News Archive

University of Galway spinout, Relevium Medical, has been awarded €4.6 million in Government funding to develop an immediate and long-lasting treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Relevium Medical secured the investment for their RestOAre project to develop therapies for debilitating chronic pain and disease progression of knee osteoarthritis.   Research by University of Galway academics has played a key role in the project, including innovative pain modelling and drug screening, along with scientific analysis of biomolecules derived from marine organisms which target receptors in the knee.   The funding was awarded through the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF), which is managed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and administered by Enterprise Ireland. It will support the development of a treatment that offers patients immediate long-lasting pain relief and reduced progression of knee osteoarthritis.   The disease is incurable, complex and progressively worsens over time impacting the whole joint structure. It is the fastest-growing cause of disability due to an ageing population and the obesity epidemic.   Affecting more people each year than cancer and heart disease, knee osteoarthritis (OA) is routinely described as the world’s largest hidden disability, with 250 million people globally living with knee OA, and the prevalence has doubled in the past 50 years.    The multibillion-euro knee OA market is primed for disruption with the majority of patients relying on damaging oral pain medications.   Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said: “This Government investment is one of the most significant Disruptive Technologies Innovation Funds awarded to University of Galway, and for one of our spinout companies to secure it, it demonstrates the scale of our ambition and impact as a global leader in research and innovation excellence. “Relevium Medical’s treatment for knee osteoarthritis is ground-breaking and the team has global ambitions to improve the lives of people who live in chronic pain from the disease. The University’s commitment to a high calibre of research-led collaborations with industry will ensure we continue to develop transformative needs-led solutions for society.” Founded in 2019, Relevium Medical is a spinout from the University of Galway BioInnovate Ireland programme and currently employs a team of nine people. The project consortium is led by Relevium Medical in partnership with HookeBio (Ireland), and a research team led by Dr Leo Quinlan from University of Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences which developed innovative pain model platforms and a drug screen programme, and Professor Olivier Thomas from University of Galway’s College of Science and Engineering which analysed biomolecules derived from marine organisms that uniquely target the key receptors the team have identified in knee osteoarthritis. Dr Alison Liddy, Chief Executive and co-founder of Relevium Medical, said: “We are thrilled to lead this groundbreaking €4.6 million project in partnership with University of Galway and HookeBio, to advance this innovative solution for knee osteoarthritis. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in addressing a condition that impacts millions worldwide and underscores Relevium Medical’s commitment to building a robust R&D pipeline.” Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke T.D., and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., announced the funding of €4.6 million to Relevium Medical, the first project to emerge under Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. Professor Martin O'Halloran, Director of BioInnovate Ireland, University of Galway and co-founder of Relevium Medical, said: "BioInnovate is delighted to see this alumni company growing and scaling, with the significant support of Enterprise Ireland and the DTIF programme. We are particularly proud of the fact that Relevium is a female-led company, and we hope Relevium’s achievement will encourage other ambitious women to join the BioInnovate programme."   To date €376 million has been awarded to 105 projects across seven DTIF Calls. Prospective applicants can obtain detailed information on the Fund and on the application process through enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF. Ends

University of Galway has welcomed 19 research students to campus as part of the Hardiman PhD Scholarship. The new scholars come from more than a dozen different countries to take part in the scheme and the opportunity to pursue a structured doctorate at the University on topics aligned to five key areas of research: - Enhancing policy and society - Enriching creativity and culture - Improving health and wellbeing - Realising potential through data and enabling technologies - Sustaining our planet and people Applications for the 2025 round of Hardiman PhD Scholarships will open on Monday December 2nd, and will remain open until Friday February 7th, 2025 at 5pm. For more information or to apply for a Hardiman PhD Scholarships visit www.universityofgalway.ie/hardiman-scholarships.             Professor Dónal Leech, Dean of Graduate Studies at University of Galway, said: “Hardiman Research scholar recipients join the University to undertake deep, creative, and distinct research supported by our excellent academic supervisors. The 19 scholars were selected from a large pool of applicants seeking to develop their research skills and independence through our renowned structured PhD programmes. The scholarship is a recognition of excellence for the awardees and provides fee and stipend support over four years for the researchers to generate new knowledge that improves our world.” The 2024 Hardiman PhD scholars and their subject areas include: College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies: Katie Cox, Ireland - The pathways and factors involved in right-wing radicalisation and extremism among young people in Ireland. Conor McDonough, Ireland – The study of the Bible in early medieval Ireland. Honor Faughnan, England - The Transmission and Creative Reshaping of Senecan Tragedy in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Sveva Zafferri, Italy – Investigating the potentialities and challenges of integrating Artificial Intelligence technologies in Foreign Language Teaching through Audiovisual Translation. Jeannine Bätz, Germany - International cultural studies, comparative literary studies. Hau Nguyen, Vietnam - Understanding sexual health services utilisation among men experiencing homelessness in Ireland.   College of Business, Public Policy and Law: Dewan Scholtz, South Africa - Investigating the Application and Extent of Control Theory and Temporal Structuring Through Crowd Dynamics in Online Open-Source Platforms. Ramez Alhayek, Palestine – International Criminal Law and Genocide Studies: Research assesses whether Israeli conduct towards Palestinians—since 1948—aligns with the legal definition of genocide under the Genocide Convention Patrick Wing McHale, Australia - Studying the impacts of climate change and industrialisation on children's health, well-being, and education outcomes. Michelle O’Donnell, Ireland - Examining the people dimension during scaling and how it can be balanced with economic objectives. Grace Barnes, England - The operation of sexual stereotypes in human rights discourses and how disabled women’s identities are shaped in this context.   College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences: Jia Wei Teh, Malaysia - Study of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists in Hypokalaemic Hypertension. Oran McNamara, Ireland - Investigating Bumetanide as a potential therapeutic intervention in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Yajaira Feller Sánchez, Canary Islands – Research will focus on neuroscience, specifically studying novel mutations that lead to severe epilepsy in children. Ross Walsh, Ireland - Exploring early stromal changes in colorectal cancer using advanced imaging and AI techniques to enhance diagnosis.   College of Science and Engineering: Asena Isik Gürhan, Turkey - The Molecular Programming of self-organised DNA interfaces for nanoscale quantification using Divergent-Diffusion-based AI Models. Gift Samuel David, Nigeria – Research will focus on marine biological resources, particularly microplastic pollution, fisheries, food safety and marine ecotoxicology, aimed at conserving marine environments and ecosystems. Mohsen Abbasi-Asl, Iran - Biostatistics: Developing personalized reference ranges for monitoring blood pressure. Zarghona Hassani – Afghanistan - Investigating the role of IRE1 -JUP signaling access in cancer cell migration. Ends

#NoExcuse. UNiTE to end violence against women University of Galway is joining with 15 third level education institutions in Ireland as part of the global campaign - 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The campaign gets underway today Monday November 25th - the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The initiative will highlight the urgent need to eliminate violence against women and girls, underscored by this year’s theme: Every 11 Minutes, a Woman is Killed. #NoExcuse Dr Helen Maher, Vice President of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, said: “Universities have a responsibility not only to educate but to create safe and inclusive spaces for all. Our campaign on gender-based violence reflects our commitment to raising awareness, supporting survivors, and fostering a culture of respect and accountability. This is informed by research, policy and practice to ensure a comprehensive and collective approach to build a community where everyone feels safe and valued.” Niamh Kavanagh, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Manager at the University of Galway, said: “The University of Galway was delighted to collaborate with Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and SVH (Sexual Violence and Harassment) colleagues from 16 higher education institutions across the country to have a meaningful sectoral response for this campaign.” The 16 Days of Activism campaign runs until December 10th (Human Rights Day). It was launched in 1991 by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute as a call to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence worldwide. Now, with the backing of the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign, universities, organisations, and individuals around the globe are joining the cause. University of Galway calls upon students, staff, and the wider community to participate in these 16 Days of Activism to foster a world where no woman or girl lives in fear of violence. How to Get Involved: Promote Zero Tolerance: Use your voice to spread a message of zero tolerance for violence against women and girls. Engage Leaders: Advocate for policies that enforce zero tolerance towards violence and protect women’s rights. Support Local Women’s Organisations: Donations and volunteer support are critical to the success of these organisations. Share Awareness Using #NoExcuse: Amplify the message on social media, in schools, workplaces, and communities. The national campaign at third level includes University of Galway; Atlantic Technological University; Dublin City University; Dundalk Institute of Technology; IADT- Institute of Art, Design and Technology; Mary Immaculate College; Munster Technological University; Maynooth University; South East Technological University; Technological University Dublin; Technological University of the Shannon; University College Cork; University College Dublin; University of Limerick; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Trinity College Dublin. Read more about University of Galway’s 16 days of Activism against Gender Based Violence schedule of events here: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/equalityanddiversity/sexualviolenceandharassmentpreventionandresponse/16daysofactivismagainstgenderbasedviolence/ Ends

Three University of Galway academics have been named on the annual Highly Cited Researchers 2024 list from Clarivate. Professors Ines Thiele, Henry Curran and Patrick W. Serruys have once again joined the prestigious list of almost 7,000 researchers from more than 1,200 institutions in 59 countries and regions around the world. The academics who make the Clarivate list have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their research through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade. Professor Jim Livesey, Vice President for Research and Innovation, University of Galway, said: “A huge congratulations to our academics - Ines Thiele, Henry Curran and Patrick Serruys - who have been named this year among the world’s most highly cited. To be part of this prestigious global group is testament to the quality and impact of their work and a fitting recognition of their determination to develop breakthroughs and solutions for healthcare and engineering of the future. It also highlights the strong commitment to research excellence at University of Galway.” Professor Ines Thiele, listed in the Cross-Field category, is Professor of Systems Biomedicine and principal investigator of the Molecular Systems Physiology group at University of Galway. Professor Thiele has been pioneering the development of digital metabolic twins for humans and human associated microbes. Her team uses these digital twins to develop innovative approaches to accelerate the diagnosis of inherited metabolic diseases and to enable the prediction of personalised treatment strategies. This is her second year being named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher. Professor Henry Curran, listed in the Engineering category, is Director of the Combustion Chemistry Centre at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Science and Engineering and of the Energy Research Centre in the Ryan Institute at University of Galway. His research looks at the study of the chemistry of how fuels burn in combustors to increase efficiency and reduce emissions for a cleaner world. This is his 10th year being named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher. Professor Patrick W. Serruys, listed in the Clinical Medicine category, is Established Professor of Interventional Medicine and Innovation, Co-founder and Senior Consultant of the CORRIB Research Centre for Advanced Imaging and Core Laboratory at University of Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Professor Serruys is a world-renowned expert in interventional cardiology and imaging with more than four decades experience in clinical trials and innovation in medicine. He has pioneered several interventional procedures and devices as well as imaging techniques. This is his fifth year being named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher.   Bar Veinstein, President of Academia and Government at Clarivate, said: “We celebrate these Highly Cited Researchers whose exceptional and community-wide influence shapes the future of science, technology and academia globally. We honour not just their scientific achievement but their impact on driving innovation and addressing wider societal challenges to help transform our world.” The full 2024 Highly Cited Researchers list can be viewed at https://clarivate.com/highly-cited-researchers/. Ends

