2006

University College Dublin DECEMBER Celebrating the past, creating the future

www.ucd.ie/ucdtoday

Julia Sigwart Dr Niamh Dr Jens Eoghan Rice tells Claire Hardiman Nielsen dicovers the O’Connell speaks to explains the wisdom in about the Louise Holden applications Irish proverbs captivating about Irish of enzymes with Professor Blaschka Social and to Sean Duke Aidan Moran models Political Attitudes 3 7 8 11 Students are ambassadors for UCD

Thirty exceptional UCD students have been selected to represent the university to prospective The Student Ambassador programme aims to ease the transition to third level education by giving students as part of the new Student Ambassador programme. One of their key tasks is to prospective students the opportunity to speak to an existing university student in a friendly and conduct tailored campus tours for schools, groups or even individuals. relaxed atmosphere.

The Ambassadors are important points of contact for potential students when they visit the The Ambassadors, who were nominated by UCD staff, are from diverse backgrounds and areas of university and even before they set foot on campus. They are contactable by email and there are study. All are “high-achievers”, typically with experience as team leaders or class reps. They have all plans for them to visit secondary schools alongside UCD staff on schools liaison. They are also on completed at least one year of study and some are at postgraduate level. hand for Open Days. The initiative was officially launched on 22 November in the new Welcome Centre in the Clinton Institute. Transition year students from St. Colmcille’s Community School, Knocklyon took part in the first official campus tours.

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3 Crystal creatures on display what’sJulia Sigwart tells Claire O'Donnell about the fascinating, anatomically-correct glass models of marine animals to be found in the UCD Ambassadors and scholars - School of Biology and Environmental Science

Research brought to life 5 in unique image competition students show their mettle Captivating images from the recent Picture This competition, showcasing the depth and diversity of work from UCD's research community With forty-one students entering UCD on 600 points and a further This year the average CAO points were also included to give a more 107 on sufficiently high points to earn an entrance scholarship across realistic picture of the range of students. For example, the minimum Inside the mind of the Irish voter thirty-eight degree areas, there is ample evidence that UCD is CAO points for omnibus science was 330 but the average was 420. 7 attracting a substantial percentage of Ireland's top students. Dr Niamh Hardiman speaks to The breadth of degrees and the national reach of UCD means Louise Holden about the recently-published Irish Social and Political Attitudes With places still at a premium it is not surprising that 19 of the 20 that talented, bright students are not just those who attain students on entrance scholarship to medicine achieved 600 points in entrance scholarships. Enzyme answers their Leaving Certificate. Of greater interest are the many school 8 students who choose degrees that do not require exceptionally high Our new student ambassadors are drawn from throughout the Dr Jens Nielsen explains to Sean Duke some of university to guide prospective students around the campus and to the applications of enzymes and how their points. These students are spread across eleven degree programmes give them a sense of what student life is really all about. These performance can be improved ranging from psychology to commerce, from architecture to arts. The extraordinary 900-point student, Ronan McGovern from ambassadors display consistent qualities in community participation, many excel at sport, others have Gaisce awards, held class rep and Wise old words Newbridge, Co Kildare chose omnibus engineering. captain roles at school and club level and all have adapted to 11 Professor Aidan Moran, co-author of Timeless Wisdom explains to Eoghan Rice why some old There is a belief abroad that choosing a degree requiring lower points university life with great enthusiasm. Irish proverbs are as relevant now as they were than a student expects to achieve is “a waste of points”. Not so, as centuries ago the ten BA scholars with well over 200 points “to spare” They are, as their name suggests, true ambassadors for the university. demonstrate. Those of us inside the education system know that School students have a greater comfort level talking to someone Out and about students who choose their degree on the basis of interest will closer to their own age. Stepping foot on campus can be daunting. 17 Photos and stories from the Foundation Day particularly enjoy their university life and perform better. The friendly face and welcoming hand helps overcome anxieties and dinner, the Ruby and Silver Jubilee celebrations the practical advice plays an important role in helping students make and other social events Our undergraduate prospectus aims to describe and explain each the choices that are best for them. degree to students so that they can make informed choices in UCD Sports respect of their CAO application. The information includes the Eilis O’Brien 18 A round-up of recent sporting events, including minimum CAO point for students entering in the previous year. Director of Communications the Dublin Senior Football Championship and the 97 sports scholarships awarded to UCD sporting stars

Contributors: Design: Suzanne Bailey, Christian Barry, Loman Cusack Design Caroline Brophy, Deirdre Brophy, Damien Print: Dempsey, Sinead Dolan, Orla Donoghue, eBrook Marie Ennis, Moss Garde, Niamh Hardiman, Paul Harkin, Louise Holden, Thanks to: Emma Kavanagh, Suzanne Kealy, Patricia Padraic Conway, JP Donnelly, Kelly, Kevin Kiely, Jim Kinsella, Anne Catherine Godson, Maurice Manning, Lavelle, Rosaleen Loughman, Ita McGuigan, Cliona de Bhaldraithe Marsh, Niamh Milne, Clár i Bhuachalla, Kevin Damien McLoughlin, Patrick Wall Nolan, Valerie Norton, Aonghus Ó hAirt, In the compilation of this publication, every Claire O'Connell, Aoife O’Donovan, care has been taken to ensure accuracy. Any Geraldine O'Neill, Elaine Quinn, Eoghan errors or omissions should be brought to the Rice, Eileen Scott, Mark Simpson, Julie attention of UCD Communications Tritz, Micéal Whelan, Nerys Williams ([email protected]) Produced by: We also welcome your suggestions for Eilis O Brien, Claire Percy, articles in future editions. Dominic Martella, Sara Fogarty This publication is also available online at www.ucd.ie/ucdtoday. 20062

Crystal creatures on display Julia Sigwart tells Claire O'Connell (BSc 1992, PhD 1998) about the fascinating, anatomically-correct glass models of marine animals to be found in the UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science.

Science and programme director of CoBiD creatures then later set up salt-water aquaria seen in the live animal are faithfully reflected (Collections-Based Biology in Dublin). to keep and observe their subjects in real life. in the glass model. While the Irish collections focus on marine And with other, smaller collections in Trinity biology, the largest individual Blaschka Sigwart, a marine biologist who specialises in College Dublin, University College Cork and NUI collection is a series of 4,000 plant and flower molluscs, agrees that the models are highly Galway, Ireland has an unusually high density of models commissioned by Harvard University accurate. ‘They are fantastic,’ she says. the rare glass models. ‘We are swimming in in Boston. ‘The Blaschkas wouldn’t have known the them!’ says Sigwart. biology of every group, they were gentleman But despite their global recognition, the naturalists, but what comes out is that they The NHM and Irish universities first started to Blaschkas and their methods remain something had a remarkable eye for detail which is really invest in Blaschka models in the 1870s, steadily of an enigma, with few recorded notes about a crucial skill for being an organisational building up collections totalling over 500 their lives or techniques. They kept largely to biologist.' models, mainly of soft-bodied marine animals themselves as they provided museums all over such as squid, cuttle-fish and octopus. The real the world with exquisite and scientifically Blaschka models are on permanent display Julia Sigwart, programme director of CoBiD creatures on display in museums were accurate models that bridge art and science. at the Natural History Museum, Merrion St, preserved in alcohol, which maintained their Knowledge about their collections remains Dublin 2. A special, temporary display of UCD’s corridors hold many hidden treasures, anatomical features but dulled their vibrant fragmented, which is why Dublin held the first ‘Crystal Creatures’, which include many of the but some of the most spectacular are glass colours, and the glass models provided more annual Blaschka Congress last September, UCD-held models, will run until after Christmas models of marine animals that nestle life-like, aesthetically pleasing alternatives. explains Sigwart, who chaired the organising on the ground floor of the unassumingly in the zoology cabinets of the Glass models could also enlarge small, even committee. museum. For opening hours UCD School of Biology and Environmental microscopic, creatures to better display their visit www.museum.ie Science. beauty and complexity. The aim was to put experts in the same room so they could swap information and join up Claire O’Connell Crafted by father-and-son team Leopold and The creators, Leopold Blaschka (1822-1895) and some of the dots. (BSc 1992, PhD 1998) Rudolf Blaschka more than a century ago, these his son Rudolf (1857-1939), came from a family is a freelance journalist. faithful glass reproductions of marine and tradition of glass craftsmanship dating back to Speakers included the botanist Susan microscopic creatures are a visually stunning the 15th century. Originally from Bohemia, they Rossi-Wilcox, who manages the Harvard Glass fusion of art and scientific detail. moved to Dresden in Germany and built up a Flowers collection, and David Whitehouse from e reputation for crafting life-like glass models of the Corning Museum of Glass in New York. UCD and the Natural History Museum (NHM) marine animals, reflecting the Victorian craze hold between them the largest collection of for exploring rock pools and the seaside. Zoologist Martyn Gorman from Aberdeen animal Blaschka models in the world, explains highlighted the anatomical correctness of the Julia Sigwart, museum collections researcher at Interested naturalists, the Blaschkas at first models by using the example of a Portuguese the UCD School of Biology and Environmental modelled their creations on drawings of marine man-o’-war: many of the different cell types

Radiolarian - Copyright National Museum of Ireland Sea Anemone - Copyright National Museum of Ireland Octopus - Copyright National Museum of Ireland Mind the glass: conserving the Blaschka creations

The Blaschka glass models of marine and ‘Nobody’s in a hurry to scrub these things clean By their nature, adhesives are not destined to microscopic animals are a museum curator's until we understand what they are made from last forever.’ dream, but the fragility of these antiques and how to they behave,’ he says. ‘The simple can also bring nightmares. message is that they are made from a variety of So far there have been no major disasters, but types of glass and they also have plaster of the NHM is not in a hurry to tempt fate by Work is ongoing at the Natural History Museum paris, papier-mâché, metal wiring, glues moving the precious models about too quickly. (NHM) to discover how best to preserve and coatings and pigments, sometimes in the glass ‘Vibration and moving around as part of an clean the valuable models, explains Nigel structure. The one real worry about Blaschka exhibition is very scary stuff,’ says Monaghan.

Monaghan, keeper of the natural history models is that they are over one hundred years ‘We have exhibited them at other museum sites asur division at the National Museum of Ireland. old and very brittle. The glues have degraded so [in Dublin], but that involved driving across they are very crunchy. Just think about how town at about three miles per hour.’ long sellotape lasts - it flakes off within years. Collections-Based Biology in Dublin e Historically, UCD and the Natural History researchers at UCD. I feel we have a mandate offers undergraduate students from all over the Museum (NHM) enjoyed strong links when that UCD students learn how to use the world the chance to conduct research each UCD's science department was based in museum because that’s an important part of summer through Science Foundation Ireland’s Merrion Street, before moving to the making them good and internationally mobile UREKA programme. Belfield campus. scientists,’ says Julia Sigwart, who works closely with the museum and with the UCD School of ‘It could be anything from working on fossil CoBiD (Collections-Based Biology in Dublin), a Biology and Environmental Science and the corals to looking at bat DNA to cellular biology joint programme between UCD and the NHM, UCD School of Geological Sciences. to looking at how plants cope with low oxygen was set up in part to maintain the association environments. The projects are linked together between the two institutions. The partnership offers students and researchers because they have the museum collections in the opportunity to tap into the enormous common,’ she says. ‘The aim is to make the museum’s scientific reserve of museum-based collections here, tr collections available to students and explains Sigwart. For example, CoBiD now

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Prestigious Gateway architecture competition underway

In October, UCD launched a major international architecture competition for a new development at Belfield - the Gateway Project. The Project, comprising cultural, academic, leisure and business facilities, represents the start of the 15-year UCD Campus Development Plan.

The challenge to architects is to devise a defining structural feature for UCD that will serve both as an internationally recognisable landmark and also meet extensive functional requirements.

