News Archive

The Letters of 1916, in collaboration with NUI Galway, is bringing its ‘Letters of 1916: A Year in the Life’ event to The James Hardiman Library’s Digital Archives and the Moore Institute at NUI Galway on Monday, 16 November. Visitors are welcome to drop-in at any stage during the event from 2pm-6pm. Professor Susan Schreibman of Digital Humanities at Maynooth University and Letters of 1916 is inviting the people of Galway to take part in this public event where original letters from 1916 will be uploaded to the internet and made available as part of a new national digital archive. Members of the public are invited to bring family letters along to digitise and to participate in uploading rare materials collected, and to learn how the process works. Letters of 1916 is Ireland’s first public humanities project. It is creating a crowdsourced digital collection of letters written between 1 November 1915 and 31 October 1916. To date the project has collected over 2,300 letters from over 20 institutions and 40 private collections. These letters cover a variety of topics ranging from the Easter Rising to art, culture, family life and the Great War. Professor Daniel Carey, Director of the Moore Institute at NUI Galway, said: “Through these letters the project is bringing to life the written words, the last words, the unspoken words and the forgotten words. It is creating an online collection for the public, created by the public, which is adding a new perspective to life in this period, a confidential glimpse into early 20th century Ireland and the politics of the era.” The ‘Letters of 1916: A Year in the Life’ series of events is bringing digital humanities to the general public and into secondary schools in locations around Ireland. During the event, run in conjunction with Science Foundation Ireland, visitors will transcribe and add letters from archives around the country to the Letters of 1916 collection and by doing so, will gain insight into what life was like a century ago. The Letters of 1916 project team will provide a hands-on workshop from the Nursing and Midwifery PC suite of the James Hardiman Library at NUI Galway. This will be followed by refreshments in room G010 of the James Hardiman Research building and a series of short talks by Professor Susan Schreibman, and Dr Sarah­Anne Buckley, Dr Conor McNamara and Thérèse McIntyre from NUI Galway, based on letters from Galway, illuminating both everyday life as well as how individuals dealt with momentous events of the period. For further information on Letters of 1916 visit: http://dh.tcd.ie/letters1916/ -Ends-

NUI Galway Award 30 New Sports Scholarships NUI Galway Vice President for the Student Experience, Dr Pat Morgan, recently presented 30 outstanding athletes with NUI Galway Student Sports Scholarships. The ceremony commenced with a special address by Irish and Connacht Rugby player, Robbie Henshaw, who is also an NUI Galway student. Fresh from his return from Ireland’s recent Rugby World Cup campaign, Robbie spoke to the scholarship students and parents about his recent experiences and the demands of world class sport. Kathy Hynes, Acting Head of Sport, who manages the scholarship scheme was delighted to welcome Henshaw back to NUI Galway: “It is important for our students to have role models such as Robbie who is competing at the highest level but continue to maintain their academic pathway. Robbie is an athlete who embodies all that is positive in sporting excellence and academic achievement. It is very rewarding to support athletes from a range of sports in their academic and athletic endeavour to achieve in both areas the best they can be.” This year’s ceremony saw the Performance Points Sports Scholarship awarded to eight outstanding athletes. The scheme provides 40 additional points to those earned in the Leaving Certificate for elite athletes, for academic courses over 350 entry points. This year’s scholarship recipients represent some of the finest young talent in Irish sport today including Naomi Carroll, Irish International Hockey player who has 69 caps. Jamie Fallon, track and cross country athlete who has already three appearances in an Irish vest, Jamie will be competing mid-November for a place in the Irish U20 for the European Cross country team in France. Ladies soccer continues to grow in strength with Aoife Walsh, Performance point’s recipient and youngest player to represent Galway Women’s Football Club (WFC) season 2013-2014 and former FAI senior cup winner. Shauna Fox, WFC team member and Louise Creaven current goalkeeper for Castlebar WFC all received awards. Conor Melody and Kevin Horgan, Galway United team players conclude the soccer awards. The NUI Galway Basketball club will host the prestigious Intervarsity competition in April 2016. As winners of this elite competition in 2015 of the men's A tournament and the women completing the double in the B tournament the University hopes 2015 will be an equally successful year. Patrick Lyons and Joseph Tummon are both scholarship recipients 2015 and NUI Galway varsity players. Sporting success continues with Ronan O’Sullivan, former scholarship recipient and Patrick Lyons being selected for the “Hibernia” select team for International competition. NUI Galway continues to grow its success in Rowing, with 2014-2015 winning the Men’s Intermediate 4 of Ireland for NUI Galway. The squad included Daniel Buckley and Jack Bennett both recipients of this year’s scholarship. The squad also included Aidan Kinneen and Kevin Neville. Recipient, Katie McEneff was a member of both the club and intermediate crews that took national titles at this season’s championship, with the Intermediate 4 setting a new national record time. And Ailbhe Ní Ghríofa who in 2014 was part of the successful women’s club eight and four. Rugby scholarships were presented to Roy Stanley, Connacht U20’s, Mark Dolan, Ireland schools and U20’s, John Moloney Ireland U19’s and Shannen Lane, a member of the Irish 7’s Development squad. Swim Ireland Connacht Performance centre based on the NUI Galway campus has continued to attract high performance athletes. The wider reach of this partnership supports the University strategic direction of community engagement. David Dowling and Alannah Leonard were both recipients of the Performance point’s scholarship. Scholarships in individual sports such as Golf were awarded to Cathal Nolan, a Commerce and Accountancy student from Barna in Galway. Cathal is a member of the prestigious Galway Golf Club playing off par 1. Gaelic Games within NUI Galway continues to attract high profile players and future talent including All-Star hurling nominees Conor Whelan and Padraic Mannion. Kerry Hurler Darragh Shanahan, Sligo footballer Kevin McDonnell, Roscommon footballer David Murray and Mayo’s Adam Gallagher; Ladies Gaelic Footballer, Emer Gallagher from Donegal and Camogie All-Star nominee in 2015 Chloe Morey from Clare, all secured scholarships on the night. Speaking at the award ceremony, Vice-President for the Student Experience, Dr Pat Morgan, said: “I would like to congratulate the recipients of this year’s awards and remind them of the honour of representing the University and we hope they will aspire to even greater successes such as those achieved by the recent scholarship holders in Hurling, Camogie, Rowing, Rugby and Swimming who have reached the pinnacle of their sports.” NUI Galway Performance Points awardees: • Gaelic Football: Adam Gallagher from Claremorris, Co. Mayo • Hurling: Darragh Shanahan from Lixnaw, Co. Kerry • Rugby: Shannen Lane from Drumolga Wood, Co. Cavan • Rugby: John Moloney from Shortcastle, Co. Cork • Ladies Soccer: Aoife Walsh from Clybaun Road, Galway City • Ladies Soccer: Louise Creaven from Galway City • Swimming: Alannah Leonard from Devenish, Enniskillen • Swimming: David Dowling from Oranmore, Co. Galway NUI Galway Sports Scholarships awardees: • Athletics: Maebh Brannigan from Circular Road, Galway • Athletics: Jamie Fallon, from Craughwell. Co. Galway • Basketball: Patrick Lyons from Moycullen, Co. Galway • Basketball: Joseph Tummon from Circular Road, Galway • Hurling: Conor Whelan from Kinvara, Co. Galway • Hurling: Padraic Mannion, from Ahascargh, Co. Galway • Gaelic Football: Kevin Mc Donnell from Castleconner, Sligo • Gaelic Football: David Murray from Ballydangan, Co. Roscommon • Camogie: Chloe Morey from Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare • Golf: Cathal Nolan from Knocknacarra, Galway • Rowing: Jack Bennett from Renmore Galway • Rowing: Dan Buckley from Blackrock, Co. Dublin • Rowing: Ailbhe Ní Ghríofa from Salthill, Galway • Rowing: Katie McEneff from St Raphaels Manor, Co. Kildare • Rugby: Roy Stanley from Thurles, Co. Tipperary • Rugby: Mark Dolan from Athlone, Co. Westmeath • Soccer: Shauna Fox from Headford Road, Galway • Soccer: Kevin Horgan from Clybaun Road, Galway • Soccer: Conor Melody from Doughiska, Galway • Gaelic Football: Emer Gallagher from Churchill, Donegal • Hockey: Naomi Carroll from Cratloe, Co Galway • Hockey: Alice Meagher from Knocknacarra, Galway City -Ends-

NUI Galway events and exhibitions at TULCA explores issues of climate change and our place in the changing landscape The annual festival of visual arts, TULCA, runs this year from November the 13 to 29 November and is curated by Mary Cremin. NUI Galway plays host to a number of events and many staff members from NUI Galway are taking part in the festival. This year’s festival, entitled Seachange, explores issues of climate change and our place in a changing landscape. Through a combination of the real and the imaginary, the exhibiting artists create a collective call for a sea change, literally, in our current climate policies. Accompanying the visual art exhibitions and film screenings is a series of talks and discussions entitled ‘Hy-Brasil Dialogues’. These talks will be held in the Aula Maxima at NUI Galway on Saturday 14 and Saturday 28 November, running from 12pm to 5pm. Geographers, geologists, marine researchers, architects, linguists and artists will explore the complexity of our current environment, both locally and globally and from the perspective of geological time, present-time and future projections. Among the contributors to the ‘Hy-Brasil Dialogues’ are NUI Galway staff members, geologist Dr Alessandra Costanzo, Director of the Geofluids Research Laboratory, geographers Dr Alexandra Revez, Post-Doctoral Researcher with the 3-Cities Project and Dr Eugene Farrell, Lecturer in Geography and writer and sean nós singer Dr Lillis O’Laoire, Senior Lecturer in Irish at NUI Galway. Dr Lillis O’Laoire also features in ‘Island Sessions: Stories and Songs of Sea and Shore’, a lunchtime event of live performances, being held in the TULCA Festival Gallery at the Connacht Tribune Print Works in Market Street, from 1pm to 3pm on Sunday, 15 November. Folk tales, legends and songscapes of the West coast of Ireland, encompassing magic, transformations, love, loss and pride of place, will be performed by Lillis and local storyteller, Seosamh Ó Guairim. The James Mitchell Geology Museum in the University is a focal point for this year’s TULCA. The fossils and the specimens exhibited in the museum speak of a geological time that is beyond our comprehension. Artist Barbara Knezevic’s piece, Conglomerations, Constellations, draws on the geological samples from the museum and one of her artworks will be situated within the museum itself. Full details of the talks are available at: www.tulcafestival.com/festival-2015/events-talks/ Talks are free but booking is essential as places are limited. Information about all the TULCA exhibitions, screenings and events is available at: www.tulcafestival.com/festival-2015/ -Ends-

