August

Professor Rebecca Braun, Executive Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies at University of Galway, has been appointed to the inaugural board of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland. The appointment was confirmed by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., with Professor Braun to serve a four year-term. Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland is Ireland’s new competitive research and innovation funding agency and was formally established on August 1, 2024. The new agency amalgamates the activities and functions of the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland and is central to realising the ambitions of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy.             Announcing the establishment of the agency, Minister O’Donovan said: “This new agency will be a vital support in building the successful future of research and innovation in Ireland, engaging national challenges like the green and digital transitions, and boosting our international standing as research innovators in emerging fields and opportunities ahead.”             Speaking of the opportunity to support research enhancement in Ireland, Professor Braun said: “Quite simply: excellent, innovative ideas are at the core of Higher Education’s mission, and facilitating the best way for them to thrive will ensure the health of everything else. It’s a huge honour to be asked to help shape the direction and operations of this new agency.” Professor Rebecca Braun joined University of Galway to take up the position of Executive Dean in 2021. A recognised international leader in her core disciplines of Modern Languages and Literary Studies, Professor Braun has gained extensive experience assessing the strategic development and delivery of national research and innovation systems, having served as an interdisciplinary research advisor to both the UK Research Excellence Framework and Germany’s ‘Universities of Excellence’ national funding schemes. Professor Braun has also provided over 100 expert peer reviews to publishers and other academic bodies around the world. With a commitment to both conceptual and applied research and a strong track record in collaborating with partners across multiple sectors, she has consistently prioritised providing mentorship and other forms of practical support to help further the careers of researchers at all stages and disciplinary backgrounds.             University of Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “I am delighted that Professor Braun will be contributing to the leadership of Ireland’s investment in research at this important juncture. This appointment further enhances University of Galway’s contribution to the public good through an inclusive investment in research which recognises and supports excellence and impact wherever it resides. I wish Professor Braun every success in this role.” Ends

European InerReg-funded project in three countries to test the potential to reduce injury risk for nurses, therapists and carers A European research project has been launched to assess the potential for exoskeleton supports to benefit nurses, carers and allied healthcare workers such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The study is funded by the EU’s InterReg North-West Europe with academics and clinicians in Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands taking part. The Musculoskeletal Disorder Care project (MSD-CARE) aims to improve the working conditions of healthcare staff, to reduce the risk of disorders and injury and to support nursing staff and other healthcare workers in their daily work through the application of exoseketons. The researchers are also seeking to identify the facilitating factors and barriers to the use of exoskeletons in healthcare settings and offer practical solutions. Health and safety studies have highlighted that the risk of musculoskeletal disorders is 1.6 times higher for healthcare staff than those working in other sectors. Professor Georgina Gethin, Professor in Nursing and Midwifery at University of Galway, said: “Nurses involved in direct patient care are subject to physically demanding tasks and suffer a higher rate of musculoskeletal problems than other healthcare workers. This can have significant impact not only on their health but also on their ability to stay in their chosen profession. Any intervention that can help to highlight the issue of musculoskeletal disorders and find solutions to their prevention are a welcome development. In principle they could be a great asset it is important to know just how practical they would be in a busy work environment and how acceptable they would be to workers. We look forward to delivering on this for nurses and other healthcare workers.” The study is being led by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK), Lower Saxony, Germany, in partnership with University of Galway and Roessingh Research and Development in the Netherlands. The project is under the direction of Professor Dr Shiney Franz of the Göttingen Health Campus, a cooperation between HAWK and the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG). Professor Franz said: “Involving exoskeletons in healthcare has high potential benefits for both patients and professionals. Our assumption is that wearing exoskeletons during activities such as mobilization or transfer of patients could improve the working conditions of care professionals and enhance patient safety. In this project, we aim to identify the working conditions in nursing that enable the integration of exoskeletons into the existing workflow taking in account the care plan and goals.”   Funding of more than €657,000 has been provided to the research partnership under Interreg North-West Europe. A new exoskeleton research laboratory at the Göttingen Health Campus (GCG) is being used, where carers can test their daily work and routines with and without an exoskeleton, under the guidance of researchers. State-of-the-art analysis tools will be used, such as electromyography and respiratory gas analysis to determine the effects of exoskeletons on muscle activity and breathing. Focus groups will also be held in Ireland and in the Netherlands to identify barriers and facilitators of the use of exoskeletons for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. Ends