The Gateway Project and the wider Campus Development Plan aim to create a sustainable learning and living environment, moving the university towards a 24-7 campus and creating a greater level of interaction between the university, the local community and the wider visiting population to Dublin. Aerial view of UCD, Belfield campus. Red line inidcates outline of competition boundary. Blue line indicates zone of architectural consideration

The core competition area consists of 9.86 a crèche facility, conference facilities, a hotel, entrance; the improvement of public transport world, with a closing date of 6th December hectares at the main entrance to the Belfield offices for knowledge-intensive businesses, and the creation of public plaza with significant 2006. A jury of internationally-renowned campus on the N11. On completion, the new meeting rooms and a provision for landscaping and pedestrian space. In particular, architects will produce a shortlist of three to mixed-use development will include; a cultural multi-storey car parking. the Project aims to improve linkages from the five candidates in January 2007 before selecting centre with art house cinema/film studies Gateway area to other campus precincts. the winner next April. facility, a university welcome and graduate The Project also incorporates the redesign of centre, student residential accommodation the pedestrian and road network with emphasis The University invited submissions from For further information, visit and services, retail outlets, a medical centre, on rectifying the dangerous and congested leading architecture firms from around the www.ucd.ie/gatewayproject

UCD commended at local Tidy Districts competition

UCD’s efforts to improve the environment for the benefit of the wider community were recently acknowledged at the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s annual Tidy Districts Awards.

The university won the Best Educational Institute category for its initiatives to keep the campus clean, tidy and free of graffiti and for actively encouraging recycling. Projects such as the oak walk, boundary woodland development and wildflower meadow were praised as valuable resources for both UCD and the wider local community. UCD Conway Institute with wildflower meadow in the foreground. (Picture: Gayle Fitzpatrick, UCD Quinn School of Business.) IT Data Centre supports research needs

UCD’s researchers have increasingly for the facility was provided by UCD, the HEA generation cars,” explained Dr Aaron Quigley discuss their potential needs and in turn liaise sophisticated Information Technology and SFI. from the UCD School of Computer Science and with the UCD School of Computer Science and requirements for gathering, storing, Informatics who is leading the automotive Informatics about using CAVE as a shared manipulating and displaying data. To meet With this new facility, UCD will be able to lead visualization project. resource. “This will mean that the CAVE will this need, a high density computer facility and support computationally-intensive research potentially be used by research groups across has been installed in the Daedelus Building. projects at national and international level. One According to Dr Quigley, the CAVE allows the university rather than it remaining locked example of this type of project is ‘CAVE’ - a researchers with different inputs to work away for use by only specific projects,” The new Research IT Data Centre, which was brand new computer-aided virtual environment together using a centre panel and to witness said Dr Carr. officially opened by UCD President, Dr Hugh (CAVE) that provides a 360 degree collaborative the results of their collaboration take shape, Brady on 15 November, has the capacity to space where researchers can visualise data from both on the panel and on the surrounding walls. host the high-performance computers which different viewpoints. “It allows team co-ordination when the Pictured at the Research IT Service Launch were are required by some research projects. information space is very complex, voluminous from left: Mary Crowe, Chief Information & The CAVE, or visualisation room, is a series of and multidimensional.” Technology Officer, UCD; Prof David J Fegan, “In a 160 square metre facility, we can host rank mounted computers, each one the School of Physics and Prof Ciaran Regan, dedicated high-end research computing, equivalent of two desktop machines and With the new Research IT Chair, Research IT Steering Group together with large storage and backup equipped with the most powerful computer Data Centre at UCD and an capacity,” said Mary Crowe, Chief Information video cards available along with IBM’s Deep expert technology support and Technology Officer at UCD. “And a Computing Visualisation software. Within the team in place to support dedicated expert support team are on hand room, researchers can work, separately or in its use, Dr Hamish Carr,a to provide specialist high-end technical collaboration, using a Diamond Touch visualisation researcher in assistance to the research community who controlled desktop panel. Their results are the UCD School of wish to use the facility.” projected as a single, continuous surface Computer Science and wrapped around the entire room. Informatics, is confident that The Research IT Data Centre is one of the most CAVE will be available as technologically advanced hosting and data The CAVE is currently being used for an a shared resource storage systems available today and was automotive software engineering project as across the university. introduced at a capital cost of some Û2million. part of an SFI-funded Lero CSET project. It provides researchers with a cost effective “The table surface offers astounding potential Research groups can structure for working on data-intensive projects to automotive designers and software engineers approach the and offers hosting and storage capacity that is for exploring how design changes could impact research IT expert both secure and extremely reliable. Funding on the automobile software system in next support group to

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Research brought to Graduate Research life in unique image Welcome Event

Professor Michael P. Ryan, Dean of Doctoral Studies and Postdoctoral Training, hosted the inaugural UCD Graduate Research Welcome Event in October. The event was designed to welcome competition new researchers to UCD and to create a sense community. It also gathered together all the key UCD service providers so that the new researchers could get a feel for the support and other services available. On 24 October, O'Reilly Hall was filled Images were judged by an independent panel with fascinating images showcasing the of experts who considered the originality, UCD President, Dr Hugh Brady, officially welcomed the new research graduates. This was followed by depth and diversity of work from UCD’s composition (aesthetic and technical) and talks from PhD students outlining their research, best practice and advice for research at UCD. research community. overall impact of each submission. The twelve Professor Michael P. Ryan, Dean of Doctoral Studies and Postdoctoral Training made the keynote winning images will be featured in the first address. The event ended in a reception for the graduate research students. The unique image competition and exhibition, research calendar for UCD. entitled Picture This, was open to all UCD researchers who wished to submit an The overall winner was Noreen Barron, formerly interesting image created in the course of their of the UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies, Irish research. Hundreds of absorbing images were Folklore & Linguistics for her image of the entered, representing all key academic and celebration of St John’s Eve (23 June) taken in research disciplines including Arts, Life Sciences, Sruwaddacon Bay, Rossport, Co Mayo. In second Social Sciences, Humanities, Engineering and place was Elizabeth Shotton from UCD School Physical Sciences. of Architecture, Landscape & Civil Engineering with her image of Foreign Bodies in the Grand Commenting on the competition, Professor Canal Locks. The third prize was awarded to Desmond Fitzgerald, Vice-President for Research Yolanda Alvarez of UCD School of Biomolecular in UCD, said the range and quality of the & Biomedical Science and the UCD Conway images submitted was exceptional. “The images Institute for her image of eye veins. submitted to this competition are unique and compelling and the scope of research interests A full list of winners, short-listed images and in UCD is clearly visible. From both a research images that received judges’ recognition is and a visual perspective, the competition available on www.ucd.ie/research. Details of succeeded in capturing the extent and diversity next year’s competition will also be available of the research underway at UCD.” on the site in due course.

New UCD researchers at the welcome event in October Mental health research continues after Craig Dobbin's St John's Eve (Image: Noreen Barron) passing

Craig Dobbin, Canadian industrialist psychiatrists, immunologists, genomic and philanthropist who recently passed biologists and psychologists. The work is away, was enlightened and visionary focused on identifying biological pathways by in his generous financial donation for which depression affects physical health. a fellowship in mental health research Such research has the potential to influence at UCD. the treatment of patients with major depression as well as physically ill patients The current incumbent of the Craig Dobbin who are experiencing psychological distress. Newman Fellowship in Mental Health Research is Aoife O’Donovan, who is based in Speaking about her research, Aoife said, the Department of Psychiatry and Mental “I hope that our findings will emphasise Health Research, St. Vincent’s University associations between mental and physical Hospital and UCD. health and encourage awareness of mental health issues throughout our health service." Aoife is conducting novel research into biological aspects of major depression within Craig Dobbin passed away in Newfoundland, a multidisciplinary team that includes Canada on October 7th 2006. Grand Canal Docks (Image: Elizabeth Shotton) Eye Veins (Image: Yolanda Alvarez)

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How do rural communities see themselves?

Rural groups from Ireland, the Czech Biology and Environmental Science. The UCD recognized diversity and also identified concept had potential to assist the expanded Republic, the Netherlands, Italy and France team worked in partnership with two local common ground on issues such as farming, land EU LEADER Programme (2007-2013) to recently completed work on an innovative action groups; IRD Duhallow Ltd (North Cork management and the environment. empower and engage rural communities project about visually representing rural and East Kerry) and Rural Resource The exhibition was visited and supported by across Europe. identities to community leaders and Development Ltd (Co Clare), to produce high Irish MEPs including Brian Crowley, Sean politicians. quality photographic and video images. These O'Neachtain and Marian Harkin as well as An image-based publication entitled Imaging images were then displayed in October at a senior European Commission officials. Rural Identities: An Innovative Approach to In Ireland, the Imaging Rural Identities in an two-day exhibition in Brussels. Jean-Michel Courades, Policy Officer Informing Rural Development Policy in Europe Enlarged Europe project was led by Dr Deirdre Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural (working title) is being drafted with a projected O'Connor, Dr Jim Kinsella and postgraduate The exhibition, which allowed participants from Development, who officially opened the publication date of early 2007. researcher, Julie Tritz, from the UCD School of the various countries to exchange experiences, exhibition, said that the imaging rural identities Mar a fheiceann pobail tuaithe iad féin

Tá críoch curtha le gairid ag grúpaí tuaithe D'oibrigh foireann UCD i gcomhpháirt le dhá taithí a mhalairt - ilghnéitheacht agus d'aimsigh fhéiniúlacht na tuaithe cabhrú le cumasú EU as Éirinn, Poblacht na Seice, an Ísiltír, an ghrúpa gníomhaíochta áitiúil; IRD Duhallow Teo siad bunfhadhbanna coitianta maidir le cúrsaí LEADER (2007-2013) agus dul i ngleic le pobail Iodáil agus an Fhrainc le hobair ar thogra (Corcaigh Thuaidh agus Ciarraí Thoir) agus Rural feirmeoireachta, bainistíocht talún agus an tuaithe ar fud na hEorpa. nuálach chun 'conas a mhairimid' a léiriú ó Resource Development Teo. (Co. an Chláir) chun timpeallacht. Thug baill na hÉireann den Aontas amharc do cheannairí pobail agus do na híomhánna fótagrafacha agus físe Eorpach, Brian Crowley, Seán Ó Neachtain agus Tá foilseáchán íomhá-bhunaithe Imaging Rural pholaiteoirí. d'ardchaighdeán ar baineadh úsáid astu ag Marian Harkin cuairt ar an taispeántas chomh Identities: An Innovative Approach to Informing Rural Development Policy in Europe (teideal Ba iad an Dr Deirdre O'Connor, an Dr Jim taispeántas dhá lá sa mBruiséal i mí Dheireadh maith le hoifigigh sinseartha ón gCoimisiún oibre) á dhréachtadh faoi láthair agus tá súil é a Kinsella agus an taighdeoir iarchéime, Julie Tritz Fómhair a sholáthar. Eorpach. Dúirt Jean-Michel Courades, Stiúrthóir fhoilsiú go luath i 2007. as Scoil na Bitheolaíochta agus na hEolaíochta Ginearálta don Talmhaíocht agus d'Forbairt na D'aithin an taispeántas - a cheadaigh do Comhshaoil UCD a stiúraigh an togra Imaging Tuaithe a d'oscail an taispeántas go raibh sé rannpháirtithe as na tíortha éagsúla a gcuid Rural Identities in an Enlarged Europe in Éirinn. d'acmhainn ag an gcoincheap maidir le íomháú

A grandfather sits on the remains of an old fort in Adult education leads to new skills and opportunities; Rathmore Co Kerry where he tells stories of it and the men and women work with the seaweed harvest in community, keeping alive the local heritage Brian Crowley TD MEP (centre) with members of the Banteer Youth Group West Clare Sami Language Council visit UCD Early and

Thug baill de chuid Comhairle na Teanga Sámi cuairt ar UCD ar an Máirt, 14 Samhain 2006. Chuir an tOllamh Seamas Ó Catháin fáilte rompu ina dteanga Medieval Irish féin agus rinne Bord na Gaeilge UCD ócáid a reáchtáil ina n-onóir. Bhí deis ag baill de chuid na Comhairle castáil leis an 16 mac léinn atá ar Scéim Chónaithe Ghaeilge na hOllscoile agus dreas cainte a dhéanamh leo. Thug an Dr Iarflaith Watson (Scoil na Socheolaíochta) léacht uaidh ar chúrsaí Gaeilge texts now agus pholasaithe teanga anseo, mar chuid d'imeachtaí an lae agus thug lucht Sámi cuairt ar Choláiste Eoin, Gaelscoil áitiúil.