Secondary school students interested in studying at NUI Galway are invited to an information evening in Naas on Thursday, 19 November. Parents and guardians are also particularly welcome to the event which runs from 7pm to 9pm in the Osprey Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare. The evening will begin with short talks about NUI Galway and some of the 60 courses it offers. Afterwards, current students and NUI Galway staff will be on hand at information stands to answer any individual questions in relation to courses offered by the University and about practical issues like accommodation, fees and scholarships, and the wide range of support services available to our students. The ever-increasing popularity of NUI Galway is in-part due to a suite of innovative programmes, developed in response to the changing needs of the employment market. Unique programmes include a suite of Arts degree programmes including Drama, Creative Writing and Human Rights, an Energy Systems Engineering degree which is taught in the University’s new Engineering Building, Ireland’s largest School of Engineering, a Maths and Education degree aimed at training Maths teachers, and a Marine Science degree. Visitors to the information evening will also get information on NUI Galway’s newest degree programmes, a Bachelor of Commerce (Global Experience), Bachelor in Children’s Studies and the new Bachelor of Arts (Joint Honours). Celine O’Donovan, Senior Marketing Officer at NUI Galway, said: “NUI Galway has a great deal to offer. Our own students tell us our lecturers are inspirational and challenge them to achieve their full potential. The student experience in Galway is second to none, and we want to bring a taste of that to County Kildare, while also providing all the practical information on accommodation, CAO points, fees, scholarships and courses. With so many courses on offer, this event in Naas is a perfect opportunity for prospective students to meet current students and lecturers to see what degree might be the right fit for them.” To find out more about the information evening in Naas, contact NUI Galway's Schools Liaison Officer, Siobhan Dorman on 086 0421591 or siobhan.dorman@nuigalway.ie. -Ends-

The commencement of the Companies Act 2014 earlier this year (June 2015) has had new and far reaching consequences for company directors, lawyers and accountants. Chairman of the Company Law Review Group, and the driving force behind the 2014 Act, Dr Thomas Courtney, will deliver a lecture in the School of Law at NUI Galway on Tuesday evening, 24 November at 6pm. Dr Courtney, an NUI Galway graduate, has had a distinguished career to date as partner in Arthur Cox Solicitors, where he is Head of Compliance and Governance Practice. He will deliver a lecture on the Companies Act 2014 - what it means for existing companies, directors’ duties and compliance provisions. Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway, Professor Donncha O’Connell, said: “We are delighted to welcome back one of our most distinguished graduates, Dr Tom Courtney, to deliver this lecture which is timely because of the recent commencement of the Companies Act. It also coincides with the introduction of the new four-year Bachelor of Corporate Law Degree, which will be available from September 2016. This event will be of interest to the wider legal and business communities in Galway, as well as to existing students and staff at NUI Galway Law School.” Dr Courtney’s talk will be held in the O’Flaherty Lecture Theatre on the Main Concourse of the Arts/ Science building. The event is free but places are limited, so if you are interested in attending please e-mail Nicola Gavin at the Law School at Nicola.Gavin@nuigalway.ie or call 091 492389. CPD certificates will be available for members of the legal profession. ENDS

At a ceremony on 10 November in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Chancellor of the National University of Ireland Dr Maurice Manning presented fellowships, scholarships and other valued at in excess of €850,000 to graduates and students of NUI. NUI honoured scholars of distinction at every stage of their academic studies, from undergraduates to senior scholars well established in their fields of expertise. Over 30 students and graduates of NUI Galway were awarded prizes. NUI Galway graduates received a number of awards, including an outstanding Five Travelling Studentships – one in the Humanities and four in the Sciences. The Dr Mary Thornton Scholarship in Education was shared by two winners, both connected to NUI Galway. These awards will support post-graduate and doctoral research in a variety of subjects, from human rights in Uganda to bioprosthetic heart valves. NUI Galway graduate Dr Ciaran O'Neill was awarded a Special Commendation in connection with the Publication Prize in Irish History 2015, for his new work Catholics of Consequence: Transnational Education, Social Mobility and the Irish Catholic Elite, 1850 – 1900 (Oxford University Press, 2014). NUI Galway undergraduates were equally successful. Students received the Mansion House Fund Scholarship in Irish History, the Mansion House Fund Prize in Irish, two medals in the Dr H H Stewart Literary Scholarship competitions, and twenty-one medals in the Dr H H Stewart Medical Scholarship competitions, including nine first prizes. President Jim Browne, said on the success of NUI Galway students and graduates: “This clearly highlights the high calibre of students studying on NUI Galway programmes and follows previous successes in these annual awards. I congratulate the Awardees on their achievements and encourage them in the future endeavours. In commending the Award recipients, I’d also like to pay tribute to their teachers for their work in supporting these students and in helping them to achieve such high standards.” Speaking at the event, Dr Manning congratulated the award recipients, commending their scholarly distinction and ‘outstanding academic achievement’. He highlighted the importance of promoting scholars and scholarship as a core aim of NUI, and stated that the University is ‘very pleased to be able to offer this level of support for academic achievement and through its awards to provide opportunities for able students to engage in further studies’. Details on NUI Awards to be offered in 2016 will be available from January at www.nui.ie/awards   ENDS

NUI Galway study includes 71 physicians, 30 general practitioners and 3,500 patients in Ireland who were randomly assigned to one of three groups with the goal of changing prescribing behaviour for urinary tract infections An initiative to improve the prescribing of antibiotics for urinary tract infections resulted in better-quality prescribing of first line antibiotics, although the number of prescriptions also increased, according to new research carried out by NUI Galway and Oxford University. The study was published today (16 November 2015) in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). The study entitled ‘Supporting the Improvement and Management of Prescribing for UTIs (SIMPle)’, first began in 2011 when NUI Galway researchers found that a variety of antibiotics were prescribed by general practitioners for urinary tract infections (UTI’s). As the spread of antibiotic resistance continues, the researchers set out to improve antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infections in general practice and designed a cluster randomised intervention. The study involved 71 physicians, 30 general practitioners and 3,500 patients in Ireland (Galway city and county, and Roscommon). Overall, a 20% absolute increase in prescribing of antibiotics according to guidelines was observed in the intervention groups. However, general practitioners also increased overall prescribing of antibiotics for urinary tract infection. Dr Akke Vellinga, Epidemiologist in the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science at NUI Galway, and co-author of the study, said: “The increase in overall prescribing of antibiotics for urinary tract infection was unexpected, and it was not possible to conclude whether this was clinically appropriate or an unwanted consequence. The SIMPle study improved the quality of antibiotic prescribing through the use of audit reports and reminders. In a next step, the quantity of antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infection will be addressed.” The World Health Organisation (WHO) has deemed antibiotic resistance an immediate threat to world health. Overuse and overprescribing of antibiotics are major contributors to antibiotic-resistant diseases. Urinary tract infections are one of the most common illnesses for which antibiotics are prescribed. Efforts to curb overuse must involve patients, physicians and other health care workers, pharmaceutical companies and policy makers. Dr Vellinga added, “The improved quality of prescribing must be put into the context of its unintended effect, an increase in actual antibiotic prescriptions. Research has shown that the nature of complex systems, such as general practices, where many interrelated factors influence antibiotic prescribing, makes it difficult to predict the results of interventions.” Patients whose doctors participated in one of the intervention groups were twice as likely to receive a prescription for a first line antibiotic, with nitrofurantoin the preferred option. The authors suggest that if the increase in antibiotic prescribing is the result of an increase in nitrofurantoin, the potential harm may be muted as there is little evidence of acquired resistance to nitrofurantoin. They call for further study to determine if increased prescribing is clinically appropriate or an unintended result of behavioural change. To view the SIMPle research video visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buyeYTt1uQs  To view the CMAJ research visit: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2015/11/16/cmaj.150601 For the authors Commentary visit: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2015/11/16/cmaj.151103  -Ends-

NUI Galway held a half-day seminar that considered a number of key legal and policy issues on policing and accountability in Ireland. Organised under the auspices of the LLM in Public Law, School of Law, NUI Galway, the seminar, ‘Policing, Accountability and the State’ took place on Friday, 13th of November 2015. The conference examined the role of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, police reform in light of the occupational culture of An Garda Síochána and policing under the Irish constitution. ‘Policing, Accountability and the State’ brought together leading commentators from the judiciary, academia and legal practice including: NUI Galway’s Tom O’Malley BL, Judge Mary Ellen Ring who was recently appointed as Chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and Dr Vicky Conway from the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University. -ENDS-

The Threesis 2015 final has taken place and the winners announced include Sports Aerodynamics student Paul Mannion who took first prize for his presentation on the GEEC – Galway’s Energy Efficient Car. Threesis is focused on taking students and staff out of their comfort zones to present their research to a general audience using only three slides over three minutes to three judges. The focus is on impact; how research at NUI Galway impacts upon our daily lives, those of our family and our broader community. The competitors had come through a series of heats already held on campus, to take on the final challenge at a public event in An Taibhdhearc. The winners were judged on how well they conveyed and communicated their subject to a sell-out audience. Paul Mannion’s presentation was on the ‘GEEC 2.0 - Galway Energy Efficient Car Design and Development’ which is currently in construction phase and aims to improve fuel efficiency through improved aerodynamic design. A postgraduate research student from New Inn, Co Galway, Paul is studying sports aerodynamics at NUI Galway. He is a member of the GEEC 1.0 team, a car designed and built by NUI Galway engineering students, which competed in the Shell Eco Marathon in Rotterdam in May of this year and is currently Ireland’s most fuel efficient vehicle. Second prize went to Juhi Samal a third year PhD student at CÚRAM, the Centre for Research in Medical Devices at NUI Galway with her presentation ‘Biomaterial pills for Parkinson’s’. Originally from Odisha in India, Juhi moved to Galway in 2013, when she was awarded the Hardiman Fellowship. Her PhD focuses on developing solutions for neurodegenerative disease. In particular, her research is investigating delivery of neurotrophic factors to the brain, to modify neuronal dysfunctions in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease (PD). Juhi was also recently awarded first prize at the 27th European Society for Biomaterials (ESB) Conference held in Krackow, Poland for this same research. Liam Lachs, a final year Marine Science student from Killarney, Co. Kerry, took the third prize with his presentation ‘How does cold wet Ireland have colourful coral reefs?’ Liam began a project last summer assessing the distribution of vulnerable deep sea coral ecosystems at the continental margin West of Ireland. This work involved a three-week coral survey on the RV Celtic Explorer and has developed into a final year project. With a great appreciation of the environment and oceans from years of surfing around the Irish west coasts and living near the sea, Liam is assured that coral ecosystems are worth a global conservation effort. Liam is interested in furthering the understanding of the forces behind coral distribution and their responses to climate change. Isma Liza Mohd Isa, won the audience prize for her presentation ‘Biomaterials Approach for Treating Back Pain’. Isma, originally from northern Malaysia is a third year student, is also based at CÚRAM, the Centre for Research in Medical Devices. A mother of two children, Isma is focusing her research on the development of a biomaterial implant to relieve back pain caused by intervertebral disc damage. Her aim is to construct a therapeutically implantable device that can reduce inflammation and pain, as well as promote disc repair. Research areas represented at the Threesis 2015 final included science, engineering, information technology, humanities, social sciences and medicine, with topics ranging from novel tests for early detection of breast cancer to blue ecosystem services. The three judges; Professor Lokesh Joshi, Vice-President for Research at NUI Galway, Dr Miriam Haughton, Lecturer in Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway and Mr Declan Courell, Registrar at St Angela’s College in Sligo had the responsibility of choosing the overall winners of the night. Jonathan McCrea was Master of Ceremonies for the event. Jonathan is a multi-award-winning TV and radio broadcaster, who presents The Science Squad on RTÉ, The Lie on TV3 and Futureproof on Newstalk 106-108fm. Professor Lokesh Joshi, Vice-President for Research at NUI Galway, said: “I am incredibly proud of our research community. This event highlights some of the fantastic research we have across our campuses in NUI Galway and in St Angela’s College Sligo. A clear indicator of our success as a University is how relevant our research is to our community and how it positively impacts upon society. Our final event showcased this exquisitely; both from the perspective of our excellent presenters to the engagement and encouragement of our audience.” Other finalists at the event included; Mihael Arcan (Insight, NUI Galway), Mimi Xiao (Economics, NUI Galway), Claudia Kinmonth (Moore Institute, NUI Galway), Declan O'Loughlin (Engineering, NUI Galway), Aoife Murray (Mc Keown Library, St Angela's College Sligo), Daniel Norton (J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, NUI Galway), Cliona Hensey (French, NUI Galway), Hannah Durand (School of Psychology, NUI Galway) and Maria Gallo (Office of the President, St Angela’s College Sligo). For further information on the event visit http://www.nuigalway.ie/threesis/ -Ends-

