaí idirnáisiúnta ar ithreacha. Cailleadh John in 2006. Bronnfar céimeanna agus dioplómaí ar thart ar 200 mac léinn ó Dhámh an Leighis agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte, Dámh na hInnealtóireachta, Dámh na Tráchtála, Dámh na hEolaíochta, Dámh an Dlí agus Dámh na nDán ag an searmanas. CRÍOCH

NUI Galway will host a major international conference on 'Settler Colonialism' from 27 – 30 June. Organized in association with the University's MA in Culture and Colonialism and with the support of the Centre for Irish Studies, this is the fifth Galway conference on colonialism. With delegates arriving from Canada to Cuba, and New Zealand to Zimbabwe, the conference is being held in conjunction with the Society for Irish Latin American Studies and will feature an impressive international line-up of scholars and activists. Dr. Lionel Pilkington, Course Director, MA in Culture and Colonialism at NUI Galway said: "Settler colonisers come to stay. They seek to replace native peoples or—or, at least, displace them from—their land. Characteristically, the outcome is a conflictual coexistence through which indigenous and invasive societies historically transform one another. Dr. Pilkington added: "Topics to be addressed, such as indigenous rights, resistance, settler identity, land, and genocide, show the importance of settler colonialism as an historical legacy and as an ongoing political and cultural phenomenon" The conference is particularly proud to be able to announce the participation of one of the world s most distinguished postcolonial theorists, Dr Robert Young, the Julius Silver Professor of English and Comparative Literature at New York University. Professor Young will deliver a paper entitled Anti-Colonial Colonialism which will address the Fenian invasion of Canada. He will also perform the official opening of the conference on Wednesday evening (June 27). Among other speakers at the conference are: Chief Ron Ignace of the Shuswap Nation from British Columbia; Wayne Atkinson, a member of the Yorta Yorta and the Dja Dja Wurrong people of central and northeastern Victoria; activist, feminist, and member of the Hawai'ian royal family, Haunani-Kay Trask; and Professor Saree Makdisi, Palestinian activist and literary scholar. There will be a special focus on Palestine, with a roundtable discussion dedicated to highlighting the current situation. Participants include Raymond Deane, former Chairman of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Lorenzo Veracini, author of Israel and Settler Society (2006). Two of the plenary lectures, to be given by Saree Makdisi and Patrick Wolfe, will also discuss aspects of the Palestinian situation. ENDS Further conference details are available from Lionel Pilkington, English Department, NUI Galway Tel: 091 493078

A novel exhibition, "Laughter is the Only Medicine: a comment on the ills of our medical healthcare system" comes to NUI Galway's Art Gallery for a three week run from Wednesday, 20 June to Sunday 8 July 2007. Brigit Beemster, a ceramic sculptor based in Sligo brings her 10 piece exhibition which looks at the pitfalls encountered in what she describes as "a two tier medical health system". The pieces span a period from a GP's visit to three variations of heaven. Professor Pat Finnegan, Professor Emeritus and Chairman of the Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust will open the exhibition at the Art Gallery, in the Quadrangle at 6.00pm on Wednesday, 20 June 2007. NUI Galway Arts Officer Fionnuala Gallagher says; "Brigit Beemster s ceramic sculptures are the best kept secret in Ireland. She captures the weight, relaxation, expressions and foibles of these human bodies with an understanding that is comically tender. You will laugh at your own failings." Explaining the inspiration for her creations, Ms Beemster says: "An essential ingredient of my work is a sense of humour, because it is the best communicator and equaliser, it puts things in perspective and laughing is a crucial part of life. "Over the past few years I have chosen a theme for my work for the year. So far, I've done art history and science, history and mythology. This year it is all about the healthcare system. I learn and read all about my subject and base my work on this knowledge." NUI Galway Art Gallery hosts a variety of visually stimulating exhibitions throughout the year. It promotes emerging Galway and national artists as well as touring exhibitions from international embassies, cultural organisations and educational institutions. The exhibition is free and open to the public from 10.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday and 12pm to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday. ENDS