S U M M E R 2 0 1 0www.ucd.ie/ucdtoday

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Philosophers, scientists and authors honoured on Bloomsday

what’s inside...

UCD thanks...

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11 charlesnwankire(above)winsthe2010ScienceSpeakcompetitionwithhisaccessibleexplanationofnano-engineeredmaterials

14 ucdStrategicplanlaunchbringstogetherstaff,stakeholdersandstudents.picturedherearesciencestudentchristinelewis(left)andpre-masteraccountingstudentcongXu(right)

19 presidentJohnl.hennessyofStanforduniversity(above)becomesthefirstinternationaladvisortotheinnovationalliance

27 ucdSoccergoalkeepergerardBarron(above)awardeddrtonyo’neillSportspersonoftheyearaward

Words of wisdom …askanygroupofpeopletolisttheirtopthreemostmemorabledaysandgraduationwillundoubtedlybeinthemix.thatpublicrecognitionofachievementwhenfamiliesandfriendsdonthegladragsandacademicdonsrobeinthecoloursoftheirownalmamatersmeansatremendousamounttothegraduandsastheysavourtheday.

Sharingthesemomentsalsomeansalottoacademicswhohavelectured,mentoredandsupervisedstudentsfrombachelorstophds.thisyear’sconferringshavebeenaddressedbyanumberofucdprofessorswhohavetakentheoccasionasanopportunitytorecountsomeoftheirownstudentlifereminiscences,tosharecollegejokesandimpartwordsofwisdomandadvicetotheirdepartingstudents.

hugelypopularwiththegraduatesandtheirfamilies,theseconferringaddresseshavebeenontheucdhomepageandthenumberofhitstheygetisasuresignthatourstudentsareverypositiveaboutbeingpartofthealumnicommunity.theycanalsobeaccessedvia www.ucd.ie/graduations2010

answersbyemailtocommunications@ucd.iebefore1September.

eiliso’BrienDirector of Communication

1. Who praised UCD students for being positive about the future on a recent Frontline programme rather than joining in the national pastime of “Whingefest”?a. declanKiberdb. eamonnwalshc. Bentonra

2. Who quoted Oscar Wilde’s comment that “in exams the foolish ask questions which the wise cannot answer.”?a. Bentonrab. declanKiberdc. dermotmoran

3. Who quoted Bob Dylan’s song “Forever Young” and for a bonus point, what year did Dylan release that song?a. gerardFeelyb. cormactaylorc. anneFogarty

4. Who said that during his time at UCD, Joyce was “a rebel with a cause”?a. anneFogartyb. declanKiberdc. damienmcloughlin

5. Who asked his audience “what is the sum of all whole numbers between 1 and 1,000”?a. eamonnwalshb. aidanmoranc. gerardFeely

6. Who quoted the Archbishop of Canterbury? a. dermotmoranb. damienmcloughlinc. colmharmon

7. Who said: “Don’t accept the label that has become fashionable in recent times- that you, the class of 2009, are a lost generation.”a. diarmaidFerriterb. damienmcloughlinc. colmharmon

8. Who said: “We poke and prod into every corner of the human condition. Always asking why and often asking, why not”?a. declangilheanyb. Bentonrac. dermotmoran

9. Who told the graduates that in his day, graduations took place in the sports hall? (Clue – there is more than one correct answer here)a. iano’donnellb. colmharmonc. cormactaylor

10. Who translated the UCD mottos as follows: Ad Astra: not putting a limit on pursuing the rewards that accompany intellectual curiosity.

Cothrom Féinne: The kind of society that it is in all of our interests to create?a. iano’donnellb. declanKiberdc. gerardFeely

Cover Image: Honorary graduate and internationally acclaimed author Colm Tóibín is pictured with the recipient of the 2010 Ulysees Medal, philosopher Professor Jürgen Habermas, at Bloomsday

Contributors:petraahrweiler,SuzanneBailey,JohnBaker,marieBoran,JohnBrannigan,JaneButler,marccaball,catherinecarey,padraicconway,elainecregg,alexcronin,nicholasdaly,damiendempsey,orladonoghue,audedoody,denisdowling,elizabethduffy,padraigdunne,georginadwyer,desmondearley,Jacobeisenberg,angelaennis,KellyFitzgerald,daragannon,michaelgilchrist,paulharkin,Stephenharrison,elizabethhassell,ruthhenry,isabelhildago,emmelinehill,Katieholmes,oliveKeogh,lisaKilmartin,JimKinsella,davidmadden,colettemcauley,Bettinamigge,annemurphy,phyllismurphy,Suemurphy,Seanmurray,Siúnnídhuinn,valerienorton,conallomóráin,claireo’connell,Sineado’donovan,gregoryo’hare,patrickorr,orano’rua,aidano’Sullivan,Jean-michelpicard,elaineQuinn,louiserainford,gillianreilly,maureenreynolds,manuelaForerorueda,markSimpson,maryStaunton,conortonry,ríonachuíÓgáin,micéalwhelan,orlawrynn,KeZhang

Produced by:ucduniversityrelations—eiliso’Brien,clairepercy,dominicmartella,lisahughes

Design:lomancusackdesign

Print:Fineprint

Thanks to:pádraicconway,Jpdonnelly,catherinegodson,annlavan,mauricemanning,clionadeBhaldraithemarsh,damienmcloughlin,patrickwall

inthecompilationofthispublication,everycarehasbeentakentoensureaccuracy.anyerrorsoromissionsshouldbebroughttotheattentionofucduniversityrelations(communications@ucd.ie).

wealsowelcomeyoursuggestionsforarticlesinfutureeditions.

ucdtoday,theuniversitymagazine,isalsoavailableatwww.ucd.ie/ucdtoday

Formorenewsvisit www.ucd.ie/news

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Bloomsday at UCDBloomsday,synonymouswithJamesJoyce,isthemostimportanthonoursdayatucd,thealma materofthisgreat20thcenturyauthor.awardingthisyear’srecipientsofhonorarydegreesandtheucdulyseesmedal,ucdpresidentdrhughBradyspokeoftheircontributiontosocietynotjustinirelandbutontheglobalstage.“itisinthespiritofJohnhenrynewmanthatwerecognisethosewhosethirstforknowledgeandexpertisehasextendedbeyondacademiaandhasmadeadifferencetomankind;intellectually,socially,culturally,aswellasintherealmsofhumanitarianandscientificimprovements.”

theulyssesmedal,thehighesthonourbestowedbyucd,wasawardedthisyeartoprofessorJürgenhabermas.“habermasisprobablyoneofthebestknownandmostinfluentialphilosophersaliveintheworldtoday…”saidprofessormaevecooke,headoftheucdSchoolofphilosophy,whodeliveredthecitationattheawardceremony.

“hewillcertainlyrankhighlyamongtheimportantphilosophersandsocialtheoristsofthetwentiethcentury”

“asapublicintellectualheisnotonlyahouseholdnameingermany;hiscontributionsarereadbypoliticiansandjournalistsinmanycountriesthroughouttheworld.weinirelandcantakeparticularpleasureinhisadmirationforJamesJoyceandhispraiseforUlyssesasoneoftheoutstandingworksofliteratureofthetwentiethcentury.inarecentinterviewintheirishtimes,hedescribesthenovelasa‘declaration

oflovetothestreetsandpubsofdublinandtotherichtraditionandspiritofthecountry’.”

habermas’extensiveworkspansawiderangeofdisciplines,engagingwithquestionsofcentralconcerntophilosophers,socialandpoliticaltheorists,legaltheorists,psychologists,educationalistsandhistorians.heisaprominentpublicintellectual,contributingregularlytonewspaperssuchasdieZeitandlemonde.

