a presidential encounter - National University of Ireland, Galway

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UNIVERSITY NEWS UNIVERSITY NEWS University leads Tribune celebrations The contribution made by The Connacht Tribune newspaper to the social and economic life of the western region over the last 100 years was marked at a birthday celebration hosted by NUI Galway in May. The event was attended by current and former staff of the newspaper, many of whom are NUI Galway alumni. University President Dr James J Browne hosted the private birthday celebration and congratulated Group Chairman Tim Naughton, Chief Executive and Director David Hickey and Group Editor Dave O’Connell on the newspaper’s proud history of bringing the news to the west. The Tribune is one of the biggest regional newspapers in the country, publishing every Thursday, with a circulation of over 25,000 a week. Journalists who cut their professional teeth at the newspaper include Seán O’Rourke, presenter of RTÉ Radio’s News at One, and RTÉ’s former political editor, Seán Duignan, both of whom attended the birthday celebrations. NUI Galway has always had a strong link with the Tribune, with many students and graduates Dr James J Browne and Seán O’Rourke with The Connacht Tribune’s Chief Executive and Director, David Hickey, and Group Editor, David O’Connell going on to work at the paper. The University has also worked closely with the newspaper to develop a very successful MA in Journalism programme. The newspaper has been a force for the development of young journalistic talent in a number of other important ways, including through placement of NUI Galway graduates, which provides invaluable experience for young reporters; and through The Connacht Tribune Gold Medal, which is awarded annually to recognise high-achieving journalism students. To mark this history of partnership between the University and the newspaper, NUI Galway plans to host a special centenary conference on the theme of “Journalism in the Future: Changes and Challenges” on 2 October, 2009. Restructuring of the University Management Team The recent restructuring of the University’s academic organisation, which has seen its seven Faculties and 55 Departments replaced by five Colleges and 16 Schools, is now complemented by a revised Senior Management Structure in the University. This follows a Quality Review of the University Management Team, the objective of which was to identify opportunities for improvements in structures, policies, procedures and practices. The restructured University Management Team will ensure that the institution remains focused on achieving its strategic objectives through strengthening leadership, performance and decision-making in the University. Branding for the future In April of this year, NUI Galway introduced a new logo as part of a project to develop the University’s brand. This project was driven by detailed market research with key stakeholders, which revealed that while the University was strongly associated with positive attributes such as having an attractive location and providing The principal changes and key appointments to the Management Team include the following: • The integration of teaching, learning and research under the leadership of the Registrar and Deputy President, Professor Jim Ward. The Vice-President for the Student Experience, Ms Mary O’Riordan, and the Vice-President for Research, Professor Terry Smith, will report to the Registrar and Deputy President, as do the Deans of Colleges, the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Director of the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). • An Executive Director of Operations, Dr Kieran Loftus, has been appointed to drive the development of an integrated plan for the delivery of support services in order to achieve process streamlining, cost reduction and value for money. • The Vice-President for Capital Projects, Mr Keith Warnock, will oversee the co-ordination and implementation of the a good social life for students, the key decisionmaking factors, such an excellent academic reputation and high-quality teaching and research, were not being communicated through its existing brand identity. A new logo and brand values have now been developed and approved by the University’s management team and by its governing authority, Údarás na hOllscoile, and are now being rolled out. In order to ensure maximum University’s infrastructural strategy, to ensure efficient planning, implementation and cost effectiveness. • A new emphasis on institutional innovation and performance throughout the University will be the responsibility of a Vice-President for Innovation and Performance, to be appointed this autumn. One of the key concepts of the revised structure is to empower the University’s senior administrators below the Management Team level to take direct responsibility for the professional functioning of their areas of responsibility. The new structure, which is being implemented on a phased basis since April, is already bringing benefits to the institution. It has allowed the University Management Team to shift its focus towards the attainment of key strategic priorities, as articulated in the Strategic Plan 2009 – 2014 which is nearing completion, while devolving responsibility for operational objectives to senior divisional heads. NUI Galway’s new logo more clearly communicates the University’s brand identity cost effectiveness, implementation will take place on a phased basis over an 18-month period. Honorary degrees 2009 Pictured at the ceremony were (from left) Brian Joyce, Pádraic MacKernan, Dr James J Browne, Anna Ó Coinne, Professor Philip O’Leary