Members of The Sami Language Council visited UCD in November. They were welcomed in their native language by Professor Séamas Ó Catháin of the available online UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies, Irish Folklore & Linguistics. A reception was hosted by UCD Bord na Gaeilge at which members of the Council had the opportunity to meet and converse with the 16 students on the Irish Language Student Residence Scheme. The day’s schedule included a lecture by A new online facility called Thesaurus Dr Iarfhlaith Watson from UCD School of Sociology on Irish language issues and policies and also a visit to the local Gaelscoil, Coláiste Eoin. Linguae Hibernicae provides web access to digital editions of texts in Early and Medieval Irish to scholars and teachers.

The website, (www.ucd.ie/tlh) will provide digital texts of the Franciscan A manuscripts, new diplomatic transcriptions of published and unpublished texts from other medieval manuscripts, along with scholarly editions no longer easily available.

The project, led by Dr Patricia Kelly of the UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies, Irish Folklore & Linguistics, was made possible by the generosity of Professor Marianne McDonald of the University of California (San Diego), through The Ireland Funds.

Dr Iarfhlaith Watson, UCD School of Sociology; Tor Magne Berg; Gudmund Johnsen; Heidi Andersen; Arne Johan Turi;, Rolf Olsen Chairman of Sami Language Council; Ingar Nicolaisen Kuoljok; Professor Séamas Ó Catháin UCD Bord na Gaeilge; Clár Ní Bhuachalla UCD Bord na Gaeilge

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Inside the mind of the Irish voter Hoping to better understand Irish voting patterns and the issues that drive change in the twenty-first century, Louise Holden speaks to co-editor of Irish Social and Political Attitudes Dr Niamh Hardiman.

Socio-demographic profiling is used to identify compounded by strongly held views on a range Some findings of the survey on Irish social and what kinds of groups in society are least (and of interim developments such as the Troubles, political attitudes: most) tolerant. EU membership, the free market and the • Irish attitudes have become more separation of Church and State. individualist. For example, 78% endorse such “The second chapter examines how economic statements as ‘Some people don’t make the development has affected concerns about the If Irish election managers read one book this effort to help themselves’ while 66% agree environment,” says Niamh Hardiman. “Has year, let this be it. A comprehensive, that ‘People with talent or ability will always development made Irish people more aware of, academically rigorous and evidence-based make money.’ and concerned about, the environment, or are exploration of Irish voting patterns, it also material concerns still uppermost in citizens’ provides a very accessible snapshot of Irish • 29% of respondents are committed liberals minds?” social attitudes at the beginning of the 21st who see individual effort as the most century. The work also reveals, in a lamentably important; 25 % attribute poverty to social In this chapter Brian Motherway and Mary Kelly unique fashion, some of the loftier concerns of factors; about 15% are ‘free-floaters’ and distinguish between ‘extreme’ green attitudes Irish voters. one third (32.7%) are ‘left-libertarians’ who and the more moderate 'sustainable believe that individual effort and hard work development' approach. To what extent has the “Regrettably, much of this new diversity in matter but that social class and background latter approach now become mainstream? The underlying values is not being reflected in influence opportunities. authors use responses to the 2002 ISPAS survey political debate,” says Hardiman. “It would and compare those responses to those given to appear that a growing rift is taking place • While most respondents said they were not the same questions in 1993. The authors between popular opinion and the political at all disturbed by the presence of people of conclude that concern for the environment in system. Some of this is reflected in more another race or nationality, about a third did 2002 remains as high as it was in 1993 but widespread political alienation and political find the presence of other groups at least a such concern has become less 'extreme'. apathy, and in the large floating vote. Irish little disturbing. Moreover, about a quarter political opinion is exceptionally unstructured felt that there were too many people of In the third chapter of the book Betty Hilliard compared with other European countries. Electoral forecasting is a tricky business in another race living in Ireland. looks at changing family structures in Ireland Nevertheless, there are clear underlying Ireland, as the Irish voter is a complex and dramatic increases in female participation patterns of values and priorities, across a • There has been a decline in sympathy for character. Motivated by a range of factors in the labour force. How have these societal broader spectrum of opinion than is normally political refugees. In 1995, 22.3% strongly that can include everything from civil war shifts affected the roles and behaviours of men articulated in public life.” agreed that they should be allowed to stay. politics to house prices, the Irish voter often and women in relationships? Hilliard asks In 2002, 14.9% felt this way. falls into an unusually large constituency of questions about marriage, work, gender roles, As politicians and the media obsess on the floating voters that require a wide net to children and domestic tasks and duties and selfishness of the Irish voter and his perceived • In 1994 and 1998, half of respondents catch. In a new book entitled Irish Social and concludes that Irish attitudes to gender roles preoccupation with Stamp Duty and the believed that a pre-school child is likely Political Attitudes, edited by sociologists and are moving, often quite dramatically, in a non- Red Cow Roundabout, this book reveals to suffer if his or her mother works. political scientists from UCD and TCD, the traditional direction. how many Irish people are moved to vote by Less than one third of respondents hold Irish voter is scrutinised from a number of bigger concerns such as the environment and that view now. angles to illuminate his or her path to the The fourth area of interest to the authors was social justice. ballot box. the attitude of Irish people to poverty in an era • The days of each party relying largely on of increasing wealth. Diane Payne, Niamh Co-editor Niamh Hardiman. its ‘own’ voters are gone. Most voters are Using a large-scale academic survey, editors Hardiman and Tony McCashin have explored ‘available’, open to persuasion from more John Garry (formerly TCD Department of the extent to which citizens prioritise equality than one party and potential support for Government, now QUB), Niamh Hardiman and fairness in relation to wealth distribution. each party overlaps substantially with that (UCD School of Politics and International Do Irish citizens, like many of their US for at least one other. Relations) and Diane Payne (UCD School of counterparts, see individuals as primarily Sociology) have focused on the issues that responsible for the economic situations they • There have been changes in attitudes to currently drive change in Ireland. Our find themselves in? Is poverty the fault of the individual parties since 1989. Sinn Fein is breathtaking transition from a high tax, high inept poor and wealth the result of the talented less clearly identified as being on the unemployment economy fifteen years ago to a rich? If not, are Irish voters uncomfortable with extreme left, and the Progressive Democrats wealthy nation today has impacted on the Irish the idea of a wealthy society that leaves so are placed marginally closer to Fianna Fáil, lifestyle in ways that we are only coming to many people impoverished? Are they prepared while the Greens now fit between SF and terms with. This book attempts to document to vote for greater equality of wealth Labour. “Despite the growth of small parties how these changes have affected our beliefs distribution in Ireland? with apparently distinct social and and attitudes, and in turn, our voting behaviour. ideological appeals, electoral politics in Along with examining the social issues feeding 2002 looks like a war of all against all,” Co-editor Dr Niamh Hardiman of UCD School into voter behaviour, the book examines the says chapter author Michael Marsh. of Politics and International Relations explains crucial question of why a large and the approach. “Instead of focusing on some of growing constituency of potential voters the immediate debates that so often occupy never make it to the polling station. In a Irish Social and Political Attitudes is the airwaves, such as house prices or childcare chapter on political alienation and published by: Liverpool University Press. costs, we interviewed potential voters on some political apathy, John Garry provides 2005. For further information visit: of the wider issues that effect their lives and evidence on the level of alienation www.liverpool-unipress.co.uk voting patterns. First, Irish economic across a range of areas: interest in development has attracted unprecedented politics, ‘personal’ and ‘system’ Louise Holden is a journalist with the numbers of immigrants to Ireland and the efficacy (competence), trust in Irish Times and is currently enrolled on country has become much more multicultural institutions, and political knowledge. the MEd programme at UCD. than it used to be. Are Irish people living up to Do Fianna Fail supporters have the stereotype of being friendly and welcoming more trust in the system than Sinn or do the new immigrants face hostility?” Fein supporters? Do Fine Gael Voters display more political In the book, Dr Michael O'Connell and Dr Nessa knowledge than Green voters? Winston have explored the extent to which attitudes to racial minorities may have The work also maps some of the changed. They also compare the findings to fundamental political cleavages results from surveys in the early 1990s. A rise in at work in the Irish psyche. hostility towards racial and ethnic minorities is Political allegiances stemming documented, and this backs up with hard from 1918 are still at play, evidence anecdotal stories of racism in Ireland.

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Enzyme answers Want to make a better enzyme? Whether it is needed for brewing better beer, baking better bread, or making a new food product with medical properties, UCD's Jens Nielsen can provide some of the answers, writes Sean Duke (BSc 1987).

