November 2010 NUI Galway Undergraduate Receives Hamilton Award

NUI Galway undergraduate student in Financial Mathematics and Economics, Gerard Moran was recently awarded a 2010 Hamilton Award in Mathematics by the Royal Irish Academy (RIA). Awards were presented to students of Mathematics in nine of the Higher Education Institutions in Ireland. This year the focus of the awards was on financial mathematics. Gerard Moran from Castlebar in Co Mayo is currently in his final year of study for the BSc in Financial Mathematics and Economics. This is a four-year programme that covers a broad selection of courses in mathematics, economics, statistics, finance and computer science. Graduates go on to a wide range of careers including banking and finance, mathematical research, and professional careers as actuaries, economists, statisticians, accountants and management consultants. Financial mathematics is quite a specialised area, but the Financial Mathematics and Economics degree programme is quite multidisciplinary as it has contributions from four separate disciplines at NUI Galway. Gerard was assessed along with all students in their penultimate year of study in all the mathematical degrees taught in NUI Galway. He was judged to be the most outstanding candidate, based on his examination results in his mathematics courses. The recipients of the Hamilton Award in Mathematics receive a scroll and €1000 cheque, generously sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland's regional economic development agency. The announcement of the awards formed part of Hamilton Day activities at the RIA which celebrate Hamilton's life and contribution to mathematics. Cian Twomey, Lecturer in Financial Economics and Programme Director, BSc Financial Mathematics and Economics at NUI Galway says: "On behalf of everyone involved in the BSc. in Financial Mathematics and Economics, we would like to congratulate Gerard Moran on his outstanding achievement. This degree programme has now been running for over a decade and continues to attract students of the highest calibre. In awarding the Hamilton Prize to Gerard, the RIA has recognised the commitment to academic excellence fostered on the Financial Mathematics and Economics programme. "Despite the economic downturn in Ireland, the demand for well-qualified students such as Gerard who know how to use quantitative techniques to make informed financial and investment decisions is substantial. We wish Gerard the best of luck in his future endeavours," Mr Twomey added. -Ends-