Architects of knowledge

amongtherecipientsofthisyear’shonorarydoctorateswere:broadcaster,writerandhistorian,JohnBowman;internationallyacclaimedauthorcolmtóibín;ngoanti-hungercampaignertomarnold;journalistandagricultureexpertmattdempsey.twootheririshmen,medicalresearcherandphysicianmartincarey,andchemisttadhgBegleyareoutstandingscientistsbasedintheuS.twoFrenchrecipientsofhonorarydoctoratesarenovelist,playwrightandfeministtheorist,hélènecixousandmedicalscientist,laurentperretwhoisdirectorofresearchanddevelopmentatServierlaboratories.alsohonouredwerepioneerscientistraymonddwekwhoeffectivelyopenedupthefieldofglycobiology,andphilosopherthomasmccarthywhoisrecognisedinternationallyforhisworkoncriticaltheoryandissuesrelatingtopost-colonialismandracism.

givinghercitationforJohnBowmanattheformalawardceremonyprofessormaryedaly,principaloftheucdcollegeofartsandcelticStudiessaidheis,“…anauthoritativevoiceonradioandtelevisionforcountlesselectionsandreferendums,hehasinterviewedeveryirishtaoiseachfromSeanlemasstoBriancowan.”Shewentontonote,“JamesJoyceoncesaidthat‘ifdublinweredestroyeditcouldbereconstructedfrommybook’.ifallrecordsoftwentieth-centuryirelandvanished,butJohnBowman’sradioandtelevisionprogrammessurvived,futurescholarswouldbeinapositiontorecapturemuchoftheflavourandcomplexityoftwentiethcenturyireland.”

Speakingoncolmtóibín,ucdprofessorofcreativewritingFrankmcguinnesssaid,“thescaleof[his]writingisimmense.anditisstillcontinuingtogrow...”

“hisisanartconstantlystrivingtoredefineitself,restless,driven,discerning,intelligent…hestandsnow,andwillremain,oneofireland’smostcultivated,mostboldandmostbrilliantauthors.”

tomarnoldhasbeenchiefexecutiveofconcernworldwide,ireland’slargestreliefanddevelopmentngo,since2001.heoriginallygraduatedfromucdagriculturalScience,andgivingthecitationonBloomsday,ucddeanofagriculturalScienceprofessorJimphelansaid,“whetheritisatthenegotiatingtableinthecouncilroomsoftheunitednationsinnewyork,theoecdofficesinparis,orinthecompanyofprojectworkersinaruralvillageinafrica,tomarnold’srespectforpeopleandhisgenuinecareandabilitytoempathisewiththelesswelloffshinesthrough.”

“mattdempseyisoneoftheforemostauthoritiesonnationalandinternationalagriculturalpolicyandindustrytrends;hisknowledge,critiqueandassessmentofgovernmentandeupolicyishighlyvaluedbytheagri-foodsector,”saidprofessormauriceBoland,principaloftheucdcollegeoflifeSciencesinhiscitation.

givingthecitationforFrenchnovelist,playwrightandfeministtheorist,hélènecixous,professortonyroche,ucdSchoolofenglish,dramaandFilm,saidshe,“…maygenuinelybedescribedasapioneer.asaleadingfeministtheorist,herwritingshaveinfluencedseveralgenerationsofscholars…asanovelistandplaywright,hercreativeworkhasdrawnherintofruitfulinteractionwithotherFrenchwriterslikeJacquesderridaandwiththeatrepractitionerslikearianemnouchkine.asaneducationalist,shefoundedtheuniversitédeparisviiiduringtherevolutionaryyearof1968asagroundbreakingcentreforinterdisciplinarystudy...”

Pictured at the 2010 Bloomsday celebrations were (l-r): Prof Tadhg Begley; Prof Raymond Dwek; Prof Martin Carey; Dr Laurent Perret; Dr Tom Arnold; Dr Matt Dempsey; UCD President Dr Hugh Brady; Prof Hélène Cixous: Prof Jürgen Habermas; Dr John Bowman; Dr Colm Tóibín; Prof Thomas McCarthy

readmoreaboutthe2010Bloomsdayhonorees,includingthefullcitations,viawww.ucd.ie

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workon“citizenconvicts”seesfirstadastraScholargraduatethefirstofucd’sadastraScholarsgraduatedinapril2010.cormacBehandefendedhisthesis,citizenconvicts:prisoners,politicsandthevote,andwasawardedhisphd(withnocorrections).drBehan,whowassupervisedbyprofessoriano’donnell(directoroftheucdinstituteofcriminology),examinedthelevelofcivicengagementandpoliticalparticipationamongprisonersinireland,withaparticularfocusontheextenttowhichtheyhaveexercisedtheirfranchisesincelegislationenablingprisonerstovotewasintroducedin2006.

Beforebeginninghisphdatucd,Behantaughthistoryandpoliticaleducationinirishprisonsfortenyears.heisontheexecutiveboardofthecorrectionaleducationassociationandontheeditorialboardoftheJournalofcorrectionaleducation.in2007hewasanintellectuallifeScholaratthecentrefortheStudyofcorrectionaleducation,californiaStateuniversity.

SFI awards for UCD theministerforenterprise,tradeandinnovation,Batto’Keeffetdannounced€8.5millioninmay2010for47cutting-edgeresearchprojectsacrossarangeofareasincludingcysticfibrosis,genetics,infections,environmentalmonitoring,foodsafety,andwirelessnetworks.

ucdreceivedthemajorityofawards(17of47)madeundertheScienceFoundationireland‘researchFrontiersprogramme’,whichwillfocusresearchinpriorityareasthatarelinkedtohealthandwell-being.theprogrammesupportsinternationally-competitive,high-qualityexploratoryresearchacrossthescience,mathsandengineeringdisciplines.

theministerstatedthatthe€8.5millioninvestmentwillcreatejobsandtrainingopportunitiesfor105researchers,mainlyphdstudents,whoseworkwillinturngeneratenewjobs.“Byhelpingresearchersatarelativelyearlystageintheirwork,theprogrammeistargetingourmostpromisingscientistsinbuildingtheirresearchteamsandtrackrecordsandenhancingourcompetitiveness.”

theucdrecipientswere:professorphilipnewsholme,ucdSchoolofBiomolecularandBiomedicalSciences;drtadhgo’croinin,ucdSchoolofBiomolecularandBiomedicalSciences;drchristinecostello,ucdSchoolofmedicineandmedicalScience;drmartinleonard,ucdSchoolofmedicineandmedicalScience;drBrianrodriguez,ucdconwayinstituteofBiomolecularandBiomedicalresearch;professorJoecarthy,ucdSchoolofcomputerScienceandinformatics;drgianlucapolastri,ucdSchoolofcomputerScienceandinformatics;professoradrianottewill,ucdSchoolofmathematicalSciences;drSanderZwegers,ucdSchoolofmathematicalSciences;drKennethgavin,ucdSchoolofarchitecture,landscape&civilengineering;drmadeleinelowery,ucdSchoolofelectrical,electronic&mechanicalengineering;drniallenglish,ucdSchoolofchemicalandBioprocessengineering;professormartinalbrecht,ucdSchoolofchemistry&chemicalBiology;drSusanQuinn,ucdSchoolofchemistry&chemicalBiology;drronanmcnulty,ucdSchoolofphysics;drJohnQuinn,ucdSchoolofphysics;professorFrankmcdermott,ucdSchoolofgeologicalSciences.

researchintoblood-bornevirusinfectionsinvietnamwasboostedinmarch,whenministerofStatewithspecialresponsibilityforScience,technology,innovationandnaturalresources,mrconorlenihantd,formallyopenedacustom-builtdiagnosticfacilitydevelopedbytheireland-vietnamBlood-bornevirusinitiative(ivvi)atthenationalinstituteofhygieneandepidemiology(nihe)inhanoi.

thefacilityispartofawiderinitiativedesignedtodiagnoseviralinfectionsinvietnamandtoconductanepidemiologicalstudyoftheprevalenceandcharacteristicsofblood-bornevirusescirculatinginthecountry.

ledbyprofessorBillhall,directoroftheucdcentreforresearchofinfectiousdiseases,thestudy,whichreceivedfundingof€5millionfromirishaidandatlanticphilanthropies,beganin2007andwillbecompletedin2011.theresultswillbeusedtoinformpublichealthpoliciesaimedatreducingthesignificantmorbidityandmortalityassociatedwithblood-bornevirusesinvietnam.

theentireepidemiologicalstudyinvolvestakingbloodandsalivasamplesfrom33,000

peopleacrossthevietnam.Sofar,thestudyshowsthatthereisaveryhighprevalenceofblood-bornevirus(BBv)infectionsinnorthernvietnam,withalmost25%ofsamplestestingpositiveforoneormoreBBvunderinvestigation.infectionsarehighestamongthe“atrisk”groups,withlowerincidencesinthegeneralpopulation,whichaccordingto

professorhall,givesthegovernmenttheopportunitytointroducepublic-healthpreventionmeasures.

thestudyalsoshowsthat,aswithelsewhereinasia,chronichepatitisBvirusinfectionisendemicinvietnamwithasmanyas8millionpeopleinfectedwiththisprolongedandchronicdisease.

