cover to print_Layout 1 10/12/2010 11:04 Page 1 ANNUAL REVIEW rANNUAL i 20092010 2009 Future paths / 2010 Nicholas Canny reflects on the Academy’s evolving role Innovation Ireland Tom Brazil assesses the Report of the Innovation Taskforce Eurosciences Biennale Open Forum R O Peter Mitchell looks to opportunities ahead as Dublin YAL becomes European City of Science in 2012 IRISH Quote/unquote Michael Cronin argues for critical thinking A vision for astronomy and ACADEMY astrophysics in Ireland David Fegan traces the journey of the cosmos from the ‘Big Bang’ On the shelf 9-volume Dictionary of Irish Biography ACADAMH R ÍOG A N A H É IREA NN RIA RIA ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY • ACADAMH RÍOGA NA HÉIREANN RIA cover to print_Layout 1 10/12/2010 11:04 Page 2 ContentS } Key Achievements 2009–10 p2 } President’s Report—Future paths: on the Academy’s evolving role p4 } Secretary’s Report—Innovation Ireland: the Report of the Innovation Taskforce p8 } Science Secretary’s Report—Eurosciences Biennale Open Forum—Dublin’s opportunity p11 } PL&A Secretary’s Report—Quote/unquote—on critical thinking p16 } Senior Vice-President’s Report—A vision for astronomy and astrophysics in Ireland p20 } New Members p24 } Distinctions conferred on Members p31 } Bereavements p32 } Academy Committees Report p38 } Competitive measures—on Craig Barrett’s Academy address p42 } ‘The Future Role of the University in a Changing World’ p45 } A Year in View p47 } Research Projects p54 } Art and Architecture of Ireland (AAI) p54 } Dictionary of Irish Biography (DIB) p56 } Dictionary of Medieval Latin from Celtic Sources (DMLCS) p58 } Digital Humanities Observatory (DHO) p60 } Documents on Irish Foreign Policy (DIFP) p61 } Foclóir na Nua-Ghaeilge (FNG) p62 } Irish Historic Towns Atlas (IHTA) p64 } Library Report p66 } Library treasures revealed p69 } Publications Report p72 } Mobility Grants p76 } Appendices p77 Cover image of Samuel Beckett to mark the publication in 2009 of the Dictionary of Irish Biography © Getty Images final text to print - library change_Layout 1 10/12/2010 10:51 Page 1 56 69 43 16 34 www.ria.ie ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY, 19 DAWSON STREET, DUBLIN 2 PH +353 1 6762570 (With Cambridge University Press), } Dictionary of Irish Biography by Eamon O’Flaherty; and Limerick by Colm final text to print - library change_Layout 1 10/12/2010 10:52 Page 2 9 volumes, 9,700 lives, over 2000 years of history, available online, 3 s de give emis edited by James McGuire and James Quinn € per scope CO2e, 8th Scientific Statement Options by Sarah Gearty, Martin Morris and Fergus O’Ferrall increasing } Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 21, tool called ly published statements Market-based policies for reducing carbon dioxide emissions Cost (MAC) s mate and Sea Level Change Longford Resources in Ireland The chart is illum ealth in Ireland in that it shows there is a broa ase email contact details to: range of options no. 22, osts. and also of c (in conjunction with an RTÉ Radio 1 The profitable or } Dublin 1610 to 1756: The making of the early modern city Chart: Options for a by Tom Garvin Lennon } Conspiracy: Irish political trials RIA series) by Myles Dungan Market-based policies for reducing carbon } Judging Lemass: The measure of the man ENSURING INTEGRITYIN } 8th Scientific Statement: IRISH RESEARCH dioxide emissionsThe future of graduate education in chemistry and physics A Discussion Document } Reports: Ensuring integrity in Irish research: A discussion document and RIA T R E A SUR ES of the ROYAL IRISH L ACADEMY } ‘Celebrating Thinking’, a series of panel discussions I B RARY AN EXHIBITION OF } ‘The Future Role of the Public Intellectual’, a panel discussion TREASURES 10 SPANNING 1,500 YEARS ‘Competitiveness’, a public lecture by Craig Barrett, former chairman OF IRISH HISTORY ey Achievements/ } 8 February – 21 May and 8– 25 June, 2010 2009 and CEO of Intel Room, Academ ‘Carbon Capture and Storage: Bridging the Transition from Fossil ting y H e o } e us M e, 19 D a w s Opening hours: o n S Monday-Friday, t r e e t 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. , D Fuels to Renewables’, International Geosciences Committee conference u (excluding dates of conferences - see website.) b l i n ADMISSION FREE 2 Groups by appointment. REmailIA [email protected] or phone 6090620. in Dublin Castle www.ria.ie RIA } ‘Treasures of the Royal Irish Academy’, a Library exhibition } ‘Threats to the Environment’, a lecture series 2 K final text to print - library change_Layout 1 10/12/2010 10:52 Page 4 his, my third and final presidential address, provides me with an opportunity to ponder whether, under Tmy stewardship, the Academy has remained true to the course I charted for it at the outset of my tenure, and to point to some possible fresh undertakings. In my first report, for 2007–8, I made the case for the Academy being a ‘uni- versity for the universities’, by which I meant it could provide a forum for the critical self-examination