A view of Galway through the lens of its world-leading Med Tech industry, campaigns for cultural acknowledgement and urban innovation NUI Galway is delighted to announce it will host the Galway element of the Global Irish Economic Forum. NUI Galway will host a Regional Session, including a public forum, entitled ‘Gaillimh Nua’ on Thursday, 19 November ahead of the Dublin Castle events this weekend. The Global Irish Economic Forum is organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The programme includes the regional event to be held in Galway, which will bring together members of the Global Irish Network, SMEs in the West region, Galway City and County Councils and the academic community. The Global Irish Economic Forum Galway Regional morning session (closed) will this year showcase MedTech activities in research and translational science in NUI Galway and the broader region with members of the Global Irish Network in order to share expertise and explore collaborative opportunities. The session will facilitate Global Irish Network Members along with IDA and Enterprise Ireland client companies in a two-way conversation to identify current challenges within the MedTech sector, and explore potential solutions to these through the lens of the cross-sectoral expertise of the Global Irish Network members. This will be led by Prof Lokesh Joshi, NUI Galway’s Vice President for Research and medtech entrepreneur, John O’Dea, Crospon. Members of the Network who will participate in the public forum, moderated by NUI Galway graduate Eimear Ní Chonaola, Journalist and TG4/RTÉ broadcaster, include Gerard J. Barry, Director, Debarra Innovations Ltd. Founder, Fintrax Group; Gearóid Faherty, Eurand N.V.; Kevin Conboy, President Irish Chamber of Atlanta; Catherine Toolan, Managing Director, Aramark International; Brian Barry, Chairman, Tirna Partners; and William McLaughlin, Founder, Irish American Business Chamber and Network Inc. and others. The ‘Gaillimh Nua’ Roundtable discussion will this year engage with local initiatives in the areas of Gastronomy, Culture, Innovation, Smart City, Marine and The Emigration Experience. Leading local representatives in each of these emerging and growing areas will address the Forum. Public Forum Speakers: Gastronomy: Cathal O’Donoghue, Teagasc and Alan Farrell, Galway County Council, on Galway’s bid for European Region of Gastronomy 2018. Culture: Gary McMahon, Galway City Council, and Eithne Verling, Galway Museum, on the Galway city and county culture strategy. Innovation: John Breslin, Galway City Innovation District, on the development of Galway’s Portershed initiative, a centralised hub for start-up development and networking. Smart City: Liam Hanrahan, Galway City Council and Niall Ó Brolcháin, Insight Institute, NUI Galway on the Open and Agile Smart city initiative. Marine: Dr Peter Heffernan, Chief Executive of Galway’s Marine Institute, an international leader in marine research and innovation. The Emigration Experience: Laura Colleran and Clare Doyle (Ireland Reaching Out/Ireland XO) who work to build relationships between Ireland’s diaspora and their home counties. Places are limited and those wishing to attend the public forum are required to register in advance at www.conference.ie The forum will be in the Aula Maxima (Lower), Quadrangle Building, NUI Galway. The event begins at 2.00pm. The event will be streamed live online at www.nuigalway.ie /forum ENDS

An international group of scientists led by Professor David McHugh from UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, with contributions from an SFI research group at NUI Galway, have determined that a now-extinct species of giant wild cattle known as the aurochs crossbred with the ancestors of modern day cattle in Britain and Ireland thousands of years ago. Published in the leading journal Genome Biology, the scientists used whole-genome sequencing data generated from a 6,750-year-old British aurochs bone discovered in a cave in Derbyshire, England. Standing over six feet tall to the shoulder and weighing more than a ton, aurochs were giant wild cattle that roamed the plains of Europe for thousands of years. The last recorded aurochs died in Poland in 1627. Researchers Dr Mark Donoghue and PhD student Martin Braud, in the NUI Galway SFI research group of Professor Charles Spillane, contributed to the bioinformatic analysis of the genome data and are all co-authors on the Genome Biology study. Professor Charles Spillane said: “My research team’s contribution focused on identification of the 700 non-coding microRNA genes in the aurochsen genome to identify variants of these microRNA genes associated with the transition from the wild aurochsen form to the domesticated cattle form we are familiar with today. Until recently it was considered that protein-encoding genes were predominantly responsible for how multi-cellular organisms (such as humans or cattle) are built from a single embryo cell. However, genes which encode for small RNA molecules (not proteins) have emerged over the past decade as an important class of genes that can switch off and on biochemical pathways. Such microRNA genes can be considered as analogous to the conductor in an orchestra, where a miRNA gene can act as the “conductor” of a genetic symphony played out by switching on and off many other genes.” The distinct genetic differences between the British aurochs and the original cattle of the Near East known as the Fertile Crescent, allowed the researchers to detect the ancient crossbreeding between British aurochs and the early domestic cattle of Britain. As a result, the researchers conclude that the gene flow from wild aurochs in Britain has significantly shaped the genetic composition of certain breeds of modern British and Irish cattle, in contrast to breeds from mainland Europe. This information will be particularly valuable for the genome-assisted cattle breeding programmes that underpin dairy and beef cattle breeding in Ireland and other countries. Ancient heritage or landrace cattle breeds, such as Scottish Highland cattle and Irish Kerry cattle, were found to be most closely related to the British aurochs, a finding that has significant implications for genetic conservation programmes. It has found that the breeding of wild aurochs with domestic cattle in Britain may have been an important factor in the evolution of these livestock, perhaps through the introduction of desirable traits that helped early domestic cattle to adapt to new environments, such as those encountered in Britain. The aurochs genome sequence also provides an important comparative reference for a more complete understanding of the genetics underlying important behavioural, production (including milk yield) and health traits in domestic cattle. High-resolution whole-genome sequence data from 81 animals was directly compared to the aurochs genome sequence to identify key genes that differentiate domestic cattle from their wild counterparts. A parallel approach, using genetic marker data from 1,225 cattle, provided a broader picture of the genomic changes that have shaped the evolution of modern breeds. The research was part-funded by Science Foundation Ireland and represented an international effort with research contributions from collaborators in UCD, TCD, NUI Galway and IdentiGEN in Ireland, and from international collaborators from the University of Oxford, University of Manchester, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Recombinetics, Inc., and the Beijing Genome Institute (BGI). To view the Genome Biology paper visit: http://www.genomebiology.com/2015/16/1/234 -Ends-

Collaboration Celebrates The Life And Work of Mary O’Malley And The Work of W.B Yeats in Northern Ireland In a unique collaboration, two students from the Centre for Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway, and two drama students from the Lyric Theatre, Belfast will work together to present a new piece of writing based on the extensive archive of Mary O’Malley and the Lyric Theatre, which is held at the James Hardiman Library at the University. The initiative is part of the Arts in Action programme at NUI Galway where Martin Kenny and Beau Holland are current students. Both Galway students along with Luke Bannon and Sarah Blair from Lyric Theatre, will work together with NUI graduate Caroline Lynch, Writer, Actress, and Theatre Director at Lyric Theatre Belfast. By exploring the Lyric Theatre archive at the James Hardiman Library, Archivist Barry Houlihan has discovered the story of Mary O’Malley’s journey and the history of Yeats’ work in Northern Ireland, which will reach new audiences in this the 150th anniversary of the birth of W.B. Yeats. The Lyric Theatre archive is a detailed record of the growth and development of the theatre and its founding director, Mary O’Malley. This event will mine and explore that archive, share new material and present a live event that will draw the audience into the Yeats-inspired Belfast and world of Mary O’Malley and the birth of a new theatre across a time of immense social, political and artistic change. Patrick Lonergan, Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway, said: “NUI Galway is one of the world’s leading centres for the study of Irish theatre archives, and it is wonderful to see the Lyric collection inspiring a new play. This Arts in Action event is a fine example of NUI Galway’s commitment to allowing its students to put their learning into practice, and this cross-border project is the first in what we hope will be many future collaborations with colleagues and students in Northern Ireland." This year will see Northern Ireland students benefiting from a revised CAO points scheme which will make it easier for school leavers to gain entry to NUI Galway. The new scheme will award students with increased CAO points, based on their top three A Levels and may result in a boost in the numbers of Northern Ireland students studying at NUI Galway. In support of Career Teachers and Careers Advisors in Northern Ireland, NUI Galway are the primary sponsors of the upcoming NISCA Conference, which is taking place in La Mon Hotel & Country Club in Belfast on Thursday 26th November. ENDS

