October

NUI Galway academic appointed President of Neuroscience Ireland NUI Galway researcher and academic Dr Karen Doyle has been appointed President of Neuroscience Ireland. Dr Doyle, a Senior Lecturer at the University and principal investigator at CÚRAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, is a former Vice-President of Neuroscience Ireland (2007–2009). She also led the foundation of Galway Neuroscience Centre in 2004 and was the leader of the centre from 2004–2009. Dr Doyle said: “I am delighted to accept the role of President of Neuroscience Ireland and look forward to promoting and supporting the important work of the society over the next two years. I want to thank Professor Áine Kelly for her outstanding leadership and contribution to NSI over the last two years.” Professor Abhay Pandit, Scientific Director at CÚRAM, said: “We congratulate Dr Karen Doyle on this prestigious appointment. Neuroscience Ireland plays a vital role in the promotion of research and education in the neurosciences. We look forward to seeing the society’s impact grow under her leadership in the coming years.” Dr Doyle specialises in neurovascular stress and neuroprotection, focused on ischemic stroke which occurs when a blood clot blocks or narrows an artery leading to the brain. Her research is investigating the characteristics of human blood clots that cause occlusive strokes, to inform medical device design and discover new biomarkers to advance stroke diagnosis and treatment. Neuroscience Ireland has a membership of about 200 scientists and clinicians. It aims to advance research and education in the neurosciences and to represent Irish neuroscience researchers both nationally and internationally. Ends

Three NUI Galway academics awarded funding to investigate societal challenges Irish Research Council invests in projects examining climate change and human migration, digital divide for older people and restoration of extinct species Three NUI Galway academics have been awarded funding for research projects seeking to investigate and confront societal challenges as a result of climate change, digitalisation and extinction. The projects were among 21 which secured investment from the Irish Research Council's Collaborative Alliances for Societal Challenges (COALESCE) programme, which is run in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs. Professor Jim Livesey, Vice President for Research and Innovation at NUI Galway, said: “I’d like to commend our researchers on being awarded the COALESCE programme funding for their projects. Their commitment to overcome the global challenges that we face stay true to our University’s values of Respect, Openness, Sustainability and Excellence.  “Investigating these societal challenges is a wonderful example of how our research aims to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues through the Global Challenges Programme in our new Research and Innovation Strategy. I would also like to thank the Irish Research Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs for their continued support of our public research mission.” The NUI Galway research projects are:  Migration, Climate Change and Social Protection in Ethiopia Dr Una Murray, an international development expert from the School of Geography, Archaeology and Celtic Studies and the University’s Ryan Institute, has been awarded €338,000 for a three-year research project on climate change and migration in Sub-Saharan Africa. In partnership with the Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA), affiliated to Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, Dr Murray’s project will investigate links between human migration and climate change, combined with the role of social protection in Ethiopia. Dr Una Murray said: “Land degradation, water scarcity and declines in agriculture production, driven by an increasing intensity and frequency of environmental disasters induced by climate change, are key triggers for people to move from rural to urban areas for employment opportunities. Social protection, social insurance, and cash transfers, although present in the UN Sustainable Development Goals and in the climate loss and damage debate, could play a stronger role in human migration and other forms of climate adaptation.” Virtual-EngAge Professor Kieran Walsh, Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway, has been awarded €192,161 for a project addressing related challenges concerning digital exclusion and limited opportunities for engagement and participation for older people. Virtual-EngAge aims to examine how everyday communication devices - telephones, smart phones and tablets - could be used by retirement groups to strengthen ways to support members and others to stay connected, to share critical information and to advocate on key issues. The project will help to address the question of ageing related technology being developed without consultation with older people, and not reflecting their needs, preference or daily lives and will also help provide improvements in policy, older people’s lives, research teams and teaching programmes. Professor Walsh said: “The COALESCE funding will enable us to pursue a really critical research area, within the Virtual-EngAge research programme, identifying how we can harness everyday technologies to enhance older people's social connectivity and civic voices while also recognising and capitalising on the innate skills of many older people for adaptation and learning. “This funding is really important as it not only helps us respond to the gaps exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, but to do so using a much needed interdisciplinary approach with our Co-Investigator on this programme, Professor Carl Vogel from Trinity College Dublin, and through a valuable collaboration with Active Retirement Ireland.” Jurassic Patents Dr Kevin Healy, a Lecturer of Zoology and researcher in the Ryan Institute, NUI Galway will collaborate with Dr David Doyle, a lecturer in Law at MU, to investigate how we decide which species to bring back from extinction and whether a de-extinct species could be legally “owned” through patents. The project was awarded funding of €190,803. The project will examine how different factors might drive which species are ultimately restored from extinction and whether the species resulting from the de-extinction process will fall under international protection laws or are open to being patented. Dr Healy, said: “We want to explore which species are likely to be selected for de-extinction. For example, how do ecological considerations, such as the impact a de-extinct species would have on the environment, or the level of interest from the general public affect these decisions? Will the species we bring back from extinction simply reflect technological and ecological limitations or will financial factors be the main de-extinction selection criteria?” Further details about the COALESCE call are available here: http://research.ie/funding/coalesce/ -Ends-

NUI Galway mathematical science student wins prestigious Hamilton Prize   Wednesday, 27 October 2021: A fourth year international Mathematical Science student at NUI Galway is one of nine students awarded the prestigious 2021 Hamilton Prize. The Royal Irish Academy (RIA) gives the prize to the top mathematical students in their penultimate year of study as nominated by their university. The ceremony took place to mark Hamilton Day, the anniversary of renowned Irish scientist William Rowan Hamilton’s discovery of quaternion algebra on 16 October 1843. Originally from the Hubei Province in China, fourth year BSc Mathematical Science student Lijun Zou, said: "I am very honoured to receive the Hamilton Prize. As an international student, I faced many challenges such as the language barrier. But the faculty members of the School of Maths are all very friendly and helped me a lot. I really appreciate them.'' Describing Lijun as remarkably hard working and extremely dedicated to her studies, Aisling McCluskey, Professor in Mathematics, School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, NUI Galway, said: “The award of the prestigious Hamilton Prize is a tremendous honour and we are delighted to acknowledge and celebrate Lijun’s achievement. “This special prize underscores the importance of valuing and encouraging our undergraduate mathematicians as they progress into final year and into future STEM careers.” In recognition of her mathematical excellence, Lijun Zou received a cash prize of €250, a certificate of achievement and was invited to attend an exclusive masterclass with the 2021 Hamilton Lecture speaker Caroline Series, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick, and met with Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin in conversation with Professor Series. Hamilton Day commemorates a ground-breaking discovery by one of Ireland’s most famous scientist. On 16 October 1843, William Rowan Hamilton discovered quaternion algebra, while walking along the Royal Canal from Dunsink Observatory to the Royal Irish Academy. This was one of those very rare Eureka moments in the history of science. So excited was he by his discovery that he scratched his equation on the wall of Broome Bridge, Cabra. Hamilton’s discovery of quaternions was important in the development of modern abstract algebra and the quaternions remain useful in calculating rotations of solid bodies and are thus important in satellite navigation and video game programming. Ends