A new study by researchers at the University of Galway and the University of Limerick suggests that electrical stimulation might be essential for tendons to maintain their health, offering fresh possibilities in tendon repair and regeneration.   The research took place at the CÚRAM Research Centre for Medical Devices, funded through Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, formerly Science Foundation Ireland.  Tendons resist intense mechanical stress, while facilitating force transmission from muscles to bones. They are also piezoelectric, meaning that when they are stretched, they will produce an electric field, which is thought to be important for regulating tendon cell function. However, when injured, tendons offer limited healing, which often leads to chronic pain and disability, thus affecting patient productivity.   In 2023, major tears or traumatic injuries to tendon, ligaments and muscles affected nearly half a million people in full-time employment in the United States.   Recovery from tendon injuries is slow and often requires extensive rehabilitation, which causes nearly two months of lost work-days per injury. Current regenerative medicine for tendon repair has so far failed to recreate tendon cells' native environment, which ultimately hampers their therapeutic potential.   Led by Dr Marc Fernandez-Yague, who completed his PhD while a researcher with CÚRAM at University of Galway, the research team focused on understanding how electrical and mechanical signals work together to control tendon cell function. Traditionally, tendon cells are extremely difficult to culture in the lab as they rapidly and irreversibly lose their tendon-like functions once isolated from the body.   To address these challenges, the team developed a novel cell culture device - a "tympanic piezoelectric bioreactor" that works in a similar way to the human eardrum and which delivered mechanical vibrations and electrical stimuli to tendon cells.   This dual stimulation caused cells to better retain their healthy, tendon-specific properties, while being expanded in the lab, allowing them to be utilized in tissue repair and regeneration approaches.  Dr Fernandez-Yague said: “Our work is rooted in a deep understanding of how cells sense and interact with their environment. Until now, tendon cells are grown in the lab in a specialised device which stretches them to mimic the effects of body movement. However, this approach overlooks that tendon tissues are piezoelectric – they generate electrical signals when subjected to mechanical stress. Our research project engineered a dynamic electrical-mechanical stimulation systems, which provides cells with the specific signals they need to successfully guide their development, thereby recreating key environmental conditions observed during normal tissue formation and repair.”  Dr Manus Biggs, Associate Professor at University of Galway and principal investigator of the study, outlined some wider implications of the research: “While our approach shows great potential for ultimately growing tendon tissues in the lab, it also has significant implications for generating other tissues that respond to dual electrical and mechanical forces, such as cartilage, bone, and even cardiovascular tissues. This study opens up new possibilities for developing therapies that promote tissue reinforcement and offer alternative or complementary strategies to current physical rehabilitation methods.  “We understand that traditional musculoskeletal therapies often rely on physical therapy which provides mechanical signals to the cells of regenerating tissues. In contrast, incorporating electrical stimulation provides greater precision in controlling how cells respond, offering a more effective approaches for applications in regenerative medicine. Critically, tendon piezoelectricity has long been alluded to have physiological functions. This study is one of the first of its kind that shows that piezoelectric signals can regulate cell differentiation and development.”  The full paper is available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202405711   Ends 

Dámhachtainí Oinigh le bronnadh ar dheichniúr daoine clúiteacha Beidh breis agus 3,300 mac léinn ag filleadh ar an gcampas chun go mbronnfar a gcáilíocht acadúil orthu ag searmanais bhronnta an gheimhridh in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Cuirfear tús leis an gceiliúradh ar an gcampas inniu agus leanfar leis go dtí Dé Céadaoin, an 27 Samhain. I rith na seachtaine freisin bronnfaidh an Ollscoil céimeanna oinigh ar an deichniúr seo a leanas mar aitheantas as a bhfuil bainte amach acu agus as an obair atá déanta acu: Martin Griffiths, Fo-Ard-Rúnaí na Náisiún Aontaithe le haghaidh Gnóthaí Daonnúla agus Comhordaitheoir na Fóirithinte Éigeandála – Dochtúir le Dlíthe Tony Connelly, iriseoir agus údar, agus Eagarthóir Eorpach Nuacht RTÉ – Dochtúir le Litríocht Keith Finnegan, craoltóir agus iarláithreoir an chláir Galway Talks ar Galway Bay FM – Dochtúir le Litríocht Dolores Keane, amhránaí tíre Éireannach den stíl thraidisiúnta a bhfuil cáil idirnáisiúnta uirthi – Dochtúir le Ceol An tOllamh Paul Yock agus an Dr Joshua Makower, bunaitheoirí Stanford Biodesign a thug tacaíocht do bhunú BioInnovate Ireland – Dochtúir le hEolaíocht Owen Reidy, Ard-Rúnaí Chomhdháil na gCeardchumann (ICTU) – Dochtúir le Dlíthe An Dr Éanna Ní Lamhna, luibheolaí agus feithideolaí, láithreoir agus craoltóir – Dochtúir le hEolaíocht Marina Fiddler agus Tara Nic Dhiarmada, bunaitheoirí MADRA – Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption – Dochtúir le Dlíthe                 Dúirt Uachtarán Eatramhach Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Peter McHugh: “Tá lúcháir orm a bheith in ann aitheantas a thabhairt don ghrúpa daoine eisceachtúla seo, agus an gradam seo a bhronnadh orthu agus muid ag déanamh ceiliúradh chomh maith ar a bhfuil bainte amach ag 3,350 mac léinn dár gcuid i gceithre Choláiste na hOllscoile. Tréaslaím leis na daoine clúiteacha seo ar fad, agus beimid ag teacht le chéile mar phobal ollscoile le hómós a léiriú dóibh sin, agus do na daoine a bhfuil a gcéim le bronnadh orthu, ag searmanais bhronnta an gheimhridh. Is ócáidí iad seo a bhfuil tábhacht leo. Meabhraíonn siad dúinn go léir an chúis a bhfuilimid ann agus an méid a dhéanaimid ar son mhic léinn na hOllscoile seo.”             Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Ollamh Becky Whay, an tUachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí Eatramhach: “Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le gach céimí as a gcéim a bhaint amach. Is léiriú é ar a gcumas, a saothar agus a ndúthracht le blianta fada. Ba mhaith liom freisin comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis na daoine eisceachtúla a mbronnfar céimeanna oinigh orthu. Tá a chion féin déanta ag gach céimí oinigh díobh sna réimsí éagsúla seo a leanas: forbairt pobail, an saol poiblí, cultúr agus taibhiú, cearta an duine, agus taighde. Thar ceann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe tá áthas orm ómós a léiriú dóibh as a bhfuil bainte amach acu.” Tá sceideal iomlán shearmanais bhronnta an gheimhridh 2024 le fáil ag  https://www.universityofgalway.ie/conferring/   Críoch

Ten distinguished individuals receive Honorary awards More than 3,300 students are returning to campus to receive their academic awards at University of Galway’s winter conferring ceremonies. The celebrations begin today and continue until Wednesday November 27th on campus. Throughout the week the University will also award honorary degrees to 10 individuals in recognition of their achievements and work including: Martin Griffiths, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator - Doctor of Laws Tony Connelly, journalist and author and Europe Editor for RTÉ News - Doctor of Literature Keith Finnegan, broadcaster and former presenter of Galway Talks on Galway Bay FM - Doctor of Literature Dolores Keane – internationally-renowned, traditional Irish folk singer - Doctor of Music Professor Paul Yock and Dr Joshua Makower, founders of Stanford Biodesign and supporters of establishment of BioInnovate Ireland - Doctor of Science Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) - Doctor of Laws Dr Éanna Ní Lamhna, botanist and entomologist, presenter and broadcaster - Doctor of Science Marina Fiddler and Tara Nic Dhiarmada, founders of MADRA – Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption - Doctor of Laws                       Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said: “I am delighted to be in a position to recognise this group of extraordinary individuals, and to recognise them at the same time as we celebrate the achievements of 3,350 of our students across our four Colleges. I congratulate each of these distinguished individuals and look forward to coming together as a university community to honour them, with our graduands, at our winter ceremonies. These are important occasions for us all, reminding us why we are here and what we do for our students.”              Professor Becky Whay, Interim Deputy President and Registrar, said: “I would like to congratulate each graduate on their achievement in earning their degrees, marking the culmination of their talent, effort and commitment over many years. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the exceptional individuals being bestowed with honorary degrees. Each one has made an outstanding and distinctive contribution in the diverse fields of community development, public life, culture and performance, human rights, and research. On behalf of University of Galway I am delighted to honour them and their achievements in this way.” The full schedule for the 2024 winter conferring ceremonies is available at  https://www.universityofgalway.ie/conferring/ Ends

   ReelLIFE SCIENCE video prizes awarded to schools and youth groups in Louth, Limerick, Galway, Mayo, Meath, Kerry, Cork, Sligo and Roscommon   From soundwaves to skeletons and nettles to nanotechnology, short science videos made by young Irish filmmakers have been celebrated at the 12th Annual ReelLIFE SCIENCE Awards in University of Galway. The event took place on as part of Science Week 2024 and the 27th Galway Science and Technology Festival. More than 300 short science films, created by 2,300 young science enthusiasts in 99 schools and youth groups across the island of Ireland entered the competition. Winning videos were selected by a panel of guest judges, including astronaut Rosemary Coogan, European Space Agency; engineerDr David McKeown, University College Dublin; scientist Dr Muriel Grenon, University of Galway; and the 2024 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition winner, Seán O’Sullivan from Coláiste Chiaráin, Limerick. ReelLIFE SCIENCE Winners 1st Prize Primary School – Thirty talented 3rd and 4th class students from Gaelscoil Riabhach in Loughrea, Co Galway, along with their teacher Brian Ó Meacháin, won the €1,000 first prize for their video ‘Faoi Bhrú’ explaining air pressure. Runners-up Primary School – 6th class students from Abbey Primary School in Boyle, Co Roscommon studied the skeleton in their ‘Spine-Tingling Science’ video, while 1st class students from Ardfert National School, Tralee, Co Kerry, finished third with ‘Cranefly Investigation Special’ describing the humble daddy longlegs. 1st Prize Post-Primary – Mandisa Jili, a 5th year student from Desmond College, Newcastle West in Limerick, wowed audiences with her animated explanation of the Weak Force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature, winning the €1,000 first prize under the guidance of teacher Liam Eddery. Runners-up Post-Primary - Shaun Irimpan, Oliver Biju, Jeremy Twinkle and Chris Ben from Coláiste Na Mí, Navan, Co Meath, highlighted the addictive nature of TikTok and other social media apps in ‘Tick. Tock’ while ‘FOMO’, from Aisling Lehane, Amy White and Chloe Lehane, transition year students in St Mary's Macroom, Co Cork was awarded third place, for its portrayal of the fear of missing out, exacerbated by social media posts. 1st Prize Youth Organisation - Young filmmaker and musician Arden Oakes, from Grow Music, Dundalk, Co Louth, won the €1,000 youth group prize for his video ‘What are Sound Waves?’. Runners-up Youth Organisation – Katie Ruane from Louisburgh Foróige youth club in Mayo came second with ‘Why do Nettles Sting?’, while third place went to ‘Nanotechnology’ by Ruslan Hlukhmaniuk, Hordii Kolisnyk, Daria Krasnoshchok and Kiril Lychov from the Ukranian Integration Support Project in the Foróige South Sligo youth group. Special Category Awards Alexandra College, Milltown, Dublin Teamwork Award Colaiste Muire, Ennis, Co. Clare Science and Me Award Gaelscoil Shlí Dála, An Bealach Mór, Contae Laoise Físeán Gaeilge is Fearr Kilrickle National School, Co. Galway Junior Scientists Award Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ, Courtbrack, Limerick How Things Work Award Nagle Community College, Mahon, Cork Best Animation Award Scoil an Linbh Íosa, Carrigans, Co. Donegal Maths Award Sooey National School, Co. Sligo Best Acting Award St Aidan's National School, Shannon, Co. Clare Science in Sport Award St. Mary’s Primary School, Granemore, Co. Armagh Best Science Song Ukranian Integration Support Project, Foróige South Sligo Science in Space Award All of the winning videos can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/ReelLifeScience.             Addressing the finalists via video message from the European Space Agency, Belfast-born competition judge Rosemary Coogan, said: “As an astronaut and an astrophysicist, I know the rewards of a journey in science and exploration, and STEM has the possibility to open so many doors, whether that’s discovering new things about our universe or developing the next big innovation here on Earth. I wish you the very best of luck in all of your future scientific adventures.” The ReelLIFE SCIENCE programme challenges young people in schools and youth groups across the island of Ireland to engage with science and technology while developing their communication and digital skills, by producing short educational videos for the public. Since being launched in 2013 by a team of scientists from the University of Galway’s College of Science and Engineering, this challenge has been met by over 29,000 young people, supported by teachers and staff in 790 schools and youth groups. ReelLIFE SCIENCE is supported by the Research Ireland Discover Programme, University of Galway’s College of Science and Engineering, the CÚRAM SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, the Cell EXPLORERS programme and Foróige.   Ends

