As I Prepare to Retire As 12Th President of Our University in Early 2018, I Want to Acknowledge the Great Talent, Energy and Ambition of Colleagues at NUI Galway
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As I prepare to retire as 12th President of our University in early 2018, I want to acknowledge the great talent, energy and ambition of colleagues at NUI Galway. TOP 1% QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS* REPORT OF THE PrESIDENT 2016/17 *NUI Galway is one of the top 1% of universities in the world, according to QS World University Rankings 2018 The opening of the Human Biology Building completes a transformative capital development programme begun by the University over a decade ago. As a purpose-designed facility for the disciplines of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology & Therapeutics, the Human Biology Building will greatly enhance the delivery of pre-clinical teaching to Medical and Health Science students, as well as to Science, Biomedical Science and Engineering students. Strategically located in the south campus with close proximity to University Hospital Galway, the building is adjacent to the student hub at the heart of the campus. The Human Biology Building will also provide excellent facilities for NUI Galway’s extensive programme of biomedical research. New Human Biology Building at NUI Galway. Photo: Niamh Connolly 2 | TEXT CONTENTS A Message from 04 the President NUI Galway 06 News Inspired to 12 Innovate Inspirational 14 Research Community 20 and Outreach Student 24 Success Accolades 28 and Achievements NUI Galway 32 at a Glance TEXT | 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE PrESIDENT The past academic year has been busy and NUI Galway reaches out By incorporating the teaching centres productive. On behalf of the University, I’m in education, food science and hotel delighted to see the hard work of colleagues With the opening of the latest medical management at Shannon College and St reflected in our continued success in a range academy in Letterkenny University Hospital Angela’s College, Sligo, we have broadened of international rankings and - as the new in December 2016, NUI Galway has the University’s curriculum, and offered academic year begins - in our designation as expanded its presence across our region, new research opportunities and Sunday Times Irish University of the Year. supporting higher education from Donegal international partnerships. to Clare. Now firmly ranked in the top 1% of global Our satellite research centres in Mace universities, NUI Galway is a top 250 Through our facilities in hospitals in Head, Carron and Finavarra are embedded university in the Times Higher Education Castlebar, Ballinasloe, Sligo and Letterkenny, in a unique landscape and enable our (THE) World University Rankings and is our medical students and clinicians are researchers to address important global ranked 243rd in the QS World University bringing research-led innovation to patients issues, such as climate change, marine Rankings 2017/2018. In October 2017, across the region. diversity and environmental sustainability. NUI Galway was named Ireland’s University The Irish-language Acadamh centres of the Year 2018 in the Sunday Times in Carna, An Cheathrú Rua and Gaoth University Guide, securing the prestigious Dobhair give our students a rich immersion Fáilte accolade for a third time, having won the in the Irish language tradition, while adding Of course, NUI Galway attracts interest title in 2002 and in 2009. to the social vibrancy of these communities. from all over the world and our campus is a hub for conference delegates, tourists and international study groups. This year we welcomed 15,000 delegates to over 100 conferences and meetings. Notable visits included that of Croatian President, Mrs Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic as part of her state visit to Ireland and the 20th birthday celebrations for Ireland’s Irish language station, TG4, at Hallowe’en 2016 when The Quadrangle provided a dramatic background for a live broadcast attended by Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins and over 500 guests. Among the conference highlights were the national 1916 academic conference, Ireland 1916-2016: The Promise and Challenge of National Sovereignty, hosted on campus in November 2016, with contributions from leading international academics. Over 700 delegates attended, including An Taoiseach and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the 4 | A Message From THE presiDent Gaeltacht. In June 2017, as part of SeaFest, Ireland’s national maritime festival, NUI Galway hosted two major events, Our Ocean Wealth Summit and The Digital CELEBraTING Ocean conference. We also welcomed over 800 visitors from groups EXCELLENCE from US and European universities, including Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Michigan State Recognising that staff are our greatest strength, I’m