NUI Galway awards Posthumous PhD to Karzan Sabah D Ahmed University streams ceremony to family in Kurdistan, honouring highly regarded researcher, his wife Shahen and baby daughter Lina NUI Galway has awarded a posthumous PhD in Environmental Science to researcher Karzan Sabah D Ahmed. The conferring took place on the University campus along with a memorial service to remember Karzan, his wife Shahen and baby daughter Lina who tragically died in a road accident on 19 August 2021. The formal ceremony was streamed live and a recording of the event was made available to family and friends overseas, including those in Kurdistan. Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of NUI Galway, paid tribute to Karzan, Shahen and baby Lina at the ceremony. “We hosted the conferring ceremony and memorial in honour of Karzan’s academic achievements and the fondness for which he and his family were held by the community of NUI Galway and the wider community,” Professor Ó hÓgartaigh said. “We hope there is some comfort in memory. Karzan’s memory is here in NUI Galway and in the wider community, among his colleagues, the students and all those who worked with him and who knew Karzan, Shahen and Lina.” Karzan Ahmed’s PhD research in Environmental Science focused on evaluating insect ecosystem function in farm habitats for inclusion in novel agri-environmental schemes. The memorial heard contributions in English and in Kurdish from people who knew the family and those who worked with Karzan. A floral wreath was laid at the memorial, prayers were offered by Imam Khalid Sallabi, Galway Islamic Cultural Centre and Fr Ben Hughes, Chaplain of NUI Galway. Dr Collette Mulkeen paid tribute, remembering Karzan, Shahen and baby Lina, while Professor Michael Gormally, who supervised Karzan during his PhD, spoke on the contribution of his research work. A memorial plaque was presented to Ahmed Mahmud, representing Karzan’s family and to Mrs Kszeal Mahmood, representing Shahen’s family. A copy of Karzan’s thesis was presented to Azhwan Barazenda, representing Karzan’s family and also to Mrs Shadi Faramarzi, representing Shahen’s family. Ends

Fógraíonn OÉ Gaillimh dhá cheapachán shinsearacha nua  Tá Helen Maher ag teacht chun na hOllscoile mar Leas-Uachtarán Comhionannais, Éagsúlachta agus Cuimsithe agus Paul Dodd mar Leas-Uachtarán don Rannpháirtíocht   D’fhógair OÉ Gaillimh go bhfuil beirt Leas-Uachtarán nua ceaptha. Glacann Helen Maher le ról an Leas-Uachtaráin Comhionannais, Éagsúlachta agus Cuimsithe tar éis di dhá bhliain a chaitheamh mar Leas-Uachtarán ar Choláiste Cheatharlach.  Glacann Paul Dodd le ról an Leas-Uachtaráin don Rannpháirtíocht tar éis beagnach deich mbliana a chaitheamh in Ollscoil California, áit a raibh sé ina Leas-Seansailéir Comhlach do Thaighde ar champas Davis. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Cuirfidh ceapacháin Helen Maher agus Paul Dodd ar ár bhfoireann ceannaireachta in OÉ Gaillimh go mór lenár bpobal Ollscoile, lenár dtiomantas dár luachanna agus lenár rannpháirtíocht ar mhaithe le leas an phobail. Is léiriú iad a gceapacháin ar an sprioc atá againn barr feabhais a bhaint amach agus ar an uaillmhian atá lárnach inár gcuid oibre. “Tagann Helen Maher go OÉ Gaillimh agus í thar a bheith díograiseach i leith an chomhionannais, na héagsúlachta agus an chuimsithe. Is fianaise í a gairm ar thiomantas ar feadh a saoil do leas an phobail, do chomhpháirtíocht agus don oideachas mar chatalaíoch criticiúil don chomhionannas, don éagsúlacht agus don chuimsiú. “Ina ról nua, bainfidh Paul Dodd leas as an ardchumas agus taithí a shealbhaigh sé le linn a chuid oibre le Fondúireacht Eolaíochta Éireann (SFI), GFT Éireann agus earnáil an ardoideachais sna Stáit Aontaithe. Tá cuid mhór le foghlaim ag OÉ Gaillimh agus ag an bpobal níos leithne ón meas ollmhór atá ag Paul ar an tábhacht agus an ról a bhaineann le comhpháirtíochtaí a fhorbairt sa bhaile agus thar lear." Beathaisnéisí Cuirfidh an Helen Maher tús lena ról mar Leas-Uachtarán Comhionannais, Éagsúlachta agus Cuimsithe go luath i mí Eanáir 2022. Chuaigh sí i ngleic le deacrachtaí comhionannais agus ceartais shóisialta san ardoideachas, in eagraíochtaí na sochaí poiblí agus in obair chomhairleoireachta lena n-áirítear An Cosán, Tamhlacht; Ionad na mBan, Port Láirge; Líonra Eagraíochtaí Lár na Cathrach i mBaile Átha Cliath. Ceapadh í ina Leas-Uachtarán i gColáiste Cheatharlach sa bhliain 2019, an chéad bhean a ceapadh sa ról sin. Bhí Helen ina Breathnóir Idirnáisiúnta ar Chearta Daonna i Meicsiceo sna 1990idí chomh maith; bhí sí mar phríomhthaighdeoir ar thionscadal faoi Chlár an AE do Shíocháin agus Athmhuintearas maidir le dea-chleachtas i gcur chuige pobalbhunaithe i leith na síochána i réigiún na teorann in Éirinn. Ina ról mar Leas-Uachtarán i gColáiste Cheatharlach, bhí Helen freagrach as próisis athraithe institiúideacha ardleibhéil, straitéis, comhpháirtíochtaí comhoibríocha, rannpháirtíocht na bpáirtithe leasmhara agus EDI a fhorbairt agus a threorú. Bhí sí mar ionadaí an Choláiste ar Choiste Náisiúnta an Chomhionannais Inscne de chuid an HEA, Coiste Náisiúnta Athena Swan. Tá céim BA ag Helen ó UCD, MA i Staidéar Síochána ó Ollscoil Bradford agus tá sí i mbun tráchtas PhD a chríochnú i Scoil an Dlí agus an Rialtais, DCU. Ina cuid taighde go dtí seo scrúdaíodh an teannas idir feimineachas agus náisiúnachas; inscne, daonlathú agus atógáil iarchoimhlinte; ardoideachas, rannpháirtíocht phoiblí agus comhpháirtíochtaí comhoibríocha agus freagraí an phobail i leith síocháin a dhéanamh. Díríonn a cuid taighde reatha ar chomhionannas inscne agus ar an aistriú go daonlathas san Afraic Theas.Cuirfidh an Dr Paul Dodd tús lena ról mar Leas-Uachtarán don Rannpháirtíocht go luath i mí Eanáir 2022. Is as Bré, Co. Chill Mhantáin do Paul ó dhúchas agus beidh sé ag filleadh ar Éirinn as Ollscoil California, Davis. Bhí lámh aige sa mhéadú suntasach a tháinig ar ioncam taighde UC Davis le naoi mbliana anuas, áit ar baineadh amach dámhachtainí taighde nua ar fiú US$965m iad in aon bhliain amháin. Bhí sé i gceannas freisin ar bhunú agus ar chur chun cinn go leor comhpháirtíochtaí institiúideacha sa bhaile agus go hidirnáisiúnta do UC Davis, scil a bhfuil súil aige leas a bhaint aisti ina ról nua i nGaillimh. Críoch 