 University of Galway today announced the recipients of Honorary Degrees at the 2024 Autumn Conferring ceremonies. The Honorary Degree recipients will join over 1,800 graduands, at events running from Thursday August 22nd to Tuesday August 27th, 2024. The five individuals the University will bestow with Honorary Degrees are: Gerry Kilcommins (Doctor of Engineering), former Vice President Global Operations at Medtronic. Danny McCoy (Doctor of Economic Science), Chief Executive Officer of Ibec. Mary Bennett (Doctor of Economic Science), former owner of iconic Galway retail outlet The Treasure Chest and founding member of the Galway City Business Association and the Galway Business and Professional Women's Network. John Davoren (Doctor of Science), farmer, Co-Director of Caherconnell Archaeology Field School, and owner of Caherconnell Fort Visitors Centre. Professor Jerome Sheahan (Doctor of Science), Retired statistician/mathematician at University of Galway. University of Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “Our honorary degree ceremonies are an opportunity to recognise people whose values and contribution are exemplars of why we are here as a university community and our own values and impact, in and for the world. Universities are more than what we do: we are animated communities, exemplars of our value to society and our values in society. On behalf of our University communities, I congratulate all of those being honoured for the distinguished contributions to Galway, Ireland and society and I look forward to our university coming together to honour them, and our graduates.” The full schedule for the autumn 2024 conferring ceremonies is available at https://www.universityofgalway.ie/conferring/guide/autumn-conferring/ Ends

 D’fhógair Ollscoil na Gaillimhe inniu na daoine a mbeidh Céimeanna Oinigh á mbronnadh orthu ag Searmanais Bronnta Céime an Fhómhair 2024. Beidh na Céimithe Oinigh seo i gcomhluadar sa bhreis is 1,800 réamhchéimí ag searmanais a bheidh ar siúl ón Déardaoin, an 22 Lúnasa go dtí Dé Máirt, an 27 Lúnasa 2024. Is iad an cúigear a mbronnfar Céimeanna Oinigh orthu: Gerry Kilcommins (Dochtúir le hInnealtóireacht), IarLeas-Uachtarán Oibríochtaí Domhanda, Danny McCoy (Dochtúir le hEolaíocht Eacnamaíochta), Príomhfheidhmeannach Ibec. Mary Bennett (Dochtúir le hEolaíocht Eacnamaíochta), iar-úinéir shiopa mór le rá na Gaillimhe The Treasure Chest agus duine de bhunaitheoirí Chumann Gnó Chathair na Gaillimhe agus de Líonra Ban Gnó agus Gairmiúil na Gaillimhe. John Davoren (Dochtúir le hEolaíocht), Comhstiúrthóir ar Scoil Allamuigh Seandálaíochta Chathair Chonaill agus úinéir Ionad Cuairteoirí Dhún Chathair Chonaill. An tOllamh Jerome Sheahan (Dochtúir le hEolaíocht), Staitisteoir/matamaticeoir ar scor as Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Is deis iad na searmanais seo chun aitheantas a thabhairt do dhaoine a bhfuil a luachanna agus a gcion ina ndea-shampla dúinn mar phobal ollscoile, agus atá ina n-eiseamláirí dár luachanna agus dár dtionchar ar an domhan agus ar son an domhain. Tá níos mó i gceist le hollscoileanna ná an méid a ndéanaimid: is pobail bhríomhara sinn, eiseamláirí dár luach don tsochaí agus dár luachanna sa tsochaí. Thar ceann ár bpobal Ollscoile, tréaslaím leo siúd go léir a dtugaimid ómós dóibh as an gcion thar na bearta atá déanta acu do Ghaillimh, d’Éirinn agus don phobal agus táim ag súil le teacht le chéile mar phobal ollscoile chun ómós a thabhairt dóibh, agus dár gcéimithe.” Tá sceideal iomlán shearmanais bhronnta an fhómhair 2024 le fáil ag https://www.universityofgalway.ie/conferring/guide/autumn-conferring/ Críoch