NUI Galway welcomes the decision of the Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Joe McHugh TD, to sanction a grant of €2.7 million for Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. This support will assist the provision of academic and educational programmes in the University’s Centres in the Gaeltacht. A yearly allocation of €900,000 will be sanctioned by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht during the period 2015-2018 in addition to specific support for University education through Irish from the Higher Education Authority. NUI Galway operates three centres in the Gaeltacht, located in Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal and in Carna and An Cheathrú Rua in Co. Galway. Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge provides undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Applied Irish, Translation Studies, Communications and Information Technology in the Gaeltacht Centres and on the University’s campus in Galway. The University’s strategic objectives for the Irish language between now and 2018 include: • The provision of first class language acquisition programmes to ensure that advanced language competence is recognised as a graduate attribute for NUI Galway students. • The introduction of a structured Gaeltacht Semester and Student Placement programme by 2016 to assist NUI Galway students to acquire and use the Irish language as part of their degrees. • Becoming the primary national centre for Language Immersion Programmes for Student Teachers through the full utilisation of the University’s Centres in the Gaeltacht. The Registrar and Deputy President of NUI Galway, Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, welcomed the funding decision: “I warmly welcome the decision of Minister of State, Joe Mc Hugh. We want to ensure that NUI Galway graduates have excellent Irish language competence and this support shall provide a level of planning certainty as we implement the University’s Irish language strategy between now and 2018.” CEO of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Dónall Ó Braonáin, also welcomed the funding: “This is significant and important support for the University, especially as we begin to offer the Gaeltacht Semester Programme which will be available across all of our Gaeltacht Centres in time. The Gaeltacht Placement Programmes for Student Teachers have clearly demonstrated the academic advantage of immersion language programmes in the Gaeltacht.” For further information on Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge visit: http://www.nuigalway.ie/acadamh/ ENDS   FÁILTÍONN OÉ GAILLIMH ROIMH THACAÍOCHT DON OLLSCOLAÍOCHT GHAEILGE Cuireann Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, fáilte roimh chinneadh Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta, Joe McHugh TD, soláthar €2.7 milliún a chur ar fáil d’Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Bainfidh an soláthar seo le gníomhaíochtaí oideachais agus léinn a reáchtáil in Ionaid OÉ Gaillimh sa Ghaeltacht. Íocfar allúntas bliantúil de €900,000 ón Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta leis an Ollscoil le linn na tréimhse 2015-2018 de bhreis ar shaintacaíocht don Ollscolaíocht Ghaeilge ón Údarás um Ardoideachas. Tá trí Ionad ag an Ollscoil sa Ghaeltacht agus iad lonnaithe i nGaoth Dobhair, Contae Dhún na nGall agus i gCarna agus ar an gCeathrú Rua i gContae na Gaillimhe. Cuireann Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge cúrsaí léinn fochéime agus iarchéime sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach, i Léann an Aistriúcháin agus na hAteangaireachta, sa Chumarsáid agus sa Teicneolaíocht Faisnéise ar fáil sna hIonaid Ghaeltachta agus ar champas na hOllscoile i nGaillimh. I measc na gcuspóirí straitéiseacha atá ag OÉ Gaillimh don Ghaeilge idir seo agus 2018, tá: • Cláir sealbhaithe teanga barr feabhais a chur ar fáil le go mbeidh inniúlacht den scoth sa Ghaeilge ina príomhthréith ag céimithe OÉ Gaillimh; • Clár struchtúrtha do sheimeastar Gaeltachta agus do shocrúchan oibre a chur ar fáil faoin mbliain 2016 le go mbeadh deiseanna sealbhaithe agus úsáide teanga ag mic léinn OÉ Gaillimh; • Leas a bhaint as Ionaid na hOllscoile sa Ghaeltacht le go mbeidh OÉ Gaillimh ar an bpríomhionad do Thumchláir Theanga in Oideachas Tosaigh Múinteoirí go náisiúnta. D’fháiltigh Meabhránaí agus Uachtarán Ionaid na hOllscoile, an tOllamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh roimh an gcinneadh maoinithe: “Fáiltím go mór roimh chinneadh an Aire Stáit, Joe Mc Hugh. Is mian linn go mbeidh céimithe Gaeilge den scoth ag OÉ Gaillimh agus bhéarfaidh an tacaíocht seo cinnteacht phleanála dúinn agus feidhm á tabhairt againn do Straitéis na hOllscoile don Ghaeilge as seo go 2018.” Dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Dónall Ó Braonáin: “Tacaíocht shuntasach, thábhachtach í seo don Ollscoil, go mór mór agus tús á chur againn le Seimeastar Gaeltachta a bheidh á thairiscint sna hIonaid Ghaeltachta ar fad in imeacht aimsire. Léiríonn na Tréimhsí Foghlama Gaeltachta d’Ábhar Oidí cén buntáiste acadúil a bhaineann le tumchláir sealbhaithe teanga sa Ghaeltacht.” CRÍOCH

NUI Galway researchers work on European collaboration to support creative entrepreneurs through innovation and skills development A new survey of results presented at the recent launch of a creative momentum project at The Dock in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim outlined that across Europe’s Northern Edge, 60% of creative entrepreneurs work on their own. A further 31% of enterprises employ fewer than five people. The survey also showed that just over half (53%) of creative entrepreneurs work from their own home, while 45% are members of some form of creative network or collective. The new three-year, €2 million transnational a creative momentum project, led by the Western Development Commission (WDC) with research support from NUI Galway, will be implemented by six organisations based in Mid-Sweden, North East Iceland, Northern Finland, South East of Northern Ireland and the West of Ireland. An overview of the five regions was given by representatives of the partners during the launch entitled ‘Connecting creativity across Europe’s Northern Edge’. In an effort to address the needs highlighted in the survey, the project aims to build networks to support creative entrepreneurs through innovation and skills development; provide opportunities to network and collaborate across the five partner countries; improve access to international markets; and carry out further research on the creative sector. The activities which a creative momentum project will implement over the next few years were also outlined at the launch ‘what is a creative momentum project’ by Pauline White from the Western Development Commission and supported by NUI Galway. a creative momentum project aims to connect and highlight the wealth of creativity across Europe’s Northern Edge. The depth and importance of the relationship between place and creativity was explored by speakers at the launch, including Roscommon-based author Brian Leyden and Sligo-based graphic designer Gary Reddin. Dr Patrick Collins who is leading the research element of the project from the Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway said: “We are interested in gauging the impact that Culture has on its place. This is a very exciting project that looks at peripheral regions in Europe’s northwest and questions how culture and creativity is affecting the region’s development. It is envisaged that this research will help make a cogent case for the creative and cultural sectors, identifying supports for their growth and more locally complements Galway’s bid for European Capital of Culture in 2020.” Many of the supports under a creative momentum project will be made available through the MyCreativeEdge.eu website. Launched in mid-2013 the site has already attracted 90,000 website visits and 570 creative enterprises have published their free online profile. The survey of creative enterprises found that 68% of respondents already made some sales outside of their home country and MyCreativeEdge will be further developed in the coming years to improve access to international markets. During the launch, the first call for applications for support under a creative momentum project was opened. Find out more about ‘Support to Exhibit at an International Trade Fair’ at www.mycreativeedge.eu  The project is co-funded by the EU Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme. ENDS

Over 1,450 students will graduate from across the five colleges at NUI Galway at the University's winter conferring ceremonies, which take place from Tuesday, 24 November to Thursday, 26 November. Speaking in advance of the ceremonies, President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne, said: “On behalf of NUI Galway, I congratulate all our graduands and extend a warm welcome to their parents, families and friends. We are delighted to acknowledge their outstanding achievements and wish them continued success in the future.” In addition, degrees, higher diplomas, Masters and PhDs will be awarded to students graduating over the three days from the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences; College of Engineering and Informatics; College of Business, Public Policy and Law; College of Science; and the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies. -Ends-   Bronnadh an Gheimhridh in OÉ Gaillimh Bronnfar céim ar bhreis is 1,450 mac léinn as cúig choláiste OÉ Gaillimh idir Dé Máirt, an 24 agus Déardaoin, an 26 Samhain, i searmanais bronnta céime an gheimhridh san Ollscoil. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Jim Browne, roimh thús na searmanais: “Thar ceann OÉ Gaillimh, déanaim comhghairdeas lenár gcéimithe ar fad agus tá fearadh na fáilte roimh a dtuismitheoirí, a dteaghlaigh agus a gcairde. Tá ríméad orainn aitheantas a thabhairt dá gcuid éachtaí agus guímid gach rath orthu san am atá le teacht.” Sa bhreis air sin, bronnfar céimeanna, ard-dioplómaí, Máistreachtaí agus PhDanna le linn na dtrí lá ar mhic léinn ó Choláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte; ó Choláiste na hInnealtóireachta agus na hIonformaitice; ó Choláiste an Ghnó, an Bheartais Phoiblí agus an Dlí; ó Choláiste na hEolaíochta; agus ó Choláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta agus an Léinn Cheiltigh. -Críoch-

Four students from St. Muredach’s College, Ballina, Co. Mayo, were honoured by NUI Galway at the recent Autumn Conferring ceremonies in Galway for their achievement in a global second-level schools engineering competition. Under the direction of their teacher, Ms Karen Cronin, Aaron Hannon, Robert Grimes, Paul Flynn and Enda Flanagan, competing as Team AIB Racing, took third place in the World Finals of F1 in Schools. The event involved teams from around the world competing in Singapore in head-to-head racing of 1/20th scale model Formula 1 cars they designed and built. The St. Muredach’s team, who earlier won the national championship and set a new Irish record, won third place in the world based on their engineering excellence, project management and presentation skills, and the performance of their car. In recognition of the team’s achievements the four transition-year students and St. Muredach’s principal, Leo Golden were presented with a special award by Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway, at the recent conferring ceremony. On the same day, several members of NUI Galway’s ‘Geec’ team graduated with degrees in mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, and energy systems engineering. The Geec (Galway energy-efficient car) is the most energy-efficient car ever built in Ireland. In May 2015 it competed at Shell Eco-marathon Europe, completing the 16-km course with energy consumption equivalent to 8,000 miles per gallon. Design, construction and testing of the Geec formed a central part of the engineering education of the students involved. Team AIB Racing and the Geec collaborated in the run-up to the F1 in Schools finals. As well as securing third place overall, one of Team AIB Racing’s members, Aaron Hannon, was awarded a scholarship in the Ranstad Williams Engineering Academy. This is an initiative in which the Williams Formula 1 team mentors students throughout their engineering education. Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway, commented: “We are delighted to recognise the tremendous international success which the St Muredach’s College students have achieved in the Formula 1 in Schools finals. Ireland’s future will depend on the talent and innovation of such students. NUI Galway was delighted to honour their achievements and that of their school by welcoming them to visit the University’s Engineering facilities and presenting them with an award at our College of Engineering and Informatics conferring ceremony. As talented, bright students I hope that they might choose to return to NUI Galway for their studies. We certainly look forward to the possibility of welcoming them back to campus.” -Ends-