NUI Galway announces two new senior appointments Helen Maher joins University as Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Paul Dodd joins as Vice President for Engagement NUI Galway has announced the appointment of two new Vice Presidents. Helen Maher takes up the role of VP for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion having worked as Vice President of Carlow College, St Patrick’s for more than two years.  Paul Dodd takes up the role of VP for Engagement having spent almost a decade at University of California, where he was Associate Vice Chancellor for Research on the Davis campus. President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “The addition of Helen Maher and Paul Dodd to our leadership team at NUI Galway will further enhance our University community, our commitment to our values and our engagement for the public good. Their appointments reflect the sense of excellence and the ambition which are central to our work. “Helen Maher comes to NUI Galway with a huge passion for equality, diversity and inclusion. Her career is testament to a life-long commitment to the public good, to partnership and to education as a critical catalyst for equality, diversity and inclusion. “Paul Dodd brings a wealth of talent and experience to bear on his new role, not least from his work in Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), IDA Ireland and higher education in the US. NUI Galway and our wider community has much to gain from Paul’s deep appreciation for the importance and role of building partnerships at home and overseas.”Further information on the new Vice Presidents:  Helen Maher will take up the role of VP Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in January 2022. She has worked on equality and social justice issues in higher education, civil society organisations and consultancy including with An Cosán, Tallaght; Waterford Women’s Centre; the Inner City Organisations Network in Dublin. She was appointed Vice President at Carlow College, St Patrick’s in 2019, the first woman to hold the post. Helen has also served as an International Human Rights Observer in Mexico in the 1990s; is a founder member of Rohingya Action Ireland; and she was lead researcher for a project under the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation on good practice in community based approaches to peacebuilding in the border region of Ireland. As Vice President at Carlow College, Helen was responsible for developing and leading high level institutional change processes, strategy, collaborative partnerships, stakeholder engagement and EDI. She was the College’s representative on the HEA’s National Committee for Gender Equality, the Athena Swan National Committee. Helen holds a BA degree from UCD, an MA in Peace Studies from the University of Bradford and is completing her PhD thesis at the School of Law and Government, DCU. Her research to date has examined the tension between feminism and nationalism; gender, democratisation and post-conflict reconstruction; higher education, civic engagement and collaborative partnerships and community responses to peacebuilding. Her current research focuses on gender equality and the transition to democracy in South Africa. Dr Paul Dodd will take up the role of VP Engagement in early January 2022. Originally from Bray, Co Wicklow, Paul moves back to Ireland from University of California Davis. He contributed to the significant growth of UC Davis research revenue over the past nine years, most recently seeing an all-time campus record of US$965m in new research awards in one year. He has also been leading the establishment and advancement of many institutional partnerships domestically and internationally for UC Davis, a skill set he hopes to put to good use in his new role in Galway.

Astronomers detect gas released in a giant planetary collision Gas discovery in space is first observational evidence of an atmosphere stripped away by a planetary impact  An astronomer at NUI Galway is part of an international team which detected evidence of a giant impact that occurred in a nearby star system, just 95 light years from Earth. It is the first discovery of a planetary atmosphere being vaporised by a giant impact. Based on the amount of gas present, the impact was likely massive and took place about 200,000 years ago involving two young planets, likely to have been similar in size to Earth. The findings, based on the research by NUI Galway, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Cambridge University have been published today in the leading international journal Nature. The rare glimpse into planetary formation comes from the young star HD172555, relatively near our solar system and visible with the naked eye from dark sites in the Southern Hemisphere. This star has been an object of intrigue among astronomers because of the large amount of dust orbiting within its terrestrial planet region. The unusual composition of dust indicated that it most likely represents post-impact debris from the aftermath of a planetary impact – similar to the one that led to the formation of the moon. Dr Luca Matrà, advisor for the study and Lecturer in the Centre for Astronomy, School of Physics, NUI Galway, said: “Our ALMA observations unexpectedly detected a ring of carbon monoxide gas co-located with the dust in this system, which for the first time indicates that impacts can release large amounts of gas as well as dust, and that this gas can survive long enough to be detected. “This has the potential to revolutionise our understanding and observability of giant impacts.” The HD172555 planetary system is about 23 million years old, compared to our solar system at about 4.6 billion years. The astronomers made the observations using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observatory in Chile, known as ALMA, which is made up of 66 radio telescopes working together, and which Ireland gained access to after joining the international European Southern Observatory in 2018. The observations found carbon monoxide orbiting in large amounts in a region analogous to the outer terrestrial planet region of the solar system. Dr Matrà added: “The amount of gas discovered is 10-20% of the mass of Venus’ atmosphere, which goes to show the incredible sensitivity of the observations. This puts forward gas observations as a viable detection method of terrestrial planet-forming collisions, and as a window to the composition of young planets.” Lead author, Tajana Schneiderman, a graduate student in MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, said: “This is the first time we’ve detected this phenomenon, of a stripped protoplanetary atmosphere in a giant impact. Everyone is interested in observing a giant impact because we expect them to be common, but we don’t have evidence in a lot of systems for it. Now we have additional insight into these dynamics.” The formation of terrestrial planets like Earth takes place over the first tens of millions of years of a star’s lifetime. Scientists have theorised that in the latest formation stages, planets grow by colliding with each other in giant impacts. The massive collisions produce planets, satellites like the moon and debris, where the latter can be observed by telescopes on Earth. The observations by the team from NUI Galway, MIT and Cambridge University confirm the predictions of planet formation models, as the HD172555 planetary system is precisely in the age range where terrestrial planet formation through giant impacts is expected to happen. The data favours a scenario where carbon monoxide is produced through the stripping of the atmosphere of the colliding planets. The presence of the gas tells us that the same planetary impact that produced the dust most likely released the observed gas as well. Dr Christine Chen, Associate Astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, USA, and expert in the field external to this study, said: “The modelling convincingly demonstrates that two protoplanets slammed into one another at high velocity at least 200,000 years ago, launching their planetary atmospheres into space. Over time, the debris from the collision spread out into the planet’s orbit creating a ring of gas and dust we can now observe.” Read the full study in Nature here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03872-x. Ends