Mary Harney TD, Minister for Health & Children, addressed a seminar to celebrate 21 years of cancer nursing education at UCD, saying that the programme at UCD had a direct impact on the quality of the care provided to cancer patients and their families. The seminar itself was chaired by John McCormack, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society and covered advances in systems biology, therapeutics, specialist cancer nursing services, and also cancer nursing research in Scotland.

The Minister is pictured here (fourth from left) with UCD President Dr Hugh Brady (second from left) and members of the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems (l-r): Prof Pearl Treacy; Prof Philip Larkin; Prof Gerard Fealy; Dr Michelle Butler, Head of the UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems; Prof Abbey Hyde; Ms Eileen Furlong

New diagnostic facility for Ireland-Vietnam Blood-borne Virus Initiative

Celebrating the opening of the Ireland-Vietnam Blood-borne Virus initiative diagnostic facility with Vietnamese colleagues were: Prof Bill Hall, Director of the UCD Centre for Research of Infectious Diseases (second from left) and Minister of State with special responsibility for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources, Mr Conor Lenihan TD (centre)

Dr Cormac Behan (shown left), the first UCD Ad Astra scholar to graduate, is pictured here with his supervisor Prof Ian O’Donnell (Director of the UCD Institute of Criminology)

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UCDFocus

Fromtheoutsetofhergroundbreakingresearchintothegenesthatinfluencetheperformanceofthoroughbredhorses,shewasinterestedindevelopingherresearchintoacommerciallyviableproduct.thisculminatedin2009whensheco-foundedequinometolaunchapioneeringgenetictestthatidentifiestheso-called“speedgene”inracehorses.thistesthasthepotentialtotransformdecision-makinginthemulti-billionglobalbloodstockindustry.

drhillisaleadinghorsegenomicsresearcherattheucdSchoolofagriculture,FoodScienceandveterinarymedicineandhorsesareclosetoherheart.Forgenerationsherfamilyhasbredandracedthoroughbredsandhergrandmotherwastheownerofthelegendarydawnrun.thisheritagecoupledwithherscientificbackground,herintimateknowledgeofthebloodstockindustryandaflairforspottingapotentialbusinessopportunityhaveputhillinauniquepositiontotransformbiotechresearchintoaninternationalbusiness.

thismaysoundlikeasimplestep.infactitisacomplexprocessthathasdemandedahugetimeinputfromhillontopofherdailyteachingandresearchcommitments.ithasalsoinvolvedworkingcloselywithnovaucd,theinnovationandtechnologytransfercentreandwithhorsebreederandtrainer,JimBolger.

“i’mascientistnotabusinesswomansoihavebeenonaprettysteeplearningcurveintermsofgettingtogripswiththecommercialaspectsoftheproject,”shesays.“ifounditdauntinginitiallybutatthispointsignificantprogresshasbeenmade.wearebasedhereatucdwithfouremployeesandbegandoingtestsinJanuarythisyear.”

hillsaysherindustrypartnershipwithtrainerJimBolgerandthesupportandbackingofnovaucdwerekeytothesuccessfullaunchofequinome.

“whenitstartedtobecomeapparentthatwehadaproductwithcommercialpotentialimadecontactwithnovaandfamiliarisedmyselfwiththeprotocolsweneededtofollowtodevelopintoacampuscompany,”shesays.“throughoutmyresearchJimBolgerhadtakenaveryactiveinterestinwhatweweredoingandexpressedaninterestinbecominginvolvedifandwhentheopportunityarose.tohaveapartnerofhiscalibreandexperiencehasbeenofhugevalue.Jimisashareholderinthecompanyasisucdwhichalsoownstheintellectualpropertywhichwelicence.

“accesstothesupportofnovawasreallyimportantastheyprovidedtheknowledgeofcommercialisationandtechnologytransferwhichididn’thave,”hilladds.“theywereveryquicktograspmygoalofwantingtotranslatethesciencetothecustomerinameaningfulway.”whileequinomewasstilltakingshapeinherheadhilljoineducd’scampuscompanydevelopmentprogramme.thisisanine-month,part-time

enterprisesupportinitiativedesignedtosuitthetimetableofbusyresearchersandacademicscomprisingamixofpracticaltrainingandconsultancysupport.

“oneofthethingsthathelpedmemoverelativelyquicklywasthatiunderstoodmy

targetmarketandknewitwasreceptive,”hillsays.“duringmyresearchifoundtheindustry

hereveryopentonewideasandiknewthatifwecouldproduceaviableproduct

therewasstrongevidencethattheywoulduseit.mychallengewastoconvincethemthatwecouldtransfersciencetoindustryinarelevant

way.ididn’twantthistobeabout

scientistsinwhitecoats.”

withequinome

nowupand

running,hill’steamarealreadyatworkonotherapplicationsoftheirresearch.“wehavebrokennewgroundwiththeSpedgenetestbutwewon’tbesittingback,”hillsays.“iexpectcompetitorstostartemerginginthisspaceinthenottoodistantfuturesoitisourintentiontocontinuemovingforwardwithnewproducts.”

Olive Keogh (BA 1979, MA 1984) is a freelance business journalist.

Test for the Best theoriginsoftheequinomeprojectgobackto2002whendrhillcametoucdasapostdoctoralresearcher.in2004shereceivedresearchfundingfromScienceFoundationireland(SFi)tolookindetailatgeneticinfluencesonperformance.thisresearchwasthefirstdedicatedacademicprogrammeintheworldtoapplynovelgenomicstechnologiestoidentifygeneticcontributionstoracingperformanceinthoroughbredhorses.“Basicallywewantedtounderstandmoreaboutthebiologyofthehorsewithaviewtounderstandingwhatmakesonehorserunfasterthananother,”drhillsays.

thisinvolvedclosecooperationbetweenhill’steamandtheirishbloodstockindustrywhomadeanimalsavailablefortestingduringtheresearch.“Keytooursuccesswasselectingtherightgroupofhorsestotest,”hillsays.“thisiswheremyunderstandingoftheracingindustrywasabighelp.therearemanyexcellentgeneticistsouttherebuttheymaynothavetheindustryknowledge.iamageneticistbytrainingsohadafootinbothcamps.

hillandherteamestablishedthatahorsemayinheriteitheraccomponentoratcomponentinthemyostatingenefromitsdamanditssireandtheysetouttoseeifthedifferentgenotypeswereresponsibleforthedevelopmentofhorsesintosprintersorstayers.Sheestablishedthateachgeneticcombinationhadanoptimumracingdistanceandultimatelydevelopedatestthatidentifiescc(short),ct(middle)andtt(middle-long)distancerunners.

usingtheequinomeSpeedgenetestracehorseownersandtrainersaroundtheworldcanidentifyifahorseissuitedtoracingovershort,middleormiddle-to-longdistances.thisinformationcanthenbeusedtoinformtheirpurchasingandtrainingdecisionsandtoidentifythemostappropriateracesfortheirhorses.Breeders,stallionmanagersandbloodstockagentswillalsobeabletousethetesttomakemorepreciseselectionandbreedingdecisionstomaximisethegeneticpotentialandcommercialvalueoftheirhorses.thecostofthetestis€1,000.