High blood pressure, smoking, and atrial fibrillation - a common irregular heartbeat - are associated with increased severity of stroke, according to new findings from the global INTERSTROKE study led by University of Galway in collaboration with McMaster University, Canada. INTERSTROKE is one of the largest international studies on stroke risk factors, involving over 26,000 people across 32 countries, including almost 13,500 who had experienced their first stroke. The study’s findings, published online in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, underline the importance of managing modifiable stroke risk factors. The study looked at how common risk factors, such as high blood pressure, relate to risk of severe stroke, and mild-moderate stroke, which is regarded a stroke that does not affecting your ability to walk independently. Three risk factors - high blood pressure, smoking, and atrial fibrillation were linked to higher risk of severe stroke, compared to mild-moderate stroke. Lead author Dr Catriona Reddin, researcher at University of Galway and Geriatric Medicine Specialist Registrar at Health Services Executive Ireland, said: “Stroke can cause disability or death, yet many risk factors can be managed with lifestyle changes or medication.  Our results show that controlling high blood pressure, along with managing atrial fibrillation and avoiding smoking, are especially importance in reducing the risk of severe stroke.” The study’s key findings include: High Blood Pressure: Among participants, 74% of those with severe stroke had high blood pressure, compared to 72% with mild to moderate stroke. High blood pressure was associated with a 3.2 times higher likelihood of severe stroke. High blood pressure was associated with both severe and mild-moderate stroke. Atrial Fibrillation: 11% of people with severe stroke had atrial fibrillation, compared to 9% with mild to moderate stroke. People with atrial fibrillation were 4.7 times more likely to suffer a severe stroke. Atrial fibrillation was associated with both severe and mild-moderate stroke. Smoking: 30% of people with severe stroke were current smokers, with smoking doubling the likelihood of severe stroke. Smoking was associated with both severe and mild-moderate stroke. Professor Martin O’Donnell, Professor of Neurovascular Medicine, Executive Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Galway, and Consultant Stroke Physician with Health Services Executive Ireland, co-leads the INTERSTROKE study, in partnership with Professor Salim Yusuf from the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University, Canada. Commenting on the findings, Professor O’Donnell said: “In the main publication from INTERSTROKE study, we reported on key risk factors for stroke. In the current paper, we report on whether these common risk factors have an impact on severity of stroke. Our findings further emphasis the critical importance of detecting and treating hypertension, to reduce the rates of severe stroke, which is of relevance in all regions of the world. This research highlights practical steps that individuals and healthcare providers can take to lower stroke severity risk.” The INTERSTROKE study, conducted with a diverse range of participants from various geographical, ethnic, and cardiovascular backgrounds, continues to build understanding of preventable risk factors to inform stroke prevention strategies worldwide. A series of findings have been released as part of the wider INTERSTROKE project and can be accessed here.  Ends

Tá Ollscoil na Gaillimhe tar éis ainm nua, Gaillimh Idirnáisiúnta, a bhaisteadh ar Oifig Gnóthaí Idirnáisiúnta na hOllscoile. Is mórthionscadal é seo ina bhfuil níos mó béime á cur ar ghnóthaí idirnáisiúnta ar fud na hOllscoile agus ina bhfuil naisc idirnáisiúnta á neartú, lena chinntiú go mbeidh an tacaíocht agus na hacmhainní is gá ag mic léinn, ag an bhfoireann agus ag comhpháirtithe as gach cearn den domhan chun go mbeidh rath ar a saothar. Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Uachtarán Eatramhach Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Peter McHugh: “Ag machnamh dúinn ar ár n-oidhreacht agus ar an gcomóradh a rinneadh le gairid ar na chéad 68 mac léinn a tháinig anseo 175 bliain ó shin, is fiú go mór ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta againn agus na huaillmhianta atá againn ar bhonn idirnáisiúnta. Tá forbairt tagtha ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe a bhuíochas leis an dúshraith a leagadh síos maidir le feabhas i dteagasc agus i bhfoghlaim atá bunaithe ar thaighde. Agus le bunú Ghaillimh Idirnáisiúnta tá an chéad chéim eile curtha i gcrích againn chun a chur ar chumas phobal na hOllscoile tabhairt faoi dheiseanna agus faoi dhúshláin nua." Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Ollamh Becky Whay, Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Léiríonn Gaillimh Idirnáisiúnta go bhfuil Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ag cur beart le briathar maidir lena bhfuil geallta aici do mhic léinn as gach cearn den domhan. Treisíonn ár gcomhpháirtíochtaí oideachais agus taighde i níos mó ná 100 tír ár gcáil mar ollscoil ina gcuirtear fáilte roimh dhaoine agus a bhfuil éagsúlacht ag baint léi. “Tá an cur chuige atá againn chun an ghné idirnáisiúnta a neartú dírithe ar a thuilleadh deiseanna staidéir thar lear a chur ar fáil do mhic léinn na hOllscoile seo; deiseanna a thabhairt do mhic léinn ar fud an domhain teacht anseo; agus deiseanna a thabhairt dár lucht acadúil agus dár dtaighdeoirí oibriú ar thionscadail chomhpháirtíochta le comhghleacaithe in institiúidí thar lear agus a bheith ag foghlaim ón obair sin. “Socraíodh dá réir sin Gaillimh Idirnáisiúnta a thabhairt ar an oifig mar gur fearr an léiriú a thugann an t-ainm sin ar an áit mar ollscoil chomhaimseartha atá i dtiúin leis an domhan mórthimpeall uirthi. Is ainm nua é, ach táimid chomh dáiríre agus a bhí riamh faoin ngealltanas a thugamar tacú le mic léinn as gach cearn den domhan agus comhpháirtíochtaí láidre idirnáisiúnta a chothú.” Tá méadú 50% tagtha ar líon na mac léinn ó thar lear le cúig bliana anuas mar thoradh ar an tionscadal Gaillimh Idirnáisiúnta in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe cheana féin agus méadú 30% ar na deiseanna staidéir thar lear agus ar na deiseanna malartaithe do mhic léinn. Roinnt sonraí faoin Ollscoil: 20,000 mac léinn ó níos mó ná 110 tír 4,000+ comhthionscadal taighde in 178 tír Deiseanna staidéir thar lear in 72 ollscoil idirnáisiúnta in 36 tír, lena n-áirítear clár Erasmus in 180 ollscoil in 24 tír de chuid na hEorpa 2,500 comhalta foirne – is thar sáile a tháinig an cúigiú cuid acu, nó mar sin, go Gaillimh Ballraíocht i gComhghuaillíocht Ollscoileanna Eorpacha ENLIGHT a bhfuil 10 n-ollscoil dlúth-thaighde páirteach inti agus iad ag plé le níos mó ná 30 comhthionscnamh oideachais nua Cuireann foireann Ghaillimh Idirnáisiúnta, i gcomhar le foireann tacaíochta na hoifige ar fud na hOllscoile, seirbhísí ar fáil do mhic léinn, don fhoireann acadúil agus taighde agus dár gcomhpháirtithe maidir le réimsí éagsúla ar nós an phróisis iontrála, chun a chinntiú go mbíonn mic léinn lánpháirteach i saol na hollscoile agus i gcomhpháirtíochtaí domhanda. Chomh maith leis sin, cuireann siad béim ar chabhrú leis na mic léinn chun go mbeidh rath ar a saothar agus cuireann siad buntacaíochtaí maidir leo seo a leanas ar fáil chomh maith: gairmeacha agus deiseanna fostaíochta; naisc le hearnáil na tionsclaíochta; comhairle faoi lóistín; agus imeachtaí sóisialta. Críoch

 University of Galway has relaunched its International Affairs Office as Global Galway. The major project is embedding internationalisation across the University and strengthening international ties, ensuring that students, staff and partners from around the world have the support and resources to succeed. Interim President of University of Galway, Professor Peter McHugh, said: “As we look back on our heritage and the recent anniversary of the first 68 students arriving here 175 years ago, the scale of our growth and ambition internationally is a great cause for celebration. The development of University of Galway is built on the foundation of excellence in research-led teaching and learning and with Global Galway we have created the natural next step to position our community to embrace new opportunities and challenges." Professor Becky Whay, Deputy President and Registrar at University of Galway, said: “Global Galway reflects University of Galway’s ever-growing commitment to students from around the world. Our educational and research partnerships in more than 100 countries reinforces our reputation as a welcoming and diverse university. “Our approach to internationalisation is about creating more opportunities for our students to study abroad; opportunities for students to come here from around the world; and opportunities for our academics and researchers to work with and learn from collaborations with counterparts in institutions overseas. “Global Galway is a natural next step for us on these journeys and it better reflects who we are today as a university, one that’s deeply connected with the world around us. While the name is new, our commitment to supporting global students and fostering strong international partnerships is as strong as ever.” PhD student Natalia Hermida Cepeda said: “Coming from Colombia, a country marked by conflict, Ireland, and especially Galway, has been a beacon of light. The opportunity to study at University of Galway for a PhD in Children’s Studies, which places children totally at the heart of the research, is totally unique. The warmth and willingness of its people to help, along with the sense of security the Irish embody and work to maintain, has truly made us feel at home.” University of Galway’s Global Galway project has already led to a 50% increase in students from overseas in five years and a 30% increase in study aboard and exchange opportunities for students. The University has: 20,000 students from more than 110 countries 4,000+ research collaborations in 178 countries Study abroad opportunities in 36 countries with 72 international universities, including the Erasmus programme in 180 universities in 24 European countries 2,500 staff – about one fifth of whom came to Galway from overseas Membership of the ENLIGHT European University Alliance of 10 research-intensive universities with more than 30 new joint education initiatives The Global Galway team, along with the office’s support staff across the University, provide services to students, academic and research staff and our partners in areas such as admissions, student integration and global partnerships, as well as placing an emphasis on student success with essential supports to help with careers and employability; industry connections; accommodation advice; social activities. Ends

Tuesday November 12, 2024: An international development expert from University of Galway is to support the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment of climate change and its impact. Dr Una Murray, Director of the MA in International Development Practice in the University’s Discipline of Geography and a Principal Investigator with the University’s Ryan Institute, will provide advice on the topics of climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was founded in 1988 and provides the evidence to the governments of the world through comprehensive Assessment Reports about knowledge on climate change, its causes, potential impacts on people and the planet and response options. International experts are invited to its Working Groups to synthesise all available evidence on climate change and identify how best to reduce emissions, how to make societies more resilient and how to ensure a just transition for those most affected by climate change. Minister for Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan, T.D., welcomed Dr Murray’s appointment: “Governments rely heavily on the gold standard evidence on climate change that is provided by the IPCC. This is critical to ensure our policies are evidence-based and to reduce risk of any maladaptive policies in response to climate change. Ireland has well recognised experts who can contribute to this evidence. We are also beginning to shake off our label as a climate laggard and are developing a reputation instead as a country that is showing that climate action can and is working. This is driven by the progress we are making nationally in reducing our own emissions, but also because of the calibre of the academics, scientists, researchers and policy experts we have working in the field.” Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said: “Dr Murray’s engagement with one of the leading climate change bodies at the UN is testament to both her insight and expertise on international development issues as well as our university's strategic commitment to sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The invitation for Dr Murray to advise on the issues of climate and its impact on people and society is a testament to the value we place on research-led excellence for the public good.” Dr Murray said: “This is a great honour for me but also for University of Galway. One of my key aims is to provide IPCC contributions in relation to climate change and human migration. At the University of Galway, my research team is working on climate change, migration and social protection which I have presented at the UN Climate Summits over recent years. My team’s research advocates for climate adaptive social protection as a key policy response to help tackle climate vulnerability and reduce inequalities.” Dr Murray’s expert advisory role is with the IPCC’s Working Group II, which will be scoping the next IPCC Seventh Assessment Report (AR7), focusing on climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. The IPCC AR7 Scoping Meeting is being organised from December 9-13, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ends