Seolann OÉ Gaillimh Straitéis Taighde agus Nuálaíochta 2021-26 Infheistíocht €5 mhilliún na hOllscoile faoin gClár Dúshláin Dhomhanda Tá sé curtha in iúl ag OÉ Gaillimh go bhfuil infheistíocht €5 mhilliún curtha ar fáil aici faoi Chlár Dhúshláin Dhomhanda na hOllscoile – tionscnamh taighde spriocdhírithe chun dul i ngleic le sé cinn de na fadhbanna is práinní ar domhan. Fógraíodh an gealltanas inné (Dé Máirt, 19 Deireadh Fómhair 2021) nuair a seoladh Straitéis Taighde agus Nuálaíochta OÉ Gaillimh, 2021-2026. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an straitéis fhoriomlán an tionchar taighde a uasmhéadú, pobal taighde rathúil a chothú agus comhpháirtíochtaí láidre taighde a bhunú go háitiúil agus go domhanda. Cuirfidh an Clár maidir le Dúshláin Dhomhanda – toradh luath den straitéis – tacaíocht ar fáil d’fhoirne ildisciplíneacha agus iad i mbun taighde agus nuálaíocht atá úrnua a shaothrú. Tá an tionscnamh deartha freisin chun a chur ar chumas phobal taighde na hOllscoile caidreamh a chothú le comhghleacaithe in institiúidí eile in Éirinn agus ar fud an domhain maidir le cuid de na fadhbanna is suntasaí atá ag cur isteach ar an gcine daonna. Is iad seo a leanas na sé réimse atá sa Chlár maidir le Dúshláin Dhomhanda: Frithsheasmhacht in aghaidh ábhar frithmhiocróbach – ag dul i ngleic leis an bpaindéim chiúin Dícharbónú – bealaí chun athrú cóir a chur i bhfeidhm Daonlathas – domhan faoi chaibidil Slándáil an tsoláthair bia – athruithe i dtreo pobail atá cóir, cuimsitheach agus a léiríonn teacht aniar Sonraí atá dírithe ar an duine – claochluithe digiteacha agus an réimse poiblí Sláinte an aigéin agus an chósta – teacht aniar na mara Sheol Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, an Straitéis Taighde agus Nuálaíochta, 2021-2026 ag ócáid speisialta ar líne a d’eagraigh an Ollscoil, i gcuideachta an aoi speisialta, an tOllamh Helga Nowotny, iar-Uachtarán na Comhairle Eorpaí um Thaighde agus duine dá lucht bunaithe. “Tá ár Straitéis Taighde agus Nuálaíochta, 2021-26 bunaithe ar luachanna ár nOllscoile – ár dtiomantas don mheas, inbhuanaitheacht, barr feabhais agus oscailteacht,” a dúirt an tOllamh Ó hÓgartaigh. “Tacaíonn an straitéis le huaillmhian. “Tugann sí dúshlán agus tá sí fadbhreathnaitheach, ach thar aon ní eile, tá fealsúnacht agus cultúr OÉ Gaillimh, is é sin go bhfuilimid anseo ar mhaithe leis an bpobal, fite fuaite go láidir sa straitéis.” Dúirt an tOllamh Jim Livesey, Leas-Uachtarán don Taighde agus Nuálaíocht in OÉ Gaillimh: “Mar ollscoil phoiblí, tá freagracht speisialta orainn ár gcuid taighde a dhíriú i dtreo na gceisteanna is práinní agus is deacra. “Agus muid ag breathnú chun cinn, tá éiginnteacht ann maidir le líon agus cineál na ndúshlán a bheidh romhainn, ach is eol dúinn go mbeimid ag brath ar ár gcumas taighde agus muid ag obair le chéile chun na dúshláin sin a shárú. Glacann an ollscoil leis an bhfreagracht seo agus tá sí ag dréim le cáil a bhaint amach tríd an misean taighde poiblí seo a léiriú.” Cuimsíonn Straitéis Taighde agus Nuálaíochta OÉ Gaillimh, 2021-26 16 ghníomh faoi cheithre luach na hOllscoile – Barr feabhais; Inbhuanaitheacht; Oscailteacht; agus Meas. Díríonn an plean ar na dálaí a chruthú chun caighdeán, scála agus scóip an taighde san Ollscoil a threisiú i gcúig réimse – réimsí a bhfuil fíor-acmhainn chlaochlaitheach acu a aithint chun aitheantas fíor-idirnáisiúnta a bhaint amach; timpeallacht thacúil chun barr feabhais a chumasú; éagsúlacht mhéadaithe inár bpobal taighde; sainspriocanna maidir le tionchar taighde; agus pleanáil agus buiséadú comhtháite. Léigh Straitéis iomlán Taighde agus Nuálaíochta OÉ Gaillimh, 2021-2026 anseo: https://stories.nuigalway.ie/research-and-innovation-strategy/index.html. Críoch   

NUI Galway launches Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-26 University investing €5million under its Global Challenges Programme NUI Galway has unveiled a €5 million investment under the University’s Global Challenges Programme - a targeted research initiative to tackle six of the world’s most pressing issues. The commitment was announced today (Tuesday 19 October 2021) as part of the launch of the NUI Galway Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-2026. The overall strategy sets out to maximise research impact, nurture a thriving research community and put in place robust research partnerships locally and globally. The Global Challenges Programme - an early output of the strategy - will offer support to multi-disciplinary teams as they begin to pursue genuinely novel research and innovation. The initiative is also designed to enable the University’s research community to engage with colleagues in other institutions in Ireland and around the world on some of the most significant issues affecting humanity. The six areas in the Global Challenges Programme are: Antimicrobial resistance - tackling the silent pandemic Decarbonisation - pathways for a just transition Democracy - a world in question Food security - Transitions toward just, inclusive and resilient societies Human centred data - digital transformations and the public realm Ocean and coastal health - marine resilience President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, launched the Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-2026 at a special online event hosted by the University, with special guest Professor Helga Nowotny, former President of the European Research Council and one of its founding members. “Our Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-26 is grounded in the values of our University - our commitment to respect, sustainability, excellence, and openness,” Professor Ó hÓgartaigh said. "The strategy supports ambition. It is challenging and forward thinking, but most of all, the philosophy and culture of NUI Galway, that we are here for the public good, is embedded throughout.” Professor Jim Livesey, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at NUI Galway, said: “As a public university, we have a special responsibility to direct our research toward the most pressing questions and the most difficult issues. “As we look into the future, we face uncertainty about the number and nature of challenges we will face, but we know that we will rely on our research capacity as we work together to overcome them. Our University embraces this responsibility and aspires to build distinction for itself by exemplifying this public research mission.” NUI Galway’s Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-26 includes 16 actions under the four pillars of the University’s values - Excellence; Sustainability; Openness; and Respect. The plan focuses on creating the conditions to intensify the quality, scale, and scope of research in the University in five areas - identify areas with genuine transformative potential to achieve truly international recognition; a supportive environment to enable excellence; increased diversity in our research community; specific targets for research impact; and integrated planning and budgeting. Read the full NUI Galway Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-2026, here: https://stories.nuigalway.ie/research-and-innovation-strategy/index.html. Ends

NUI Galway awards Gold Medals for civic engagement A junior doctor and a speech and language therapist have been awarded gold medals by NUI Galway for civic engagement. Dr Rosemary James, a graduate of Medicine in 2021, was honoured by the School of Medicine for her outstanding community outreach and volunteering, as well as research in global health. Lisa O’Neill, a graduate of Speech and Language Therapy in 2021, was honoured by the School of Health Sciences for raising awareness around mental health, volunteering, fundraising and providing peer support to first year students during the pandemic. NUI Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences has been honouring student excellence with the award of gold medals for more than 100 years. In partnership with the Community Knowledge Initiative specific gold medals are also awarded for contributions to civic engagement. Dr James, a junior doctor and global health academic with the World Health Organisation, said she was honoured to have been given the award. “I believe that it is important as medical graduates that we are aware of the vulnerabilities certain populations are subject to and act to advocate for, study, and improve their health and wellbeing wherever possible,” Dr James said. “I look forward to continuing to engage with vulnerable communities as I progress onto my postgraduate training - taking with me the knowledge and skills I owe to NUI Galway and the inspiring people I have met along the way.” Ms O’Neill, a Speech and Language Therapy graduate, said: “One of my main aims as a volunteer is to contribute to raising awareness about and funds for mental health. “The volunteering opportunities I have been involved in so far have allowed me to work as part of a group to achieve the common goal of creating communities that support people when they are most in need. I envisage a world that is more just and accepting, and where people’s differences are celebrated. Volunteering is one way in which I actively contribute to making this vision a reality.”  The CKI Gold Medal can be awarded to graduates and students for activities including volunteering, service learning, collaborative research and actions for the public good which benefit both the wider community and the University. Dr Maureen Kelly, Senior Lecturer in General Practice and Vice Dean for Civic Engagement, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, said: "Within healthcare, civic engagement is fundamentally aligned with working with the public, patients and communities to promote and improve community health status. “Rosemary and Lisa are very deserving of their award. It is testament to their longstanding partnership with community, reflecting the principles and values of civic engagement that we espouse in NUI Galway.” Dr Lorraine McIlrath, director of the Community Knowledge Initiative at NUI Galway, said: “The CKI was established to promote student commitment to positive social change within community and Dr Rosemary James and Lisa O’Neill are wonderful ambassadors for civic engagement and inspire others to take action. I congratulate them.” Ends