Enzymes are tiny, busy little proteins that resources appealed to him and perhaps most ‘We are constructing a database, which has lots are crucial to the brewing, baking, and importantly for a ‘theoretical researcher,’ he of algorithms for predicting various things,’ said detergent industries. They are natural, would have the opportunity to establish his Jens, ‘protein stability, protein dynamics, ligand entirely organic, and present in all animals own experimental research lab. ‘Theoretical binding, folding, and solubility. All of that will and plants. They are simply everywhere. research benefits from access to experimental be integrated into the database system which Jens Erik Nielsen, a Danish researcher based data because it means you can actually test will be released in December 2006.” at UCD, and recipient of an SFI President of your models,’ explained Jens. Ireland Young Researcher Award (PIYRA) has ‘I am hoping that the programme will be useful developed a theoretical model, in the form Shortly after his arrival, Jens was awarded a to companies producing enzymes for industrial of a computer programme that can help prestigious President of Ireland Young processes. We have already had some interest Structure of HIV-1 protease anyone that wants to improve an enzyme for Researcher Award. This firmly established Jens from industry, and it is hoped that they will use almost any purpose. This programme is free on the Irish research map, and greatly increased Another example is the baking of bread. it to generate new products, or improve their Û to academics, with a small charge for his profile here. He now has SFI funding of 1.2 The bread that is on sale in Ireland today does existing ones.’ Û industry and is available online. million and HRB funding of 160,000 to not get stale as quickly as bread did in the past ‘If we had the capacity to do it, we would like support his work. because a group of enzymes called CGTases to engineer enzymes ourselves, but we are a Jens Erik Nielsen did his undergraduate studies have been added to the dough. at the University of Copenhagen and for his Industrial enzymes research group of eight or nine people, more MSc he worked with a Danish company called than half of which are PhD students. We can’t Enzymes are vital biological entities that make Making enzymes Novozymes, which is the world’s largest user of compete with a companies like Novozymes things happen in the body; they can break one industrial enzymes. So, clearly enzymes are very useful to a range who have 2,000 full-time researchers,’ said Jens. material down into another, they can facilitate of industries. Jens Nielsen and Barbara a chemical reaction, and they can even help to Tynan-Connolly, a PhD student in Jens’ group, Future repair DNA. have constructed a theoretical model, a There are enzymes in everything we eat, and computer programme that can be of value to Industrial enzymes are enzymes that are used they are perfectly natural. Generally, Jens said, anyone who wants to improve an enzyme. If a to facilitate industrial processes. For example, people don’t have a problem if an engineered person wants to change the pH-optimum of an enzymes have long been used in washing enzyme performs a task, such as making bread enzyme, they can punch in the desired value for powders. Typically when clothes get dirty last longer, but is rendered inactive by the time the pH-optimum, and in a matter of minutes there is deposition of organic substances such the bread is eaten. However, Jens added, there the programme will provide a number of as starch, fat or blood. Enzymes were developed might well be a different public reaction if structural modifications that will be required in that were capable of breaking down these people thought that they were consuming order to change the pH-optimum of the 3D structure of Hen Egg White Lysozyme materials and thus cleaning the clothes. In the engineered enzymes that were still active in enzyme, and thus enable it to perform a past, the enzymes that did this work required foods. This is likely to be a sensitive element specific task. high temperatures, so high temperature washes of enzyme research, but an important one in After Jens completed his MSc, Novozymes of 95 degrees Celsius were sometimes needed. coming years. provided him with further financial support to Scientists then developed enzymes that could pursue his doctorate at the European Molecular work at much lower temperatures, of perhaps Jens initially dealt with There is also likely to be huge growth in Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany. 30 degrees Celsius and when these enzymes the use of engineered enzymes for medical There he worked with the Dutch researcher just the pH-optimum were added to washing powders, there were purposes, he said. For example, enzymes could Gert Vriend, who had similar research interests huge environmental and energy savings. of enzymes, but now be engineered to detect the early signs of to Jens. Following completion of his disease - a diagnostic kit. Or an engineered doctorate in Germany, Jens took Similarly, enzymes are used to facilitate the he is moving his research version of the blood clotting protein Thrombin up a post-doctoral position manufacture of carbonated drinks. In the could be developed to either promote blood at the University of production sweeteners for such drinks, onto the next level by clotting (perhaps in the case of hemophiliacs, California, San Diego, and syrupy mixtures are boiled for several developing a theoretical for example) or to prevent clotting (perhaps spent two and a half days in huge cooking vessels to in the case of patients in the post-operative years there, soaking up break down starch. However, an model that can provide period). the sun, and learning industrial enzyme can speed up more about enzymes. this process, and ensure that answers to more questions. These medical applications would, however starch is broken down more need to undergo a rigorous approvals regime, On completing his post- quickly. requiring clinical trials. In terms of his own doctoral studies, It was possible to perform this analysis in the work, Jens said, there is the possibility that his Jens secured a lectureship past, but it was done manually and it took theoretical models could be applied to the at the UCD Conway several days rather than a few minutes to run pharmaceutical industry. Developing drugs is a Institute. He was attracted through the various calculations. costly process, and often hit and miss. Other to UCD by the improving researchers have developed theoretical models Jens’ model is up and running online and he is climate for research funding that speed up drug development. These constantly improving it by using experimental and the sense that things programmes attempt to aid the development data produced by his group at the UCD Conway were happening in Ireland of new drugs and also indicate how to make Institute, testing the results, and making generally in the sciences. existing ones cheaper or more effective. The improvements accordingly. The more data that The UCD Conway possibilities are endless. Institute’s philosophy of is used to construct the model, the more sharing equipment and accurate the predictions by the model become. “The Commissioner of the US Office of Patents in the late 1800s reportedly said that Next level everything that can be invented has been Jens initially dealt with just the pH-optimum of invented! I won't make that mistake,” enzymes, but now he is moving his research concluded Jens. onto the next level by developing a theoretical Sean Duke is a UCD graduate and joint editor of model that can provide answers to Science Spin. more questions.

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Climate Change Marie Curie Excellence Grant funds research into plant responses to climate change

The European Commission has awarded Dr McElwain, who received the award in may respond to future global warming and will 200 million year old fossil seed fern leaf. a s1.75 million Marie Curie Excellence Grant collaboration with Professor Bruce Osborne, help inform current conservation policy. will use the grant to establish a Marie Curie Copyright Mark Widhalm, Field Museum to Dr Jennifer McElwain of the UCD School of Excellence team of six scientists to investigate The group will develop a novel and highly dinosaurs’, 200 million years ago. To do this, a Biology and Environmental Science for work ecosystem responses to a natural global multidisciplinary research program which new state-of-the-art plant growth room facility on, “Biodiversity dynamics at the warming event which occurred 200 million strongly complements existing research will be constructed on campus at UCD, with Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction event years ago. This prehistoric event is of similar priorities in UCD. Experiments will be financial support from the UCD College conducted on ‘living fossil plants’ such as (200 million years ago): A novel approach to magnitude to the human-induced climate of Life Sciences. change that is currently predicted. The results Ginkgos and Cycads growing in climatic and studying ecosystem responses to global from the project will be extremely valuable for atmospheric conditions which simulate those This is the first time Marie Curie funding climate change.” improving our understanding of how plants which existed during the ‘dawn of the for Life Science has been awarded in Ireland.

Scientists capture CO2 from exhausts before it reaches the atmosphere

With development in Ireland continuing at carbon dioxide after combustion. In short, natural carbon dioxide reservoirs but greenhouse gas emissions (widely believed to pace, we will burn fossil fuels on an new technology capable of capturing CO2 underground caverns, old gas wells and saline contribute to global warming), the United increasingly massive scale. Transportation, from exhaust streams before it reaches aquifers are also used. Nations Framework Convention on Climate homes, businesses and industries all currently the atmosphere. Change introduced the Kyoto Protocol in rely on fossil fuels for power and heat and "Carbon dioxide could be recycled by returning December 1997. This protocol sets legally therefore release huge amounts of carbon "No membranes have been developed to it to an artificial carbon cycle. It is a valuable binding greenhouse gas emission targets for separate carbon dioxide at temperatures of commodity. Under the appropriate processing dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. But all each developed country signed to the this could be about to change. greater than 400°C from combustion or other conditions there is a chance of converting it agreement. high temperature process gases," explains into low molecular weight chemical Professor Don MacElroy and Dr Damian Professor MacElroy. "But our preliminary results commodities or recycling it into methanol. Under the protocol, Ireland has agreed to Mooney from the UCD School of Chemical and have shown that ultra-thin nanoporous Recycling captured carbon dioxide might well reduce its emissions to 13% above 1990 levels Bioprocess Engineering are collaborating with membranes can separate carbon dioxide from become part of the global quest for renewable by 2008 to 2012. However, according to the Dr Matthias Tacke and his research group from nitrogen at 600°C." energy sources" Professor MacElroy concludes. EPA, in 2004 Irish emission levels were 23% the UCD School of Chemistry and Chemical above 1990 levels - a considerable way from Biology to develop an inorganic membrane After CO2 is captured, it may be stored long- To focus the international response to climate meeting agreed targets. technology that will separate and capture term or recycled. Oceans and forests act as change and reverse the global upward trend in

From left to right: Dr John Connolly and Caroline Brophy from UCD School of Mathematical Sciences; Dr Kristina Stinson, Linking climate change and ecology Harvard University; Dr Andreas Lüscher, ETH and FAL Zurich

A recent workshop on ‘Climate Change and Ecological Response - Strategic Directions for Research’ brought together international scientists from many disciplines and emphasised the importance of scientific research in evidence-based policy making on climate change. The workshop was run by Caroline Brophy and John Connolly of the Environmental and Ecological Modelling Group in the UCD School of Mathematical Sciences in November. In opening the Workshop UCD President Dr Hugh Brady stressed the timeliness of this work. The aim of the workshop was to provide a forum to generate research ideas and grant proposals. Speakers included Dr Kristina Stinson (Harvard University) and Dr Andreas Lüscher (ETH & FAL Zurich).

UCD archaeologists conserve Viking weaponry find

When archaeologists working on the N25 ground. The weapons - a full sword, broken into routeway in Waterford recently uncovered a three pieces but with some of the scabbard Viking find of larger proportions than at attached, a shield boss (the convex piece of Wood Quay in Dublin, they sent a material at the centre of the shield designed to magnificent collection of iron weapons to deflect blows), a spear head, a wooden handled specialists at the UCD School of Archaeology knife (embedded in stone), a bronze cloak pin for conserving and analysis. and a sharpening stone, provided confirming evidence that the site was of significant Some time around 850, an unknown Viking importance and helped to date it to within 50 warrior died - possibly in battle. His comrades years of the arrival of the first Vikings to Ireland would have wrapped his body, dug a pit and in the 9th century. with due ceremony, broken his weapons before Axe before conserving work Axe after conserving work Conservation specialists Claudia Koehler they set him in the ground. 1150 years later, and Susannah Kelly from UCD School of something of what happened all those UCD School of Archaeology provides a full- archaeologists commissioned by the National Archaeology painstakingly cleaned each centuries ago. “The corrosion on the breaks in support service to professional archaeologists in Roads Authority, discovered the pit - but no item, which had arrived like blobs of rusty the sword proves that it was broken as part of a the field. Conserving uncovered artefacts is just body. What happened to the Viking warrior’s metal, using an air abrasive machine to reveal ceremony rather than through disturbance of one example of how the university works to body remains a mystery which may never be their secrets. the grave later on. The iron running lengthways support the curation, conservation and analysis solved, but the weapons themselves tell an along the centre of the sword is narrower - of archaeological objects recovered in the interesting story. “It's been perhaps 120 years since a shield boss probably to lighten its weight and the handle is remarkable boom in archaeological excavations was unearthed in Ireland and to discover a quite small so that the warrior could wedge his in Ireland today. The World Archaeological Found some distance from the main sword is always special,” says Susannah Kelly. “A hand in tight preventing it from slipping in Congress will be held UCD in 2008. archaeological site in Woodstown Co Waterford, full-weaponry find like this is very unusual.” The battle,” adds Claudia Koehler - who specialises the block of earth containing the grave was condition of the weapons tells the conservators in Viking artefacts. carefully preserved and extracted from the

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Kevin Kiely wins Kavanagh Conference highlights Fellowship Award importance of humanities

Down-born poet and author Kevin Kiely has been awarded the Û8,000 Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship 2006. and social sciences in The award, which was announced by Irish poet Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin on behalf of the trustees of the estate of Katherine Kavanagh, uses royalties from Patrick Kavanagh’s works to help Irish poets during modern Ireland ‘that period of their creative life when they have established that they are capable of work of merit.’