Twenty-two of Ireland’s top entrepreneurs and innovators presented new research breakthroughs to leading figures in business and industry at a special showcase at University of Galway. The 22 high potential start-ups were selected for their IP-backed, deep-tech solutions that aim to solve global challenges and hold the prospect of being the next big-ticket homegrown enterprise. The research-led innovations are in the areas of medical technologies, pharmaceuticals, biotech, AI, photonics and biosensors. Invention pitches included a new therapy option for retinal diseases; a probiotic solution aimed at helping eczema sufferers; the first non-invasive medical device to treat severe menopause symptoms; and an AI algorithm that proactively identifies signs of diminished mental wellbeing at an early stage. Twelve of the high potential start-ups have been developed at University of Galway, with additional projects from UCD, UCC, Tyndall National Institute and ATU. The day-long showcase was the third in a series of Business Partner events organised by the Innovation Office at University of Galway. The initiative facilitates intensive networking between researchers, start-up entrepreneurs, business leaders, mentors and industry experts. Founders and innovators sought access to business leaders in the areas of R&D capability, manufacturing, marketing, clinical and investment supports, to help transform their inventions into market-ready innovations. Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President, University of Galway, said: “University of Galway has a long tradition of fostering innovation and enabling and empowering our research community, not least in the areas of healthcare and engineering.   “Celebrating research excellence and innovation at University of Galway, this event showcased new opportunities for industry collaborations between our entrepreneurial researchers and the business community. “It is heartening to see the central role played by Irish universities that are to the forefront in fostering innovation and developing solutions that can have a meaningful impact in the market. By bridging academic research with practical applications, these initiatives are not only advancing technology but also addressing real-world challenges in society. “This collaborative approach not only supports the growth of these start-ups but also contributes to the broader narrative of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. It is a great example of how dedicated support can lead to remarkable stories of success and impact.” Investors, business partners, mentors and business advisors had the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research innovations and to meet with those driving the future of business and technology in Ireland. Jacinta Thornton, Associate Director, Innovation Office, University of Galway, said: “University of Galway excels in innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering a vibrant ecosystem where students and faculty can develop new ideas and successfully bring them to the market. “The Innovation Office plays a pivotal role in this process, working closely with researchers at every step of their journey. By accelerating research impact and empowering emerging technologies and spinouts, the University is helping to cultivate the next generation of high-potential start-ups. This commitment not only enhances the entrepreneurial landscape but also contributes significantly to the region’s economic growth and technological advancement. “We would like to acknowledge and thank everyone who supported and participated in today’s event from University of Galway, UCD, UCC, Tyndall and ATU, and our business partners, investors and mentors.” The research projects which have spawned business innovation were supported through funding programmes from Enterprise Ireland, Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland and the EU. Ends.

Social media shows that while we take note of the issue, it’s all but brief.   Wednesday November 6, 2024: On hearing the news of Lonesome George’s death, the last Pinta Island tortoise, most people are likely to think it is sad and noteworthy news. But do we really care? As the world experiences what experts describe as the sixth mass extinction researchers have studied how people react to the news of animals, such as Lonesome George, disappearing from the planet for good. The team, led by University of Galway in collaboration with UCD and Maynooth University, turned to big data and the world of culturomics to measure how we react to the demise of animals and plants and whether we mourn their loss or if we are numb to the effects. The full study has been published in the journal Animal Conservation and is available at https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12997 Dr Kevin Healy, School of Natural Sciences and the Ryan Institute at University of Galway, said: “Culturomics is an approach where we gather large amounts of online data to understand cultural patterns. In our study we tracked changes in tweets, and Wikipedia page visits before and after the extinction of eight species ranging from Lonesome George, the last Pinta Island tortoise, to more obscure species such as the bean snail.” The research team analysed data of more than two million Wikipedia page visits and more than 100,000 tweets and retweets on Twitter between 2007 and 2023, relating to eight species now extinction species including the Pinta Giant Tortoise; the Christmas Island Whiptail-skink; the Bramble Cay Mosaic-tailed Rat; the Alagoas Foliage-gleaner; Captain Cook's Bean Snail; the Oahu Treesnail; the Rabb's fringe-limbed treefrog and the West African black rhinoceros, to test if people increased engagement after the extinction and how global it was. By measuring interactions on both X and visits to Wikipedia, the researchers were able to gauge how people engage with the more immediate world of social media in comparison to the expected slower paced world of an online encyclopaedia. The study showed that while tweets, retweets and posts on X relating to a species increased after its extinction, this was only a short-lived phenomenon. In contrast, visits to Wikipedia pages relating to an extinction had longer lasting engagement. Dr Susan Canavan, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway and lead author on the study, said: “Overall, we found that people mentioned a species on twitter more often directly after its extinction, however this increase was quite short lived. However, when we looked at Wikipedia page visits the increase in page visits after an extinction was sustained for far longer.” The researchers also found that the most commonly used words are strongly associated with sadness and that for a brief moment even those relatively obscure species found in highly localised parts of the world are mourned across the globe. Dr Canavan added: “Overall, it does look like people care and are saddened by the news of extinction. We see words like ‘RIP’ and ‘lost’ commonly appear, and that the location of tweets expand from close to the species range, to across the globe after extinction.” However, while people display a sense of caring on hearing news of extinction, where they hear it from, or how they hear it, was found to be an important driver in how they engage with it. The researchers found that a small cohort of “influencers” drive the majority of engagement on X. For example, engagement on X after the extinction of the West African black rhinoceros were heavily influenced by posts from the comedian Ricky Gervais. And while people respond to the news of extinction on mainstream media, there was no noticeable increase in engagement or page visits associated with official extinction announcements from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Dr Healy said: “From a conservation point of view, these results show that we can do better in communicating species extinction by more clearly linking in with media outlets and engaging with particular parts of social media. People’s engagement with conservation issues, such as extinction, does matter, as it can drive funding, or add support for conservation policy and even influence conversations on controversial topics such as attempting to bring species back from extinction using biotechnology.” Dr Kevin Healy has written more about this research at The Conversation. The article is free to republish under creative commons license. More here: https://theconversation.com/people-do-care-about-extinct-species-but-not-for-long-new-study-242979 Ends

Key leaders from across the public sector are to come together at University of Galway’s J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics to share insights and explore how lessons from crisis can be used to deliver future reform.   The event – Leading Change in the Public Sector: Using Crisis to Deliver Future Reform – is part of the School’s Thinking Beyond thought leadership series.   Former and current public sector leaders will take part in the event on Wednesday November 13th from 8.30am to 11am, in the O’Donoghue Theatre at University of Galway. Ireland has experienced two of the most significant crises over the past two decades. It has been 14 years since then Taoiseach Brian Cowen announced that EU-ECB-IMF troika would oversee Ireland's economic affairs due to the financial crisis.   Some 10 years later, the highest level of movement restrictions was imposed due to the novel COVID-19 virus. The Irish economy has rebounded on the back of both crises and the event will examine the lessons learned, as well as the ongoing cultural and structural transformation in process across the Defence Forces.  Former Secretary General at the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Dr Orlaigh Quinn, who worked in Government through both the seismic events will deliver the keynote address.   A panel discussion is also being hosted with Dr Quinn; Dr Ronan Glynn, the former Deputy Chief Medical Officer and current Health Sector Lead and Partner, EY; Elizabeth Canavan, Assistant Secretary General at Department of the Taoiseach; and Brian Molloy, Defence Forces Head of Transformation and President of the Camogie Association.    The event will be chaired by Alma McCarthy, Professor of Public Sector Management and Dean of J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway.                  Professor McCarthy said: “Ireland’s public services employ more than 370,000 people with annual budget over €90 billion in 2024. Effective leadership of our public services significantly impacts every single citizen in our state.  Our speakers all have extensive public sector management experience with responsibility for overseeing and delivering wide-ranging change and extensive reform programmes. I am really looking forward to hearing how learnings from recent crises can be harnessed to continue to deliver public sector reform.”    Further information or to register for the event is available at https://www.universityofgalway.ie/thinkingbeyond/publicsectorreform/.   Ends

Researchers from University of Galway have revealed the extent to which language plays a part on how migrants integrate in rural Ireland. The study explores the experiences of people living across 11 counties and placed a particular focus on language, both English and Irish, and its impact on migrants’ experience of employment, access to services, and community involvement. The research forms part of the Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland-funded project Rural Villages, Migration and Intercultural Communication (VICO), led by Dr Andrea Ciribuco from the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at University of Galway. Dr Ciribuco said: “Migrant integration in rural areas is a crucial issue for the future of Ireland and Europe, yet most migration research focuses on urban settings. Ireland also has one of the highest rates in Europe of migration into rural areas. This study and event provide a vital platform to explore the unique opportunities and challenges of rural migration. “The high level of migrants moving to rural Ireland comes with specific challenges linked to infrastructure and migrant integration; but also with opportunities in terms of cultural and economic vitality. Too often, public discourse weighs heavily on the challenges.” The report was launched at a public event at University of Galway, featuring discussions with local organisations and special guest Zak Moradi, Kurdish-Irish hurler and author of Life Begins in Leitrim. The findings and recommendations are based on comprehensive fieldwork, including interviews and focus groups, conducted between March 2023 and June 2024 with 165 migrants, of 31 nationalities, who are living in 11 counties (Galway, Mayo, Waterford, Kerry, Cork, Kilkenny, Wexford, Clare, Tipperary, Carlow, and Limerick). This came at a crucial time, with the relocation of more than 100,000 Ukrainian citizens to Ireland after Russia launched its war in 2022. Ukrainians make up a consistent part of the cohort, and the study outlines many of the challenges that they encountered over two years of life in Ireland; as well as documenting the efforts made by several communities to involve them in social life. The study underscores the complex adaptability of rural areas for migrants, shaped by factors like socio-economic opportunities and the degree of individual choice. Some of the key findings are: -      English classes have a crucial role in facilitating social inclusion, building connections among migrants and with local communities -      In order to retain this dimension, stakeholders prefer to host classes in-person, resorting to online only for particularly isolated communities -      Mothers with small children reported having a hard time accessing classes and training due to childcare responsibilities, even when educational opportunities were available Migrants who are eager to work point to a lack of more advanced language education which can become a barrier to satisfactory employment. -      In certain regions, particularly the Gaeltacht, the Irish language can become a factor of integration. Migrants saw Irish as an important part of the local culture and heritage, and are interested in the language, especially when their children are learning it in school. But few have the time or opportunity to learn it. -      Rural migration can offer positive experiences for newcomers, especially when communities actively foster cultural engagement. -      Challenges - such as access to services, limited infrastructure - especially public transport, and a lack of translation and interpreting services remain significant barriers. -      Family, more specifically children, is one of the determinants of adaptation to rural areas, as parents often reported being happy in the location when their children were happy. -      Nearly all participants mentioned they never had negative reactions from locals when speaking their native language within a rural community. Many felt safe and more included in rural areas -      Limited employment opportunities in rural settings were cited as a barrier towards living in the location for the long term but learning English was seen as a gateway to a job and, subsequently, to inclusion in Ireland The research team also noted that migrants who had chosen to live in a specific rural setting often reported being happy there; while when the choice was made for them - as was often the case with Ukrainians - the reactions were more varied. However, the study also found that some participants who had not initially chosen the rural location also reported feelings of well-being when they had the opportunity to feel included, for example with community initiatives. The researchers offered recommendations based on the research: Establish consultation processes to facilitate communication between migrants and residents, allowing both groups to express needs, concerns, and shared goals to support community integration. Increase access to English language classes and introduce Irish language programmes, tailored to meet diverse needs, including professional development and caregiving responsibilities. Use digital tools to supplement language education, which can help overcome barriers in rural areas by offering blended in-person and online options. Allocate resources to train interpreters and educate communities on the risks of relying on informal or non-professional translation. Encourage sharing successful strategies between different communities to encourage migrant inclusion in public life through innovative local initiatives. Encourage initiatives that involve parents through schools and youth centres, recognising that children play a key role in fostering belonging and enhancing family language skills. Ends