Clinical Research Facility Galway secures €3 million funding Health Research Board announces investment in world class research at NUI Galway-Saolta University Health Care Group Some €3million funding has been announced for the Clinical Research Facility Galway - a Health Research Board (HRB) centre supporting clinical trials to improve health and care.The investment is part of a €22million fund from the HRB for clinical research facilities located at hospital sites and supported by universities.The Clinical Research Facility Galway is a joint initiative of NUI Galway and Saolta University Health Care Group for the promotion of clinical research and conduct of clinical trials, bringing together clinicians, researchers and academics to focus on studies aimed at understanding diseases and translating the knowledge gained into advances in patient care. Professor Andrew Smyth, Director of the HRB Clinical Research Facility Galway and Consultant Nephrologist at Galway University Hospitals, said: “The HRB-CFRG aims to improve patient care and population health through the delivery of clinical trials by providing the necessary infrastructure, physical space, facilities, expertise, specialist training and culture. “This infrastructure funding support from the HRB puts us on the map globally in terms of the ability to manage and execute all stages of clinical trials from conception to conclusion.  “At the HRB Clinical Research Facility Galway we have the end-to-end services to guide breakthrough research including first-in-human trials, medical technology/devices, pharmaceuticals, cancer trials and much more. Our portfolio is one of the most diverse nationally, and we have both the clinical expertise and clinical trial experience to grow our own trials from the ground up. “The HRB infrastructure funding makes this possible and is essential for growth and expansion of our clinical trials.” The overall HRB funding package will keep Ireland at the forefront of clinical research and trials internationally while also increasing opportunities for patient participation and benefit. The Clinical Research Facility Galway currently supports 107 clinical trials and investigations. It is one of few facilities of its kind in Ireland, providing the full suite of services essential for the conduct of clinical trials of all phases (from early, first-in-human trials to final stages of approval) and the new investment will allow for the expansion and growth of this work.Professor Tim O’Brien, Executive Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science at NUI Galway and Consultant at Saolta University Health Care Group, said “This funding provides world class facilities for clinical trials and it means that Galway is a leading entity within the Irish clinical trial Infrastructure. It maximises access to clinical trials for patients in the west of Ireland by ensuring the local availability of all necessary services, right on our doorstep. We greatly appreciate the support of the HRB from the initial construction of the facility all the way through to the current award.“Furthermore, the ecosystem in Galway means that clinicians, industry leaders and clinical research experts nationally and internationally come together to formulate cutting-edge research.”Professor Fidelma Dunne, Associate Director of the HRB-CRFG and Consultant Endocrinologist with Saolta University Health Care Group, said: “With the support of the HRB we have been able to take trials from seed stage, through discovery and design through to all stages of trial execution. In the case of my research on gestational diabetes, this support allowed me to conceptualise and trial innovative therapies for women with this condition, as all of the necessary supports were available in Galway.” Ends

Maoiniú feidhmíochta milliún euro faighte ag OÉ Gaillimh chun an comhionannas a chur chun cinn Bronnadh ciste speisialta milliún euro ar OÉ Gaillimh chun straitéis agus bearta feabhsaithe na hOllscoile maidir le Comhionannas, Éagsúlacht agus Cuimsiú a chur chun cinn.  D’fhógair an tAire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta, Simon Harris TD, an Maoiniú Feidhmíochta mar chuid d’infheistíocht ar leith atá á déanamh ag an Rialtas in institiúidí ardoideachais mar aitheantas as cláir nuálacha a chabhraíonn le sochaí níos fearr a chruthú. Tá OÉ Gaillimh ar cheann de chúig institiúid ar tugadh maoiniú dóibh. Fuarthas an ciste tar éis cás-staidéar a chur isteach ina raibh sonraí na ngníomhartha a bhí déanta le tamall chun comhionannas inscne a chur chun cinn san Ollscoil. Cuirfidh sé leis an obair atá ar siúl i réimse an chomhionannais inscne agus leis an gclár oibre Comhionannais, Éagsúlachta agus Cuimsithe trí chéile. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Is fianaise é an maoiniú milliún euro ón Rialtas chun cabhrú leis an gcomhionannas a chur chun cinn, ar sciar an-mhór é den mhaoiniú a bhí ar fáil, ar an obair atá déanta ag pobal OÉ Gaillimh le blianta beaga anuas agus ar a ndúthracht. Is léiriú é freisin ar thiomantas OÉ Gaillimh maidir le comhionannas a chur chun cinn i measc na foirne agus na mac léinn uilig, ag teacht le luachanna oscailteachta agus measa na hOllscoile. Áirítear buanna de gach cineál san éagsúlacht agus, ar an gcaoi sin, cuireann sí bonn níos fearr agus níos láidre faoin ollscoil. Tá an obair seo ar siúl i gcónaí agus tá sé de fhreagracht orainn uilig tacú léi trí scoth na hoibre a dhéanamh ar mhaithe le leas an phobail." Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Aoife Cooke, Ceannasaí Comhdheiseanna in OÉ Gaillimh: “Tá na daoine go léir a bhíonn ag cur an chomhionannais chun cinn san Ollscoil seo an-sásta leis an maoiniú seo ón Rialtas agus is mór an spreagadh é do gach duine agus muid ag iarraidh comhionannas, éagsúlacht agus cuimsiú a leabú inár gcultúr agus aghaidh a thabhairt ar dhúshláin an chomhionannais." Trí bhunú Tascfhórsa Comhionannais Inscne in OÉ Gaillimh, tá feabhas mór tagtha ar dheiseanna dul chun cinn do mhná san Ollscoil le ceithre bliana anuas. Mar a léirigh Gradam Cré-umha Athena SWAN a ghnóthaigh an Ollscoil le déanaí, tugadh faoi réimse tionscnamh comhionannais san Ollscoil ó 2016/17 i leith, lena n-áirítear róil shinsearacha acadúla a bheith ag níos mó ban. Tá ardú ó 33% in 2016/17 go 47% in 2020/21 tagtha ar chéatadán na gcomhaltaí foirne mná in OÉ Gaillimh a bhfuil ról Léachtóra Shinsearaigh acu. Tá ardú ó 16% go 28% tagtha ar chéatadán na gcomhaltaí foirne mná san Ollscoil a bhfuil ról Ollaimh Phearsanta acu i gcaitheamh na tréimhse céanna. Críoch