Kiely won a Bisto Honour Award in 2006 for A Horse Called El Dorado (O’Brien Press, Dublin 2005) a The recent Irish Universities Association The Minister went on to state how, in the novel for young readers. He is currently working on a PhD at UCD under the supervision of Professor conference, “Humanities and Social Sciences discussions of the Knowledge Society, there is Andrew Carpenter, Head of the UCD School of English and Drama, on the Irish-American in 21st Century Ireland - Delivering the a great focus on the “hard” sciences but it must philanthropist, John L. Sweeney, curator (1942-1969) of the Woodberry Poetry Room at Harvard. Knowledge Society” highlighted the vital role not be forgotten that the bulk of graduates of humanities and social sciences in the are in HSS. development of a balanced, prosperous society with a sustainable quality of life. The conference dealt with diverse topics such To Conjure Up - by Kevin Kiely the influence of emerging digital technologies The conference, which was organised in (for example the Û15million Irish Research I went absent leaving you for Chicago a snowy cloud passed across the window, dimming association with the Irish Research Council for eLibrary ”IreL”) and the role of HSS in the hotel became a hospital the scene of the black and the lights and the towers Humanities and Social Sciences, brought policy-making. Speakers also gave views on I signed my committal form at reception with you missing I could only conjure you up. together Irish and international experts from globalisation, human rights and economic and then I said: I will give you all of this city at the Sears Tower in the elevator, across the spectrum of Humanities and Social development. a silver walled room, powered by jet engines below us from this mad height if you bow down Sciences (HSS). Addressing the conference, The conference concluded that The Knowledge thrust me with strangers to the 110th floor and adore me. I bow down and adore you by the waters Mary Hanafin T.D, Minister for Education and Society requires many different kinds of of Lake Michigan breaking and breaking in waves Science, said “Ireland is proud to market its knowledge and this diversity can only emerge from this height through the windows - the lights without salt highly educated workforce to potential in the towers of the city, the moving lights international investors. Our graduates of the when there is enough support for a range of of traffic and street lights still, far below. and she said: I will bow down and adore you. Humanities and Social Sciences are eminent models of teaching and research. so I gave her the city among the bright, creative, flexible and with pleasure I gave her the city of Chicago innovative talent for which Ireland has become renowned.” HII Distinguished Guests lecture series continues with Professor Philip Esler

The most recent speaker in the Humanities Institute barrister in Australia. He published very extensively, particularly in the of Ireland’s Distinguished Guest Lecture series was social-scientific analysis of New Testament and other biblical and Professor Philip F. Esler, Chief Executive of the UK apocryphal texts. From 1999 to 2003 he served as a Board Member of Arts and Humanities Research Council, who Scottish Enterprise Fife and has a strong interest in knowledge transfer spoke on The Contribution of the Arts and and the commercialisation of research. Humanities to the Production of Public Value. The lecture was chaired by The previous lecture on Language and genes in China and East Asia, from Dr Don Thornhill (Chairman of the Professor Alain Peyraube, took place on Thursday, 26 October. National Competitive Council). The HII’s distinguished guest lecture series aims to attract world-class Professor Esler was previously Professor academic speakers to Ireland and to raise the profile of the human of Biblical Criticism at St Andrew's sciences in the development of Ireland's knowledge society. University where he was also For further information on this series or to be added to the UCD Vice-Principal for Research. Before Humanities Institute mailing list for events please contact Valerie Norton becoming an academic, he worked Professor Philip Esler and on 01-7164690 or email [email protected] Dr Marc Caball, HII Director as a litigation solicitor and then a Problem vs method: Ian Shapiro gives inaugural address to UCD College of Human Sciences

Professor Ian Shapiro of Yale University In particular, he has written extensively on In his lecture, which was opened by Professor presented the Inaugural lecture of the theories of justice, democracy, and resource Brigit Laffan, Principal of the UCD College of College of Human Sciences with a talk distribution, and the prospects for sustainable Human Sciences, Professor Shapiro addressed entitled “Problems versus methods in the democracy in countries emerging from the fundamental debate regarding method- social sciences.Which come first?” authoritarian political systems. Shapiro has and problem-centred approaches to studying won several awards and fellowships, including social and political events. Ian Shapiro is the Sterling Professor of Political election as a fellow of the American Academy Science and the Henry R. Luce Director of the of Arts and Sciences in 2000. He has also For a synopsis of the lecture, visit Yale Center for International and Area Studies. taught at Oxford and the University of www.ucd.ie/spire His research interests centre on sociological Cape Town. aspects of economics and political theory. Prof Brigit Laffan, Principal, UCD College of Human Sciences with Prof Ian Shapiro of Yale University 10

proverbs Wise old words Professor Aidan Moran, co-author of Timeless Wisdom:What Irish Proverbs Tell US About Ourselves, explains to Eoghan Rice (BA 2003) why some old Irish proverbs are as relevant now as they were centuries ago.

They are phrases that we all grew up with - grouped together for the purposes of ‘there’s no place like home’; ‘don't count comparison. Many of these triads contain witty your chickens until they’re hatched’; observations, such as this one that reveals the ‘every cloud has a silver lining’. But where three things most difficult to comprehend - ‘the do proverbs come from? And what do they labour of the bees, the ebb and flow of the tide, tell us about ourselves? the mind of a woman’.

These questions form the basis of fascinating The use of animals in proverbs, say Moran and new research by UCD’s Professor Aidan Moran O'Connell, is another one of the key and Dr Michael O'Connell. In their new book, characteristics of an Irish proverb. For example, ‘Timeless Wisdom: What Irish Proverbs Tell Us selfish people are referred to as cats, ‘a cat purrs About Ourselves ‘, Moran and O'Connell, who for himself’; people of limited intelligence are both work in the UCD School of Psychology, referred to as donkeys, while people who work explore Irish proverbs and the role they played - hard are compared to horses. and continue to play - in Irish society. Animals play another crucial role in the Irish The proverbs that are still commonplace in proverb, however, and that relates to man’s conversations around the country today were attempts to second-guess weather patterns. "Ní hé lá na báistí lá na bpáistí" ("The day of rain is not the day of children"): St Patrick's Pilgrimage. used in much the same fashion hundreds, if not Throughout the centuries, Irish people have (Photographer: Horst Munzig. Copyright UCD Delargy Centre for Irish Folklore and the National Folklore Collection.) thousands, of years ago. That proverbs relating used the behaviour of animals as a way to plan to human behaviour centuries ago are still for the coming day’s weather. the same way as you would if you translated Likewise, Irish proverbs also warn any would-be applicable today is one of the most fascinating Irish poetry into English”. groom of the ill-effects of marriage - ‘the only aspects of the new research. “Our forefathers had a vested interest in trying cure for love is marriage’, ‘from the day you to predict the weather, so they used animal Amongst the most fascinating proverbs are marry, your heart will be in your mouth and “A lot of proverbs are as relevant now as they behaviour and the pattern of the sky to guess those relating to alcohol and to women. The your hand in your pocket’. were 1,000 years ago”, explains Professor what the weather would be like”, says Moran. authors admit that they were surprised that the Moran. “A proverb such as 'eight views, eight “It shows the kinship between man and nature”. attitude to both alcohol and women was largely Moran and O’Connell explain this by pointing to recollections' says that people recall events in negative in traditional Irish proverbs. the structure of traditional society, which different ways. Likewise, 'what a child sees, In researching this book - a feat that took over placed women very much below men. The he does' shows that children learn through two years - Moran and O'Connell came across Proverbs connected with alcohol are almost marginal role of women in society allowed men observation. There are also numerous proverbs one very obvious problem: it is not possible to entirely one sided, forming a long note of to ridicule them at every opportunity. dealing with gambling, all of which warn translate all proverbs from Irish into English. warning against drinking too much. While the gamblers from believing their luck is about While there are hundreds of Irish proverbs that Irish of centuries ago were as fond of a tipple as It is also worth remembering, they say, that the to change when in reality they are just made the switch into English and are today the Irish of today, they did not indulge without Irish marriages of centuries ago were likely to losing more”. widely used, others did not translate. a fair degree of warning. Many of these be at least semi-arranged for reasons other warnings revolved around the monetary than love. This perhaps offers a warning that is While proverbs are not a uniquely Irish “There are literally thousands of proverbs, many problems associated with drinking. For example, still relevant today against jumping into phenomenon - just think of how many times of which are extremely difficult to translate”, ‘the three faults of drink: a sorrowful morning, a marriage without knowing your partner fully. you read of ‘old Chinese proverbs’ - Irish says O’Connell. “Others lose meaning when dirty coat, and an empty pocket’. Other After all, you should never judge a book by proverbs do take on a uniquely Irish fashion. they are translated. In Irish the proverb might proverbs, meanwhile, focused on health its cover. One distinctively Irish trait is the ‘triad’ - a rely on the repetition of the same sound, and warnings - ‘wine drowns more men than water’. figurative expression in which three things are you lose that by translating it into English, in ‘Timeless Wisdom: What Irish Proverbs Tell Us Interestingly, Timeless Wisdom: What Irish About Ourselves’, by Aidan Moran and Michael Dr Michael O'Connell (School of Psychology, UCD), Ms Eanna Ni Lamhna (President, Proverbs Tell Us About Ourselves argues that O'Connell, is published by UCD Press. An Taisce; who launched the book) and Prof Aidan Moran (School of Psychology, UCD) proverbs offered a negative view of alcohol because they were an early form of public Eoghan Rice is a Sunday Tribune journalist and warning. Whereas today we have government former editor of the College Tribune. warnings on cigarette packets, centuries ago people had only the warnings of their peers.

“Proverbs acted as health warnings” says O'Connell. “Society requires a brake on certain issues, such as alcohol, and so the proverbs stress the negative in order to warn young men off drinking too much, or to help women warn their husbands not to drink too much”.

One other interesting issue is the treatment of women. Although there are some positive proverbs relating to women, by and large women are treated harshly. Proverbs tended to show women in a negative light, suggesting in no uncertain terms that men are better off on their own - ‘every expensive thing, the wish of every woman’, ‘the dowry disappears but the woman remains a fool’.

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UCD Professor to chair New European Food Safety Authority Dean of Professor Patrick Wall, Associate Professor of Public Health, UCD School of Public Health and Population Science, has been appointed as the new chairman of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The European Parliament established the EFSA in 2002, to provide independent scientific advice and clear communication on Veterinary existing and emerging risks associated with the food chain. A medical doctor and veterinary surgeon, Professor Wall has worked in the areas related to Food Safety since 1979. He served as the first chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Medicine The EFSA is committed to providing information based on risk assessments and the scientific expertise of its Scientific Committee and Expert Panels. In the event of a food safety crisis, the Authority's role is to provide scientific and technical advice to support the European Commission and Member States in managing the issue. The EFSA is based in Parma, Italy. Prof Patrick Wall BAgrSc 150 Scholarship Programme

Ten scholarships, each valued at Û20,000, awarded per programme to the student that As well as financially supporting the students, were awarded to students entering the achieved the highest Leaving Cert result in a the industry partners will have the BAgrSc degree programmes at the recent designated subject. opportunity to host that student for a period of time as part of the Professional Work Entrance Scholars ceremony. The sponsors of the scholarships were Kerry Experience (PWE) module of their degree. Û5,000 per year will be available to the Ingredients, Murray & Associates, Green Belt, students to fund their education over the four Bord Bia, Bord Na Mona, Dawn Meats, Devenish Nutrition, Alltech, SAP, Richard years of their degree. One scholarship was Prof Grace Mulcahy Keenan and Co. Ltd. Professor Grace Mulcahy will take up the role of Dean of Veterinary Medicine at UCD at the end of this year, succeeding Boyd Jones, who has held this role for the past New range of anti-cancer drugs six years.