“whatiamparticularlypleasedaboutisthatasadirectresultofgovernmentfundingthroughSFiwehavebeenabletodevelopourresearchintoalocallybasedcompanywiththepotentialtogrowsignificantlyandcompeteontheinternationalstage,”hillsays.

Equinome co-founder Dr Emmeline Hill

Ahead by a nosedremmelinehillisanaccomplishedscientistwiththemindofanentrepreneur.SpeakingwitholiveKeogh(Ba1979,ma1984)shetalksabouthowherloveofhorsesandherscientificrigorgaverisetoagenetictestthatcouldtransformdecision-makingprocessesintheglobalbloodstockindustry.

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poetsandprinters–exploringhiddenhistorieslittleresearchhasbeenundertakenonthepublishingofpoetryinirelandfromthedaysoftheyeatssisters’cualapresstotheworldoftheinternet–thoughseveralthousandvolumesandpamphletsappearedduringthisperiod.ucdisnowwell-placedtohostresearchonthismaterial,asthepoetryirelandlibraryofbooksandpamphlets,muchofitoriginallycollectedbyaustinclarke,isonlong-termloanintheucdlibrary.

arecentucdhumanitiesinstitutesymposium,thefourthinaseriesonbookhistoryandprintcultures,focusedonenglish-languagematerialprintedbyireland’spoetrypublishersinthetwentiethcenturyandincludedanassessmentofthepoetryirelandcollection.theeventfeaturedspeakerswithexpertiseinbibliography,printing,literarycriticism,publishingandartsmanagementandpolicy.aplenarylecturebyprofessortomdillon-redshaw(universityofStthomas,minnesota)discussedtheworkofliammillerandthedolmenpress.othersessionsincludedinterviewswithpoetsmichaellongley,michealo’Siadhailandeiléanníchuilleanáin.thesymposiumwasorganisedbyprofessoremeritusandrewcarpenteranddrlucycollinsofucdSchoolofenglish,drama&Filmanddrmarccaball,ucdhumanitiesinstitute.

Showing at the “Poets and printers” symposium were (l-r): Dr Lucy Collins, UCD School of English, Drama & Film; Prof Emeritus Andrew Carpenter (UCD School of English, Drama and Film); Prof Tom Dillon-Redshaw, University of St Thomas, Minnesota; Dr Marc Caball, Director of UCD Humanities Institute; and Prof Declan Kiberd, UCD School of English, Drama & Film

Rebuilding Haititheprocessofrebuildinghaitineedstobebasedonthevisionofthehaitianpeople.Speakingatthe‘rebuildinghaiti’discussion,hostedbytheucdclintoninstituteinpartnershipwiththeleprosymissionireland,amitabhdesai(foreignpolicyadvisortopresidentclinton)underlinedpresidentclinton’saimto‘buildbackbetter’andsocreateaninfrastructurethatwouldbetterservetheneedsofhaitians.

thespeakersattheeventincludeddeniso’Brien,chairmanofdigicelgroup,thesinglelargestinvestorinhaitianddrJamesreillytd(FinegaelhealthSpokesperson).theyaddressedimportantaspectsofthechallengesfacinghaitiandinparticulartheunderlyingquestionofhowtobuildandmakesustainableafunctioninghaitianstate.

UCD Programme Chair for largest global academic management organisation drJacobeisenberg,ucdSchoolofBusiness,hasbeenelectedbytheinternationalmembershipoftheacademyofmanagementtoleadthemanagementeducation&developmentdivision.

theacademyofmanagementisthelargestandmostinfluentialacademicmanagementorganisationintheworld,representingnearly20,000membersfromthousandsofuniversitiesinmorethan100countries.ofacademy’s25divisions,medisoneofthelargesttendivisionswith1,900currentmembers.inthisrole,dreisenbergwillworkwithotherstopositivelyimpactthescholarshipandprofessionaldevelopmentofscholars,studentsandpractitionersbelongingtothedivisionwithaspecialfocusonacademy’sannualmeeting,whichwasattendedbyover10,000peoplelastyear.

dreisenbergwasalsorecentlyoneofanumberofucdacademicsawardedaresearchdevelopmentinitiative(rdi)grantbytheirishresearchcouncilforthehumanitiesandSocialSciences(irchSS),andhasbeenelectedtothegoverningcounciloftheinternationalassociationofcross-culturalcompetenceandmanagement(iaccm).

inrecognitionofherserviceandachievementsinthefieldofeuropeanaffairs,professorBrigidlaffanhasbeenreceivedasanofficeroftheFrenchnationalorderofmerit.

theFrenchambassadortoireland,mryvonroed’albertpresentedprofessorlaffanwiththeinsigniaofofficerataceremonyintheFrenchembassyindublin.

theawardwasestablishedbygeneraldegaullein1963.itrewardsdistinguishedmeritinapublicpost,civilianormilitary,orintheexerciseofaprivateactivity,andisgivenatthediscretion

oftheFrenchpresident.theawardhasfivegrades:grandcross,grandofficer,commander,officerandKnight.

professorlaffanisprincipaloftheucdcollegeofhumanSciencesandhasbeenJeanmonnetprofessorofeuropeanpoliticsatucdsince1991.Shewasthefoundingdirectorofthedublineuropeaninstitute,ucdandisamemberoftheresearchcounciloftheeuropeanuniversity(eui)Florence,thenationaleconomicandSocialcouncil(neSc)andtheirishgovernment’shighlevelasiaStrategygroup.

Frenchnationalorderofmeritforucdprofessor

Shown at the discussion ‘Rebuilding Haiti: What Role for the US, EU and Ireland?’ were (l-r): Prof Liam Kennedy, Director of the UCD Clinton Institute for American Studies; Amitabh Desai, foreign policy advisor to President Clinton; Denis O’Brien, Chairman of Digicel Group; and Ken Gibson, Chief Executive Leprosy Mission of Ireland

French Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Yvon Roe d’Albert presents Prof Laffan with the Insignia of Officer of the French National Order of Merit

Dr Pádraic Conway

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UCDFocus

whentheformerceoofintel,craigBarrett,recentlytoldtheroyalirishacademythatirelandneededmoreengineersmostcommentatorsagreedwithhim.Barrett,anengineerhimself,pointedtothenecessitywithinindustryforpeoplewhoaretrainedtothinklogicallyandwhoaremorethanusefulintakingchargeoflargecommercialoperations.however,Barrettmayhavetouchedunwittinglyonanissuethatcouldhavehadmorethanalittletodowithourpresenteconomicdifficultiesinthewayheseeseducationfirmlyinitsvocationalrole,trainingpeopleforwork.

Johnhenrynewman,asexemplifiedinhisseminalwork‘The Idea of a University’wouldhavehadadifferentviewtoBarrett’s.itcouldbesaidthatwhileBarrettwantsbetterworkers,newmanwantedbetterhumans.asnewmanwouldhaveseenit,auniversitythatispurelyutilitarian,thataimssimplytomeetconsumeristdemands,straysfromoneofthecentraleducationalmissionsthatauniversityshouldaddress,i.e.thecultivationandthediscipliningofthemind.

inthelecturesandessayseventuallypublishedas‘The Idea of a University’ newmanraisedmanyissuessuchastheplaceofreligionandmoralvaluesinauniversitysetting,thecompetingclaimsofliberalandprofessionaleducation,thecharacteroftheacademiccommunity,andtherelationshipbetweenreligionandscience.

newmanraisedthefundamentalquestion,whataretheaimsandobjectivesofuniversityeducation?

hearguedthatthewholeideaofauniversitywastoeducateintheround.auniversityshouldbringpeopleofalldisciplinestogethersothattheywouldlearnfromeachotherasmuchaslearningfromtheirtutorsandthatthiswider

educationwouldaddtoeachperson’sunderstandingofhisorherpreferreddiscipline,

placingtheirlearninginawidercontextormoresimply,giving

themabettereducation.Futurelawyerswould,for

example,benefitfromknowingsomething

abouteconomicsorcommerce

graduatesmightbenefitfromlearningsomemoralphilosophy.

mostucd

studentswill

havenoticedthefrequentuseofthenamenewmanwithintheuniversity–,newmanBuilding,newmanhouse,newmanScholarships.newmanhasevenbeenusedbysomeofthecollege’ssoccerteamswhoareprobablyunawarethattheirnamesakeneverplayedmuchsport.

