Bhronn mic léinn Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, An Cheathrú Rua seic €5,000 ar Choiste Tuismitheoirí Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin ar an Déardaoin, 14 Aibreán 2011. Bailíodh an t-airgead seo i rith Sheachtain na Mac Léinn (14-17 Márta 2011) san Acadamh ar an gCeathrú Rua. Tá feachtas bailiúchán airgid ar bun faoi láthair ag Coiste na dTuismitheoirí agus cabhróidh an t-airgead le háiseanna spóirt a fheabhsú agus a fhorbairt sa scoil. Bhí mic léinn agus foireann an Acadaimh le feiceáil thart timpeall na Ceathrún Rua le linn Sheachtain na Mac Léinn ag bailiú airgid, go háirithe ar an Máirt, 15 Márta mar a rinne siad brú leapa ó TG4 anoir go dtí An Cheathrú Rua. I measc na n-imeachtaí a bhí eagraithe bhí clár beo Iris Aniar ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Brú Leapa ó TG4 go dtí An Cheathrú Rua, Oíche Scóladh na Scoláirí, buíon ceoil sna tithe tabhairne, Lá Spóirt, Comórtas Scoraíochta srl. D'eagraigh An Cumann Sóisialta na himeachtaí ar fad agus is iontach an scéal é go bhfuil €5,000 bailithe acu i bhfianaise a laghad airgid atá le caitheamh ag daoine. Ba seo an cúigú Seachtain na Mac Léinn ar an gCeathrú Rua. Cuireann mic léinn agus foireann an Acadaimh an-bhéim ar charanachtaí agus le cúig bliana anuas, tá suas le €25,000 bailithe ag muintir an Acadaimh do charanachtaí áitiúla. "Táimid thar a bheith buíoch díobh siúd ar fad a thug tacaíocht dúinn", a dúirt Oifigeach na Mac Léinn, Louise Ní Dháibhéid. "Tá airgead gann ar dhaoine faoi láthair ach níor loic muintir na háite agus táimid an-sásta leis an méid a bailíodh i bhfianaise na géarchéime eacnamaíochta". Tá breis is 100 mac léinn i mbun staidéir ar chúrsaí lánaimseartha san Acadamh ar an gCeathrú Rua faoi láthair agus a bhformhór mór ag cur fúthu sa cheantar. Is í seo an t-aon institiúid oideachais sa tír atá lonnaithe faoin tuath agus fágann sin go bhfuil dlúthbhaint ag na mic léinn leis an bpobal áitiúil. -Críoch-

An information evening on Adult and Continuing Education courses available from NUI Galway takes place in the Orbsen Building on campus, on Thursday, 5 May from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Over 30 part-time courses will be showcased at the event. NUI Galway's Adult and Continuing Education part-time programmes are available from foundation level studies through to Masters level. All are available in a modular, flexible format and can be taken through traditional classroom mode or via distance learning for students who are unable to attend the campus on a weekly basis. Nuala McGuinn, Adult Education Development Officer at NUI Galway says, "There has never been a better time for prospective students to refocus their careers. A number of our new programmes including the one-year specialist diploma programmes in Medical Device Science, Environmental Sustainability and Lean & Quality Systems are directly focused on employment and the emerging skill needs of Irish industry." For those interested in pursuing a Degree award in a Science and Technology area, the blended learning Diploma/BSc in Science and Technology Studies is available on a modular basis allowing students to select modules in accordance with family and work commitments. Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Process and Product Improvement are the focal points of the Masters in Technology Management and its related Diplomas in Innovation Management and Technology Commercialisation. "These are offered in conjunction with UL and UCC under the auspices of the Atlantic University Alliance (AUA)", explains Nuala McGuinn, Adult Education Development Officer. One of the newer courses on offer this year is the BA in Early Childhood Studies & Practice which focuses on the training needs of childcare practitioners while the popular BA in Training & Education has been available over a number of years and provides vocational trainers, HR specialists and those in the community/voluntary sector with the knowledge and skills required for today's training professionals. For students who wish to pursue a shorter term award, Diplomas are available in Gemmology, French, Italian, Spanish, Psychology of Counselling, Irish, General Studies and many more. All Diplomas are two-years in duration with classes taking place on campus or at outreach centres one evening per week. Conscious of the many financial pressures placed on students today, NUI Galway facilitates payment on a semester by semester basis. In addition, the University has re-launched its Fees Scholarship initiative which allows a 50 per cent reduction in fees for people who have recently become unemployed and wish to study certain modules or specific programmes which address the future skills of the 'smart economy'. Further details of this scheme can be provided by individual course co-ordinators. Applications for all programmes are accepted from April. For further details on the information evening or on any of the Adult and Continuing Education programmes contact 091 492062 or adulteducation@nuigalway.ie. Full details on all courses are available at www.nuigalway.ie/adulteducation. -Ends-