Bridging the Gender Divide: Johnson & Johnson Expand their WiSTEM2D Programme to NUI Galway Johnson and Johnson (J&J) today are proud to announce the expansion of its 2021/2022 WiSTEM2D programme in partnership with NUI Galway. WiSTEM2D stands for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing and Design. Through the initiative J&J support and inspire girls and women in their pursuit of STEM2D studies and careers globally. The aim of the WiSTEM2D Undergraduate programme is to inspire and support more women to pursue a career in STEM after university and increase female representation in the STEM2D workforce. Currently, there are approximately 117,800 people across Ireland who are working in jobs that require STEM skills. However, the CSO reports that just 25% of these roles are performed by women with just 5% in leadership roles. While there has been a general upswing in the number of students choosing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects on their CAO applications, uptake among females remains low. Figures from a 2019 UCD Study reveals that over 40% of males list a STEM course versus just 19% of females. The J&J WiSTEM2D programme fuels the development of the female STEM2D talent pipeline by awarding and sponsoring girls and women at critical points in their educational experience and their careers, in STEM disciplines. The programme was first introduced in UL in 2016 and UCC in 2018 and has been instrumental in supporting over 290 female students through a range of initiatives including leadership training, mentoring, internships, site tours and CV/recruitment workshops. President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “NUI Galway is delighted to embed the WiSTEM2D programme for women students in the College of Science and Engineering. It will support and empower women pursuing their goal of safeguarding and making the world a better place through STEM to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In embracing all the talents in our society, it is a time of opportunity aligned with values of openness, sustainability and inclusivity guiding our students to realise their aspirations and impact positively for the public good on our society, our people and our planet.” “We’re delighted to be expanding our successful WiSTEM2D programme to NUI Galway this year, which will continue to fuel life sciences in the area, including J&J’s Cerenovus site in Galway,” said Anna Rafferty, Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D University Lead and Director of Strategy, Johnson & Johnson Campus Ireland. “At Johnson & Johnson, we recognise that women are greatly under-represented in the STEM workforce in Ireland.  As part of our effort to ignite the power of women, create healthier societies and improve human health, Johnson & Johnson is committed to building a diverse WiSTEM2D science community and develop the talent pipeline by nurturing and mentoring our future female STEM leaders.” Jessica Dino is an aspiring astronaut, who participated in the WiSTEM2D programme in UL in 2018. “Being accepted into the WiSTEM2D programme at UL was a pivotal step in my STEM career. I was very interested in hands-on work in a very technical and fast-paced environment and with the support of a Johnson & Johnson mentor, I received guidance on what careers I could go into that aligned with my goals and grow as an engineer. “Upon completing my Electronic and Computer Engineering graduate degree, I was given the opportunity to interview for a graduate role and joined the company as an Automation Engineer at Johnson & Johnson Vision. During my free time, I am working on Citizen-Science projects backed by NASA, participate in analogue astronaut missions and one day, would love to fulfil my ambition to become an astronaut.” Applications for the J&J WiSTEM2D university programmes open today for female students of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing and Design subjects entering their second, third or fourth year of studies 2021/2022 within NUI Galway, UL and UCC. Eligible students are asked to submit their application forms through the NUI Galway, UL and UCC websites by Monday, 18 October 2021. To learn more about Johnson & Johnson’s WiSTEM2D programme, click here. ENDS

NUI Galway study solves long-standing enigma of oceanic squids Research identifying and naming families may give evolutionary clues about the marine creatures Scientists at NUI Galway have identified family relationships among lineages of oceanic squids which have been puzzling researchers for more than a century. The breakthrough was achieved by a team at the University’s Ryan Institute which comprehensively named the different groups, providing important clues as to how squid evolved. The findings have been published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Dr Fernando Angel Fernández-Álvarez, lead author of the study, Irish Research Council Fellow and researcher at NUI Galway’s School of Natural Sciences, spent five years collecting tissue from squid while on oceanic cruises and sampling from commercial trawlers. “The aim was to solve the relationships among this amazing group of animals. I believe this study is an important milestone for the field and a good starting point for performing in-depth studies on the evolutionary trends that shape the huge diversity of oceanic squids,” Dr Álvarez said. “Our research could also be useful as we try to understand how our oceans will respond to ever increasing pressures from human activities.” The research team used a method known as genome skimming to reveal the full sequence of DNA and identify relationships among squid. Each of the discovered groups was named based on the rules dictated by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, and in the future scientists will have a way to accurately identify and describe the biodiversity of these marine creatures. Oceanic squids are a hugely important part of the marine food web. They are voracious predators and the main meal of toothed whales and other endangered megafauna. They include the largest group of commercially fished cephalopods, the flying squids. The researchers also discovered unexpected and as yet, unexplained, relationships. For instance, delicate deep-sea glass squids are more closely related to powerful muscular Humboldt squids and to the unusual monogamous diamondback squid, than to other oceanic squids. Professor Louise Allcock, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, NUI Galway, said: “How these remarkable changes in form came about is not yet understood. “Oceanic squids are an amazingly diverse group of cephalopods – molluscs with arms and tentacles like squid, octopus and cuttlefish - with fascinating adaptations to their watery environment. For example, glass squids use their body cavity as a fluid filled buoyancy chamber, while chiroteuthids develop fishing lures at the end of their tentacles. “This study also highlights the importance of public scientific collections in addressing long-standing scientific issues. We supplemented the material we collected ourselves with samples from various museums including the Smithsonian Institution in the USA, the Biological Reference Collection of the Marine Science Institute in Spain and the Australian Museum, allowing us to have a truly comprehensive oversight of oceanic squids globally.“ The study was funded by the Irish Research Council through the program Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards. Read the full study in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society here: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab069. Ends