University of Galway is inviting prospective postgraduate students to its open evening to learn more about their options for further study.   The event is also hosted on campus to allow would-be postgrads to avail of the opportunity to meet with academics and professional services to get an insight into life at the University.   The ‘Find Your Masters’ event takes place on Tuesday November 12, 2024 from 4-6pm in the Bailey Allen Hall, Áras na Mac Léinn.   Caroline Duggan, Head of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Recruitment, University of Galway, said: “Our postgraduate open evening is key for those who want to broaden their skill-sets, increase their specialist knowledge, future proof their career, build their professional network, and ultimately improve their career prospects. Almost half of the people applying to our postgraduate courses are not recent graduates, they are returning to study or upskilling for their current job.   “The value of a postgraduate qualification is proven in terms of future proofing your career, improving employability and career progression, increasing lifetime earnings, and many of our courses also offer opportunities for placement and internships.”   University of Galway offers more than 200 postgraduate courses across a range of subjects including Humanities, Business, Law, Engineering, Science and Computer Science, Nursing, and Medicine and Health Sciences. The open evening is an informal networking event. It is a showcase of the suite of full-time and part-time postgraduate programmes available, including taught and research masters, as well as doctoral research options. Flexible, online, and blended learning options are also on offer.  Academic staff will be available to meet prospective students to discuss study opportunities, entry requirements and career paths and postgraduate support staff will be on hand to discuss applications, admissions, scholarships and fees.   As part of University of Galway’s strategic focus on recognising excellence and success, EU students with first class honours in their undergraduate degree are eligible to apply for a €1,500 scholarship towards their taught master’s degree at the University. Visitors to the event can find out more about this and other scholarship schemes, fees, funding, and careers. Booking in advance is recommended and is available at www.universityofgalway.ie/postgraduate-open-day   Ends

Tugtar cuireadh do mhic léinn iarchéime ionchasacha teacht chuig oíche oscailte chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoi na roghanna a chuireann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar fáil maidir le staidéar breise. Reáchtáiltear an ócáid ar an gcampas chun deis a thabhairt freisin do mhic léinn atá sa bhliain deiridh dá gcéim an deis a thapú bualadh leis an lucht acadúil agus leis na seirbhísí gairmiúla chun léargas a fháil ar an saol san Ollscoil. Beidh an ócáid ‘Aimsigh do Chlár Máistreachta’ ar siúl Dé Máirt, an 12 Samhain ó 4-6pm i Halla Bailey Allen, Áras na Mac Léinn. Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Caroline Duggan, an Ceannasaí Earcaíochta Fochéime & Iarchéime, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Tá an oíche oscailte iarchéime ríthábhachtach dóibh siúd ar mian leo a scileanna a leathnú, a gcuid saineolais a mhéadú, a ngairm bheatha a chinntiú amach anseo, a líonra gairmiúil a fhorbairt, agus a ndeiseanna fostaíochta a fheabhsú i ndeireadh na dála. I gcás beagnach leath díobh siúd a chuireann isteach ar ár gcúrsaí iarchéime, tá céim bainte amach acu píosa ó shin agus iad anois ag filleadh ar an staidéar nó ag tabhairt faoi bhreisoiliúint dá bpost reatha. “Tá an luach a bhaineann le cáilíocht iarchéime cruthaithe i dtéarmaí gairm bheatha a chinntiú amach anseo, infhostaitheacht agus dul chun cinn gairme a fheabhsú, tuilleamh saoil a mhéadú, agus cuireann go leor dár gcúrsaí deiseanna socrúcháin agus intéirneachtaí ar fáil freisin.” Tá níos mó ná 200 cúrsa iarchéime á dtairiscint ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe sna Daonnachtaí, Gnó, Dlí, Innealtóireacht, Eolaíocht agus Ríomheolaíocht, Altranas, agus Leigheas agus na hEolaíochtaí Sláinte. Is ócáid líonraithe neamhfhoirmiúil atá san oíche oscailte. Beidh eolas le fáil faoi chláir iarchéime lánaimseartha agus pháirtaimseartha atá á dtairiscint, lena n-áirítear máistreachtaí múinte agus taighde, agus roghanna taighde dochtúireachta. Tá roghanna foghlama solúbtha, ar líne agus cumaisc ar fáil freisin.  Beidh cuid den fhoireann acadúil ar fáil chun bualadh le mic léinn ionchasacha chun deiseanna staidéir, riachtanais iontrála agus conairí gairme a phlé agus beidh cuid den fhoireann tacaíochta iarchéime ar fáil chun iarratais, iontrálacha, scoláireachtaí agus táillí a phlé.   Mar chuid den fhócas straitéiseach atá ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe maidir le haitheantas a thabhairt d’fheabhas agus do rathúlacht, tá mic léinn de chuid an AE a bhfuil céadonóracha bainte amach acu ina mbunchéim i dteideal iarratas a dhéanamh ar scoláireacht €1,500 i dtreo a gcúrsa máistreachta múinte san Ollscoil. Is féidir le lucht freastail na hócáide tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoi seo agus faoi scéimeanna scoláireachta eile, táillí, maoiniú agus gairmeacha beatha. Moltar áit a chur in áirithe roimh ré agus is féidir é sin a dhéanamh ag www.universityofgalway.ie/postgraduate-open-day. Críoch  

Tá Ionad Rochtana Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ag reáchtáil a oíche eolais bhliantúil, agus i mbliana díreofar ar riachtanais na mac léinn lánfhásta agus na bhfoghlaimeoirí fásta atá ag smaoineamh ar thabhairt faoi staidéar lánaimseartha nó páirtaimseartha. Beidh an oíche eolais ar siúl Dé Céadaoin, an 15 Eanáir ó 6.30pm-9pm san Institiúid Cúrsa Saoil agus Sochaí (Áras ILAS), Bóthar an Chaisleáin Nua Uachtarach, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Tá an ócáid dírithe go háirithe orthu siúd atá 23 bliain d’aois nó níos sine atá ag iarraidh tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoi na roghanna staidéir atá ar fáil in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Beidh deis ag an lucht freastail deiseanna a phlé le mic léinn lánfhásta reatha agus le saineolaithe na gcúrsaí a chabhróidh leo cinneadh a dhéanamh faoi na roghanna is fearr a oireann dá gcúinsí pearsanta agus dá riachtanais forbartha gairmiúla.             Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Kathleen Hartigan, Oifigeach na Mac Léinn Lánfhásta in Ionad Rochtana Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Chonaiceamar thar na blianta go mbíonn mic léinn lánfhásta díograiseach agus spreagtha chun foghlama, agus cuireann a ndúil san fhoghlaim go mór le pobal an champais. Táimid tiomanta an t-eolas atá de dhíth orthu a chur ar fáil dóibh le go mbeidh siad in ann an rogha oideachais is oiriúnaí dóibh féin a dhéanamh in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.” Beidh baill den Ionad Rochtana ar fáil chun ceisteanna a fhreagairt faoi chúrsaí réamh-ollscoile ar nós cúrsaí Rochtana/Bonnchúrsaí. Beidh foireann na Seirbhísí Tacaíochta Míchumais, a bhfuil saineolas acu faoin gcaoi tacú le mic léinn a bhfuil riocht sláinte (fisiciúil nó meabhrach) fadtéarmach orthu, nó a bhfuil deacracht shonrach foghlama acu, i láthair chun treoir a thabhairt do mhic léinn ionchasacha. Cuirfidh Ionad Forbartha Gairmeacha na hOllscoile eolas ar fáil maidir le conairí gairme agus conas aistear oideachais agus gairme a phleanáil.              Dúirt Nuala McGuinn, Stiúrthóir an Ionaid Foghlama agus Forbartha Gairmiúla d’Aosaigh, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Is iomaí dul chun cinn teicneolaíochta atá feicthe againn a chuireann atheagar ar fhorbairt an fhórsa saothair i dtionscail éagsúla. Tá tionchar ag na hathruithe seo ar an gcaoi a bhfoghlaimíonn daoine, a n-oibríonn siad agus a bhforbraíonn siad a gcuid scileanna. Cibé an bhfuil cúrsa micridhintiúr gearrthéarmach nó cúrsa solúbtha páirtaimseartha á lorg agat – ag leibhéal fochéime nó iarchéime – tá ár bhfoireann ar fáil chun roghanna a phlé leat.” Ní mór clárú don ócáid seo. Cláraigh anseo nó seol ríomhphost chuig maturestudents@universityofgalway.ie Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ag https://universityofgalway.ie/mature/ Críoch

University of Galway’s Access Centre is hosting its annual information evening, this year focusing on the needs of mature students and adult learners who may be considering full-time or part-time studies. The information evening will take place on Wednesday January 15th from 6.30pm-9pm in the Institute for Lifecourse and Society (ILAS Building), Upper Newcastle Road, University of Galway. The in-person event is designed particularly for those aged 23 or over who want to find out more about study options at University of Galway. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss opportunities with current mature students and course experts to help them decide which options best suit their personal circumstances and professional development needs.             Kathleen Hartigan, Mature Student Officer at University of Galway’s Access Centre, said: “We have seen over the years that mature students bring an enthusiasm and a motivation to learn that enriches our campus community, and we are dedicated to providing them with the necessary information to help them choose the best educational option for their needs.” Members of the Access Centre will be available to answer questions on pre-university courses in terms of Access/Foundation courses, and staff from Disability Support Services, who have expertise in supporting students who may have a long-term health condition (physical or mental), or a specific learning difficulty, will also be on hand to give guidance to prospective students. The University’s Career Development Centre will provide information on exploring career pathways and how to plan education and a career journey.              Nuala McGuinn, Director at the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development, University of Galway, said: “We are seeing many technological advancements which are reshaping workforce development across industry. These changes are impacting how people learn, work, and build their skills. Whether you are looking for a short-term micro-credential or a flexible, part-time course - undergraduate or postgraduate - our staff are on hand to explore options with you.” Registration for this event is essential. Please register here or email maturestudents@universityofgalway.ie Further information is available at https://universityofgalway.ie/mature/. Ends

University of Galway has announced the 2024 Tarpey Scholarship recipients – Mental Health Nursing student Meghan Murphy and Medicine student Rayna Cox. The scholarship honours the enduring legacy of the late Hazel and Tanya Tarpey – two remarkable sisters whose lives inspired countless healthcare workers during their treatment for a rare genetic autoimmune disease. The Tarpey family established the scholarship in memory of the sisters to support the development of future healthcare professionals. It is awarded to outstanding students committed to enhancing their professional skills through additional studies, beyond the regular curriculum. In addition to the scholarship, the Tarpey family provides a Tarpey Bursary. This private award, first introduced in 2022, is given annually to two additional students from the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Galway who face financial challenges and might otherwise struggle to continue their studies.             Tim and Mary Tarpey, parents of Hazel and Tanya, said: “It is a pleasure to give back to the medical community who did so much. We look forward to this event every year to meet the new recipients and reconnect with the friends and healthcare workers who cared so diligently for Hazel and Tanya. This scholarship and bursary ensure that their memory lives on, supporting the future of compassionate healthcare professionals.”             Professor Tim O’Brien, Established Professor of Medicine at University of Galway and Consultant Physician in Endocrinology at HSE West and North-West, and who treated Hazel and Tanya during their time in the hospital said: “The Tarpey Scholarship and Bursary embody the Tarpey family’s extraordinary commitment to supporting students and advancing healthcare. Hazel and Tanya’s legacy lives on through this generosity, ensuring that the next generation of healthcare professionals is equipped to make a meaningful difference in their communities.”             Meghan Murphy, a Bachelor of Nursing Science (Mental Health) student from Mervue, Galway, and recipient of the 2024 Tarpey Scholarship, said: “I am honoured to receive this scholarship in memory of the exceptional Tarpey sisters. This award is a testament to their enduring legacy and inspires me to continue striving for excellence in my studies and future career.”             Rayna Cox, a fourth-year Medicine student from Trinidad and Tabago and recipient of the 2024 Tarpey Scholarship, said: “This scholarship is a powerful encouragement to continue advancing my clinical and academic aspirations. I am deeply grateful to the Tarpey family for their support, which motivates me to contribute meaningfully to the field of healthcare.” The Tarpey family’s contribution ensures that students at University of Galway have the opportunity to excel in their fields while carrying forward the legacy of Hazel and Tanya’s inspiring lives. Ends