Leascheannaire (Deputy Head) Raidió na Gaeltachta Dónall Ó Braonáin has been appointed Príomhfheidhmeannach (Chief Executive) of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge at NUI Galway. Dónall Ó Braonáin has won graduate scholarships in both Irish and Latin at University College Dublin. Following an MA in Irish and postgraduate training in Linguistics, Philology and Palaeography, he lectured in the Department of Modern Irish in UCD for several years and worked on academic publishing projects in the Royal Irish Academy (Dictionary of Irish Biography, Foclóir na Nua-Ghaeilge). He joined RTÉ as a journalist in 1999 and reported extensively from the Tribunals of Inquiry, the Courts and local, European and general elections while working as a reporter and sub-editor with Nuacht RTÉ and TG4 and as a producer with Raidió na Gaeltachta. A former presenter of Nuachtiris on RTÉ Radio 1, he contributes regularly to the Scottish Gaelic service BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. He has commentated on major events such as the election of Pope Benedict XVI and the state funerals of Charles Haughey and Patrick Hillery. He is a former chair of the Dublin Broadcasting Branch of the National Union of Journalists and a former secretary to the ICTU/RTÉ Group of Unions. Appointed Leascheannaire of Raidió na Gaeltachta in 2006, he was responsible for Editorial Operations, Financial and Human Resource Management, Regional Development and the Broadcast Archive at the station headquarters in Casla, Co. Galway. Dónall is particularly experienced in directing organisational change and performance management programmes and has a strong interest in regional development. Welcoming Mr Ó Braonáin's appointment, NUI Galway President Dr. James J. Browne said "the appointment of Dónall Ó Braonáin as Príomhfheidhmeannach of an tAcadamh is an excellent one. I look forward to working with him in promoting third level education through Irish on campus, in the Gaeltacht centres, among the Irish community and the Diaspora." -Ends-

St. Vincent's Secondary School, Dundalk, Co. Louth were declared the All-Ireland winners of Debating Science Issues (DSI) 2011. The grand final, which took place at the Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin on April 14, was the result of a field of 56 schools narrowing to just four. The confident team from Dundalk persuaded Professor Tom Sherry, Dean of Science at NUI Galway, Dr Amy Sanders, Wellcome Trust Special Projects Manager, and Professor Orla Shiels Lecturer in Pathology and Medical Jurisprudence, that "animal testing is necessary for the advancement of disease treatment". Colaiste an Phiarsaigh of Glanmire Co. Cork were the Runners up at the Final. Ulster was represented by St. Catherine's Vocational School, Killybegs, Co. Donegal and Connacht by St. Joseph's College Garbally, Co. Galway. Debating Science Issues is a cross border schools science debating competition supported by a Wellcome Trust People Award for four consecutive years and involves eight collaborating partners: the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at NUI Galway, W5 in Belfast, Biomedical Diagnostics Institute at DCU, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, CRANN at TCD, CLARITY at UCD, and Tyndall National Institute and Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre both at UCC. The competition encourages young people to engage in debate on the cultural, societal and ethical implications of advances in biomedical science. Schools taking part initially receive a three hour biomedical, bioethical workshop to facilitate discussion on the ethical issues raised by stem cell research, genetically modified food, nanotechnology, health and self-testing kits or flu vaccinations. School students research further in preparation for the debate motion related to the initial workshop. From there, the debate motions circulate so that students debate on an array of controversial topical issues. Boston Scientific and NUI Galway's College of Science sponsored the provincial trophies and prizes. Other judges at the DSI grand final included Professor Tim O' Brien, Director of REMEDI; Danielle Barron, Editor of the Irish Medical News; Dr Diarmuid O'Brien, Editor of the Irish Medical News; Professor Gerry McKenna, Executive Director of CRANN, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ulster; Dr Louise Mylotte, Lecturer in Biology at St. Angela's College, Sligo; and Dr Marion Boland Scientific Programme Manager at Science Foundation Ireland. REMEDI's Outreach Officer and competition co-ordinator, Danielle Nicholson, said: "Debating Science Issues tackles many of the prevailing big scientific, philosophical dilemmas. Students discussed the methods of science and utilitarianism and debated the moral status of the embryo; I was impressed." Connacht team mentor and teacher Fr. Iomar Daniels from Garbally College said of the initiative, "DSI has shown the students the importance and relevance of science and how it permeates the entire fabric of our society." -Ends-

A new study undertaken by the Centre for Health from Environment at NUI Galway's Ryan Institute, finds most unwanted or leftover prescription medicines are disposed of incorrectly. Disposal of medicines by flushing down sinks and toilets, or including in general household waste, is a common occurrence and may result in environmental contamination. The research was conducted by 2nd year medical students at NUI Galway, Sarah Cormican and Michelle Furey. Out of 207 people surveyed for the Public Awareness Regarding the Safe Disposal of Unwanted Medicines in Galway City study, most had leftover medicines in their home but only one third regularly returned them to a pharmacy. Over half of respondents reported disposing of unwanted medicines along with general household waste, by flushing down toilets and sinks, or by burning. The study was undertaken in the context of international reports which show that many people do not know that unwanted medicines should not be by thrown into household waste or flushed down toilets or sinks. This is because the drugs can eventually end up in rivers and ground water and may contaminate drinking water supply. "We know that drugs are designed to have biological effects at low concentrations and therefore it makes no sense to take the risk of disposing of them in this way," explained Professor Martin Cormican, Director of the Centre for Health from Environment at NUI Galway. He added, "The levels of drugs in the environment are probably too low to have acute toxic effects, but the potential health and environmental impacts of long-term exposure to low levels of many different drugs is very difficult to assess." The study concluded that when respondents were given advice by a health-care professional, over half would be more likely to dispose of medicines correctly. In Ireland there is an additional problem because there is no ongoing national system for the safe disposal of unwanted medicines. Many retail pharmacies will take back unwanted medicines, but they do this on a goodwill basis and at a considerable cost to them. The HSE have in the past organised 'dump campaigns' for unwanted medicines but these are not a regular event. Professor Martin Cormican added, "The project highlights the need to put in place a national system for safe disposal of unwanted medicines similar to the battery recycling scheme. There is also a need for action to let people know about the need for safe disposal." -Ends-