and Liam Connellan In June 2009, NUI Galway recognised with honorary degrees the achievements of five outstanding individuals drawn from the public and private sector as well as academia Liam Connellan has had a deep involvement in the engineering profession for over 40 years and has served as President of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland. A former Chairman of the National Roads Authority, he was a founding member of the Irish Academy of Engineering and has served as President of the Academy. He is a member of the Board of the Peter McVerry Trust, which assists homeless young people. Pádraic MacKernan enjoyed a distinguished career in public service. He was appointed Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels in 1991 and returned to Dublin as Secretary-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1995. He became Ambassador to France in 2001, a post he held until his retirement in 2005. Pádraic holds a BA 1962 and MA 1963 from NUI Galway. Anna Ó Coinne is a local businesswoman who has been involved in fundraising for breast cancer research for 20 years. Working with a voluntary group, Anna became chairperson of the finance and planning committee of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI) in Galway. During 2010, the Institute will move to a new purpose-built Translational Research Centre being constructed by NUI Galway on the grounds of University College Hospital. Professor Philip O’Leary is a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, where he is currently Professor of English on the Irish Studies Programme at Boston College. He has directed the Boston College/Abbey Theatre Summer Programme in Dublin, and from 1991 to 2005 he directed the College’s MA programme in Irish literature and culture. He has written numerous books and won many awards for his work on Irish literature. Brian Joyce worked with Ford UK before returning to Ireland to hold senior accounting positions with RTÉ and Bord Bainne. He later became Managing Director of the Irish Dairy Board. In addition to his non-executive roles, Brian is currently Chairman of Clancourt Holdings and a director of Kingspan. He holds a BA 1962, BComm 1962 and HDip in Education 1963 from NUI Galway and was recognised with the Alumni Award for Business and Commerce in 2008. Commenting at the conferring ceremony Dr James J Browne, President of NUI Galway, said: “NUI Galway is fortunate to be associated with many outstanding honorary graduates throughout its history, and those being honoured this year form a particularly distinguished group. Their contributions in many spheres – engineering, business, public service, philanthropy and education – have been outstanding, and NUI Galway is very pleased to be in a position to recognise these exceptional individuals.” 8 9
UNIVERSITY NEWS Extensive coral reefs have been discovered off the west coast of Ireland Coral reef found off Galway coast NUI Galway researchers have discovered a major new coral reef province on the southern end of the Porcupine Bank off the west coast of Ireland. The province covers an area of some 200 sq km and contains in the order of 40 coral-reef covered carbonate mounds. These underwater hills rise as high as 100m above the sea floor. The deep-water research expedition took place in May aboard the Marine Institute research vessel, the RV Celtic Explorer. The researchers used a remotely operated vehicle to survey the sea floor and capture unique video footage. The expedition, led by Dr Anthony Grehan of NUI Galway’s Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, was a collaboration between RTÉ’s Nationwide comes to town NUI Galway’s national profile received a significant boost in April when the University was featured on RTÉ’s television programme Nationwide, presented by Mary Kennedy (pictured). The programme spoke to the President, Dr James J Browne, about the economic impact NUI Galway has both in the west of Ireland and nationally. Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Professor of History, spoke about the foundation of the University in Galway and how it had changed over the years. NUI Galway and the Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer and involved researchers and students from both institutions. Said Dr Grehan: “These are by far the most pristine, thriving and hence spectacular examples of cold-water coral reefs that I’ve encountered in almost ten years of study in Irish waters. There is also evidence of recent recruitment of corals and many other reef animals in the area suggesting this area is an important source of larvae supply to other areas further along the Porcupine Bank.” The NUI Galway study is part of a larger pan- European project funded by the EU Seventh Framework Programme, called ‘CoralFish’ that is studying in detail the interactions between corals, fish and fisheries. Dr Grehan is co-ordinator of the European study. Professor Pat Dolan of the Child and Family Research Centre in the University’s School of Political Science and Sociology talked about his recent appointment as the Unesco Chair for Children, Youth and Civic Engagement, the first of its kind in Ireland. Second-year Irish & Philosophy student Orla Murphy from County Clare was interviewed about her experience of being involved in the popular student volunteer programme ‘Alive’. RTÉ’s marine correspondent Tom McSweeney visited the Martin Ryan Institute to find out what could be learned from deep-sea species, while Mary Kennedy talked to Professor Vincent O’Flaherty, Director of the newly established Energy Research Centre. Volunteers shine at Volvo Ocean Race The sun was not the only thing to shine at