University. Looking forward, we hope to see delighted to celebrate the commitment and talent of greater visitor numbers, following successful major conference bids won during the year. colleagues across all areas of university activity. Energy into outputs with societal and Teaching economic impact. The award, worth Recognising Women In recognition of the calibre and €25,000, is supported by the Tony Ryan commitment of teachers among our Trust and builds upon past generous Recognising the place of women in the academic community, the following support from the Ryan family. University’s heritage and history has been a received President’s Awards for The 2017 Ryan Award went to a recurring theme this year. In February, the Teaching Excellence in 2016-17: research team comprising Dr Michel landmark Upper Aula Maxima was renamed the • Dr Louise Allcock, School of Natural Dugon, Dr Ronan Sulpice, Professor Emily Anderson Concert Hall, honouring the Sciences Olivier Thomas, Professor Vincent UCG graduate renowned for her translation of • Dr Louise Campbell, School of O’Flaherty and Professor Afshin Samali, the letters of Beethoven and Mozart. Medicine who are pioneering research on the novel antimicrobial properties of venom In March the Engineering Building was officially • Mr Ruadhán Cooke, School of found in Irish invertebrates. named in honour of Alice Perry, who graduated Languages, Literatures and Cultures from Queen’s College Galway in 1906 - the first • Dr Helen Dodson, School of The inaugural Allergan Award for Medicine Innovation - aimed at recognising woman to graduate in engineering in Britain or accomplished Life Sciences research Ireland. This was the centrepiece of a series of • Dr Gerard Fleming, School of was presented to Dr Niamh O’Halloran, events focused on women in STEM, including Natural Sciences School of Medicine, for her project the launch of the Máire Brazil Scholarship to • Dr Michelle Millar, School of on improving outcomes in post- support female engineering students, endowed Political Science and Sociology mastectomy, implant-based breast by the distinguished engineering graduate, Áine reconstruction. Brazil, through Galway University Foundation. Research Over the spring, an exhibition featuring Research is at the heart of our mission Support Services Path Breaking Women of NUI Galway: and the President’s Research Awards The President’s Awards for Support 1912-1922 and Beyond was displayed in the were presented to the following Service Excellence reward the outstanding Hardiman Research Building, celebrating the colleagues who have made outstanding contribution and excellent performance diverse achievements of twelve very talented contributions in their field of research: of staff in the support services. women associated with NUI Galway. Early Stage Researcher Award Winners Almost 30 nominations were received It’s important that we honour the role of women • Dr John Cullinan, Arts, Humanities and the 2016-17 winners are: in the University and this year’s activities follow and Social Sciences • Nicola McNicholas, Management past naming recognitions: Áras Uí Éimhigh, • Dr Anne O’Connor, Arts, Accounting named after the late Dean of Arts and Professor Humanities and Social Sciences • Ann Ryan, Office of the Vice- of Classics, Margaret Heavey; the Máirín de • Dr Derek Morris, STEM President for Research Valera Carron Research Station in the Burren, • Lorraine Tansey, Community Established Researcher Award named after the late Professor of Botany; and Knowledge Initiative, ILAS the Bailey Allen Hall, endowed by the late • Professor Brian McGuire, Arts, • Gerardine Moloney, NCBES Humanities and Social Sciences Angela Allen. • Emma Brinton, JE Cairnes School of • Dr Frances Fahy, Arts, Humanities Business & Economics As I prepare to retire as 12th President of our and Social Sciences Events Management Team, Buildings University in early 2018, I want to recognise • Dr Paul Buitelaar, STEM & Estates Office, comprising: the great talent, energy and ambition of Virginia Connolly Sean Rafferty colleagues at NUI Galway. It has been my Research Supervisor Tony Curling Savio Costello privilege to work with teams across all • Professor Kieran Conboy, Arts, areas of the University and I am confident Humanities and Social Sciences Mark Duffy Paul Moloney that the University will continue to thrive • Dr Conor O’Byrne, STEM Hilary Murphy Mary Clery and prosper under the leadership of my To highlight the importance of Dermot Cummins Baiba Bikovica successor, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh. innovation in the University, Galway David Kelly Noel McDonnell University Foundation, working with the Tony Ryan Trust and with Allergan, Kevin O’Donohoe Pat McGrath has established two awards. The Ryan Bernie Lambe James Swannick Award for Innovation recognises the Greg Molloy Gerry Ward translation of innovative ideas in the Anda Eglite Joe Conroy James J. Browne, PhD, DSc, MRIA, C.Eng area of Environment,