Secondary school students interested in studying at NUI Galway are invited to an information evening in Letterkenny on Thursday, 3 December. Parents and guardians are also particularly welcome to the event which runs from 7pm to 9pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. The evening will begin with short talks about NUI Galway and some of the 60 courses it offers. Afterwards, current students and NUI Galway staff will be on hand at information stands to answer any individual questions in relation to courses offered by the University and about practical issues like accommodation, fees and scholarships, and the wide range of support services available to our students. The ever-increasing popularity of NUI Galway is in-part due to a suite of innovative programmes, developed in response to the changing needs of the employment market. Unique programmes include a suite of Arts degree programmes including Drama, Creative Writing and Human Rights, an Energy Systems Engineering degree which is taught in the University’s new Engineering Building, Ireland’s largest School of Engineering, a Maths and Education degree aimed at training Maths teachers, and a Marine Science degree. Visitors to the information evening will also get information on NUI Galway’s newest degree programmes, a Bachelor of Commerce (Global Experience), Bachelor in Children’s Studies and the new Bachelor of Arts (Joint Honours). Celine O’Donovan, Senior Marketing Officer at NUI Galway, said: “NUI Galway has a great deal to offer. Our own students tell us our lecturers are inspirational and challenge them to achieve their full potential. The student experience in Galway is second to none, and we want to bring a taste of that to County Donegal, while also providing all the practical information on accommodation, CAO points, fees, scholarships and courses. With so many courses on offer, this event in Letterkenny is a perfect opportunity for prospective students to meet current students and lecturers to see what degree might be the right fit for them.” To find out more about the information evening in Letterkenny, contact NUI Galway's Schools Liaison Officer, Gráinne Dunne on 087 244 0858 or grainne.dunne@nuigalway.ie. -Ends-

The Centre for Irish Studies at NUI Galway will host an exclusive screening of a new documentary on the life and work of poet Máire Mhac an tSaoi by award-winning filmmaker Paula Kehoe in the Institute for Lifecourse and Society at NUI Galway on Wednesday, 2 December 2015. Deargdhúil: Anatomy of Passion explores the sensual imagination of a revolutionary poet and includes poems in which the conflicted legacy of political violence for the families of those involved is dramatised and interrogated. The poet’s father Seán MacEntee was in the GPO throughout the Rising and her mother Margaret Browne assisted Michael Collins’s assassination squad during the war of independence. The film premiered at the Cork Film Festival this month (13, November 2015), where it was shortlisted for the Audience Prize, and features the exquisite movement poetry of New York performance artist Maureen Fleming, the voice of Olwen Fouéré, and music by Colm Mac an Iomaire. The screening is the first of a number of public events, including a series of lectures that will take place in Galway City Library early next year. ‘Lectures in the Library/Léachtaí sa Leabharlann’ will explore the lives of individuals who were involved in the Irish revolution, including anarchist Captain Jack White, Peadar Kearney who wrote the ‘Soldier’s Song’ and Liam Gógan who coined the term ‘poblacht’, the first word in the proclamation of the Irish republic. The Centre’s programme of commemorative events will raise questions as to the contemporary relevance of the transformative ideas that led to the formation of the Irish state. The Galway screening of Deargdhúil: Anatomy of Passion will be followed by a questions and answers session with director Paula Kehoe who received the Radharc Award for best Irish documentary in 2014. The screening will take place in the main theatre at the Institute for Lifecourse and Society at NUI Galway on Newcastle Road beginning at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 2 December 2015. Admission is free and everyone is welcome to attend. For further details contact Samantha Williams on 091 492051 or irishstudies@nuigalway.ie or the Centre for Irish Studies Facebook page. ENDS

Consortium led by NUI Galway will develop the world’s first three-dimensional, cell-assembled prototype for human and equine patients suffering tendon injuries The Regenerative, Modular and Developmental Engineering Laboratory (REMODEL), part of the Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), at NUI Galway, has secured almost €4 million for the development of an advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) for tendon repair and regeneration. The project will train 15 early stage researchers in the multidisciplinary field of ATMPs, enhancing European competiveness in this sector. Advanced therapy medicinal products are medicines for human use that are based on genes or cells. They offer ground breaking opportunities for the treatment of disease and injury. ATMPs can include tissue engineered medicines or a combination of one or more medical devices as an integral part of the medicine, for example, cells embedded in a biodegradable matrix or scaffold. The funding was awarded through the Horizon 2020 grant programme, under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Training Networks action. This is the fourth such project being carried out by CÚRAM associated researchers to be funded under this programme. The project, called Tendon Therapy Train, will exploit recent advancements in the process by which cells are grown in controlled conditions, to develop the world’s first three-dimensional, cell-assembled prototype for human and equine patients suffering tendon injuries. The Tendon Therapy Train consortium is led by NUI Galway and is further comprised of six academics, three clinicians and seven industry partners. Over 30 million human tendon-related procedures take place annually worldwide, with an estimated healthcare expenditure in excess of €145 billion per year. In addition, 46% of racehorses suffer from tendon-related injuries which impacts heavily on an industry which is valued at €100 billion in Europe and US$ 300 billion in the US. Current surgical interventions don’t always work effectively and can hinder normal tissue remodelling and function, which creates the need for new functional and clinically viable regeneration strategies. Dr Dimitrios Zeugolis, REMODEL director and consortium lead at NUI Galway, said: “The driving hypothesis of this research is that replacement, repair and restoration of impaired tissue function can be accomplished best by using the cells’ own ability to create highly sophisticated structures with a precision and efficiency still unmatched by human-made devices.” Further, Dr Zeugolis pointed out that, “The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks award will train a cohort of 15 researchers to doctoral level in the area of ATMPs which involves numerous disciplines, equipping them with transferable skills in each discipline that will further European-based knowledge, innovation, competitiveness and leadership in this field.” Speaking about the award, Professor Abhay Pandit, Director of CÚRAM, said: “Tendon Therapy Train is an indicative example of the clinically relevant, cutting-edge research and innovation conducted here at NUI Galway. We are delighted to have secured funding yet again for this highly competitive award.” CÚRAM is the National Centre for Research in Medical Devices, funded by Science Foundation Ireland, with the goal of radically improving health outcomes for patients with chronic illnesses.

NUI Galway’s School of Nursing and Midwifery in partnership with Cuidiú, the Irish Childbirth Trust, are hosting a free public screening of “MILK – Born Into This World” on Thursday, 3 December, at 7pm in Áras Moyola, NUI Galway. The director of the film, Noemí Weis will be available via Skype from Canada for a Q&A session after the screening. Through an intimate and artistic lens, MILK brings a universal perspective on the politics, commercialisation and controversies surrounding birth and infant feeding over the canvas of stunningly beautiful visuals and poignant voices from around the globe. Inspiring, informative, provocative and sensitive, MILK celebrates bringing a new life into this World with a strong call to action and reflection. See the film’s trailer at www.milkhood.com. Speaking ahead of the event, Tara Durkin of Cuidiú Galway said: “This special public screening of Milk, ahead of its general release in Europe, is an exciting chance for Galway’s mothers, fathers, healthcare professionals, students, friends, indeed anyone with an interest in how we birth and feed our babies, to get together to see a powerful new documentary – and discuss it with the director!”   This is the fourth event of the School of Nursing and Midwifery Public Lecture Series, an innovative community outreach initiative which has previously focussed on Suicide Prevention, Ebola Awareness and Elder Abuse. The series aims to share knowledge and expertise on health matters with our local communities. The event is open to the public and free of charge but tickets must be pre-booked at www.eventbrite.ie/e/milk-born-into-this-world-tickets-19448984436. If there are any future topics you would like covered in NUI Galway’s School of Nursing and Midwifery Public Lecture Series, please contact john.quinlivan@nuigalway.ie or mary.e.gannon@nuigalway.ie. -Ends-