the Volvo Ocean Race stopover in Galway from 23 May to 6 June 2009 – so too did the hundreds of NUI Galway volunteers who helped make this event the massive success it was. The University worked with non-profit event organiser Let’s Do It Galway to help mobilise the small army of volunteers needed for the two-week festival in Galway City. Almost 1,000 people, including many NUI Galway staff and students, offered to volunteer their time and skills in support of the race. NUI Galway is Ireland’s leading University in the development of student volunteering initiatives. Every year, through its ‘Alive’ volunteering programme, it supports thousands of students who volunteer with over 80 local and international community organisations. Green Dragon surfing at 30 knots off the Blasket Islands, shortly after the start of leg 8 from Galway to Marstrand RTÉ presenter Mary Kennedy Photo: Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race Dr Robinson opens Disability Centre Former President of Ireland Dr Mary Robinson has launched a new Centre for Disability Law and Policy at NUI Galway. The primary purpose of the new Centre is to conduct research on best international practice to assist in the ongoing process of reform taking place here in Ireland and throughout the world. The launch was followed by a round table discussion composed of a panel of experts from China, the US, Hungary, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the European Commission. The experts discussed the current global challenges in the field of disability followed by commentary from Irish specialists. “The Centre for Disability Law and Policy represents the best a university can offer in a democratic society by placing its research assets at the disposal of the process of change. This is nowhere more important than in the field of disability both here in Ireland and abroad,” said Dr Robinson. Unesco honour for University President of Ireland Mary McAleese has launched a Unesco Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement at NUI Galway. The Unesco Chair is the first awarded in the Republic of Ireland, and President McAleese described it as a “fitting endorsement by peers worldwide of the important work that is being done at NUI Galway to help solve the real problems experienced by young people and families in our communities”. The Chair is hosted at the Child and Family Research Centre (CFRC) in the University’s School of Political Science and Sociology. Professor Pat Dolan, Director of the CFRC, is the Chairholder. Professor Dolan said that supporting children who experience adversity and disadvantage through encouraging civic participation had crucial benefits in terms of improved selfesteem, self-efficacy and wellbeing. He said: “I have come to the conclusion that civically engaging children and youth produces benefits for all children. Particularly in the case of children who are experiencing severe difficulties, their civic engagement can lead to significant improvement and help rebuild key relationships in their lives.” Front row, from left: Nicholas Burnett, Assistant Director-General for Education, Unesco; Professor Pat Dolan, Unesco Chair, NUI Galway; President of Ireland Mary McAleese; President of NUI Galway Dr James J Browne. Back row, from left: Dr Martin McAleese; Professor Chris Curtin, NUI Galway; Lorraine McIllrath, Community Knowledge Initiative, NUI Galway; Seán Campbell, CEO, Foróige; and Professor Kevin Barry, NUI Galway Professor Gerard Quinn, Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, NUI Galway; Dr James J Browne; and Dr Mary Robinson Deri system used by team Obama An internet technology developed at NUI Galway is to be used by President Obama’s administration in its new website devoted to the $800 billion economic stimulus package. The administration’s Recovery.gov website will employ a web standard created at NUI Galway’s Digital Enterprise Research Institute (Deri), with the aim of bringing an unprecedented level of transparency to the US Government. Researchers at Deri focus on the ‘semantic web’, the next incarnation of the internet which will be more intuitive because data will be defined and linked. One of the outputs of Deri’s research is called ‘semantically-interlinked online communities’ or SIOC. Aimed at connecting online community sites and internet-based discussions, SIOC is set to be utilised by Recovery.gov. Creator of SIOC and lecturer in Electronic Engineering at NUI Galway Dr John Breslin said: “The possibilities afforded by deploying semantic technologies such as SIOC for government transparency are very exciting. Semantic technology allows the linking of government funding data, fed in from spreadsheets or forms, to contributions from the public, private organisations or the government itself.” The SIOC project is already being used by a range of applications including Yahoo! SearchMonkey and Drupal. 10 11
Page 1 and 2: A PRESIDENTIAL ENCOUNTER President
Page 3 and 4: INTERVIEW UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE NUI
Page 5: GALWAY UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Fundra
Page 9 and 10: STUDENT NEWS Sporting honours never
Page 11 and 12: FEATURE Maths makes its mark Tony B
Page 13 and 14: FEATURE One track mind One track mi
Page 15 and 16: COVER STORY Add a university educat
Page 17 and 18: PROFILE FEATURE Leading from the fr
Page 19 and 20: PROFILE AN ALUMNUS IN... Man of man
Page 21 and 22: ALUMNI NEWS GALWAY EVENTS NUI GALWA
Page 23 and 24: ALUMNI NEWS US EVENTS NEW ENGLAND N
Page 25 and 26: CLASS NOTES Ursula Bracken BA 1993,
Page 27: Exclusive to NUI Galway Graduates T

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