Butmoststudentshavelittleknowledgeofthemanandhiswork.hence,partofthepurposeoftheucdinternationalcentrefornewmanStudiesistobringtheworksandthoughtsofnewmantouniversityandworldaudiences.Johnhenrynewmanwasthefirstrectorofthecatholicuniversityofireland,ucd’santecedentinstitution.thoughhewasrectorforonlyfouryears,from1854-1858,beforereturningtohisnativeengland,newmancertainlylefthismark,andhisinfluencecanbefoundinpapers,lecturesandevenintheucdstrategicplan.

theucdinternationalcentrefornewmanStudieswasofficiallylaunchedinFebruary2005underthethenleadershipofprofessorteresaiglesias.itsaimistoretrievenewman’ssignificanceandrelevance.nowunderthedirectorshipofdrpádraicconway,thecentrehasattractedsignificantfundingforworkonnewman’sdublinwritingsfromtheirishresearchcouncilforthehumanitiesandSocialSciences.

inaddition,thecentreholdsaseriesofpubliclecturesbynotableirishandinternationalacademics.thisyear’shighlightwillundoubtedlybethedeliveryofthenewmanlecturebythepresidentofireland,marymcaleese,inoctober.infact,2010maybeaverygoodyearfornewmanasinSeptemberheisduetobebeatifiedbypopeBenedictXviwhenhevisitsBritain.healreadyhasonemiracleattributedtohim,asecondcouldseetheformercardinalcanonised.

newmanwasoneofthegreatthinkersofhistimeandthoughthefuturecardinalearnedonlyathirdclassdegreefromoxford,hewasveryrapidlyrecognisedforhisintellectualbrilliance.thoughneverabishophewasmadecardinalonmay12,1879inthefirstconsistoryofpopeleoXiii.

themottothatheadoptedasacardinal,Cor ad cor loquitur(heartspeakstoheart),andthatwhichhedirectedtobeengravedonhismemorialtabletattheBirminghamoratoryEx umbris et imaginibus in veritatem(outofshadowsandphantasmintotruth)saymuchofalifewhich,bothtocontemporariesandtolaterstudents,wasseenasdevoutandinquiring,affectionateandyetself-restrained.lordcoleridge,great-nephewofthepoetSamueltaylorcoleridge,saidofnewman,“raphaelissaidtohavethankedgodthathehadlivedinthedaysofmichelangelo;therearescoresofmen,iknow,therearehundredsandthousands,ibelieve,whothankgodthattheyhavelivedinthedaysofJohnhenrynewman.”

tosome,partofnewman’slegacywasanunduecatholicchurchinfluencethatwasseenasprevalentfordecadeswithinucd,butaccordingtodrpádraicconway,directorofthenewmancentre,itwouldbeunfairtoblamenewmanforanyofthis:newman,infact,promotedtheconceptofdisciplinaryautonomyandhada

strongsense,forexample,oftheproperboundariesofthedisciplineoftheologywithinauniversity.

theucdinternationalcentrefornewmanStudiesisalsocollaboratingwiththeirishSchoolofecumenicsintcdwhileanotherprojectisfocusingonnewmanandcharlesdarwin.newmanwasverysympathetictotheideasofdarwinandwrotetwoseminalessays:“christianityandphysicalScience”;and“christianityandScientificinvestigation”.theserelativelyneglectedtextsmakeasignalcontributiontothecurrentdebatebetweentheologiansandscientists.newman’sapproachisclearonthedamagedonebyboththeologyandsciencewhentheyoversteptheirboundaries,attributingmuchoftheheatofthecontemporarydebatetoalackofrespectforsuchboundaries.themajorconference“newmananddarwin:twintowersorpolaropposites?”willtakeplaceinlate2010.confirmedspeakersalreadyincludedarwin’sgreat-great-granddaughter,therenownedpoetruthpadel,aswellastheinternationallyrecognisednewmanscholar,theologiannicholaslash.

newmanwasamajorinfluenceontheSecondvaticancouncilwheremanyoftheideashestoodforcametoprominence:freedomofconscience;thechurchasacommunionwiththelaitygiventheirrightfulplace;thedutyofthechurchtomeettheneedsofthemodernage.itishisworkonuniversityeducationwhich,understandably,continuestoresonatemoststronglyatucd.

“thedifferencebetweenaclassicandaperiodpieceisthatwhenwereturntoaclassicwork,wefindsomethingnewiniteverytime,somethingthatchallengesourcurrentperceptionsandidées reçues.Byanysuchmeasure,newman’sIdeaisaclassic.wecanbeveryproudtobepartofauniversitywithwhichitwillbeforeverassociated.”conwayconcluded.

Conall O Móráin (BA 1979) is MD of The Media Group

A man for all seasons – and founder of the L&Hconallomóráin(Ba1979)speakswithdirectoroftheucdinternationalcentrefornewmanStudies,drpádraicconwayabouttheologian,educationalistanducd’sFoundingrector,Johnhenrynewman.

Dr Pádraic Conway

John Henry Newman, “The Young Rector”, portrayed in his early fifties when he came to Ireland, by MAGAR.

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StafffromthirteenhighereducationinstitutionsformedthefirstgraduatingclassfromtheEquality and Higher Education Access courseinmay.

thecourse,designedbytheucdSchoolofSocialJusticeinpartnershipwiththeheanationalaccessofficeandthenetworkofaccessofficersworkinginirishhighereducation,ispartoftheequalityStudiesoutreachandcontinuingprofessionaldevelopmentprogramme.

thecoursecoversaccessresearchandpolicy,managementissues,andaccesspractice.

itallowsstudentstodeepentheirunderstandingoftheissuesthatcontributetopersistentinequalitiesinhighereducationaccessandparticipation.italsoallowsstudentstodevelopskillstoaddresssomeoftheseissuesincludingresearch,reporting,strategicplanningandprogrammemanagement.

thecoursewasdeliveredforthefirsttimein2008-9asa10-creditmoduleforoccasionalstudents,butisnowofferedasalevel9certificateofcontinuingprofessionaldevelopment.

HEI Access officers graduate

Some of the first class to graduate from the Equality in Higher Education Access course are shown here with UCD academics. Back row (l-r): Breege Loftus (NUIG Access); Martha Brandes (NUIM Access); Kelly Anne Roche; Muiris O’Connor (HEA); Deirdre Creedon (CIT Access); Margaret Ryan (IT Tallaght Access). Front row (l-r): Prof John Baker (Head of UCD School of Social Justice); Dr Phyllis Murphy (Equality Studies Centre CPD Coordinator; Fiona Sweeney (UCD Access); Prof Kathleen Lynch (UCD School of Social Justice); Deirdre O’Connor (UL Access); Prof Brigid Laffan (Principal of UCD College of Human Sciences); John DeLap (DIT Access); Kathleen O’Toole (TCD Access)

tellmemorelanguagetechnologyenhanceslearningStudentsofFrenchintheucdSchooloflanguagesandliteraturescannowworkmoreflexiblyonpronunciation,intonation,andlisteningcomprehensionskills.thankstoaSiF-fundedmoduleinnovationSupportgrantfromucdteachingandlearning,theweb-deliveredprogramtellmemore,familiartostudentsinleadinguSuniversities,hasbeenintegratedintothecorelevel2languageprogramme.

thepackage,whichcanbeusedonthestudents’owncomputerorintheappliedlanguagescentre’sself-accessspace,providesresourcesforstudentstoworkindependentlyonalltheskillsoflanguagelearning.integratedvoice-recognitiontechnologymeansliveplaybackfacilitiesandinstantpronunciationanalysis,thusfillingagapinoralandauralindependent-studyprovision.StudentspreparingforanerasmusyearinFrancecansupplementtheirworkinclasswith24-houraccesstospeakingandlisteningexercises,whileforthosenotinapositiontospendtimeabroad,thepackageoffersinvaluableextraexposuretorealisticlanguagesituations.

highcourtJudgemrJusticeJohncookehasbeenappointedasthenewJudge-in-ResidenceattheucdSchooloflaw.Bornin1944,cookewascalledtothebarin1966andtotheinnerbarin1980.hewaspresidentofthecounciloftheBarsandlawSocietiesoftheeuropeancommunity1985to1986.hehasbeenJudgeatthecourtofFirstinstanceintheeuropeancourtofJusticesinceJanuary1996.hewasappointedtothehigh

courtin2008.JudgecookewasalsopresidentoftheroyalZoologicalSocietyofireland1987to1990.

ucdistheonlylawSchoolinirelandtohaveaJudge-in-Residenceprogramme,whichprovidesaninterfacebetweenmembersofthejudiciaryandtheacademiclegalcommunitythroughlecturesandseminars.JudgecookereplacesmrJusticenialFennellyoftheSupremecourtintherole.