Researchers at University of Galway have developed a new, portable technology for on-the-spot testing of water quality to detect one of the most dangerous types of bacteria. Ireland regularly reports the highest crude incidence rates of the pathogen Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli - STEC for short - in Europe over the recent years. The bacteria produces the harmful Shiga toxin, which, if ingested by humans, can cause severe stomach illnesses and, in some cases, life-threatening complications especially in children under 5 years, older people and immunocompromised individuals. A work led by Dr Zina Alfahl, lecturer in bacteriology in the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Dr Louise O’Connor, senior research fellow with the University’s College of Science and Engineering, developed a technology for rapid, sensitive and accurate testing of STEC in water sources, including rivers, lakes and wells. The results have been published in the journal, Microbiology.             Dr Alfahl said: “Our technology is a significant advancement in on-site water testing. It is portable, straightforward and safe to use. It is accurate, highly sensitive and the results are delivered quickly, on-site. “We are hoping that Environmental Health Officers and groundwater schemes in Ireland could use the technology on-site allowing for more frequent testing especially in or after extreme weather, periods of intense rainfall, because it is those conditions which lead to water supplies being contaminated.” Dr O’Connor said: “This technology could be a crucial intervention in helping to prevent outbreaks of infection in families and communities using wells, private water supplies and groundwater schemes. “Immediate results can help public health officers and water management authorities make informed decisions to protect public health. This rapid response capability is crucial for preventing the spread of waterborne diseases and ensuring the safety of drinking water." STEC is normally found in the intestines of healthy animals like cows and sheep, which carry it without getting sick. The bacteria spreads to people through contact with animal waste, or by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. A small sample of water can be tested on-site using isothermal amplification technology which can identify the genetic markers of STEC bacteria, and related E. coli.  The results are delivered in about 40minutes through a reading on screen. Traditional lab testing of samples can take days for results to be returned. The research, funded by Environment Protection Agency through the DERIVE project, tested samples from various water sources, including groundwater wells, rivers, a turlough and a farm drain on the Corrib catchment in Galway. Of the samples tested 61% were positive for the presence of this dangerous pathogen. Dr Alfahl said: “Our testing is sensitive enough to identify as low as two cells of the STEC bacteria. The gold standard for testing is culture in a lab, but this can take days and often weeks, and on occasion can return a false negative result – just because the culture does not grow in the lab does not always mean the bacteria has not been present in the water. Our test removes the necessity for samples to go to a lab. It offers on-the-spot results and is of huge benefit to the people using the water as a first-step in identifying a contamination and a potential health risk.” Dr O’Connor said: “This new testing method is particularly important for areas that rely on private groundwater wells, which can be more prone to contamination. In Ireland, a significant portion of the population depends on these for their drinking water - about 720,000 people, or one in every 5 households, but quality has been an issue as regulation is less stringent on these sources and testing is less frequent.” Ends

New research shows Andean glaciers have retreated to lowest levels in 11,700 years     An international team of scientists has discovered the glaciers in the Andes have shrunk to their smallest size in 11,700 years, revealing the tropics have already warmed beyond anything experienced during the entire Holocene age.   Scientists have long predicted the world’s glaciers will retreat as temperatures warm but the study’s analysis of rock samples adjacent to four glaciers in the Andes Mountains shows that glacial retreat in the tropics has happened much faster and has already passed an alarming cross-epoch benchmark.   As Earth’s climate heats up, the findings signal more of the world’s glaciers are likely retreating faster than predicted, possibly decades ahead of the climatological schedule. The findings have been published in the international journal Science and was led by Boston College in collaboration with scientists from University of Galway, UC Berkeley, University of Wisconsin, Tulane University, Aix-Marseille University, Aspen Global Change Institute, Ohio State University, Union College, Université Grenoble Alpes, and Purdue University. When glaciers shrink, the underlying bedrock is suddenly exposed to the stream of cosmic radiation constantly bombarding Earth. Similar to a sunburn, this radiation causes microscopic nuclear reactions inside the bedrock that produce rare isotopes, such as beryllium-10 and carbon-14. Scientists measure the concentration of these isotopes to calculate how long landscapes have been buried by ice and establish when glaciers were last as small as today. The rocks being exposed by melting glaciers in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia contain such small amounts of cosmogenic isotopes that the researchers were able to conclude these tropical ice masses have not been so small for at least 11,700 years, and potentially much longer. The rate at which the glaciers are melting suggests that the tropical climate can no longer be classified as belonging to the Holocene interglacial period, the last 11,700 years of relatively stable climate in which civilisation has flourished. Instead, the tropics may be best classified by a new period that will spell the end of glaciers in the high tropical Andes: the Anthropocene.   University of Galway climate scientist and co-author of the study, Dr Gordon Bromley led the collection of bedrock samples in the high Sierra Nevada del Cocuy in Colombia.               Dr Bromley said: “Glaciers are the poster child of human-caused global warming and are currently shrinking on a global scale as atmospheric temperatures rise. Our team uses glaciers as natural thermometers to track the magnitude of modern climate change and provide much-needed context of today’s rapid ice loss. Using a revolutionary technique called cosmogenic nuclide surface-exposure dating, we have reconstructed the growth and decay of glaciers in the high-altitude tropical Andes, which is arguably the most sensitive environment on Earth to climate change. “We found that modern glaciers in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia are smaller today than they have been for the entirety of the Holocene interglacial and conclude that the magnitude of modern ice loss is unprecedented. “This sets a grim new benchmark for our monitoring of human-driven climate change and also demonstrates how the high-altitude tropics, home to some of the most irreplaceable ecosystems on Earth, are also the most sensitive – and thus vulnerable – parts of our planet to global warming.” Ends