Currently Professor of Veterinary Microbioloogy discovered by UCD researchers and Parasitology, Professor Mulcahy returned to her Alma Mater in 1991, to take up a position Dr. Margaret McGee from the UCD School "The newly synthesised drugs display strong Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in as lecturer in Veterinary Parasitology, having of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science and anti-cancer activity against a range of human women worldwide. On average, 2700 women spent five years as a research scientist at the investigator at the UCD Conway Institute is cancers, and they have little or no effect on are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland Institute of Animal Health, Pirbright. Since that developing a new range of targeted normal cells," says Dr McGee. every year. And incidence rates for Ireland are time she has built up a research group focusing anti-cancer agents. increasing by 1.5% per year. on host-parasite relationships. As Dean of Speaking of the discovery, Dr Patrick Corley of Veterinary Medicine, she aims to promote Through a successful collaboration involving a Cancer Research Ireland said: “the research Cancer Research Ireland is the research UCD's degree in veterinary medicine (the only team of chemists, structural biologists, and cell group has discovered potentially clinically- division of the Irish Cancer Society. CRI is one on the Island of Ireland) as one of the top biologists, the research group has designed and relevant anti-cancer drugs using x-ray crystals the largest single voluntary funder of cancer programmes of its kind in Europe. She also synthesised a series of compounds that block of an immunosuppressant drug called research in Ireland and is investing over hopes to continue to develop the new, the action of a cancer promoting protein at Cyclosporin A.” Dr Corley has confirmed that Û2.6 million in cancer research over the successful programme in veterinary nursing, very low doses, and which leads to the Cancer Research Ireland will fund the next next 12 months. and to ensure veterinary medicine plays a induction of programmed cell death of the stage of drug development, which will initially prominent role in advancing UCD's mission. cancer cells. focus on “killing breast cancer cells." Research commitment to global diabetes epidemic

In an effort to address the ever-increasing In the Republic of Ireland alone it is estimated welcomed UCD's commitment to create a numbers of diabetes sufferers and the that up to 14% of the population over 40 years global centre of excellence in diabetes research devastating consequences of the disease, a of age has diabetes. Every year over 2,000 of which will build on existing expertise at UCD new Diabetes Research Centre has been these die from diabetes-related diseases. and facilitate collaboration with hospitals, established at UCD. The aim is to provide a universities and pharmaceutical companies multidisciplinary collaborative research Due to these figures, as well as a number of in Ireland. matrix to accelerate progress towards important breakthroughs in the area of diabetes discoveries that will improve the diagnosis and diabetic disease over recent years, UCD has 'Guided by an international advisory board of and treatment of diabetes and associated selected the area as one of its core research experts from leading centres in Europe and the diseases. themes. The university has internationally- US and working together with our national and recognised expertise in diabetic kidney disease international network of collaborators in Diabetes is a lifelong condition with relative (diabetic nephropathy), diabetic eye disease academia and industry, the Centre will work high risks of developing serious medical (diabetic retinopathy), diet and diabetes towards discoveries to prevent, treat and cure complications over time. Latest WHO figures (diabesity), quality of life, and clinical and diabetes and its complications' commented estimate 177 million sufferers worldwide and genetic epidemiology of diabetes. Dr Hugh Brady, President of UCD. this figure is set to jump to at least 300 million by 2025. The current direct cost of healthcare On a visit to UCD Conway Institute for the provision to sufferers worldwide is also opening of Wyeth Research Ireland, the Minister estimated at over $286 billion. for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin

Minister for Education and Science, Ms. Mary Hanafin pictured at the official announcement of the new UCD diabetes research centre

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UCD Welcomes

Chinese Vice-Premier officially opens UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland During his official state visit to Ireland in The Chinese Government plans to have an September, the Chinese Vice-Premier, Mr international network of 100 Confucius Zeng Peiyan formally opened the UCD Institutes established across the globe by 2010. Confucius Institute for Ireland. This joint The Institutes will spearhead the teaching of venture between UCD, the Office of Chinese Chinese language and culture worldwide and Language Council International (Hanban) strengthen economic and business ties between and Renmin University of China, offers China and countries around the world. More courses and programmes in Chinese than 85 institutes have been established to date Pictured at the official launch of the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland: Dr Hugh Brady, President, UCD; H.E. language and culture and aims to facilitate in the United States, Canada, Europe, South Mr Zeng Peiyan, Chinese Vice- Premier; Dr Liming Wang, Director of the UCD Centre for Chinese Studies, and the expansion of economic ties between Africa, Australia, Central Asia, India, and Japan. Mr Zhang Xinseng, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland China and Ireland. Scottish First Minister visits UCD Conway Institute

As part of his first official visit to Dublin, During his visit, Mr McConnell also took the Mr Jack McConnell took a tour of the UCD opportunity to meet with a group of students Conway Institute. Mr McConnell was from Patrician High School, Carrickmacross, accompanied by the British Ambassador to Co. Monaghan who happened to be at the Ireland, Mr David Reddaway and the newly Institute as part the UCD Conway Institute’s appointed science advisor to the Scottish Science4Schools outreach programme. The Executive, Professor Anne Glover. boys explained to him the science behind several of the experiments that they were Professor Janet Allen, Director of the UCD busy conducting on the day - extracting DNA Conway Institute, led the delegation on a tour from a banana and blowing up balloons with of the world-class infrastructural facility which carbon dioxide released from the fermentation supports multi-disciplinary, translational of yeast. Scottish First Minister, Mr Jack McConnell (left) and the science advisor to the Scottish Executive, Professor Anne biomolecular and biomedical research. Glover (right) discuss DNA with a student from Patrician High School, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, at the UCD Conway Institute Strengthening links between Norwegian and Irish veterinary scientists

A memorandum of understanding interdisciplinary Chair who will create and between UCD and the Norwegian operate research teams across each institution School of Veterinary Science in the fields of food safety and security, (Norges Veterinaerhogskole) has immunology and other areas of strategic opened up new opportunities for Irish and research in veterinary medicine. Norwegian veterinary scientists. ‘The agreement will generate strong practical The agreement, which was witnessed by HM collaborations between the Norwegian School King Harald V of Norway at a recent veterinary of Veterinary Science and UCD in both teaching conference, will allow the universities to and research,’ said Dr Hugh Brady, President of exchange students, researchers and scientific UCD. ‘We are excited by the opportunities that materials of mutual interest. this agreement will present and look forward to a most fruitful partnership with Norges The universities have also announced their Veterinaerhogskole.’ HM King Harald V of Norway (centre left) on his visit to UCD, accompanied by Dr Hugh Brady, President, UCD intention to establish a jointly funded

Graduate Diploma in University Teaching and Learning

The first cohort of UCD staff studying on the Graduate Diploma in University Teaching and Learning graduated recently. There were staff representatives from all the five Colleges in UCD, the Audio-Visual Centre, Computer Services and the Library. This is the first programme of its kind in UCD and it is situated in the Centre for Teaching and Learning, in the UCD School of Education and Lifelong Learning.

The programme built upon some of the professional development workshops already in existence in UCD, in particular those provided by the Centre for Teaching and Learning and the Audio-Visual Centre.

The programme deliberately focused module activities on the actual work of participants, and has produced evidence of beneficial change to teaching at individual and curriculum level in UCD.

The programme participants, the staff of the Centre for Teaching and Learning, Dr Bairbre Redmond (Vice Principal for Teaching and Learning) and the Registrar, Dr Philip Nolan (centre front).

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First Sutherland Chair of European Law delivers inaugural lecture

As the first Sutherland Professor of Ireland and as a European Commissioner in the domains of competition law and EU European Law at UCD, Professor Imelda governments of Garret FitzGerald. He has also law. Prior to her appointment as Maher gave her inaugural lecture on the served as Director General of the World Trade the first holder of the Sutherland relationship between EU Law and national Organisation, and Competition Commissioner Chair, she worked at the London law. Her lecture entitled ‘Paradox and Law in for the EU. In 2005, he was appointed Goodwill School of Economics. She has the European Union’ explored an apparent Ambassador for the UN Industrial Development also held academic posts at inconsistency that lies at the heart of EU Organisation. He is Chairman of BP and the Research School for Social law: its status as a new legal order. Goldman Sachs International and currently a Sciences, The Australian non-executive director of the Royal Bank of National University, Birbeck Peter Sutherland was guest of honour at the Scotland Group. College, University of London lecture. A UCD graduate, Mr. Sutherland is an and Warwick University. Irish businessman and former politician, Imelda Maher is the first Sutherland Professor associated with the Fine Gael party. He is a of European Law at University College Dublin. A transcript of the lecture will be barrister by profession, and is also Senior Her main research interest is in law and made available at www.ucd.ie/law Prof Imelda Maher and Counsel. He served as Attorney-General in governance and her work straddles two Peter Sutherland

UCD professor provides Fulbright award for American Department of Justice poetry scholar Dr Nerys Williams from the UCD School of English and Drama has been awarded a Fulbright with insights into child Scholars Award for a research project based at UC Berkeley during 2007 for six months. Her research proposal, entitled “The pornography cases Collaborative Impulse in Lyn Hejinian’s Poetry”, will examine the poetics of the San Francisco Bay Area during the seventies and eighties. In a recent report commissioned by the three quarters of these resulted in a file being The focus of the study will consider the Department of Justice, Equality and Law sent to the DPP. In two thirds of the cases relationship between ideals of community Dr Nerys Williams Reform, Professor Ian O’Donnell of the UCD considered by the DPP, a prosecution was and linguistic experimentation in receiving her award Institute of Criminology investigated child initiated and most of these led to a conviction. contemporary American poetry. from Dr. Don Thornhill, pornography and the criminal justice system. A small number of individuals pleaded not For more information on the Fulbright Chairman of the guilty and each of them was acquitted. Commission visit www.fulbright.ie Fulbright Board The report, which was compiled with research assistant Claire Milner, looked at the number Imprisonment, usually immediate, was the only and nature of child pornography cases that sanction used for the most serious offences of came into the Irish criminal justice system from child trafficking, exploitation or the distribution 2000 to 2004. It considered the roles played of child pornography. For possession offences, a and decisions made by the authorities involved. variety of sentencing options were utilised. Library studies research

Using in-depth interviews with the Gardai, When assessing offence seriousness, judges judges and other parties, the study detailed the were strongly influenced by the nature of the grading of offences, the considerations involved images. A number of them had consulted highly commended in in cases, the rationale behind sentencing and guidelines published by the Sentencing Advisory ultimately the sentences passed. In addition to Panel. They gave a discount for a guilty plea and this, the study gave some indicative took account of participation in treatment and Emerald/EFMD awards demographic information on the characteristics the likelihood of future offending. Judges were of suspects. divided about whether any consideration should The work of post-doctoral research fellow, The work, which was in the “Information be given to expressions of remorse or the Dr Claire McGuinness from the UCD School Science” category sponsored by the Journal of In the period 2000-2004, 204 individuals were stigma associated with prosecution. The of Information and Library Studies was Documentation, was on “Collaborating for suspected of committing one or more offences sentencing exercise involved finding a balance highly commended by the judges in the information literacy development: exploring contrary to the Child Trafficking and among a wide range of aggravating and recent Emerald / European Foundation for the dynamic effect of academic-librarian Pornography Act 1998. This includes cases mitigating factors. Management Development Outstanding relationships on information literacy arising out of the “Operation Amethyst” Doctoral Research Awards. development programmes in undergraduate co-ordinated raids of May 2002. The report concluded that the advent of the education.” internet has made child pornography more The great majority of the cases involved easily available. Increasing computer use and possession of child pornography only growing broadband availability, combined with (i.e. no other charges ran concurrently). In most the fact that users are becoming more instances the cases involved only photographic sophisticated at covering their tracks, mean images; videos and text were rare. The number that it is likely that this type of criminal activity of images varied greatly and covered the full will become more prevalent and more difficult spectrum of sexual activity. Those investigated to eradicate. Effective policing of the internet for these offences were typically middle-aged requires continual monitoring and the ability to men with no previous criminal record. respond rapidly and flexibly. The extent of this challenge cannot be underestimated. Most cases dealt with by An Garda Síochána resulted in a crime being detected (87%) and From left to right: Dr Ian Cornelius, Deputy Head, UCD School of Information and Library Studies; Dr Claire McGuinness, Post doctoral research fellow in the UCD School of Information and Library Studies; John Peters, Chief Executive of Emerald Group Publishing Limited; Griet Houbrechts, Director of the Business School Services Unit, EFMD

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UCD's first Director of Global Irish International Strategy Institute Mr Brian Jackson has been appointed Director Dr Erik Lithander joined UCD in early September of the Global Irish Institute. Before joining UCD, in the newly-created position of Director of Brian was Managing Director of the Abbey International Strategy. Theatre. He is also a director of Theatre Forum, the advocacy and lobbying group for the Erik was previously at the University of Auckland, where he performing arts sector in Ireland. Before this, he held the position of Associate Director for International was Managing Director of an IT company in the Relations. Originally from Sweden, Erik holds a BSc from the UK, worked in the BUPA group in the UK and London School of Economics and an MPhil and PhD from the corporate tax consultancy division of PWC the University of Cambridge. His research interests lie in in Dublin. His research interests include catholic contemporary Latin American literature. culture and the organisation and structure of the religious orders in early modern Ireland. Dr Simon Dobson appointed Professor Niamh Brennan to the Board of ERCIM appointed Chairman of

