NUI MayNooth acadeMIc RevIew - National University of Ireland ...

FacUlty oF scIeNce aNd
eNgINeeRINg/dáMh Na
heolaíochta agUs Na
hINNealtóIReachta
INtRodUctIoN/
RéaMhRá
In challenging times, the performance of all organisations
demands close scrutiny. The Faculty of Science and
Engineering at NUI Maynooth can report excellent,
measurable, achievement in the three core areas of
teaching and learning, research and outreach in the
past year. In terms of undergraduate education, the
Faculty continued to do exceptionally well in terms of
recruitment with undergraduate intake rising compared
to the 2007 entry (which was itself a record year). This
was achieved with a concurrent rise in the average
CAO points obtained by entrants accepted into our
most popular Science and Engineering courses. Given
the national and international decline in recruitment
to Science and Engineering courses, this represents
an impressive achievement indeed. It was no surprise
to the Faculty when the Sunday Times awarded NUI
Maynooth the accolade of Irish University of the Year.
In the research arena, Ireland is looking to its Scientists
and Engineers to help drive the creation of knowledge
that underpins the so called SMART economy. It is
particularly impressive that the commercialisation office
has assisted the Faculty in almost doubling the annual
numbers of patents filed from NUI Maynooth during
2008. Translating cutting edge research into intellectual
property of value for national economy will be essential
during the current international recession. Finally, the
strong outreach activities from the Faculty continue to
serve all the communities of Ireland, especially those
that lack a tradition of engagement with Universities
or third level education. The NUI Certificates in Science
and Engineering coordinated by the Maynooth Access
office have helped a diverse group of new, talented,
students to discover the opportunities afforded by
a foundation in the Sciences. These activities also
sustain the long tradition of service to the peoples
of Ireland that Maynooth has embodied since 1795.
The introduction of a new BSc (Hons) Science Education
continued the innovative developments in undergraduate
provision that are a hallmark of NUIM. This concurrent
programme combines both teacher training and scientific
formation so that emerging scientists are fully qualified
to teach two Science subjects to Leaving Certificate
level. It is hoped that this approach will go some way to
enhancing the capacity of Ireland to bring more students
into Science and Engineering at second level. Innovation
has also occurred in how Faculty supports learners during
their time on campus. The Mathematics Support Centre
(the drop in centre) has proved a well-used resource,
helping over one hundred students a week build their
quantitative skills and mathematical competence.
New developments have been made to ensure that
our research strength informs our teaching. During the
summer of 2008, the SFI funded PURE and SoMER sites
offered a total of 24 research projects in Evolutionary
and Chemical Biology, attracting undergraduate
students from Ireland and overseas. Combined,
these programmes represent the most extensive
single investment in extra-curricular undergraduate
research at the University, and is recognition of the
ongoing commitment of NUIM research staff to
enhancing student education. Such programmes and
other similar initiatives across the Faculty, provide an
interdisciplinary research environment to enhance
students’ knowledge and understanding of important
concepts in their disciplines and develop the students’
analytical, practical and communication skills.
ní mór feidhmíocht gach eagraíochta a iniúchadh go
géar nuair atá an oiread sin dúshlán le sárú againn. is
féidir le dámh na heolaíochta agus na hinnealtóireachta
in oÉ má nuad a thabhairt le fios go ndearnadh dul chun
cinn intomhaiste den scoth le bliain anuas sna trí réimse
lárnacha .i. múinteoireacht agus foghlaim, taighde agus
for-rochtain. maidir le cúrsaí oideachais fochéimithe,
lean an dámh uirthi ag déanamh go fíormhaith ó thaobh
earcaíochta de. Tháinig méadú ar líon na mac léinn
fochéime a tugadh isteach i mbliana le hais 2007 agus
buaicbhliain ab ea an bhliain sin. d’éirigh linn é sin a bhaint
amach le hardú comhreathach sna meánphointí cao
a fuair iontrálaithe ar chúrsaí móréilimh san eolaíocht
agus san innealtóireacht. is toradh iontach é seo, go
deimhin, go mór mór nuair a chuirtear san áireamh go
raibh laghdú in Éirinn agus ar fud an domhain ar líon
na ndaoine a chuir isteach ar chúrsaí eolaíochta agus
innealtóireachta. ní raibh ionadh ar bith ar an dámh
nuair a bhronn the Sunday Times gradam ollscoil na
bliana ar oÉ má nuad. Ó thaobh taighde de, tá Éire ag
brath ar a cuid eolaithe agus innealtóirí chun an t-eolas a
chruthú ar a dtógfar an eacnamaíocht chliSTe, faoi mar
a thugtar uirthi. cúis iontais ab ea an chaoi ar chuidigh
an oifig Tráchtálaíochta leis an dámh chun an oiread
paitinní a chomhdaigh oÉ má nuad a dhúbailt beagnach
i gcaitheamh 2008. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go ndéanfaí
taighde úrscothach a thiontú go maoin intleachtúil a
rachaidh chun tairbhe eacnamaíocht na tíre ag an tráth
seo den lagtrá idirnáisiúnta. mar fhocal scoir, leanann
an dámh uirthi ag freastal ar gach pobal in Éirinn de
thoradh a gníomhaíochtaí tréana for-rochtana, go mór
mór leis na pobail sin nach bhfuil aon traidisiún acu baint
a bheith acu leis na hollscoileanna ná leis an oideachas
tríú leibhéal. rinne oifig rochtana má nuad comhordú
ar Theastais in eolaíocht agus in innealtóireacht de chuid
oÉ agus chuidigh siad sin le grúpa éagsúil mac léinn
nua a bhfuil tallann acu fáil amach faoi na deiseanna a
chuireann buneolas eolaíochta ar fáil dóibh. cuireann na
gníomhaíochtaí seo leis an traidisiún fada atá ag má nuad
ó 1795 i leith maidir le freastal ar phobail na hÉireann.
forbairt nuálaíoch a bhí ann nuair a tugadh isteach
céim nua bSc (onóracha) in oideachas eolaíochta, agus
is féidir a rá go fíor go bhfuil a leithéid d’fhorbairtí ina
saintréith de chuid oÉ má nuad. nascann an clár reatha
oiliúint múinteoireachta agus eolaíochta sa chaoi go
mbíonn na heolaithe a bhfuil an cúrsa críochnaithe acu
láncháilithe chun dhá ábhar eolaíochta a mhúineadh
go leibhéal na hardteistiméireachta. Táthar ag súil go
gcabhróidh an cur chuige seo le cumas na hÉireann
eolaíocht agus innealtóireachta a mhúineadh do níos mó
mac léinn dara leibhéal. Tá nuálaíocht le feiceáil freisin
sa chaoi ina dtugann an dámh tacaíocht d’fhoghlaimeoirí
i rith an ama a chaitheann siad ar an ollscoil. baineadh
an-úsáid as an ionad Tacaíochta matamaitice (an tionad
buail isteach) agus chuidigh sé le tuairim is céad
scoláire in aghaidh na seachtaine a gcuid scileanna
cainníochtúla agus a gcumas matamaiticiúil a fhorbairt.
NUI Maynooth President’s Report – Academic Review –