Aitheantas domhanda do 200 téarma cartlainne Gaeilge faighte ag tionscadal faoi stiúir cartlannaí in OÉ Gaillimh  Cinntítear leis an bhfaomhadh ó Chomhairle Idirnáisiúnta na gCartlann go mbeidh bailiúcháin agus cartlanna níos inrochtana agus níos cuimsithí ann do lucht labhartha na Gaeilge Tá aitheantas tugtha ag an gComhairle Idirnáisiúnta um Chartlanna do níos mó ná 200 téarma cartlainne a cuireadh go hoifigiúil le téarmaíocht na Gaeilge níos luaithe i mbliana.  Is í Cartlannaí an Tionscadail, Niamh Ní Charra, a chuir tús leis an obair thaighde tar éis di a thabhairt faoi deara go raibh neamhréireanna téarmaíochta ann agus í i mbun cartlann chlúiteach Chonradh na Gaeilge a chatalógú in OÉ Gaillimh. Tá aitheantas foirmiúil tugtha ag Comhairle Idirnáisiúnta na gCartlann don 200 téarma cartlainne Gaeilge, rud a fhágann gurb í an Ghaeilge ceann de 25 teanga a bhfuil an faomhadh seo faighte aici. Mhínigh Ní Charra, Cartlannaí an Tionscadail i Leabharlann Shéamais Uí Argadáin in OÉ Gaillimh, a thábhachtaí is atá sé go bhfuil an Ghaeilge aitheanta anois mar theanga i measc an phobail cartlainne idirnáisiúnta. “Ceann de na gnéithe is tábhachtaí de cheird an chartlannaí agus í i mbun bailiúchán a chatalógú ná úsáid na teanga a bheith de réir a chéile,” a dúirt Ní Charra. “Baineann saibhreas agus áilleacht leis an nGaeilge mar theanga agus bíonn i gcónaí níos mó ná bealach amháin chun focal a thiontú, ach tá sé tábhachtach cloí le téarma amháin nuair atáthar ag déanamh cur síos ar rud éigin. Bhí an chomhsheasmhacht sin dodhéanta gan fáil a bheith ar théarmaí cartlainne i nGaeilge.” Sheol Ní Charra an tionscadal téarmaíochta cartlainne in éineacht le Niamh McDonnell ó Chartlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann, i gcomhairliúchán le Coiste Téarmaíochta Fhoras na Gaeilge – coiste náisiúnta téarmaíochta na Gaeilge. Cuireadh bailchríoch ar an liosta tosaigh téarmaí níos luaithe i mbliana, agus chuir cartlannaithe na hÉireann fáilte roimhe. Chuaigh Ní Charra céim eile leis an tionscadal, agus chomhoibrigh sí leis an Dr Luciana Duranti, University of British Columbia, Ceanada, ar duine de thionscnóirí Bhunachar Sonraí Téarmaíochta de chuid Chomhairle Idirnáisiúnta na gCartlann í. Ceann de thorthaí an tionscadail gur faomhadh 200 téarma cartlainne Gaeilge do bhunachar sonraí Théarmaíocht Ilteangach Cartlainne de chuid Chomhairle Idirnáisiúnta na gCartlann, agus is í Ní Charra atá ceaptha ina riarthóir Gaeilge air. Áirítear i measc na dtéarmaí buanchoimeád (preservation), nach ionann é agus caomhnú (conservation); Cuntas Ionchódaithe Cartlainne (Encoded Archival Description /EAD) agus creat buanchoimeádta (preservation framework). Táthar ag súil go n-úsáidfear na hacmhainní seo go mbeidh fáil níos fearr ar bhailiúcháin Ghaeilge agus go n-áireofaí cainteoirí dúchais, agus go spreagfaí pobail teanga eile ar fud an domhain déanamh amhlaidh. Áirítear le cartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge in OÉ Gaillimh lear mór ábhair faoi chearta teanga agus feachtais bailithe airgid, chomh maith leis an ngluaiseacht cearta sibhialta sa tuaisceart agus cearta príosúnach, lena n-áirítear tréimhse na Stailceanna Ocrais in 1980-81. Tá obair Ní Charra molta ag an Dr John Walsh, Léachtóir Sinsearach le Gaeilge: “Tá cruthú agus scaipeadh na téarmaíochta ina dhlúthchuid den obair a dtugtar pleanáil chorpais uirthi. I gcás na Gaeilge, bhí téarmaíocht á forbairt ag daoine aonair agus ag eagraíochtaí ón tréimhse roimh bhunú an stáit ach bhí easpa comhsheasmhachta ann le blianta fada,” a dúirt an tUasal Walsh. “Ó bunaíodh an Coiste Téarmaíochta sna 1960í tugadh faoin obair ar bhealach níos comhordaithe agus níos comhsheasmhaí agus is mór an t-éacht iad na hacmhainní téarmaíochta ar líne a cruthaíodh don Ghaeilge le fiche bliain anuas. Cuireann an téarmaíocht chartlainne seo tuilleadh le pleanáil chorpais maidir le gramadach, litriú agus téarmaíocht na Gaeilge.” Chuir Ní Charra leis an méid sin: "Táim an-bhródúil gur mé a chuir tús leis an tionscadal seo, agus a stiúir go ceann scríbe é. Is mór an onóir agus an phribhléid dom an obair uathúil seo a bheith curtha i gcrích agam ar mhaithe le pobail na gcartlann agus na Gaeilge araon.” Críoch

Project led by NUI Galway archivist secures global recognition for 200 Irish language archival terms  Approval by International Council on Archives ensures more accessible and inclusive collections and archives for Irish speakers A project which saw over 200 archival terms entered into the Irish language lexicon earlier this year, has now led to those terms being officially recognized by the International Council on Archives. The research work was instigated by Project Archivist Niamh Ní Charra after she noticed issues with translated terminology when cataloguing the iconic Conradh na Gaeilge archive in NUI Galway. The 200 Irish language archival terms have been formally recognised by the International Council on Archives (ICA) - ensuring Irish is one of just 25 languages with such a seal of approval. Ms Ní Charra, Project Archivist in the James Hardiman Library in NUI Galway, explained the significance of the Irish language taking its place in the international archival community. “One of the important aspects of the archival profession when cataloguing a collection is the consistency in language used,” Ms Ní Charra said. “Irish is a beautifully rich language and there’s always more than one way to translate something, but if a term is being used, it is important to stick to that one term, and without the existence of archival terms in Irish, this wasn’t possible.” Ms Ní Charra launched the archival terminology project with Niamh McDonnell, of the National Archives of Ireland, in consultation with An Coiste Téarmaíochta of Foras na Gaeilge - the national Irish language terminology committee. The initial list of terms was completed earlier this year, and welcomed by the community of archivists in Ireland. Ms Ní Charra took the project a step further and worked closely with Dr Luciana Duranti, University of British Columbia, Canada, one of the leaders behind the ICA’s Terminology Database. The project led to 200 terms being approved for the ICA’s Multilingual Archival Terminology (MAT) database, for which Ms Ní Charra has been appointed Irish language administrator. Among the terms are buanchoimeád (preservation) as distinct from caomhnú (conservation); Cuntas Ionchódaithe Cartlainne (Encoded Archival Description /EAD) and creat buanchoimeádta (preservation framework). It is hoped that these resources will be used to make Irish language collections more accessible to all and more inclusive of Irish speakers, while also encouraging other language communities around the world to consider doing the same. The Conradh na Gaeilge archive at NUI Galway includes a significant amount of material on language rights and fundraising campaigns, as well as the civil rights movement in the north and prisoners’ rights, including during the Hunger Strikes of 1980-81. Dr John Walsh, Senior Lecturer in Irish, praised Ms Ní Charra's work: “Terminology creation and dissemination is a key part of what is known as corpus language planning. In the Irish case, terminology has been developed by various individuals and agencies since before the foundation of the state but inconsistency was a problem for decades,” Mr Walsh said. “The work of the Terminological Committee since the 1960s has brought greater purpose and consistency to the work and the development of online terminology resources for Irish in the past two decades has been particularly impressive. The addition of this archival terminology is an important contribution to corpus planning for grammar, spelling and terminology in the Irish language.” Ms Ní Charra added: “I’m very proud to have instigated and led this project, and to see it to completion. I am also honoured, and feel very privileged to have contributed something special to both the archival and the Irish language communities.” Ends

Thirty-three NUI Galway research projects receive Government funding Thirty-three NUI Galway research projects have been awarded funding by the Irish Research Council as part of the Government’s flagship Postgraduate and Postdoctoral 2021 programme. The successful projects were announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D., as part of a €28 million investment in research and academia. The NUI Galway projects will conduct research on a wide range of topics, including: Determining the ecology of the declining and understudied longhorn beetle family with reference to ecosystem functioning, habitat requirements and conservation status. The relevance of the apartheid framework for Palestine and other ongoing contexts of institutionalised racial oppression and domination. Why thousands of children still die every year from scorpion stings? Investigating if we are on the cusp of the first mass extinction of plants in Earth history and looking at leaf traits, which hold the answer by connecting past secret plant extinctions with modern extinctions. Evaluating the impact of protein content, taste levels and texture modification to manage malnutrition in cancer patients using novel sensory nutrition techniques. Homelessness in modernist literature examining how contemporary conceptions of homelessness were formed. The Irish perspective on International law of neutrality during peacetime. The ecology, epidemiology, risk assessment, and awareness of Lyme disease. Feminist lawyering as an alternative approach to address gender based violence against women in the Ugandan refugee context. Welcoming the announcement, Professor Jim Livesey, Vice President for Research and Innovation, NUI Galway, said: “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to our talented group of postdoctoral and postgraduate researchers for their innovative projects. As a research-led University, the IRC’s Government of Ireland programmes animate NUI Galway’s values of respect, openness, sustainability and excellence. “All 33 projects demonstrate how important public research and innovation is to the fabric of our lives when confronting national and global challenges. I would also like to thank the Irish Research Council and the Government for supporting these important research projects.” In total, the IRC Government of Ireland Postgraduate and Postdoctoral 2021 programme will fund 330 awards, made up of 254 postgraduate scholarships and 76 postdoctoral fellowships. To deliver on shared national objectives, each year the Government of Ireland programmes collaborate with strategic funding partners, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Met Éireann. Ends