that, for a variety of reasons, is hap- pening less frequently within universities. Apart from their quotidian involvement with teaching and administration, academics are increas- ingly preoccupied with individual and inter-institutional competition, internal and interminable restructuring, and incessantly drafting funding applications, especially to sustain research. As I reflect on our endeavours since March 2008 I believe that the Academy has indeed become a voice for the universities in two respects. First, it has sponsored specific (and thankfully well attended) public lectures on the multifarious challenges facing universities today. It has also led investigations of subjects relevant to Ireland’s more general well-being, frequently in association with partner bodies. In this second category I recall having attended conferences on topics as varied as: carbon capture and storage; Ireland’s energy require- 4 ments; research integrity; and key performance indicators appropriate 5 to humanities disciplines, among others. Attention has also been given, by the Academy and its Committees, to how would-be entrants to the university are being prepared at school for that progression, and to perceived academic deficits at school level particularly in the teaching of mathematics and modern languages. Future paths >> A CADEMY P RESIDENT P ROFESSOR N ICHOLAS C ANNY LOOKS AT THE A CADEMY’ S EVOLVING ROLE AS A FORUM DURING CHALLENGING TIMES final text to print - library change_Layout 1 10/12/2010 10:52 Page 6 Many such debates have been reported on extensively While the Academy in its inputs and opinions on such that is on-going internationally. Principle can for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan, TD, responding to in the public media, where Academy positions are some- debates frequently alludes to complexity and uncertainty no longer be invoked to justify a seeming pressure from a variety of sources, has conceded that students times identified as inputs to reforms or initiatives favoured where simplicity might have wider appeal, it also regularly }} reluctance to support such research, given that presenting for higher-level mathematics at final school exami- by government. All such mention is welcome, not least challenges obfuscation and lack of moral courage, espe- much of the electricity that we plan to pur- nations will, henceforth, be awarded bonus points. Even as this because the Academy relies for its support on the public cially where freedom of research enquiry is being hindered chase for our national grid is being generated in the large pronouncement was being made (and the Academy has long purse, and is therefore as anxious as every other publicly by unclear guidelines from government and other external nuclear power stations of other countries. advocated bonus points for mathematics, albeit against my funded body to be seen to be contributing to the resolution agencies. Such issues arise most frequently in relation to bio- Although I can point to many instances where the Academy stated objection), Academy Members were asking how this of the country’s current difficulties. However, while the medical research where ethical and legal guidelines are has adopted a critical stance concerning national research strat- device will encourage a greater number of capable pupils to Academy is happy to advocate relevant government poli- unclear and where government, and various pressure groups, egy or university policy, I remain concerned that we, as a opt for higher-level mathematics, and questions are also being cies of which it approves, it frequently alludes to the would seem to prefer not to have uncertainties clarified by learned society, are much less active than our counterparts in raised concerning the implications of privileging mathematics complexities of the policies being promulgated, not least the courts. The preference for having issues left opaque is Britain (and here I have particularly in mind the Royal Society over other cognate subjects, notably physics and chemistry. because complexity is not usually favoured by political not confined to the bio-medical domain, however, and and the British Academy) in seeking to influence educational Such misgivings, I would suggest, point to the need for the figures and/or media reporters anxious to command the researchers investigating how Ireland’s interests (including its provision at school. I consider this reticence to have serious Academy to sponsor a more general discussion on university attention of a general audience for economic and environmental interests) implications, given that the choice of subjects and instruction admission, one that will extend to the question of proficiency a few fleeting moments. For the country might best be upheld when meeting its at Irish secondary schools determines the level of preparedness in which subjects on the school curriculum and mastery of example, while this Academy, like energy needs, also find that open enquiry of matriculating pupils for university instruction.