More than 40 families of children with additional needs have been given a unique opportunity to enjoy the magic of Christmas with a special visit to a Sensory Friendly Santa’s Grotto. The two-day event was facilitated by staff and students from the School of Psychology at University of Galway, who took on the important roles of elves and Santa’s helpers. The annual Sensory Friendly Santa's Grotto has been a highlight of the year at University of Galway since 2017 and has grown to a two-day weekend event, giving 40 children with additional needs and their families the opportunity to visit Santa. The organisers hope to build on that, by setting a goal to create a freely available "How to Guide” on running similar inclusive and accessible Santa's Grotto events. The aim is that it will encourage other businesses and organisations across Ireland to provide this unique opportunity for more families of children with additional needs to experience the magic of meeting Santa. Dr Ciara Gunning from the School of Psychology coordinates the event with a team of volunteer staff and students from the PhD and MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis and the BSc Psychology program at University of Galway. The team transform rooms into a winter wonderland to ensure children and their families have a magical visit. Children receive individualised, sensory-friendly gifts from Santa and have photos taken, creating special Christmas memories. Dr Ciara Gunning, Lecturer in Applied Behaviour Analysis, School of Psychology, University of Galway, said: “Visiting Santa is a very special part of every child's Christmas, but it can be difficult for children with additional needs to visit Santa Grottos in busy shopping centres with lots of noise, bright lights and queues. The Sensory Friendly Santa's Grotto at University of Galway provides a unique, magical Christmas experience for children with additional needs and their families. For some families attending, this is the first time that they have had a chance to visit Santa.” “The event is set up to be accessible and inclusive with some tweaks to the Grotto and the environment. Santa and the team connect with the families attending in advance to support each child to enjoy their visit at their own pace and in their own way. It is truly a team effort with our Santa, elves and helpers working very hard behind the scenes - making real life magic. "A huge credit goes to all those who volunteer - our staff and students at the School of Psychology. We are also so grateful to our incredibly generous sponsors from Galway and across Ireland, as well as the School of Psychology and College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies for supporting the event.” The event coordinators continued their annual tradition to collect for COPE's Christmas appeal with visitors and volunteers donating items for Christmas hampers for those in need.  Businesses from Galway and around Ireland sponsored the 2024 event and their generosity plays a critical role in making the magic of the event happen. Sponsors include, Liberty IT, Galway Camera Shop, Little Lane Coffee Company, Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, 56 Central, Cregal Art, The White Gables, The Galmont, Magpie Bakery, Esquires Coffee, Gourmet Tart, The Salthill Hotel, Prátaí, Irish Socksciety, Ground and Co, Déanta Studio, Dunnes Stores, Peter Murphy Electrical, Galway Bay Hotel, Citylink, Smyths Toys Superstores, Art & Hobby, Aplomb, Supermac’s, Cava Bodega, Sheridans Cheesemongers and Lidl. Ends

 Survey carried out by Ulster University and the University of Galway describes staff experiences, knowledge, engagement, and perceptions in Higher Education institutions North and South Call for greater collaboration between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland Higher Education sectors to enhance protections for staff and support for change   The COSHARE North-South survey report outlines key findings from the first all-island study of Higher Education staff members’ experiences of consent, sexual violence, and harassment in Higher Education in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI). The survey was responded to by staff members in HEIs in the North and South of Ireland with 236 (45%) of respondents in an HEI in NI and 285 (55%) in ROI. Some 75% of respondents identified as female. The research found that, of the 364 staff who opted to respond to questions on their experiences of sexual violence and harassment, 43% have experienced some form of this behaviour in their work or personal lives in the last year and 66% in the last five years. In the context of this research, SVH is a collective term that includes physical contact or non-physical conduct of a sexual nature that occurs in the absence of clear, knowing and voluntary consent. This collaboration by Ulster University and the University of Galway seeks to understand these experiences and bring workplace culture and wellbeing into the conversation by assessing knowledge of policies and confidence in their institution.  Funded by the Higher Education Authority under the North-South Research Programme, COSHARE survey asked Higher Education staff about consent and sexual violence and harassment (SVH) attitudes, knowledge and experience, their awareness of how their institutions address consent, and mental wellbeing. Participants answered questions about themselves, their campus, their experiences of SVH and perpetration, the extent to which this impacted their mental wellbeing and ability to work, and their engagement with information and education or training initiatives on the subject. Questions on SVH included staff members’ experience of sexist harassment, unwanted sexual attention, unwanted/uncomfortable touching, sexualised comments, and attempted non-consensual sexual activities. COSHARE Findings Campus Culture and Climate: 14% of those surveyed agreed that SVH among staff was a problem at their HEI, 40% had a neutral opinion on these issues or said that they did not know whether SVH was a problem, while 46% disagreed that it was a problem. Policy: less than half (46%) of the participants agreed their HEI proactively addressed issues of SVH, while one third (36%) saw their HEI senior management as visible on this issue. A clear majority of survey participants agreed that they were aware of staff policies (76%), and agreed that these were clear and explicit (60%) with 35% agreeing that they were effective. Training and Awareness: 30-40% of staff said that they had received particular forms of information from their HEI relevant to consent, sexual violence and harassment. The rate of engagement was notably higher for seeing posters on consent / SVH (78%). Two thirds (65%) of respondents agreed that they felt a responsibility to engage with SVH at their HEI. There are encouraging signs that staff want to contribute through being involved in training: 80% displayed willingness to support initiatives and 65% said they would take an active role in delivery.   Survey respondents were presented with questions referring to their experiences in both their personal and professional lives, not just within the HEI where they worked, across the past 12 months, five years, and more.   Sexual harassment: Almost two thirds of 364 participants (64%) had experienced sexual harassment in the past five years. This included 57% who had experienced sexist hostility in last 5 years (27% in last year), 23% with an experience of electronic or visual sexual harassment (last 5 years, 11% in last year), 34% who experienced sexualised comments (last 5 years, 19% in last year), 31% who had experienced unwanted sexual attention (last 5 years, 13% in last year, and 5% with an experience of sexual coercion.   Sexual violence: One quarter of 364 participants (26%) experienced some form of sexual violence in the past five years, in their personal or professional lives: almost a quarter of staff participants had been touched in a way that made them feel uncomfortable,16% indicated unwanted attempts of stroking or kissing; and 10% had been made to touch, stroke or kiss someone when they did not want to do so.   Professor Pádraig MacNeela, Co-Lead of the Active* Consent programme, University of Galway, said: “The qualitative responses that staff gave in the COSHARE survey make for interesting reading. Some staff said that significant progress had been made in the Higher Education sector, citing more resources, education and training that have been put in place. Others saw progress as more mixed, and as trying to remedy a low baseline in the past when harassment was relatively acceptable.” “The final group of staff said that things had not changed – they were worried that students and staff do not seem to have access to investigations that are fit for purpose, the career impact of bringing a complaint, and continuing nature of everyday sexist harassment.”   “We also found that staff want to get involved in helping to create culture change in their universities. The vast majority (over 80%) said they were willing to take part in training on bystander intervention, disclosure skills, and consent, while 65% agreed that they would take an active role in delivering such training”.   Dr Susan Lagdon, Senior Lecturer in Psychology (Mental Health) at Ulster University said: “Sexual violence and harassment is pervasive in all walks of our lives but it should not be.  These findings demonstrate concerning patterns of sexual violence and harassment experienced by staff in higher education in both their personal and professional lives. While this behaviour should never be tolerated, we are grateful to our own Higher Education Institutions Ulster University and the University of Galway for their support and encouragement to progress with this important work. “We’re pleased that our institutions already proactively work with us on a range of initiatives that look to end violence and harassment in the workplace and are looking at the recommendations from this research. We are also grateful to our wider Higher Education colleagues who supported and facilitated dissemination and awareness raising of this research, ensuring that those who wished to contribute, had their say.” The full COSHARE report is available to read here: https://www.consenthub.ie/research/coshare-north-south-survey-report-2024/ The research follows the Irish Government’s ‘Safe, Respectful, and Positive: Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions’ framework, launched in 2019 to set a culture change across HEIs by engaging individuals at all levels. Comparatively, in Northern Ireland, recent years have seen a surge of statutory agency activity, with the launch of The Executive Office’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, the Ministries of Health and Justice’s Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Tackling VAWG Action Plan.  Ends

Active* Consent and Galway Rape Crisis Centre report shows disclosure management skills training enhances confidence in supporting survivors   An evaluation of the ‘First Point of Contact’ Disclosure Management Skills Training has been published today, demonstrating how universities and other education providers can enable staff and students to receive informal disclosures of sexual violence or harassment (SVH). The training is a collaboration between the Active* Consent programme at University of Galway and Galway Rape Crisis Centre. First Point of Contact is a 12-hour psychotherapist-led training programme that prepares participants to receive disclosures of sexual violence and harassment and to signpost to relevant supports and services. It teaches people how to create a safe, informed, and supportive space for disclosures to be made. The 2021 Higher Education Authority (HEA) national survey of staff in the sector showed that only about one fifth agreed that they were well informed about how to respond effectively to a disclosure. Approximately 300 participants from the Higher Education, Further Education & Training (FET) sectors, and other organisations have completed the training so far.  Gemma MacNally, Clinical and Therapeutic Lead of the Active* Consent programme, University of Galway, said: “The training was valued as a source of knowledge and skills by participants with minimal previous experience as well as those with previous training. First Point of Contact disclosure skills training sessions have hosted people across different backgrounds, from teachers, researchers and academics to students and professional support staff.”  Dr Helen Maher, Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at University of Galway, said: “The training was flexible enough to be delivered online and in-person, to both our students and staff. Participants learned practical skills for how to respond to someone who is distressed, they felt safe during the training, and grew in confidence. We have had a sustained interest from people wanting to take part for three years now.” Key findings from the report include:  Skill Development: 98% of survey respondents said they felt prepared to receive and respond to a disclosure after the training, using empathic communication and trauma-informed skills.  Widespread Satisfaction: 97% of survey respondents recommended the training to colleagues, citing its confidence-building and empowering approach.  Sustainability Needs: The report outlines strategies to enhance support for participants post-training, including refresher courses, peer networks, and clearer institutional policies Recommendations for the future include maintaining psychotherapist-led delivery of the disclosure skills training; increasing the coverage of diversity, cultural change, and complex disclosure scenarios in the training; and formalising the First Point of Contact role in organisations so that young people and staff members can access informal support when they wish to make a disclosure of sexual violence or harassment.  Professor Pádraig MacNeela, Co-Lead of the Active* Consent programme, University of Galway, said: “On completing their training, participants felt prepared to receive disclosures within the boundaries that had been set out. Those who later received disclosures were able to describe their use of techniques learned during the training. Further to this, individuals who took part typically said that they would like to have a continuing role receiving disclosures."   Cathy Connolly, Director of the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, said: "The First Point of Contact programme places survivors’ experiences at the heart of its design. By equipping individuals with the tools to provide supportive, non-judgmental responses, this collaboration with Active* Consent ensures that victims and survivors are met with empathy and respect."  The full ‘First Point of Contact’ report is available to read here: https://www.consenthub.ie/research/first-point-of-contact-disclosure-management-skills-training-research-evaluation-study/   Ends  