Pictured at the fourth UCD Alumni Relations ‘Characters in Conversation’ series, were Aíne Gibbons, UCD Vice-President for Development; broadcaster Olivia O’Leary; and actress Rosaleen Linehan. At the event, which was attended by 380 alumni and friends, Linehan shared stories with O’Leary about her time at UCD, her early comedy career and her successful move onto stage. The event was the final in the 2010 series of “Conversations”, and followed on from the successful “Conversation” where Denis O’Brien and Pat Kenny talked about their times at UCD and the highlights of their careers since

Work on “Dynamics of Suicide Bombing” short-listed for best politics thesis in EUpaulgill,aphdgraduatefromtheucdSchoolofpoliticsandinternationalrelations,hasbeenshort-listedforthe2010JeanBlondelprizeforthebestpoliticalsciencethesisintheeu.

hisdoctoralthesisentitled“thedynamicsofSuicideBombingincampaignsofpoliticalviolence”examinedtheunderlyingindividualandorganisationalmotivationsbehindsuicidebombingandwhyconstituenciesofpeoplegivesupporttotheperpetrators.

theJeanBlondelprizeisjudgedbyacommitteedrawnfromtheeditorialboardoftheeuropeanconsortiumforpoliticalresearch(ecpr).theconsortiumisanindependent,scholarlyassociationwithapproximately350europeaninstitutionalmembersandassociatemembersinover40countries.together,themembersformanetworkofthousandsofindividualpoliticalscientists,internationalrelationsandeuropeanstudiesspecialists.

paulgillcompletedhisdoctoralthesisin2009underthesupervisionofdrtobiastheiler,ucdSchoolofpoliticsandinternationalrelationsandtheworkwasfundedbytheirishresearchcouncilforhumanitiesandSocialSciences(irchSS).

gilliscurrentlyapostdoctoralFellowattheinternationalcenterfortheStudyofterrorism(icSt)atpennsylvaniaStateuniversityandistheprojectmanageroficSt’sresearchonthehumanandsocialdynamicsofieds(improvisedexplosivedevices).heiscurrentlyworkingonamanuscriptentitled“marketingmartyrdom”.

New Judge-in-Residence at UCD Law School

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usingmoderntechnologytoputfleshonthebonesandbuildupabiggerpictureoflifeonearthmanymillionsofyearsago,hislab’sdiscoveriesincludeinsightsintoancientamphibianmusclesanddinosaurfeathers.

“weworkonabsolutelyanythingthatisalittlebitodd,”saysdrorr,referringtotheeclecticmixofanimalsandenvironmentsthathavefallenunderthegazeofhislabsincehecametotheucdSchoolofgeologicalSciencesin2003.

“mostofthefossilrecordismadeupofthehardpartsoforganisms,thebones,shellsandteeth,thebimineralisedtissues,andoutofthatyoutendtosimplygetisolatedbones,orifyouhaveamulti-elementskeletonyougetdisarticulate,separateelements,”heexplains.

“Butwelookatexceptionallypreservedfossils,likewhenyougetarticulatedskeletonsforvertebratesforexample,orwhenyougetsofttissuethatwouldnormallydecayveryrapidly.”

muchoftheresearchhingesonrelativelynew,non-destructivetechniquesinmicroscopythatcanidentifyandanalysetinysegmentsoffossilandhighlightfeaturesthatwouldpreviouslyhavebeenoverlooked.

thosenewapproachesincludebeingabletogetupcloseandverypersonalwiththesurfaceofaspecimenbyputtingitdirectlyintothescanningelectronmicroscope(Sem)withouttheneedtopreservethefossilfirst,explainsorr.

thenamethodcalled“ionbeammilling”allowsthescientisttakeatinysliverofaninterestingportionthattheycangoonandexamineinminutedetailunderthetransmissionelectronmicroscope(tem).

theintegratedprocessesmeanthescientistcangettherequiredinformationandstillhandthepreciousspecimenbacktoacuratorwithoutanyvisibledamagetoit,explainsdrorr.

“themuseumsarefantasticarchivesofthisinformationandthematerialwelookatmightbe100or120yearsinthecollectionandnowthe

technologymeansitcanbeanalysed,”hesays.“youcanseethevalueofmaterialthat’sarchived,oftenfromsitesthatnolongerexist.”

duringhisphdworkatBristoluniversity,orrbecameinterestedinusingmicroscopytoexaminesofttissuesandhowtheymaybepreserved.Fossilsfromspecificenvironmentswheresofttissuesarepreservedtosomedegreecanhelpfleshouttheevolutionaryrecordandalsoprovidecluesaboutthekindofecosystemsinwhichtheanimalsandplantsfoundthemselveswhentheywerealive,explainsorr.

“Fromabiologicalpointofviewtheyarelittlegoldmines.”

hislabhasturnedup,andcontributedto,landmarkdiscoveriesfromsuchtreasures,includingimagesofpreservedmusclefibresinfrogsandsalamanderfossilsfromlakebedsinSpaindatingfrombetween10and17millionyearsago.

“thesearethefirstexamplesoffossilisedbonemarrowandmusculatureasorganicremains,”saysorr,notingthatatamolecularleveltherecouldawaitevenmorediscoveries.“theimportanceof[biomolecules]inthegeologicalrecordhasn’tbeenfullyappreciateduntilthelastfewyears,largelybecauseofwhatweturnedup.”

“therewerethesetwocompetingmodelsastowhattheseelongatefibrousstuctureswere-theywereeithertheproto-feathers,asmanypeoplebelieved,ortheywerecollagenfibresfromwithintheskin,”explainsorr.“wethoughtiftheyarefeathersthenthekeythingtheyshouldhaveislittlepigmentbodiesormelanosomes.”

oninspection,theinternationalteamfromtheuniversityofBristol,ucd,theinstituteofvertebratepaleontologyandpaleoanthropology(ivpp)inBeijing,andtheopenuniversityfoundnotonebuttwotypesofmelanosomesinthespecimens,comingdownheavilyonthe‘feather’sideoftheargument,andtheycomparedtheroundedandsausage-shapedpigmentbodieswiththosefromamodernspeciesofzebrafinch.

theproof-of-conceptstudysuggestedthatdinosaursmayhavehaddifferentcolouredfeathers,andorr’sgroupnowhopestostudyfurtherthedistributionofthepigmentbodytypestobuildupabetterunderstandingoftheanimals’appearanceandthefunctionthefeathersmayhavehad.

“weknowthatfeathersevolvedbeforeflight,sotheirprimaryfunctionmusthavebeensomethingelse,andyoucanprobablystarttoconstrainwhatthefunctionswouldhavebeenifyoucanunderstandtheabsolutecoloursbutalsothepatterning,whichithinkisascritical;thepatterningcanbreakupthelineofananimaloriscanbesomethingthatscreams‘i’mherecomegetme’.”

asorr’slabcontinuestoexamineboththeprocessesofsoft-tissuepreservationinfossilsandthekindsofcluesitcanyield,hestressesthatifyoulookintherightplacestherearerichpickings

inthefieldthatwillbenefitourunderstandingofhowlifeonearthevolved.

theirapproachalsohelpedsolveamysteryoffibresfoundon125-million-year-oldfossilsamplesfromchina.