Dr Dobson of the UCD School of Computer Science and Informatics has been appointed Ulster Bank Ireland Ltd and to the Board of Directors of European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics (ERCIM), which coordinates a First Active plc number of multi-million, multi-country EU projects. ERCIM aims to foster collaborative Professor Niamh Brennan, the Michael work within the European research MacCormack Professor of Management in the community and to increase co-operation UCD Quinn School of Business, has been with European industry. appointed Chairman of the Boards of Ulster The organisation runs working groups in areas Bank Ireland and First Active plc, subsidiaries of such as the semantic web, dependable systems Ulster Bank Group. A chartered accountant by and e-learning. It also builds and maintains a profession, Prof Brennan is also Academic network of researchers, organises workshops, Director of the Institutes of Directors’ Centre of and prepares common project proposals. Corporate Governance. For further information see www.ercim.org

Dr Pat Frain, Director of NovaUCD, has been NovaUCD elected Chair of the Council of Association of University Research and Industry Links (AURIL). Director AURIL is the professional association representing Knowledge Transfer practitioners in the UK and Ireland and it is the largest elected chair knowledge transfer association in Europe with more than 1600 members from UK and Ireland universities, NHS trusts and public sector of council of research establishments. Dr Frain is the first representative of a university from the Republic of Ireland to chair AURIL the council since AURIL was founded in 1995. SpeedNetworking CEMS Master’s in At a recent management development Undergraduate Conference which took place International Management conference at the UCD Quinn School of from 12th - 14th October. Business, a unique ‘SpeedNetworking’ ‘This was the first opportunity we had to session allowed delegates to discuss showcase UCD Quinn School of Business possible future international partnerships moves up FT rankings to the European Foundation for Management with more than 50% of conference Development and AACSB communities” In the second Financial Times (FT) ranking of “pre-experience” Master's in Management degree attendees. said Dr. Martin Butler, Director of the UCD programmes, the Community of European Management Schools and International Companies’ Quinn School of Business. one-year Master’s in International Management (CEMS MIM) programme has moved up to the The theme of the 2006 European Foundation number two spot from third place in last year's ranking. for Management Development (EFMD) The EFMD is globally recognized as an Undergraduate Conference was “What Got Us accreditation body of quality in management Launched in 2001 and conceived by academic and business leaders, CEMS MIM is specifically designed Here Won't Get Us There!” Over the course of education and has established accreditation to equip multilingual and multicultural managers with the skills to thrive in an international the three day conference, delegates heard services for business schools and business environment. Students are selected by academic and corporate representatives together among the submissions from industry and from school programmes, corporate universities and 17 CEMS schools in Europe (of which UCD is one) and 4 associate schools outside of Europe. international academia on the growing technology-enhanced learning programmes. importance of China to business education and Students participate in a dedicated pan-European programme and are awarded the CEMS Master in the impact of technology on business and Based in Brussels, the EFMD is an international business education. membership organization with more than 600 conjunction with a Master degree from their home school. The incoming class of 2006 - 2007 includes member organizations from academia, business, 600 students representing 45 nationalities. The programme has a strong practical and international More than 100 Deans and Undergraduate public service and consultancy in 65 countries. component with students required to spend a semester at another CEMS school and to complete an Deans of Business from around the world It provides a unique forum for information, internship abroad. attended the European Foundation for research, networking and debate on innovation Management Development (EFMD) and best practice in management development. To find out more about this and other programmes visit www.ucd.ie/business

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FitFone wins NovaUCD

Founder of FitFone, 2006 entrepreneur award Dr Conor O’Brien

A new platform technology, which when This fitness measurement, which is available of the Irish Heart Foundation Council for embedded into a mobile phone facilitates instantaneously via mobile phone, can be used Exercise and a former Irish Olympic remote health and fitness assessment, won by the individual and his/her fitness Team doctor. the 11th NovaUCD Campus Company instructor/doctor/coach to design and Development Programme (CCDP). implement programmes of exercise to improve The CCDP is a programme sponsored and the individual’s fitness. The FitFone device can supported by BT Ireland and Enterprise The FitFone Exercise Physiology System, be used to monitor the improvements in the Ireland that assists academic grounded in detailed medical and physiological individual's fitness levels over time which can entrepreneurs establish and develop new science, is a health and fitness assessment result in improved health outcomes and business ventures and commercialise the application containing a Global Positioning increased life expectancy. output of their research. In the last System embedded into a mobile phone. The eleven years, over 125 projects and system measures an individual's fitness level The founder of FitFone is Dr Conor O'Brien, a 175 individuals have completed the based on personal statistics (e.g. age, weight consultant neurophysiologist and physician in NovaUCD CCDP. Previous winners and height) combined with the time taken for sports and exercise medicine. He was chairman include AV Edge, BiancaMed, an individual to complete an exercise such as of the Anti-doping Committee of the Irish ChangingWorlds and Vocal walking a certain distance. Sports Council (1999-2005) and is Chairman Health Screen.

Enterprise Ireland Informatics Prof Barry Smyth, Head of the UCD School of Computer Science and Informatics receiving the “Enterprise Ireland Informatics Commercialisation Award Commercialisation Award 2006” from Fergal O’Morain, Director of Applied Research for UCD professor Commercialisation at Enterprise Ireland

In recognition of his achievements in “Prof Smyth has achieved a harmonious commercialising university research, balance between academic and commercial Professor Barry Smyth, Head of the UCD success. He has maintained a strong track record School of Computer Science and Informatics, of research excellence while managing to has been awarded the “Enterprise Ireland commercialise his work through the company Informatics Commercialisation Award 2006.” Changing Worlds” said Fergal O’Morain, Director of Applied Research Commercialisation at The annual award is presented to a researcher, Enterprise Ireland. research group or institution that demonstrates commitment, innovation and success in relation The award was presented at the recent to the commercialisation of university research. Enterprise Ireland Informatics Technology Through these awards, Enterprise Ireland hopes Commercialisation Showcase 2006 which to encourage commercialisation across the featured Irish informatics research projects with informatics research arena. commercialisation opportunities including UCD projects on E-commerce Recommender Systems and a Quality Oriented Adaptive Scheme.

Stockbyte founder speaks at “Entrepreneurs Live!” seminar

“Entrepreneurs Live!”, the seventh Enterprise developed in-house had given the company a Jerry Kennelly, founder of Stockbyte, speaking at the Seminar Series organised by NovaUCD in vital competitive advantage that was extremely launch of the “Entrepreneurs Live!” seminar series association with the Dún Laoghaire- important when his companies were bought by Rathdown County Enterprise Board, was Getty Images. launched in October by Jerry Kennelly. Earlier this year, Jerry Kennelly sold his two In the “Entrepreneurs Live!” seminar series, companies, Stockbyte and Stockdisc for $135 leading Irish entrepreneurs speak about their million to Getty Images. The companies had experiences of setting-up and running their amassed a library of over 85,000 royalty- businesses. They also share some of the free images. lessons they have learned along the way. The seminar series aims to promote a spirit of Speaking at the opening seminar, Jerry Kennelly entrepreneurship among the academic, research stressed the value of employing a highly and student population at UCD. Other speakers motivated and skilled team that was dedicated include Dylan Collins of DemonWare, Colum to producing top quality images for sale to O’Sullivan of Cully & Sully and the co-founder global advertisers and publishers. He added that of the UCD spin-off ChangingWorlds, Professor the management systems which his team had Barry Smyth.

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Foundation Day Dinner Ruby & Silver Jubilee Celebration UCD President, Dr Hugh Brady welcomed back graduates from 1966 and 1981 at the Ruby & Silver Jubilee celebration in O'Reilly Hall on Saturday 4th November 2006. Over 320 alumni attended on the night. The group had travelled from all corners of Ireland, UK, USA, Canada and many parts of Europe. Dáithí O’Ceallaigh BA ‘66 and Heather Ann McSharry BComm ‘81 were guest speakers on the night.

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin with Christopher Westdal, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland and his guest Ms Sheila Hayes pictured at the UCD Foundation Day Dinner

The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Ciaran Lawlor was honoured for his outstanding Hanafin, TD, gave the keynote address at the contribution to UCD student societies, Pictured left-right: Mary O’Neill, Owen O’Neill UCD Foundation Day Dinner, held in O’Reilly particularly for his work in promoting debating. MVB ‘66, Mary Cummins, Harry Cummins MVB ‘66 Hall, Belfield on Friday 3rd November 2006. He was the driving force behind UCD’s pictured at the Ruby & Silver Jubilee Celebration Over 450 friends and supporters of UCD successful bid to host the World Universities heard the Minister speak of Ireland needing Debating Championships in 2005 - the largest strong universities and a strong wider student event in the world outside of sport. network of support for them. She also paid Ciara O'Brien was honoured for her outstanding Chemical Engineering at tribute to the role of UCD in promoting reform within the sector. achievements in sport, having achieved some 103 Caps for Ireland in Senior Hockey. In At the event, UCD graduates, Ciara O’Brien and addition to her playing abilities, she also played UCD celebrates 50 Years Ciaran Lawlor were presented with Outstanding a pivotal role in the development of the UCD Achievement Awards. Ladies Hockey Club. In November, a gala banquet at O’Reilly Hall marked 50 years of Chemical Engineering at Ciara O'Brien and Ciaran Lawlor UCD. Almost 400 graduates and guests receive their outstanding attended, including members of the 1956 achievements awards at the UCD and 2006 classes. Foundation Day Dinner The event was a celebration of the Irish and international contribution of the 1,158 UCD Chemical Engineering graduates. Special honours were made to Dr. Eddie O’Connor of Airtricity, (class of 1970) and Mr. Pat Kenny of RTE, (class of 1968). The director of ceremonies for the event was Mr Peter McKenna, Croke Park Stadium Director, (class or 1985). The Chemical Engineering graduating class of 1956: Timothy McCarthy, Michael O'Keefe, Peter O'Callaghan From an initial class of 3 (1956), 2006 saw the The UCD Chemical Engineering degree is largest ever graduating class of Chemical accredited by both Engineers Ireland and the Engineers (47). This growth in numbers has Institute of Chemical Engineers (MEng-level mirrored the vibrant health of the Chemical, accreditation) and is ranked in the top 10 Pharmaceutical, Bioprocess and allied Schools of Chemical Engineering in Europe. industries in Ireland.

Professor Tom Begley, Dean UCD School of Business (back row, centre), hosted a breakfast on Friday 10 November to mark the recent baby boom among the School's staff. It was a delightful event for parents and babies and was held in the Laurence Crowley Board Room in the UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business.