Medtronic, the global leader in healthcare technology, and University of Galway, an internationally recognised leader in biomedical research and innovation, are proud to announce that their Signature Innovation Partnership has been named Best Collaboration at the prestigious MedTech Rising Awards 2024, hosted by the Irish Medtech Association.  This award celebrates the power of collaboration in driving impactful healthcare solutions. University of Galway spin-outs were also recognised with LUMA Vision winning Medtech Company of the Year and Galenband receiving the Digital Health Innovation of the Year award. The Medtronic Signature Innovation Partnership was launched in 2023, as an ambitious expansion to a long and trusted partnership between the University and the global healthcare technology company. Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said: “The MedTech Rising Awards celebrate the finest in the industry, and this recognition is a testament to the transformative impact of partnerships like ours. We have always had a rewarding relationship with Medtronic and the ambition in our strategic partnership takes this to a new level as we pursue greater excellence in teaching and learning, and research and innovation, all of which will ultimately benefit medtech, healthcare and people in the Galway region, Ireland and around the world.” Sean Salmon, Executive Sponsor of the Signature Innovation Partnership and Executive Vice President at Medtronic, added: “We’re honoured to receive this award. At Medtronic, we know that solving the world’s greatest healthcare challenges requires bold ideas and strong partnerships. The collaboration with the University of Galway enables us to achieve more than we could alone, combining the best of academic talent with industry expertise to further develop the world class medtech hub in the west of Ireland; broaden our STEM initiatives and partner on research that truly make a difference in patients’ lives.”   The 5 year €5 million Medtronic Signature Innovation Partnership with University of Galway has created unique opportunities for students, fostering a robust talent pipeline for the medtech sector.   Irish MedTech Association’s recognition for this collaboration demonstrates Ireland’s leadership in medtech, showcasing how strategic partnerships can position the country as a hub for transformative healthcare solutions.   Ends

The HSE West North West – University of Galway Cancer Network is delighted to announce that it has been accredited by the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI). OECI is an organisation of European cancer centres founded in 1979 to provide patients equal access to high quality cancer care through cooperation and knowledge exchange.  HSE West North West – University of Galway Cancer Network is only the 20th such network to achieve cancer centre accreditation across Europe. The highly sought after accreditation follows several years of rigorous review and engagement with the European team including a peer review visit which took place last May. This saw a panel of European experts visit a number of hospitals across our region to assess all elements of the cancer programme. The OECI team evaluated 345 standards across our Regional Cancer Programme. This process has helped to strengthen our clinical pathway, improve patient’s outcomes through enhanced processes and will ultimately help to increase the numbers of patients participating in clinical trials. The European body has now confirmed that the HSE West North West –University of Galway Cancer Network met the quality standards for cancer care and research and has been designated as an OECI Cancer Centre. The OECI Accreditation and Designation programme is considered internationally as the gold standard for cancer care. It focuses on enabling a complete quality system for cancer diagnosis, care, education and research. In gaining this prestigious accreditation the HSE West North West – University of Galway Cancer Network has committed to ongoing quality improvement in cancer care through research, innovation, partnership and patient empowerment. Professor Michael Kerin, Director of the HSE West North West – University of Galway Cancer Network welcomed the announcement adding: “This acknowledgement is a testament to the hard work of our incredible staff. This took an enormous amount of work across our hospitals and a huge amount of support from the voluntary organisations working in our region.  “We were evaluated on 345 standards and we will now focus on the 33 point quality improvement plan which will deliver a fit for purpose cancer centre for the West and North West region. This was a commitment of the National Development Plan and we now need to ensure we have the resources, national support and infrastructure to deliver a fully accredited cancer network.  The fact that we have been given cancer centre status is hugely valuable and our ability to recruit, retain and develop our staff and deliver really good care has been enhanced by this process,” he added. Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West said: "I want to extend my congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in getting us to this point. This has been a lengthy process but what we have seen over the course of the journey is a level of self-examination of our own services that shines a light on good practice and highlights areas where we need further work. “This is a major programme across Europe and we are the 20th cancer centre to be accredited in this programme.  This acknowledges our ongoing commitment to improving outcomes and delivering better care to our population in a research and education driven environment,” he added. The network is a clinical academic partnership between HSE West North West and the University of Galway and is aligned with the strategic priorities of the National Cancer Strategy (2017-2026) Prof Martin O’Donnell, Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences University of Galway added: “Our collaborative ambition is to create a centre of excellence delivering the highest international standards in cancer treatment, research and education and the OECI accreditation process is critical to achieving this goal. Congratulations to Prof Kerin and HSE West North West for their dedication to developing patient-centred cancer care.” The HSE West North West cancer programme provides a wide range of cancer services to a population of 830,000 people across the region. In line with the national model of care (a hub and spoke model), complex care is located at University Hospital Galway with satellite centres delivering care closer to home in Letterkenny University Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, Mayo University Hospital and Portiuncula University Hospital. Ends

Findings will aid space exploration and earth health   A groundbreaking study by researchers from University of Galway, in collaboration with Arizona State University, has revealed vital molecular insights into muscle atrophy - one of space travel’s most critical health risks.   The findings not only have implications for long-term space missions but can also help with a better understanding of muscle-wasting conditions on Earth.   As space travel becomes more common, the unique environment of microgravity presents challenges to the body, particularly affecting muscles, bones, and the immune system. In microgravity, muscles weaken over time, leading to a condition known as muscle atrophy, which is a significant concern for astronauts, especially on longer missions.   The study, published in Nature Microgravity, investigated the molecular changes in muscle atrophy using data from NASA’s GeneLab, an open-access platform for biological spaceflight data.   The research team was led by Professor Lokesh Joshi and Dr Anup Mammen Oommen of the University of Galway and Professor Phil Stafford of Arizona State University.   The team focused on specific genes linked to muscle loss, that helped refine their analysis and find molecular patterns connected to muscle weakening. By grouping genes with similar activity and analysing their functions, the team uncovered key biological pathways linked to muscle breakdown in space.   One of the key findings was the impact of microgravity on glycosylation—a process vital for protein stability. The study found that alterations in glycosylation under microgravity suggest possible strategies to prevent muscle loss in astronauts by targeting these pathways.   Professor Lokesh Joshi, Stokes Professor of Glycosciences of University of Galway, said: “While these findings address a critical issue for space explorers, the implications extend to terrestrial health. Muscle atrophy also affects aging populations, post-menopausal women and patients with chronic illnesses, such as cancer or heart disease. Understanding how muscle loss occurs in space could lead to better treatments for these conditions on Earth.   “This study underscores the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of platforms like NASA’s GeneLab, which enable global researchers to build on each other's work.   “As humanity ventures further into space, ensuring astronaut health remains one of the greatest challenges. These findings represent a significant leap forward in space medicine, with far-reaching benefits for people on Earth as well."   The research methods applied allowed the team to map out the critical pathways involved in muscle deterioration during extended space missions. It also highlighted the role of glycosylation, a type of post-translational modification where sugars are added to molecules like proteins, which helps stabilise them and influence their functions in the body.   This discovery paves the way for potential interventions aimed at mitigating muscle loss in astronauts through the regulation of glycosylation pathways and provides insights for people on Earth who experience muscle atrophy.   The full study in Nature Microgravity is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41526-024-00434-z   Ends  

 Twelve teaching, learning and research collaboration projects at University of Galway are to be supported by the European University Alliance - ENLIGHT and the Higher Education Authority (HEA).      ENLIGHT is an alliance of 10 universities, in 10 European countries, including University of Galway, which is supported by the European Commission and the HEA as it works towards the creation of a European University.    As part of the 12 ENLIGHT projects at University of Galway, academics will work in collaboration with their counterparts in eight countries on areas such as ageing, plastic pollution impacts, decolonising higher education, human rights and sustainability.    The projects are a result of a €4m fund being made available by ENLIGHT for collaborative projects in teaching, learning, research and outreach across the alliance, with more than €500,000 funding being allocated to support the 12 initiatives involving University of Galway and our ENLIGHT partners.     The funding was announced as part of the ENLIGHT general meeting which took place last week at the University of Bern in Switzerland. The focus of the meeting was on embedding the alliance in each partner institution.       Presidents from all ENLIGHT universities participated in discussions on priorities for the first half of 2025, including key topics such as increasing mobility, embedding education initiatives, supporting research and education collaborations, lifelong learning including Micro Credentials, sustainability, and impact of the alliance as a whole.      Interim President of University of Galway Professor Peter McHugh said: “ENLIGHT is a hugely positive initiative and one that has gone from strength to strength in the last few years, not least with the significant support of the European Commission and the HEA. As our meeting last week sought to embed the opportunities for collaboration in excellence in teaching, learning and research it is a tremendous statement to be able to combine that agenda with the announcement of support for 12 research projects in partnership with our ENLIGHT partners.”      Interim Deputy President and Registrar Professor Becky Whay said: “The focus of the ENLIGHT general meeting in Bern is on embedding the European University in each partner institution and in each country - our 12 projects are a wonderful symbol of just that, and the opportunities that our membership can bring. We look forward to seeing the collaborations with thanks to support at both the European and national level.”      The 12 collaboration projects supported are:   Kasia Whysall, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, in collaboration with Bern, Groningen, Ghent, Tartu, University of the Basque Country - REACT - Research and Education in Ageing Collaborative Team   Olivier Thomas, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Science & Engineering in partnership with Gent University; Groningen, University of the Basque Country on H2OPE: Human Health, Ocean Preservation and Food Ecosystems     Liam Morrison, School of Natural Sciences, College of Science & Engineering, in partnership with University of the Basque Country, Bordeaux, Ghent, Groningen, Bern, Tartu – on Fate and Impact of Plastics - from Macro to Nano - on Planetary Health     Manigandan Chockalingam, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, in collaboration with Uppsala University on - ECCHOT: Beyond Boundaries: Exploring Intercultural Competence and Cultural Humility in Occupational Therapy     Illan Wall, School of Law, College of Business, Public Policy & Law in partnership with Ghent University, Bordeaux, Tartu on - CLS: Educational Network Teaching and Studying the Basics     Muriel Grenon, Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Science & Engineering in partnership with University of Bordeaux and University of the Basque Country on SHARE: Supporting Higher Education and Research through Engagement     Laura Loftus, Office of the Vice-President Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with Comenius University Bratislava and University of the Basque Country, on GELIE: Gender Equality and LGBT+ Inclusive Environments     Dr Helen Maher, Vice-President Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, with Ghent, Groningen, University of the Basque Country and Bordeaux, on DecCur: Decolonising and Diversifying our Curriculum, Research and Partnerships     Roisin Mulgrew, School of Law, College of Business, Public Policy & Law, with Uppsala, Groningen, Ghent, on WoSHuR2025: Workshop on the Online School on Human Rights 2025     Emma Holian, School of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences, College of Science & Engineering with Gottingen, Comenius University Bratislava on FOY (Figuring Out Y)     Michelle Comber, School of Geography and Archaeology, College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies with Uppsala and University of the Basque Country on ITEM: International Training Excavation Module   Richard Manton, Director Sustainability, Office of the Deputy President and Registrar, with Gottingen, Bordeaux, Comenius University Bratislava on GreENLIGHT: Engaging Students on Sustainability.     In 2023, the European Commission announced ENLIGHT would be supported with a four-year, €14.4 million investment, with the intention that a significant portion of the funding would go towards academic initiatives, emphasizing the project’s commitment to supporting scholars.     University of Galway’s involvement in the European University Alliance is also supported nationally by the HEA.     The ENLIGHT alliance is made up of of 10 universities, in 10 European countries, with the shared goal of the creation of a European University. It includes: University of Galway; Comenius University, Bratislava (Slovakia); University of Groningen (Netherlands); University of Bordeaux (France); Gent University (Belgium); University of Tartu (Estonia); University of Gottingen (Germany); University of the Basque Country (Spain); Uppsala University (Sweden); and University of Bern (Switzerland).   Ends 