NUI Galway is delighted to announce the appointment of Mike Heskin as Director of Sport & Physical Activity. The newly established post underpins NUI Galway's commitment to further strengthening the sport reputation and ethos of the University. As Director for Sport & Physical Activity, Mr Heskin will play the lead role in the strategic management of sport and physical activity in the University and the development of the infrastructure necessary for all sports activity to ensure that NUI Galway will remain at the forefront nationally and internationally in sports excellence through elite and high performance. Specifically, Mr Heskin will ensure that the University will build on previous successes in attracting top athletes and sportspeople to campus as well as supporting and developing opportunities in the area of sports and physical activity across all faculties, he will also ensure the University's contribution to Ireland's playing fields and realise the University’s strategic aspirations in relation to sport, health and well being. Congratulating Mike Heskin on his appointment, the Vice President for Student Experience, Dr Pat Morgan said, "We are very pleased to announce that Mike Heskin will lead and develop our sports reputation. Mike is an established sports manager and brings a passion for sport, a breadth of achievements across various codes and a promise to invigorate our clubs, support our elite athletes and promote the health and wellbeing of all our students and staff. We welcome Mike and under his stewardship, we look forward to ensuring that our national strengths and achievements in sport will continue to grow and prosper." Mike Heskin has served as the CEO of Hockey Ireland for the past three years, where he had overall responsibility for all aspects of Hockey Ireland including their high performance programme. The progress within Hockey Ireland during this time has been matched with similar progress on the International front with all of Hockey Ireland’s teams from under 16 to senior level, both genders, now playing in the top tier of European hockey. Mike has been appointed as the Hockey Manager for the Rio Olympic Games 2016, a role he will now step away from on his appointment as Director of Sport & Physical Activity in NUI Galway. Mike had previously served as a member of the Board of Irish Hockey. Prior to his involvement in Hockey, Mike spent over twenty years involved in International Rowing, coaching and managing to World Championship level. In 2007, Mike was appointed rowing High Performance Manager and managed the team to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He also served as a member of the Board of Rowing Ireland. Speaking of his appointment, Mike Heskin said: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to play a leading role in the development of high-performance sport and physical activity within NUI Galway. I am especially looking forward to working with the University's sports professionals and clubs in developing a performance culture and environment which will enable our athletes and teams to perform at the highest level on both the international and national stage. In turn, with their support, we will develop an engaging, social and fun physical activity program for the enjoyment of the entire student body and staff. With the commitment and leadership shown by the University I am confident that NUI Galway will develop into one of the leading sporting and physical activity hubs on the island of Ireland and become a central player in Irish Sport.” Mike is married to Geraldine (Lupton) and has three children, Claire and Joseph who are both graduates of NUI Galway and Rachel who is a leaving cert student. ENDS Ceapann OÉ Gaillimh Stiúrthóir Nua Spóirt and Aclaíochta Tá an-áthas ar OÉ Gaillimh a fhógairt go bhfuil Mike Heskin ceaptha mar Stiúrthóir Spóirt agus Aclaíochta. Post úrnua é seo agus léiríonn sé tiomantas na hOllscoile cáil agus éiteas an spóirt a láidriú tuilleadh in OÉ Gaillimh. Mar Stiúrthóir Spóirt agus Aclaíochta, beidh ról ceannaireachta ag an Uasal Heskin i mbainistíocht straitéiseach an spóirt agus na haclaíochta san Ollscoil agus san infreastruchtúr riachtanach a fhorbairt do gach gníomhaíocht spóirt chun a chinntiú go bhfanfaidh OÉ Gaillimh ar thús cadhnaíochta go náisiúnta agus go hidirnáisiúnta i sárchaighdeán spóirt agus ardghníomhaíocht spóirt den scoth. Cinnteoidh an tUasal Heskin go háirithe go dtógfaidh an Ollscoil ar an méid a rinneadh roimhe seo ag mealladh na lúthchleasaithe agus lucht spóirt is fearr chuig an gcampas agus deiseanna a fhorbairt i réimse an spóirt agus na haclaíochta i ngach coláiste. Cinnteoidh sé chomh maith go mbeidh seasamh ag an Ollscoil ar pháirceanna imeartha na hÉireann agus go mbainfear amach mianta straitéiseacha na hOllscoile ó thaobh spóirt, sláinte agus folláine de. Ag tréaslú le Mike Heskin ar a cheapachán, dúirt an Leas-Uachtarán d'Eispéireas na Mac Léinn, an Dr Pat Morgan, "Tá ríméad orainn a fhógairt go mbeidh Mike Heskin i gceannas ar ár gcáil spóirt agus go bhforbróidh sé an cháil sin. Is bainisteoir spóirt cruthaithe é Mike agus tabharfaidh sé a phaisean don spórt, a chuid éachtaí i réimsí éagsúla agus a ghealltanas brí nua a chur sna clubanna, tacaíocht a thabhairt do na lúthchleasaithe is fearr agus sláinte agus folláine na mac léinn agus na gcomhaltaí foirne a chur chun cinn chuig an bpost seo. Cuirimid fáilte is fiche roimh Mike agus faoina stiúir, táimid ag súil ár láidreachtaí agus éachtaí náisiúnta spóirt a threisiú." Bhí Mike Heskin ina Phríomhfheidhmeannach ar Haca Éireann le trí bliana anuas, áit a raibh sé freagrach as gach gné den Chumann, an clár ardfheidhmíochta san áireamh.  Chomh maith leis an dul chun cinn a rinneadh ag an am i Haca Éireann tá dul chun cinn idirnáisiúnta déanta chomh maith agus foirne Haca Éireann ar fad ón bhfoireann faoi 16 go dtí an fhoireann sinsir, idir fhir agus mhná, ag imirt sa tsraith is airde haca san Eoraip.  Ceapadh Mike ina Bhainisteoir Haca do na Cluichí Oilimpeacha 2016 in Rio, ach fágfaidh sé an ról seo ina dhiaidh anois agus é ceaptha mar Stiúrthóir Spóirt & Aclaíochta in OÉ Gaillimh. Bhí Mike ar Bhord Haca Éireann roimhe seo. Sula raibh baint aige leis an Haca, chaith sé os cionn scór bliain leis an Rámhaíocht Idirnáisiúnta, i mbun cóitseála agus bainistíochta chomh fada le craobh an domhain fiú.  In 2007, ceapadh Mike ina Bhainisteoir Ardfheidhmíochta ar an rámhaíocht agus is é a bhí ina bhainisteoir ar an bhfoireann sna Cluichí Oilimpeacha i mBéising in 2008.  Bhí Mike ar Bhord Rámhaíocht Éireann chomh maith. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Mike Heskin faoina cheapachán: “Tá áthas orm ról ceannaireachta a ghlacadh agus an deis a bheith agam spórt agus aclaíocht ardghníomhaíochta  a fhorbairt in OÉ Gaillimh.  Táim ar bís le bheith ag obair le gairmithe spóirt agus clubanna na hOllscoile chun cultúr agus timpeallacht ardghníomhaíochta a fhorbairt a thabharfaidh an deis dár lúthchleasaithe agus dár bhfoirne feidhmiú ag an leibhéal is airde go hidirnáisiúnta agus go náisiúnta. Dá thairbhe sin, agus lena dtacaíocht, beidh clár aclaíochta sóisialta agus spraíúil againn a mbainfidh an fhoireann agus na mic léinn ar fad sásamh as. Leis an tiomantas agus an cheannaireacht atá léirithe ag an Ollscoil táim muiníneach go mbeidh OÉ Gaillimh ar cheann de na hionaid spóirt agus aclaíochta is fearr ar oileán na hÉireann agus go mbeidh sí i lár an aonaid i spórt na hÉireann.” Tá Mike pósta le Geraldine (Lupton) agus tá triúr clainne orthu. Is céimithe de chuid OÉ Gaillimh iad beirt dá chlann, is iad sin Claire agus Joseph agus is dalta ardteistiméireachta í a iníon Rachel. CRÍOCH

• More than 90% of children reported that they were exposed to traditional, or offline, alcohol advertisements in the week prior to the study and more than half saw four or more alcohol advertisements per day • 77% of the children reported exposure to alcohol marketing online • 61% of children reported that they owned alcohol branded merchandise Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol-related issues, has said the introduction of legislation regulating alcohol marketing is a child protection issue. A study carried out by the Health Promotion Research Centre at NUI Galway, commissioned by Alcohol Action Ireland, found that Irish children are exposed to large volumes of alcohol marketing, which increases their likelihood of drinking alcohol and engaging in risky drinking behaviour. Dr Michal Molcho, of the Health Promotion Research Centre at NUI Galway, said their findings indicate that there is widespread exposure to alcohol marketing among children aged 13 and upward. “We found that almost all children reported seeing or hearing a traditional or off-line advertisement for alcohol drinks, while 77% were exposed to online marketing and 61% reported that they own alcohol-branded merchandise.” Dr Molcho said that increased exposure to alcohol marketing increased the chances of children to report drinking, binge drinking, and drunkenness. “These findings clearly indicate that the more intense the exposure, the greater the risk of drinking alcohol and engaging in risking drinking behaviours. Given that these findings echo previous studies, coupled with the vulnerability of young people to alcohol, there is a clear need for immediate action on alcohol marketing regulation.” Dr Patrick Kenny, School of Marketing, Dublin Institute of Technology, said the study provides a snapshot illustrating how little protection is currently afforded to Irish children from alcohol marketing. “The bottom line is that the current regulatory system does not protect children from exposure to alcohol marketing and this failure is associated with increased consumption. In a very real sense, these children are victims of society’s failure to protect them and creating an environment where children are free from alcohol marketing is a children’s rights issue that requires immediate attention.” Dr Kenny said that digital alcohol marketing, and in particular social media marketing, is now a central element of the marketing communications mix and needs to be regulated. “Digital marketing allows for more effective targeting of consumers and the interactive nature of this communication makes it arguably more effective than traditional passive advertising methods. It is worth noting that digital marketing operates largely below the radar of policy makers because they do not form part of the target audience, thus making digital marketing significantly harder to monitor or regulate.” Conor Cullen, Head of Communications and Advocacy, Alcohol Action Ireland, said it is vital that we legislate to regulate alcohol marketing, which sees Irish children continuously exposed to positive, risk-free images of alcohol and its use, which are far removed from the reality of the situation. “Alcohol use is a serious risk to children and young people’s health and wellbeing. Far from being a rite of passage, drinking alcohol may well serve to delay the development of vital coping skills, project young people into risky situations and lay the ground-work for future physical and mental health difficulties.” Mr Cullen said we need to protect children from alcohol marketing if we are serious about supporting them to make healthy choices now and in the future. “The forthcoming Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is an important first step in this regard and will finally move us away from the existing systems of self-regulation governing alcohol marketing. These systems have proved completely ineffective in terms of protecting children from exposure to alcohol marketing, which is such a powerful and sophisticated influence on their drinking behaviour and expectations.” To view the Alcohol Study visit:  http://alcoholireland.ie/media_releases/irish-children-are-exposed-to-large-volumes-of-alcohol-marketing-research-finds/ To view the Alcohol Study Brochure visit:  http://alcoholireland.ie/download/alcmarketingstudy.pdf ENDS

NUI Galway study is seeking participants aged 60-85 years to join an experimental study on the effects of listening to music Monday, 30 November, 2015: An ongoing ageing research project at NUI Galway is looking for additional participants to take part in the study. This study is part of a larger ongoing project at the University, which commenced in 2013, exploring the functions and effects of listening to music on the ageing brain with both younger and older adults. The project is now seeking participants aged 60-85 years to join an experimental study on the effects of listening to music. Participants will spend two hours in a lab carrying out a variety of verbal and numerical tasks while listening to music and having their brain waves measured by electroencephalography (EEG). Prior to the lab session participants will complete a questionnaire examining potential links between uses of music, personality and wellbeing. For example, are particular ways of listening to music more common among certain personality types, and do different uses of music have different consequences for a listener’s sense of wellbeing. Jenny Groarke, a musician and PhD student in the School of Psychology at NUI Galway, said: “We will examine whether listening to music improves emotional, social or cognitive functioning, which we hope can be used to benefit older adults in the future.” An important factor in the current research is the role of choice in music listening. Almost all previous studies on the effects of music have been carried out with adolescents or young adults, and most researchers have chosen classical music for participants to listen to. The researchers at NUI Galway have concluded the first part of this study with 18-30 year-olds and noted some interesting age differences in music choices. Ms Groarke added, “We are trying to recreate real world listening experiences in the lab by having participants listen to music of their own choosing. For a start, only one of our 40 student participants selected a classical piece of music, yet almost all older adults studied so far selected classical music.” Participants are asked to choose music for a couple of different scenarios, while socialising or working for example. Whatever the situation, it seems Ed Sheeran is a popular choice, with 25% of the young adults in the study choosing at least one of his hits. While younger people are tending to listen to their favourite music regardless of the situation, older people are demonstrating greater variety and sophistication when choosing music for different contexts. Diverse musical tastes may take time to mature, or this might reflect differences in how age groups are listening to music. The researchers observed that the majority of young people are listening to music on personal devices and streaming services. The amount of choice can be overwhelming, so a well-known, popular song becomes a safe bet. Older people on the other hand tended to have smaller, personal record collections or listen to the radio. Healthy older people may have the most to gain from music listening, yet are rarely included in research on its’ effects. The research team are hoping that another 200 adults over 60 will complete the questionnaire, and are seeking a further 25 people in this age category to visit the lab for their ‘Music and The Brain’ Study. Travel and expenses will be covered by the research team. Jenny Groarke, a native of Galway, was inspired to study the link between music and well-being in older adults by her late grandfather Jimmy Dooley, who sang in the Augustinian choir for more than 65 years and played the drums in the Galway Bay Jazz band in Busker Browne’s every Sunday. She has also set up a business, Sing-Bang Music Workshops, which brings music workshops to nursing homes to improve memory ability, happiness, and quality of life in elderly adults through group music making. The study will run until Christmas and those interested in participating must complete the questionnaire of adaptive music listening functions, and sign up for the experiment at www.sgiz.mobi/s3/AFML Alternatively, participants can request a paper version of the questionnaire by contacting Jenny Groarke on jenny.groarke@gmail.com and for more information on participating in the research visit www.adaptivefunctionsofmusic.com ENDS