“wethinkthere’salotmoreorganicpreservationincertainsettingsthanpeoplehaveactuallyrealised,”hesays.

“it’snicetohavebeenthefirsttoturnthesethingsup,butithinktherealexcitementwillcomewhenotherpeoplebuildupenoughdatatogetabetterpicture.”

Claire O’Connell (BSc 1992, PhD 1998) is a freelance journalist.

Fillinga30-million-yeargapinevolution

orr’steamrecentlycontributedtoworkthatfeaturedonthecoveroftheleadingjournalnature.

workingwithcolleaguesinyaleuniversity,england,Franceandmorocco,thegrouphaveshownthatvariousgroupsofmarineanimalsthoughttohavediedoutabout500millionyearsagoactuallylivedforanother30millionyearsormore.

Bydiscoveringfossilsofsoftbodiedorganismslikeworms,sponges,andvarioustypesofsoft-shelledarthropods,includingtheoldesthorseshoecrabsinsouth-easternmorocco,theteamhasprovidedthefirstexamplesoftheseancientanimalsoutsideofclassicolderlocalitiessuchastheBurgessShaleincanada,whichdatesback505millionyears.

theleadauthorofthescientificarticle,drpetervanroy,apostdoctoralresearcheratyaleuniversity,recentlycompletedatwo-yearircSetempowerpostdoctoralfellowshipatucdSchoolofgeologicalSciences.hefirstrecognisedthesignificanceofthefossilsalmostadecadeago.Sincethen,hehasworkedwithlocalmoroccangeologistsandateamofinternationalresearcherstodocumenttheincrediblediversityofthefossildiscoveries.

“weknowthatthefossilrecordisanimportantrecordoflife,butitisanincompleterecord,”saysdrpatrickorrfromtheucdSchoolofgeologicalSciences.

accordingtoorr,therewasanexplosionofnewlifeformsduringthecambrianperiod–about540millionyearsto490millionyearsago–withtheshalesrevealingsoft-bodiedanimals,andthentherecordwentblank.

withthesenewmoroccanfossilstheevolutionarystorycontinues.itshowsmanyoftheanimalsfromthecambriansurvivedandmultipliedintothenextperiod,theordovician.

“thisdiscoveryisalandmarkinevolutionaryresearch,andprovidesanewwindowonthehistoryoflife,”saysorr.

Putting flesh on the bones weallknowaboutfossilsthatcatchtheeye-dinosaurskeletonsthatmaketheheadlines,intricateshellsentombedinpolishedslicesofrockandevenscatteringsofpetrifiedancientteeth.drpaddyorrtalkstoclaireo’connell(BSc1992,phd1998).

Dr Paddy Orr

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All in! All in!All in! All in!documentsthesecretworldofchildrenandputsinwritingthefunandlife-learningexperiencesofgamesplayedindublininthenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturies.thechants,ritualsandunwrittenrulesofchildren’sstreetgameswereacquiredandpassedonbywordofmouthandobservation-arguably,thistransferwasoneofthepurestformsoffolktraditionasitwashardlyinfluencedbyformaleducationorliteracy.

eilísBrady(1927-2007)wasamemberoftheeditorialstaffofthedepartmentofeducation’spublicationsBranch.Shecontributedavaluablecollectionofchildren’sfolkloretowhatisnowthenationalFolklorecollection,ucd.her1975bookAll in! All in!hasbeenreprintedbycomhairleBhéaloideasÉireann/theFolkloreofirelandcouncilandwaslaunchedbylordmayorofdublinemercostelloinapril.

moreinformationfrombealoideas@ucd.ie

accesstoeducationhasbeenacontentiousissueforwomeninirelandaselsewhere.inanewbookHave Women Made A Difference? editedbydrJudithharford,ucdSchoolofeducation,anddrclairerush,Queen’suniversityBelfastandpublishedbypeterlang,leadingscholarsfromthefieldsofeducation,literature,nursing,socialpolicyandwomen’sstudiestracetheevolutionoftheroleofwomeninuniversityeducation.atatimewhenwomenhadtostruggletoaccessuniversityeducation,asmallarmyofwomendefiedtheoddsstackedagainsttheminpursuitofeducation.inherchapterentitled‘assistantSomething-or-otherinthenewuniversity:lifeandlettersofmaryKateo’Kelly’,phyllisgaffneylooksatthejourneymaryKateo’Kellyundertookineducationandherroleatucd.althoughsheisbestknownforbeingmarriedtothelaterpresidentofirelandSeanto’Kelly,maryKatewasatrailblazerinherownrightasoneofthefewwomenemployedinacademiaatthetime.thenewbookalsocontainsessaysonfemaleacademicsinotheruniversitiesandcontainsimportantresearchintotheorganisationalcultureofuniversitiesandhowwomenhaveimpacteduponthisuptothepresentday.

Innovation in Complex Social Systemsinnovationisthecreationofnew,technologicallyfeasible,commerciallyrealisableproductsandprocesses.itideallyemergesfromtheongoinginteractionofinnovativeorganisationssuchasuniversities,researchinstitutes,firms,governmentagenciesandventurecapitalists.

thenewpublication,Innovation in Complex Social Systems,editedbyprofessorpetraahrweilerofucdcaSl,usesa“hardscience”approachtoexamineinnovationinanewway.itscontributorscomefromawidevarietyofbackgrounds,includingsocialandnaturalsciences,computerscience,andmathematics.usingcutting-edgemethodology,theydealwiththecomplexaspectsofsocio-economicinnovationprocesses.itsapproachopensupanewparadigmforinnovationresearch,makinginnovationunderstandableandtractableusingtoolssuchascomputationalnetworkanalysisandagent-basedsimulation.

thebook,whichispartoftheroutledgeStudiesinglobalcompetition,combinesempiricalanalysiswithadiscussionofthetoolsandmethodsusedtosuccessfullyinvestigateinnovationfromarangeofinternationalexperts,andwillbeofinteresttopostgraduatestudentsandscholarsineconomics,socialscience,innovationresearchandcomplexityscience.

Pliny’s Encyclopedia — The Reception of the Natural History

publishedbycambridgeuniversitypress,amajornewworkbydraudedoody,ucdSchoolofclassics,examinesresponsestoplinytheelder’sNatural Historyoverthelasttwomillennia.

theelderpliny’sNatural Historyisoneofthelargestandmostextraordinaryworkstosurvivefromantiquity.ithasoftenbeenreferredtoasanencyclopedia,usuallywithoutfullawarenessofwhatsuchacharacterisationimplies.inthisbook,drdoodyexaminesthisconceptanditsapplicabilitytothework,payingfarmoreattentionthaneverbeforetothevaryingwaysinwhichithasbeenreadduringthelast2,000years,especiallybyFrancisBaconanddenisdiderot.thisbookmakesamajorcontributionnotjusttothestudyoftheelderplinybuttoourunderstandingofboththeculturalprocessesoforderingknowledgewidespreadintheromanempireandthereceptionofclassicalliteratureandideas.