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sport

The UCD players and management celebrate with the cup. Picture courtesy of Sportsfile Triumph in Dublin Senior Football Championship In November UCD footballers won the possession. UCD narrowed the margin from Joint captains James Sherry Dublin Senior Football Championship for the 0-7 to 0-6 but when Vincent’s pulled away and Billy Sheehan lift the cup. second time in five years in a close again to lead 0-9 to 0-6, the small band of UCD Picture courtesy of Sportsfile encounter with old rivals St Vincent’s at supporters feared the worst as it looked like Parnell Park. UCD overcame a four point Vincent's would gain revenge for their loss to deficit and the vocal opposition of most of UCD in the 2002 decider. the 8,000 crowd to prove victorious thanks to an injury time point from Louth county Points from Lennon and O’Malley (2) brought star Shane Lennon which left the final score UCD level with four minutes to go and then at UCD 0-10, St Vincent's 0-9. Lennon's decider broke Vincent's hearts and left the 8,000 crowd largely stunned into silence. At the end of a close first half, St Vincent's led Joint captains James Sherry of Fermanagh and by 0-4 to 0-2 with five of the six points scored Billy Sheehan of Laois accepted the cup after coming from placed balls. At the start of the the game and vocal and emotional tribute was second half, Vincent’s threatened for a while to paid by the UCD players to Dave Billings, overrun UCD with some magnificent points Mr GAA at UCD. from play leaving the score at 0-7 to 0-3 after 39 minutes. The introduction of Austin O’Malley Also in the crowd at last night’s game were in the 40th minute proved crucial, however, as UCD greats from yesteryear including Dr Pat the more fluid combination play and direct O’Neill, Chair of the UCD GAA Scholarship movement of the UCD players began to prevail, Committee, Mr Justice Brian McMahon, even when the opposition had more of the Colm O'Rourke and Benny Gaughran. Fantastic volleyball Intervarsities for hosts UCD

The UCD Volleyball Club hosted the annual Irish Intervarsity Volleyball competition welcoming In the plate competition, University of Ulster Jordanstown emerged victorious in the ladies final, after 24 teams from all over Ireland to compete in the three-day tournament in UCD Sports Centre a tough match against Athlone Institute of Technology. The men's plate final saw Athlone Institute of from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 November 2006. Technology once again defeated, this time by NUI Galway.

This year’s competition resulted in the men of University of Ulster, Jordanstown reclaiming their title Most Valuable Player awards for the tournament on the ladies side were awarded to UCD captain and for the second year in a row, while the hosts University College Dublin ladies battled it out to claim setter Pauline Walsh, and UCD player Noemi Kuncik. The male MVP awards went to a deserving David their record-breaking 6th title in a row! Hamilton from Queens University Belfast, and setter Mark Fulton from University of Ulster Jordanstown.

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UCD awards 97 sports scholarships

UCD has awarded 97 scholarships to Some of Ireland's best known sports figures are At the reception for the announcement of the 2006 UCD sports scholarship recipients are, from left, students selected for their outstanding former UCD sports scholars including the UCD Rugby Scholars Cian Aherne, Andrew Cummiskey, Cathal Doyle, Paul O'Donohoe, Robert Shanley and Vasily Artimiev. Photo courtesy of Sportsfile sporting ability. This is the largest ever current international rugby players, Brian number of sports scholarships in an Irish O'Driscoll, Paddy Wallace and Ronan university. McCormack, captain of the Dublin County Gaelic team, Collie Moran and team mate Amongst the recipients was Irish 200 metre and Alan Brogan, Meath star, Trevor Giles and the 400 metre national champion, Joanne Cuddihy. late Cormac McAnallen, from Tyrone. In total, thirteen sports were represented in the scholarship awards. The UCD sports scholarship programme aims to develop elite athletes who can compete at Since it was initiated in 1979 by Dr Tony O'Neill the highest national and international level. to help talented soccer players who wished to The scholarship guarantees access to top stay in education, the UCD sports scholarship coaches, training facilities and the support and programme has expanded and supported over services of the UCD High Performance Centre, 600 students across athletics, basketball, where athletes are already preparing for Beijing camogie, cycling, ladies gaelic football, men's 2008 and London 2012. gaelic football, golf, handball, ladies hockey, men's hockey, hurling, rugby, and ladies soccer.

Double All Star for UCD retain men’s road title

UCD student and former Olympian James Rena Buckley Nolan showed excellent early season form at the Irish Universities Road Races in NUI Maynooth in November. Nolan equaled the Following her camogie All Star Award, UCD’s Rena two-mile record he set last year with a Buckley received a football All Star Award at the 9.01mins in the penultimate leg of the relay O’Neills/TG4 All-Stars banquet and awards event. UCD went on to retain their men’s title ceremony on 18th November. with an overall time of 41.07mins. seven seconds ahead of close rivals DCU. While in the Rena was among four of the Cork All Ireland winning women's event UCD finished a credible third. side to receive an award. Ulster Champions, and All Ireland finalists Armagh picked up three awards while Leinster Champions Laois were rewarded with two awards. The remaining awards went to Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, Meath, Sligo and Galway.

It has been a fantastic year for Rena with double All Ireland success and now double All Star success. Rena was one of the recipients of the UCD Sports Scholarships 2006.

Rena Buckley receives her All-Star award from Tadhg Kennelly, footballer with the Sydney Swans, in the company of Liz Howard, President, Cumann Camogaiochta na nGael. Photo courtesy of Sportsfile

First Colours loss in 10 Years for UCD 1st XV Dublin University 16 UCD 13 did even better just before the break, hurtling onto a pass from out-half Ian Keatley to dive DUBLIN University broke a 10-year jinx that over. He converted for a 13-7 lead at the break. included nine losses and one draw to beat UCD in the annual Colours Match at a In the second half try scorer McFadden went off freezing cold Donnybrook on Friday with an eye injury. UCD came close to scoring a 17th November. spectacular try but Killian Lett was tackled into the corner flag. Meanwhile Watt bagged his first UCD opened the score with a penalty from penalty in the 60th minute. He added a second Fergus McFadden. However, Trinity responded penalty moments later to draw the sides level. with a superb try for winger Shane Monahan, which was converted by Johnny Watt. When it looked as if a draw was on the cards Trinity converted a penalty with 90 seconds to Another McFadden penalty left the minimum go to give them their first Colours since 1996. between the sides and the Ireland U19 centre

UCD's Fergus McFadden goes over for a try. Photo courtesy of Sportsfile

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Festschrift on The Lion and the Unicorn retirement of Professor - Gladstone vs. Disraeli In an era when Britain practically ruled the appealed over the Queen's head direct to voters world, two men locked horns for almost five as “The People's William”. Muiris X. FitzGerald decades, each aiming oratorical barbs to unhinge the other as they battled for the Aldous's book draws on extensive research on the two men and ties together their personal The UCD School of Medicine and Medical the Irish Health Service. He served on numerous ultimate prize: First Lord and Prime Minister lives and political actions in a “must read” Science honoured Professor Muiris X. national committees including four terms on of Great Britain and leader of a global biography that explains the consequences of FitzGerald, who retired recently as Dean of Comhairle na nOspidéal, fifteen years as a superpower. their bitter relationship. the School and as Professor of Medicine & member of the Medical Research The clash between William Gladstone and Therapeutics. The occasion was marked with Council/Health Research Board including two Benjamin Disraeli was about more than a Festschrift celebrating his distinguished terms as Chairman. He has also been Chairman ideology and political expediency: it was deeply career as a medical educator, researcher and of the Irish Chartered Physiotherapy Board and personal. This battle between these titans of mentor. The term “Festschrift” originates a member of An Bord Altranais. the Victorian Era is brilliantly told in Dr Richard from the German words “Fest” Aldous’s most recent book “The Lion and the (a celebration) and “Schrift” (writing). The Festschrift opened with a series of lectures Unicorn, Gladstone vs. Disraeli”, published by by clinicians who had been mentored by Prof Hutchinson. Professor FitzGerald graduated from UCD's FitzGerald. Dr Seamas Donnelly (UCD), Medical School in 1964 and after postgraduate Dr Hugh Brady (President, UCD), Professor Richard Aldous, Head of the UCD School of training in St. Vincent's University Hospital, Martin Tobin (Chicago USA), Professor William History and Archives, is a writer of New Jersey College of Medicine, Birmingham Powderly (UCD), Professor Michael Murphy extraordinary talent and in this book University and Boston University Medical (UCC) and Professor Arnold Hill (RCSI) paid demonstrates an ability to translate and School, he returned to Dublin in 1971 as a generous tribute to Prof FitzGerald and interpret history for the lay reader, fellow consultant at St. Vincent's University Hospital. highlighted his impact on each of their careers. historians and students alike. In 1977 at the age of 36, he was appointed to The diversity of scientific research and clinical Disraeli, a 3rd generation Jewish immigrant with the Chair of Medicine and Therapeutics at UCD practice described by each presenter speaks an extravagant lifestyle, succeeded in becoming and at St. Vincent's University Hospital. In 2000, volumes of this inspirational leader. the favourite of the temperamental Queen he became Dean of the then Faculty of Victoria. Gladstone meanwhile - a product of UCD President, Dr Hugh Brady presented Medicine overseeing a major period of English capitalism, Oxford and fervent Anglo- unprecedented growth. Professor FitzGerald with a bound copy of his Catholicism - earned only her ire, but ultimately collected published works. A portrait of The author of over 150 published papers in Professor FitzGerald by artist Ms Maeve peer-reviewed journals, during his career Prof McCarthy was unveiled and will be hung in the FitzGerald advanced considerable academic and St. Vincent's University Hospital gallery. The translational research in cystic fibrosis and lung Festschrift culminated with a formal dinner at diseases. The many students and doctors who O'Reilly Hall in his honour, where he was Royal Irish Academy he mentored testify that as a clinician, his presented with a specially commissioned approach to Medicine was always patient- inscribed wooden chair to symbolise his tenure centred. Professor FitzGerald has also as Chair of Medicine & Therapeutics at contributed enormously to Irish medicine and St. Vincent's University Hospital. awards gold medals Denis O'Brien conferred with to UCD academics Former Minister for Foreign Affairs and research is international trade theory, where he honorary Doctor of Laws emeritus professor of civil engineering at works on trade and industrial policy, UCD, Professor James Dooge has been globalisation, and competition. One of Ireland's leading businessmen and subsequently on the Irish Stock Exchange. Over awarded a Royal Irish Academy gold medal in entrepreneurs, Denis O’Brien was conferred a five year period, the company raised $1billion engineering sciences. Professor Dooge, who Speaking at the presentation of the awards by with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by in equity, establishing itself as the number two was president of the Royal Irish Academy President Mary McAleese on 20 November UCD in November. telecommunications company across the full from 1987 to 1990, is widely regarded as 2006, RIA President, Professor James Slevin said: spectrum of telecom services. one of the founding fathers of modern “Professors Dooge and Neary are among a Denis, a loyal UCD Alumnus, graduated from hydrology. small elite of academics in Ireland that set the UCD in Politics, History and Logic in 1977 and In 2001, Denis O’Brien established Digicel, one international hallmark of excellence in their went on to complete his MBA in Boston College of the fastest growing cellular companies in the Professor James Peter Neary, professor of fields of study.” in 1982. He was voted Ireland’s Entrepreneur of world, as well as purchasing Quinta do Lago, economics at UCD from 1980 to 31 August Each year, two outstanding academics are the Year in 1998 in the inaugural running of the one of the most renowned golf courses and 2006, and currently on career break to Oxford awarded Royal Irish Academy gold medals. worldwide competition organised and property companies in Europe with ties to the University, has also been awarded a Royal Irish Academy gold medal in the social sciences. The medals, sometimes referred to as ‘Ireland’s sponsored by Ernst & Young. PGA Tour. Undoubtedly Ireland's most distinguished Nobel Prizes,’ are sponsored by the Higher Education Authority and the Irish Independent. Among his many exceptional achievements, he In addition to his entrepreneurial achievements, academic economist and a leading figure founded Esat Telecom Group which, in October Denis O'Brien was appointed Chairman of the world-wide, Professor Neary’s main field of 1997 listed on the NASDAQ in New York and Organising Committee for the Special Olympics in 2003 and, in a three year period, brought Denis O'Brien at Newman House fundraising to the sum of Û73 million to finance Ireland's hosting of this event. He is a director of Concern Worldwide, and chairman and co-founder of Frontline, the international Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.

Prof Peter Neary (right) and Prof Jim Dooge (left) receive their awards at an official ceremony in the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin

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