Socio-economic marine research symposium focuses on achieving blue growth in the EU and marine policy, and the development of Ireland’s ocean wealth The Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) at the Whitaker Institute and Focal Point Ireland at NUI Galway jointly organised the recent National Event of the Support Team for the Atlantic Action Plan, in association with the Annual Beaufort Socio-Economic Marine Research Symposium. The Atlantic Action Plan aims to revitalise the marine and maritime economy in the Atlantic Ocean area. It shows how the EU's Atlantic Member States, their regions and the European Commission can help create sustainable growth in coastal regions and drive forward the ‘blue economy’ while preserving the environmental and ecological stability of the Atlantic Ocean. With over 100 registered delegates, the day provided participants with an update on a wide range of topics related to the marine sector in Ireland and the Atlantic Area, as well as a forum for discussing funding opportunities available to Irish stakeholders. There was a special on-line address by Commissioner Karmenu Vella, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, as well as input from Iain Shepherd, DG MARE of the European Commission, the Marine Institute, Fáilte Ireland and the INTERREG programmes (an EU supported Structural Funds Programme which supports strategic cross-border and inter-regional co-operation in in the European Union). Delegates had the opportunity to listen to Irish and international researchers in the area of marine socio-economics and discuss on-going research, potential collaboration and future research needs. The event hosted two parallel sessions and showcased current socio-economic marine research and funding opportunities. Sessions focused on the INTERREG Atlantic Area and the Ireland Wales programme and facilitated the use of these programmes in implementing the Atlantic Action Plan. Presentations from both the national contact points of these programmes as well as input from stakeholders involved in these programmes created a lively discussion on the opportunities available, how people are looking to avail of these with the ultimate aim of generating potential project ideas to bring forward in the future. A number of project ideas were presented and discussed on a one-to-one basis in a dedicated networking session in the afternoon. The first session focused on Achieving Blue Growth in the EU: Case Study for Ireland, with an overview of the Atlantic Action Plan and discussion on Measuring the EU and Ireland’s Blue Economy. The second session focused on Marine Policy and the Development of Ireland’s Ocean Wealth: Opportunities and Challenges, with an overview of the Role of the Marine Institute in Marine Policy, Research and Innovation in Ireland and Business Opportunities Associated with the Wild Atlantic Way – Brand and Progress. Each session was followed by two parallel sessions on Implementing Priority 4 of the Atlantic Action Plan and opportunities of the INTERREG Atlantic Area, Ireland-Wales Programmes and Beaufort Socio-Economic Marine Research. For further information visit: www.nuigalway.ie/semru/ ENDS

‘A Nation Rising: Commemorating 1916 and Beyond’ Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD today launched NUI Galway’s 1916 Programme of Events, ‘A Nation Rising: Commemorating 1916 and Beyond’, as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. The University will mark the centenary year with a host of exhibitions, conferences, publications and seminars, both in Irish and English. The programme features artistic, dramatic and musical performances with established and emerging artists. It will also reach out to the wider community, sharing knowledge through public talks, festivals and workshops. Speaking at the launch, Minister Heather Humphreys said: “NUI Galway, as one of our foremost universities, will play a very important role in reflecting on the events of 1916 and the impact they had on the West of Ireland in particular. Our third level institutions are a vital element of next year’s commemorations; our universities in particular will provide a platform for discussion and debate for their students, staff, alumni, and indeed a national and international audience. I would like to thank NUI Galway for the strong partnership approach it has adopted in putting together this impressive programme for 2016, which includes one of the key national conferences to be held next year.” Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway, added: “The men and women who shaped the events of 1916 had different backgrounds, beliefs and ideas, but they shared a drive to create a better Ireland. As a nation joins together to commemorate their vision, so too does our diverse university community. I am delighted to see so many colleagues contributing to the programme from across many disciplines, in particular from the Arts and Humanities. The expertise, energy and passion they bring to the commemoration is a fitting tribute to the legacy of 1916. It gives me great pleasure to invite you to join us in reflecting on a remarkable year in the making of our nation.” As part of the Commemorative Programme, NUI Galway will host the major national academic 1916-2016 conference in November 2016, with academic contributions from a broad range of Ireland’s universities and institutes of technology as well as from a number of leading international figures. The University has appointed a 1916 Scholar in Residence to co-ordinate and curate many of the events in the University’s Commemorative Programme. Based in the Moore Institute at the University, Dr Conor McNamara will conduct research on the 1916 Rising and its context in Co. Galway and the West of Ireland. He will prepare a catalogue of resources, in English and Irish, from the University’s archives and elsewhere, with a view to facilitating future research on the revolutionaries of 1916-23. Throughout the year, he will also engage with local community groups across the country, and assist with a planned exhibition marking Galway’s role in the Great War and the Irish Revolution. Dr Mary Harris, Senior Lecturer in History at NUI Galway and Co-ordinator of the University’s 1916 Commemorative Programme, noted: “The largest mobilisation outside Dublin in Easter Week 1916 took place in Co. Galway, where over 600 men and women rose. Many dreamed of a Republic, others were motivated by the prospect of land reform. In previous years, however, those involved in the Gaelic and Anglo-Irish revivals saw the West in a more romantic light, as the repository of authentic Gaelic culture. This commemorative programme examines the events of 1916 from a variety of perspectives at local, regional and national levels.” For more information on NUI Galway’s events commemorating the 1916 Rising visit www.nuigalway.ie/anationrising. -Ends- Seolann an tAire Humphreys Clár Comórtha 1916 OÉ Gaillimh mar chuid den tionscnamh Éire 2016: Clár Comórtha Céad Bliain ‘Éire á múscailt: Comóradh ar 1916 agus ar lean é’ Inniu sheol an tAire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, Heather Humphreys TD Clár Imeachtaí 1916 OÉ Gaillimh, ‘Éire á múscailt: Comóradh ar 1916 agus ar lean é’, mar chuid den tionscnamh Éire 2016: Clár Comórtha Céad Bliain. Déanfaidh an Ollscoil comóradh ar an gcéad bliain le raidhse taispeántas, comhdhálacha, foilseachán agus seimineár, i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla araon. Beidh ealaíontóirí seanbhunaithe agus nua i mbun léiriúcháin ealaíonta, dhrámata agus cheolmhara mar chuid den chlár. Cuimseoidh an clár an pobal níos leithne chomh maith, áit a roinnfear eolas ag cainteanna poiblí, féilte agus ceardlanna. Ag labhairt di ag an seoladh, dúirt an tAire Heather Humphreys: “Mar cheann de na hollscoileanna is iomráití sa tír, beidh ról thar a bheith tábhachtach ag OÉ Gaillimh agus muid ag féachaint siar ar imeachtaí 1916 agus an tionchar a bhí acu ar Iarthar na hÉireann go háirithe. Is cuid lárnach iad institiúidí tríú leibhéal na tíre de chomóradh na bliana seo chugainn; cuirfidh na hollscoileanna go háirithe ardán ar fáil do phlé agus do dhíospóireacht i measc mac léinn, comhaltaí foirne, alumni agus go deimhin lucht spéise náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh le OÉ Gaillimh as an gcur chuige láidir comhpháirtíochta atá glactha aici agus an clár iontach seo á chur le chéile do 2016; clár a áiríonn ceann de na mór-chomhdhálacha náisiúnta a bheidh ar siúl an bhliain seo chugainn.” Dúirt an Dr Jim Browne, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh: “Is iomaí cúlra, creideamh agus tuairim éagsúil a bhí ag na fir agus na mná a bhí taobh thiar d’imeachtaí 1916, ach bhí siad ar fad meáite ar Éirinn níos fearr a chruthú. Agus an náisiún ag teacht le chéile chun fís na ndaoine sin a chomóradh, tá pobal éagsúil na hOllscoile tagtha le chéile chomh maith. Táim an-sásta an oiread comhghleacaithe as lear mór disciplíní a fheiceáil ag glacadh páirte sa chlár, go háirithe comhaltaí foirne sna Dána agus sna Daonnachtaí. Is iontach an meas d’oidhreacht 1916 atá á léiriú ag an saineolas, an fuinneamh agus an díograis atá acu i leith an chomórtha. Is mór an pléisiúr dom cuireadh a thabhairt daoibh féachaint siar ar bhliain chomh tábhachtach i stair ár náisiúin.” Mar chuid den Chlár Comórtha, eagróidh OÉ Gaillimh mór-chomhdháil acadúil náisiúnta 1916-2016 i mí na Samhna 2016, áit a dtiocfaidh lucht acadúil le chéile as réimse leathan ollscoileanna agus institiúidí teicneolaíochta na hÉireann mar aon le ceannródaithe idirnáisiúnta. Tá Scoláire Cónaitheach 1916 ceaptha ag an Ollscoil chun comhordú agus eagrú a dhéanamh ar go leor de na himeachtaí ar Chlár Comórtha na hOllscoile. Tá an Dr Conor McNamara lonnaithe in Institiúid de Móra agus tabharfaidh sé faoi thaighde ar Éirí Amach 1916 agus a chomhthéacs i gCo. na Gaillimhe agus in Iarthar na hÉireann. Cuirfidh sé catalóg acmhainní le chéile, i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge, bunaithe ar chartlanna na hOllscoile agus ar fhoinsí eile, d’fhonn taighde a éascú amach anseo ar réabhlóidithe 1916-23. I gcaitheamh na bliana, oibreoidh sé le grúpaí pobail áitiúil ar fud na tíre, agus cabhróidh sé le taispeántas a chur le chéile d’fhonn ról na Gaillimhe sa Chogadh Mór agus i Réabhlóid na hÉireann a cheiliúradh. Dúirt an Dr Mary Harris, Léachtóir Sinsearach le Stair in OÉ Gaillimh agus Comhordaitheoir Chlár Comórtha 1916 OÉ Gaillimh: “Ba i gCo. na Gaillimhe a tharla an slógadh is mó lasmuigh de Bhaile Átha Cliath i rith Sheachtain na Cásca 1916, áit ar éirigh os cionn 600 fear agus bean amach. Ba é aisling na Poblachta a bhí mar threoir ag cuid acu, bhí cuid eile spreagtha ag leasú chóras na talún. Sna blianta roimhe sin, áfach, bhí íomhá níos rómánsúla d’Iarthar na hÉireann acu siúd a bhí bainteach le hathbheochan na Gaeilge agus leis an athbheochan Angla-Éireannach; dar leo bhí sé mar stór den fhíorchultúr Gaelach. Leis an gclár comórtha seo déantar scrúdú ar imeachtaí 1916 ó pheirspictíochtaí éagsúla ar leibhéal áitiúil, réigiúnach agus náisiúnta.” Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoi imeachtaí OÉ Gaillimh chun Éirí Amach 1916 a chomóradh téigh chuig www.nuigalway.ie/anationrising. -Críoch-