 Tá a tríú tuarascáil bhliantúil maidir le Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú seolta inniu ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, mar aon lena céad láithreán gréasáin riamh don Champas Céadfach.    Tá an tuarascáil á foilsiú agus Ionad Rochtana na hOllscoile i mbun ceiliúradh i mbliana ar na 25 bliain atá caite acu ag tacú le mic léinn ó na grúpaí sin a raibh rátaí rannpháirtíochta níos ísle acu go traidisiúnta, agus le mic léinn atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste socheacnamaíoch. Tá breis agus 3,500 duine tagtha trí chláir Rochtana i gcaitheamh na tréimhse sin, agus leas bainte acu as deiseanna staidéir san ollscoil nach mbeadh ar fáil dóibh murach na cláir sin a bheith ann.   Léirítear i dTuarascáil Leathnaithe Rannpháirtíochta 2024 go bhfuil líon iomlán na mac léinn ó na grúpaí sin faoi ghannionadaíocht go traidisiúnta ag méadú i gcónaí agus cuirtear síos ann ar iarrachtaí na hOllscoile cur le comhionannas deiseanna do gach mac léinn.   Féachann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe leis na constaicí atá rompu siúd atá ag iarraidh rochtain a fháil ar ardoideachas a shárú, agus an éagsúlacht a chothú laistigh dá pobal, trí chláir for-rochtana spriocdhírithe, scoláireachtaí agus seirbhísí tacaíochta a chur chun feidhme. Tugtar léargas sa tuarascáil ar thionchar na dtionscnamh seo, mar shampla rátaí cláraithe agus rátaí coinneála níos airde i measc na ngrúpaí imeallaithe.   Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ollamh Ciara Meehan, Déan na Mac Léinn in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Is ceart dúinn ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar a bhfuil bainte amach againn maidir le deiseanna a chruthú do dhaoine staidéar in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe chomh maith lenár gcuid mac léinn agus na daoine a dhéanann éascaíocht do na deiseanna sin. Is san Ionad Rochtana a thosaigh an clár chun Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú ach le comhpháirtíocht san Ollscoil trí chéile, ar gné ríthábhachtach í sin le go n-éireoidh leis an gclár do mhic léinn. Tá ag éirí linn ar bhonn leanúnach deiseanna a éascú dóibh siúd arb as grúpaí faoi ghannionadaíocht san ardoideachas iad agus léiríonn sé sin a luachmhaire is atá an obair seo do phobal iomlán na hollscoile agus don phobal níos leithne.”   Seo a leanas roinnt de na torthaí a tháinig chun solais sa Tuarascáil maidir le Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú:      Sa tréimhse ón mbliain acadúil 2019/20 go dtí 2023/24, d’éirigh le isteach is amach le 595 mac léinn áit a fháil san Ollscoil trí mhodh iontrála na hearnála Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (ar méadú níos mó ná 50% é sin ar fhigiúirí na gcúig bliana roimhe sin) Bhí méadú 29% sa tréimhse ó 2010 go dtí 2023 ar líon na mac léinn a bhain áit san ollscoil amach trí bhealaí a bhain le Leathnú Rannpháirtíochta – e.g. roghanna do mhic léinn lánfhásta; Breisoideachas agus Oiliúint; an clár Rochtana do Lucht Fágála Scoile; HEAR - an scéim iontrála do dhaltaí ardteistiméireachta atá faoi 23 bliain d'aois agus a bhfuil a gcúlra eacnamaíoch nó sóisialta san earnáil ardoideachais faoi ghannionadaíocht; agus DARE - an scéim iontrála do dhaltaí ardteistiméireachta atá faoi 23 bliain d'aois a raibh tionchar diúltach ag a míchumas ar a n-oideachas meánscoile. Chláraigh 739 mac léinn in 2023 do chúrsaí staidéir trí Ionad Rochtana na hOllscoile – an leibhéal is airde go nuige seo. Bhí méadú 163% i líon na mac léinn a chláraigh le Seirbhís Tacaíochta Míchumais an Ionaid Rochtana, ar seirbhís í atá ar fáil do mhic léinn a dteastaíonn tacaíocht uathu nó cóiríocht réasúnta i ngeall ar an tionchar atá ag míchumas orthu, nó riocht sláinte fisiciúil nó meabhrach, nó saindeacracht foghlama.   Seo mar a labhair Imelda Byrne, Ceannasaí an Ionaid Rochtana, faoin tuarascáil: “Tá an-áthas orainn a bhfuil bainte amach ag an Ionad Rochtana, agus ag an Ollscoil féin ar bhonn níos leithne, chun rochtain a éascú agus rannpháirtíocht a mhéadú dóibh siúd is lú a ghlacann páirt san ardoideachas a roinnt lenár gcomhpháirtithe Ollscoile agus ár gcomhpháirtithe seachtracha. “Tarraingítear aird sa tríú tuarascáil seo ar roinnt de na gníomhaíochtaí ar tugadh fúthu chun Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú, tugtar sonraí inti maidir le bealaí iontrála malartacha agus dul chun cinn mac léinn trína gcúrsaí staidéir agus ar chúrsaí fostaíochta ina dhiaidh sin. Léirítear sa tuarascáil na cúiseanna a bhfuil cáil ag teacht ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe as bheith ina hinstitiúid ina leagtar béim ar Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú. Táimid buíoch den rialtas seo, agus de na cinn a chuaigh roimhe, as an infheistíocht atá déanta acu. Ní mór leanúint leis an infheistíocht chun bearnaí rannpháirtíochta a laghdú agus chun timpeallacht chuimsitheach a chothú ina dtugtar tacaíocht do gach mac léinn rochtain a fháil ar an ardoideachas agus páirt a ghlacadh ann go rathúil.”   Dúirt an Dr Daniel Savery, Oifigeach don Leathnú Rannpháirtíochta in Ionad Rochtana na hOllscoile: “Díríonn Plean Rochtana Náisiúnta an Údaráis um Ard-Oideachas go príomha ar a riachtanaí is atá sé sonraí iontaofa a bhailiú maidir le rochtain a éascú agus rannpháirtíocht a leathnú le go gcinnteofaí go mbeidh bonn láidir fianaise faoin obair atá ar siúl ag Institiúidí Ardoideachais sa réimse seo. Tá an bonn fianaise tábhachtach seo curtha ar fáil ag tríú tuarascáil seo an Choiste maidir le Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú de chuid Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus cabhraíonn sé le cinntiú go mbeidh ár n-institiúid ar thús cadhnaíochta ó thaobh rochtain a leathnú agus rannpháirtíocht a mhéadú dóibh siúd is mó atá faoi ghannionadaíocht sa tsochaí.”   Tá taispeántas speisialta grianghraf seolta ina léirítear an staid ‘roimhe’ agus ‘ina dhiaidh’ i gcomhthráth le foilsiú thuarascáil Leathnaithe Rannpháirtíochta an Ionaid Rochtana.   Taispeántar ann na bacainní inrochtaineachta a tháinig chun solais mar thoradh ar an tionscadal Crowd4Access a rinne Mapáil ar Chosáin an Champais a reáchtáil Ionad Anailísíochta Sonraí Insight SFI agus an tIonad Rochtana, mar aon leis na feabhsuithe atá déanta ag Oifig Foirgneamh agus Eastát na hOllscoile chun an campas a dhéanamh níos inrochtana do chách, agus go háirithe dóibh siúd atá faoi mhíchumas.                Dúirt Denis O'Connor, an Stiúrthóir Foirgneamh agus Eastát in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Bhí a fhios againn go díreach céard a bhí le déanamh chun an campas a dhéanamh níos inrochtana tar éis dúinn sonraí ón tionscadal Crowd4Access a fháil mar aon le léargas na mac léinn siúd a mbíonn bacainní inrochtaineachta rompu. Cabhróidh sé seo linn ár spriocanna a bhaint amach faoin bPlean Gnímh don Dearadh Uilíoch agus Inrochtaineacht agus dul chun cinn a dhéanamh chun campas atá deartha do chách a chur ar fáil.”   Tá treoir ar Láithreán Gréasáin nua an Champais Chéadfaigh maidir leis na spásanna agus saoráidí céadfacha siúd, laistigh agus lasmuigh, agus tugann sé spreagadh do mhic léinn úsáid a bhaint as Mapa Céadfach agus Folláine an Champais. Cuireadh an mapa nuálaíocha seo i dtoll a chéile i gcomhpháirtíocht le hailtirí tírdhreacha agus mic léinn néara-éagsúla, agus cabhróidh sé le gach duine a bhíonn ar an gcampas, agus an pobal néara-éagsúil go háirithe, sólás céadfach a fháil ar thailte áille Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.   Is féidir teacht ar an tuarascáil iomlán ag www.universityofgalway.ie/accesscentre/publications/.  Críoch

University of Galway has today launched its third annual report on Widening Participation, along with its first ever Sensory Campus Website.     The report is being published as the University’s Access Centre this year marks 25 years of supporting students from traditionally underrepresented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds. In that time, more than 3,500 people have come through Access programmes, securing opportunities to study at university that might otherwise not have been open to them.    The 2024 Widening Participation report shows the overall number of students from traditionally underrepresented groups continues to grow at University of Galway and it outlines the University's efforts to increase the equality of opportunity for all students.    By implementing targeted outreach programmes, scholarships, and support services, University of Galway seeks to remove barriers to education and foster diversity within its community. The report showcases the impact of these initiatives, such as increased enrolment and retention rates among marginalised groups. Professor Ciara Meehan, Dean of Students at University of Galway, said: “It is hugely important to celebrate our achievements in creating opportunities for people to study at University of Galway, as well as our students and the people who make that happen. Widening Participation has its foundation in the Access Centre, but with partnership across the University - which is crucial for student success. Our continual success in opening doors for people from underrepresented groups is testament to the value of embedding this work across our entire university community, for the benefit of the wider community.”   Findings from the 2024 Widening Participation report include:      From 2019/20 to 2023/24, some 595 students progressed to the University through the Further Education and Training entry route (more than double the figures on the previous five years) From 2010 to 2023, the University saw a 29% increase in students entering through Widening Participation routes - eg Mature student options; Further Education and Training; School Leavers Access programme; HEAR - Higher Education Access Route admissions scheme for Leaving Certificate students under 23 whose economic or social background are underrepresented in higher education; and DARE - Disability Access Route to Education admissions scheme for school-leavers under 23 whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education. Some 739 students registered to study through the University Access Centre in 2023 - the highest level recorded. A 163% increase in students registering with the Access Centre Disability Support Service, which is available to students who need support or reasonable accommodations due to the impact of a disability, ongoing physical or mental health condition, or a specific learning difficulty.  Speaking about the report, Imelda Byrne, Head of Access, said: “We are delighted to share with our University partners and our external partners in the wider community the powerful work of the Access Centre and the University more broadly, in widening access and participation for those most under-represented in higher education.  “This third report highlights several Widening Participation activities, data on alternative pathways, student progression through their studies and into employment. This report illustrates why the University of Galway is becoming increasingly known for being a Widening Participation institution. We are grateful to successive governments for their investment, which must continue in order to narrow participation gaps and to create an inclusive environment that supports all students’ to access and successfully participate in university.”    Dr Daniel Savery, Widening Participation Officer at the University’s Access Centre, said: “A key focus of the Higher Education Authority’s National Access Plan 2022-28 is the need for robust data in the area of the widening access and participation to ensure there is a strong evidence base for the work individual Higher Education Institutes do in this area. University of Galway’s third annual Widening Participation Committee report continues to provide this important evidence-base and helps to ensure that our institution is at the forefront in terms of developing widening access and participation initiatives for the most underrepresented in society.”    To coincide with the publication of the Access Centre’s Widening Participation report, a special photo exhibition has been launched of “before and afters”.   It shows accessibility barriers identified through the Crowd4Access Campus Footpath Mapping project, which led by the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytic and the Access Centre, and improvements made by the University’s Buildings and Estates Office to transform the campus for the benefit of all, particularly people with disabilities.   Denis O' Connor, Director of Buildings and Estates at University of Galway, said: "The data from the Crowd4Access project, combined with insights from students who experience accessibility barriers, allowed us to pinpoint exactly what needed to be done to make the campus more accessible. This helps us to meet our targets under the Universal Design and Accessibility Action Plan and progress towards a universally designed campus."    The new Sensory Campus Website showcases indoor and outdoor sensory friendly spaces and facilities and encourages students to use the Sensory and Wellbeing Campus Map. This innovative map was developed in partnership with landscape architects and neurodivergent students, and supports all campus users, particularly the neurodivergent community, to find sensory solace on the beautiful grounds of University of Galway.    The full report is available at www.universityofgalway.ie/accesscentre/publications/.   Ends