An chéad Oifigeach Gaeilge ceaptha ag OÉ Gaillimh Tá sé fógartha ag OÉ Gaillimh go bhfuil an chéad Oifigeach Gaeilge riamh le ceapadh san Ollscoil. Tosóidh Caroline Ní Fhlatharta, cainteoir dúchais as Conamara, sa ról ag deireadh na míosa. Thosaigh sí ag obair in OÉ Gaillimh níos mó ná 16 bliana ó shin agus d’oibrigh sí i róil éagsúla, lena n-áirítear in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Is cuid lárnach de chéad Straitéis na Gaeilge 2021-25 de chuid OÉ Gaillimh an chéad Oifigeach Gaeilge a cheapadh in OÉ Gaillimh. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Daingníonn an ceapachán seo an teachtaireacht gur campas eiseamláireach dátheangach atá á cothú agus á forbairt againn agus go bhfuil OÉ Gaillimh tiomanta don Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i measc phobal na hOllscoile. “Is gníomh aitheantais é ceapachán Oifigeach na Gaeilge a léiríonn an fhís shoiléir atá ag OÉ Gaillimh don ollscolaíocht Ghaeilge agus tagann sé leis na luachanna atá leagtha amach i Straitéis na Gaeilge, is é sin pobal Gaeilge na hOllscoile a mhéadú agus stádas na Gaeilge san Ollscoil a neartú.” Deir an tOllamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh, Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí OÉ Gaillimh: “In OÉ Gaillimh is straitéis uaillmhianach í ár straitéis don Ghaeilge. Tacóidh ceapachán Charoline Ní Fhlatharta mar Oifigeach Gaeilge leis sin, mar aon lenár bhfís timpeallacht inbhuanaithe dhátheangach a fhorbairt agus a chothú agus ár dteanga a chur chun cinn trí shaol na hollscoile agus trí phobal OÉ Gaillimh, chomh maith leis an nGaeltacht agus pobail na Gaeilge.”  Faoi stiúir Oifig an Uachtaráin Ionaid agus Meabhránaí, beidh an tOifigeach Gaeilge freagrach as fís na hOllscoile don Ghaeilge a stiúradh. Beidh an ról seo dírithe ar obair ar Scéim Teanga reatha na hOllscoile agus an chéad cheann eile a phleanáil, chomh maith lena chinntiú go gcomhlíonann OÉ Gaillimh oibleagáidí i leith na Gaeilge. Dúirt Caroline Ní Fhlatharta: “Is mór an onóir an deis agus an ról ceannródaíoch seo a bheith agam mar chéad Oifigeach Gaeilge OÉ Gaillimh agus tús a chur le Straitéis Gaeilge na hOllscoile a chur i bhfeidhm. “Táim ag súil go mór le mo dhícheall a dhéanamh chun stádas agus próifíl na Gaeilge a fheabhsú agus feasacht agus inniúlacht teanga a fhorbairt agus a spreagadh ar fud phobal uile OÉ Gaillimh.” Déanfaidh an tOifigeach Gaeilge maoirseacht freisin ar chur i bhfeidhm an pholasaí nua a éilíonn ar gach aonad seirbhísí a sholáthar do chustaiméirí trí Ghaeilge; scéim a chur i bhfeidhm trína n-aithnítear an Ghaeilge mar thacar sainscileanna go hoifigiúil i bpróisis earcaíochta; agus go mbeidh sé de chumas ag 20% den fhoireann ghairmiúil gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Ina ról roimhe seo san Ollscoil, bhunaigh Caroline Ní Fhlatharta agus d’fhorbair sí comhpháirtíochtaí láidre le heagraíochtaí gairmiúla, le hinstitiúidí oideachais agus le cuideachtaí ar fud na hÉireann agus í i gceannas ar an gClár Socrúcháin Oibre do mhic léinn Ghaeilge OÉ Gaillimh ó bunaíodh an clár in 2018. Rinne sí áisitheoireacht chomh maith ar an gcéad Chlár Ceannaireachta LIFT trí Ghaeilge le comhaltaí foirne OÉ Gaillimh. Críoch

NUI Galway appoints first Irish Language Officer NUI Galway has announced the appointment of the University’s first ever Irish Language Officer. Caroline Ní Fhlatharta, a native speaker from Connemara, takes up the role at the end of the month. She joined NUI Galway more than 16 years ago and has worked in various roles, including in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. The appointment of NUI Galway’s first Irish Language Officer is a key part of the University’s inaugural Irish Language Strategy. A Strategy for the Irish Language 2021-25. President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: "This appointment reinforces the message that NUI Galway are fostering and developing an exemplary bilingual campus and that we are committed to promoting the Irish language among the University community. The appointment of an Irish Language Officer is a key first step in our Straitéis don Ghaeilge and an act of recognition that reflects NUI Galway’s clear vision for the Irish language within university education. She has the full support of colleagues in the University in promoting the values set out in the Irish Language Strategy, increasing and strengthening the University’s Irish language community." Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh. Deputy President and Registrar of NUI Galway, said: “At NUI Galway our strategy for the Irish language is an ambitious one. The appointment of Caroline Ní Fhlatharta as Irish Language Officer will support that, and our vision to develop and foster a sustainable bilingual environment and promote our language across University life and the NUI Galway community, as well as in the Gaeltacht and Irish language communities.”  The Irish Language Officer, under the direction of the Office of the Deputy President and Registrar, will have overall responsibility for driving the University’s vision for the Irish language. The role involves working on the University’s current Scéim Teanga and planning the next, as well as ensuring NUI Galway lives up to obligations for the Irish language. Caroline Ní Fhlatharta said: “It is an honour to be given this opportunity and pioneering role as NUI Galway’s first Irish Language Officer and to start implementing the University’s Irish Language Strategy. “I am looking forward to pouring my energy into improving the status and profile of the Irish language and on developing and encouraging language awareness and competency across the entire NUI Galway community.” The Irish Language Officer will also oversee implementation of the new policy which requires all units to provide customer services through the medium of Irish; implement a scheme whereby the Irish language as a skillset is officially recognised in recruitment processes; and that 20% of professional staff will have the ability to conduct business through Irish. In her previous role in the University, Caroline Ní Fhlatharta established and developed strong partnerships with pofessional organisations, educational institutions and companies across Ireland while overseeing the Work Placement Programme for NUI Galway’s Irish language students following its introduction in 2018. She also facilitated the first ever LIFT Leadership Programme through Irish with NUI Galway staff members. Ends