The School of Psychology at NUI Galway, with the support of Cancer Care West is currently recruiting people experiencing persistent fatigue since the completion of cancer treatment (treatment completed at least three months ago). A new online programme called REFRESH (Recovery from Cancer-Related Fatigue) has been developed at NUI Galway to help people learn how to better manage fatigue symptoms following cancer treatment. The programme was developed as part of four years of research into cancer-related fatigue by Cancer Care West and Hardiman Scholar, Teresa Corbett who launched the programme with Cancer Care West CEO, Richard Flaherty recently. Over the last three years, Ms Corbett has met with individuals who have persistent and lingering fatigue after cancer. Fatigue is one of the most debilitating and frustrating symptoms patients endure following cancer treatment. For some, these symptoms can last for months or even years after treatment. This can have an emotional and functional impact on peoples’ lives and such overwhelming fatigue can hold people back from resuming ‘normal life’ after cancer. The REFRESH trial will provide eight free online treatment sessions to people in the comfort of their own home. The content is based on the principles of cognitive-behavioural therapy, a psychological therapy that has proven to be effective in the management of symptoms such as fatigue. The online sessions will focus on what people do and think in response to their fatigue symptoms. Participants will be provided with instructions on a range of activity-pacing techniques to encourage more consistent levels of activity from day-to-day. Useful relaxation techniques and how to sleep better will also be provided. Teresa Corbett, co-ordinator of the study at NUI Galway, said: “I have met so many people who are fatigued after cancer treatment. Often they feel frustrated and confused about their symptoms. Programmes like this can be beneficial. Unfortunately, people often feel that they do not get the support they need to re-adjust to life after cancer. We want to help people to learn skills to enable them to move on with their lives. In this trial, we will offer our programme to adults who have completed anti-cancer treatment for any type of cancer.” Ms Corbett added, “We are very keen to keep this online study personal, so that people know there is a supportive team behind it. Online programmes can allow many people to access high quality care from their own home, but we know how important it is to have human contact too.” The study is open to people throughout Ireland and will take place over the coming months. General Practioners and cancer support networks around the country are encouraged to get in touch and refer suitable people with fatigue to the study. For further information contact Teresa Corbett, School of Psychology at NUI Galway on nuigrefresh@gmail.com or visit the website https://nuigrefresh.wordpress.com/ -Ends-

Dr Emily Porter has been awarded the prestigious postdoctoral fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to join a large European Research Council project at NUI Galway. This two-year fellowship is awarded to one of Canada’s most promising researchers with leading edge scientific and research skills. Dr Porter is a recent PhD in Electrical Engineering graduate of McGill University, Montreal, Canada, where she studied microwave radar for breast health monitoring. She will join the ERC research group in the new Translation Research Facility at University Hospital Galway, a custom-build facility to enable state-of-the-art medical research. She will be supervised by Dr Martin O’Halloran, a Science Foundation Ireland Investigator, who recently secured over €1.8 million from the European Research Council to examine the dielectric properties of human tissue, as a platform for the development of new medical devices. Working alongside NUI Galway’s Dr Róisín Dwyer and Professor Michael Kerin in the Lambe Institute for Translational Research, Dr Porter will develop improved methods for measuring the dielectric properties of biological tissue. These properties are of fundamental importance to understanding the interaction of electromagnetic fields with the human body. In particular, these quantities determine the absorption of electromagnetic fields in human tissues. Dielectric property research is extremely relevant to the advancement of electromagnetic medical devices for the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers and other diseases, and will provide a basis for her colleagues at the Translational Research Facility to investigate and apply such techniques. -Ends-

Secondary school students interested in studying at NUI Galway are invited to an information evening in Tralee on Thursday, 15 October. Parents and guardians are also particularly welcome to the event which runs from 7 to 9pm in the Brandon Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry. The evening will begin with short talks about NUI Galway and some of the 60 courses it offers. Afterwards, current students and NUI Galway staff will be on hand at information stands to answer any individual questions in relation to courses offered by the University and about practical issues like accommodation, fees and scholarships, and the wide range of support services available to our students. The ever-increasing popularity of NUI Galway is in-part due to a suite of innovative programmes, developed in response to the changing needs of the employment market. Unique programmes include a suite of Arts degree programmes including Drama, Creative Writing and Human Rights, an Energy Systems Engineering degree which is taught in the University’s new Engineering Building, Ireland’s largest School of Engineering, a Maths and Education degree aimed at training Maths teachers, and a Marine Science degree. Visitors to the information evening will also get information on NUI Galway’s newest degree programmes, a Bachelor of Commerce (Global Experience), Bachelor in Children’s Studies and the new Bachelor of Arts (Joint Honours). Celine O’Donovan, Senior Marketing Officer at NUI Galway, said: “NUI Galway has a great deal to offer. Our own students tell us our lecturers are inspirational and challenge them to achieve their full potential. The student experience in Galway is second to none, and we want to bring a taste of that to County Kerry, while also providing all the practical information on accommodation, CAO points, fees, scholarships and courses. With so many courses on offer, this event in Tralee is a perfect opportunity for prospective students to meet current students and lecturers to see what degree might be the right fit for them.” To find out more about the information evening in Tralee, contact NUI Galway's Schools Liaison Officer, Johanna Walsh on 086 7851730 or johanna.walsh@nuigalway.ie. -Ends-

NUI Galway applied mathematician collaborates with Chinese researchers to find brain matter is softer than a gelatine gel, and may have promising results for neurosurgery A team of Chinese researchers from Tsinghua University in Beijing has collaborated with an applied mathematician at NUI Galway to measure how soft brain matter really is. The researchers were able to determine that brain matter is extremely soft, even softer than common gelatine. The study appears in the October issue of Biomechanics and Modelling in Mechanobiology. The research was carried out by generating ‘acoustic beams’ on the surface of the brain, and focusing the beams to interact at a location inside the brain. The interaction amplified the magnitude of the beams and eventually a sound wave was launched in the bulk of a brain. The sound wave was then observed in an ultrafast image through an ultrasound scanner, similar to those used in obstetrics. The speed of the wave was measured, and then related to stiffness of the brain matter through mathematical equations, like the pitch of a plucked string can be related to its tension. The connection between wave speed and stiffness was made through advanced modelling and simulations, which were mainly carried out at NUI Galway. Professor Michel Destrade, School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics at NUI Galway and affiliated with the International Brain Mechanics and Trauma Lab at Oxford University said: “Previously I had compared the brain to glue by testing cubic samples of the brain. During this study the brain was fully intact and compared to a very, very soft gelatine gel, basically a wobbly liquid.” Results from the research showed that brain matter is at least three times softer than a gelatine gel. This extreme softness helps explain why brain matter is so susceptible to impacts and rapid accelerations of the head, such as those occurring in sporting accidents, car accidents or following a bomb blast. The research has promising results for neurosurgery, if it can be used to measure the stiffness of healthy tissue compared to that of brain tumours. At the moment neurosurgeons have to rely on crude estimates to determine the extent of a brain tumour, as it is visually undistinguishable from the surrounding healthy tissue. First they remove a part of the skull to access the brain, and then use finger palpation to estimate how soft or hard a region is, before deciding which part to remove, a procedure which has barely improved in the last 100 years. For more information contact Professor Michel Destrade, School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, NUI Galway on michel.destrade@nuigalway.ie or 091 492344. To view the paper visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10237-015-0658-0  -Ends-

Two NUI Galway PhD students were awarded first place medals at the Irish Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting which took place in Dublin recently. The medals were awarded to Marie Fitzgibbon from Oola, Co. Limerick and Hannah Durand from Galway City. The research poster presentations were judged by a panel of international experts who commended the high quality of the research. Researchers from the Centre for Pain Research and Galway Neuroscience Centre at NUI Galway have had an outstanding record of success in this competition over the years, being among the prize winners on every occasion. Marie Fitzgibbon, a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Discipline of Physiology, won the Pre-Clinical Pain Research Medal for her presentation ‘Peripheral inhibition of FAAH attenuates formalin-evoked nociceptive responding in a mouse model of IFN-α-induced analgesia.’ Marie’s research, supervised by Dr Michelle Roche and Professor David Finn, involves the investigation of mechanisms underlying co-existent mood and pain disorders as well as the identification of future therapeutic targets. Marie’s research is funded by Molecular Medicine Ireland Clinical and Translational Research Scholars Programme and Science Foundation Ireland Research Frontiers Project. Hannah Durand, a first-year PhD candidate in the School of Psychology, won the Clinical Pain Research Medal for her presentation ‘Persistent and recurrent pain in childhood: Patterns of childhood chronic pain over two years (PRIME-C).’ Hannah’s research, supervised by Dr Siobhan O'Higgins and Dr Brian McGuire, examined the characteristics of children who reported chronic pain at more than one time point in the PRIME-C survey, which evaluates the prevalence, impact, and cost of chronic pain for 5–12 year old children living in Ireland. PRIME-C is funded by the Health Research Board Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement Award. Leader of the Galway Neuroscience Centre and Co-Director of NUI Galway’s Centre for Pain Research, said: “We are delighted to see NUI Galway researchers win these prestigious prizes for their work. Our pain research aims to advance the understanding and treatment of chronic pain, a major unmet clinical need affecting at least 20% of the population.”   The meeting also witnessed the launch of the new Irish Pain Research Network (IPRN), a new initiative that will run as a special interest group of the Irish Pain Society. Professor Rolf-Detlef Treede, President of the International Association for the Study of Pain, launched the new research network, together with Professor David Finn, incoming President of the Irish Pain Society. The aim of IPRN is to bring together all active pain researchers on the island of Ireland for the purposes of sharing research results and ideas and facilitating cross-institutional collaboration in the area of pain research. -Ends-