In her new publication, “The Irish State and the Diaspora’, Prof Mary E Daly (Principal of UCD College of Arts and Celtic Studies), examines how successive Dublin governments have interacted with the Irish overseas – some 80 million diverse individuals internationally who claim Irish descendance. Based on her 2008 O’Donnell Lecture given for the NUI centenary, the book was launched by Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, Dr Maurice Manning at an NUI History event in April. Prof Daly is shown here (left) with Dr Manning (second from left); Dr Attracta Halpin, Registrar of the NUI; and Feargal Quinn, Senator of NUI

Shaping University Life – Women Who Made a Difference

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Anonymous donor creates Smurfit Aspire Scholarshipsananonymousprivatedonorisoffering€500,000forgraduatestoundertakeamastersatucdmichaelSmurfitgraduateBusinessSchool.theAspirescholarshipsprovideanopportunityforupto60graduateswhowouldotherwisebeunabletoaffordfourthleveleducationtoattendireland’spremierbusinessschool.thefundwassetupbythedonortosupporttheirisheconomy.professortomBegley,deanofucdSmurfitSchool,said,“manytalentedmindsareunabletoconsiderdoingamastersduetoalackoffinance.theAspirescholarshipwillfacilitatetop-qualitycandidateswhofindthemselvesinthispositiontoundertakeafurtherstepintheireducation.”

gehealthcarehasbecomethesecondindustrypartnerofthetril(technologyresearchforindependentliving)centreatucdwithaninvestmentof$3million.

withgehealthcarealongsideco-founderintelandacademicpartnersucd,trinitycollegedublinandnuigalway,trilwillbeabletoextenditsrangeofresearchactivitiesexploringthephysical,cognitiveandsocialconsequencesofageinganddesigningtechnologiestohelpaddressthem.

“gehealthcare’sfocusoninnovativethinkingandcommitmenttoimprovinghealthcarewhilereducingcostswillmakethemavaluablecontributortoourresearchefforts,”saysdrBriancaulfield,ucdSchoolofpublichealth,physiotherapyandpopulationScience,whoistheacademicdirectorofthetrilcentre.

akeygoaloftril’sresearchistoenableolderpeopletoliveindependentlyinthehomesoftheirchoiceforaslongaspossible,withthehelpof

technology-andintheprocess,helpeasethestrainonglobalhealthcaresystemsastheworld’spopulationages.

homehealthisakeybusinessfocusforgehealthcare.“wearedelightedtobepartofthetrilcentreandtobeinvolvedinthegroundbreakingresearchbeingdonethere,”saysagnesBerzsenyi,generalmanagerofgehealthcare’shomehealthBusiness.

“theworldisgettingolderandthisispresentingenormoushealthcarechallengesinthecareofelderlycitizensandthepreventionandmanagementofchronicdisease.wearelookingforwardtoworkingwithtriltodriveinnovationinthisemergingareaandultimatelytransformingthelivesofelderlycitizens.”

SincetrilwasfoundedbyintelcorporationandidairelandinJanuary2007,over600olderadultshavebeenassessedinthetrilclinicandmanyhaveparticipatedinthetriltechnologyhomedeploymentprogramme.

Report commends UCD SIF activities inanindependentinterimevaluationoftheStrategicinnovationFund(SiF),uSfederalexpertonhighereducationdrgordondaviesnotedthevaluablecontributionoftheoverallSiFprogramme.

whilehesaidthatapproximately10%oftheprojectswerenotmeetingtheiroriginalexpectationsandshouldbeterminated,healsopraisedthosesingle-institutionprojectsthatwereworkingwellandrecommendedincreasedinter-institutionalcollaboration.

ucd’sleadershipprogramme,ledbyucdhr,wassingledoutan“animpressiveprojectthatcouldprovideabasicmodelforleadershiptrainingacrossallofhighereducation”.

drdaviesalsocommendedthedublinregionhighereducationalliance(drhea)—ofwhichucdisthelargestrecipientoffunding—signallingits“potential…forthedevelopmentofhighereducationatbothanationalandinternationallevel”.

lotusleafanalogywinsScienceSpeakforucdnano-scientistdrawinginspirationfromtheactionofanaquaticplant,charlesnwankire,aphdstudentintheucdSchoolofelectrical,electronicandmechanicalengineering,wonthe2010ScienceSpeakcompetitionafterdescribinghisresearchintoaself-cleaningsurface.

“itwasallaboutimitatingalotusleaf,”mrnwankiretoldtheaudienceonthenight.thelotusleafusessmallprojectionsthatpreventwaterstickingtothesurface.inspiredbythewater-resistingpowersoftheleaf,mrnwankireandhissupervisordrdenisdowling,directoroftheSurfacechemistrygroupintheucdSchoolofelectrical,electronicsandmechanicalengineering,setouttoimitatethisapproach.

inhiswinningpresentationentitled‘nanoengineeredSurfacestopreventFouling’mrnwankire’sworkshowedtheenvironmentalimportanceoffindingsuitablecoatingstopreventfoulingofindustrialmachinery,fishfarmnetsandhouseholdradiators.

mrnwankirebondedpolymersontometalsurfacestomakethemselfcleaningandhefoundthatchangingthepolymerscouldaffectwhetherthesurfacewouldshedwateroroil.thereisalreadysignificantcommercialinterestinthework.

ScienceSpeakisajointphdsciencecommunicationsinitiativeorganisedannuallybytherdSandtheirishtimesinassociationwithirishuniversitiespromotingScience.itissponsoredbydiscoverScienceandengineeringandbypfizeratgrangecastle.

Website supports UCD teaching and learningtopromoteinnovationinteaching,learningandassessmentacrosstheuniversity,ucdhasdevelopedanewwebsitewithcomprehensiveteachingresourcesandinformationonawards,grantsandfundingavailabletosupportdevelopmentsinthearea.designedasaresourceforeducators,theteachingandlearningwebsitewillalsoshowcasegoodpracticeacrosstheuniversity.

thesite,www.ucd.ie/teaching, includesresourcesforunderstandinghowstudentslearn;forplanningandstructuringateachingsession;andforteachinglargeandsmallgroupsofstudents.

thewebsitealsooutlinestheteachingandlearningawardsandgrantscurrentlyavailableincluding:thepresident’steachingaward;collegeteachingawards;Fellowshipsinteachingandacademicdevelopment;anddigitalSeedFunding.

theinformationandresourcesaimtoassisteducatorswithrespondingtothechangingnatureofhighereducationlearnersanddevelopmentsintheteachingoftheirdiscipline.

Prof Tom Begley, Dean of UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School (third from right) is shown here with students at the launch of the Aspire scholarships

Science Speak winner Charles Nwankire, a PhD student in the UCD School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, is shown here with his 7-month-old son Chidiebab

GE Healthcare invests $3 million in TRIL

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competencecentresinBioenergy&Biorefiningandincompositematerialsucdistoco-hosttwocompetencecentresaspartofa€56mindustry-ledresearchinvestment.announcedinmarchbytánaistemarycoughlantd,thecentresarepartofthegovernment’sStrategyforScience,technologyandinnovation,andarebeingdeliveredjointlybyenterpriseirelandandidaireland.undertheannouncement,atotalofnineclustersofcompanieswillworktogethernationallytoovercomecommonresearchchallengesanddriveopportunitiesforinnovation,growthandjobs.

drKevino’connor,ucdSchoolofBiomolecularandBiomedicalScienceanducdconwayinstituteispartofthejointnuigalway,ul,ucdteamhostingtheBioenergy&Biorefiningcompetencecentrewhichwillfocusonwaystoconvertlatentenergyfromplantsintousefulformslikeheat,energyandfuelsfortransport.

professoralojzivankovic,professormichaelgilchristanddrdenisdowlingfromucdSchoolofelectrical,electronicandmechanicalengineeringarepartoftheucdteamco-hostingtheul-basedcompetencecentreforcompositematerials.thecentrewillresearchthepropertiesandcomplexitiesoflightweightplasticssothattheycanbeutilisedtoreplaceheavymetalsinproductslikeaircraft,carsandboats,windturbinebladesandconstructionmaterials.

launchingthecompetencecentresthetánaistesaid:”theseindustry-ledcentreswillconverttheresearchundertakenintonewproductsandservices,leadingtogrowthinexportmarketsandjobsinireland”.

SpeakingaboutthebenefitsofparticipationtotheForeigndirectinvestment(Fdi)companiesthatareinvolvedinthecentres,Barryo’leary,ceo,idairelandsaid,“companieslikeintel,Xilinx,pfizerandmicrosoftareengagedinthesecompetencecentressotheycanaccessthecollectiveexpertiseofireland’stopuniversitiesandworkwithirishSmesinpartnership”.

ursFerber,agraduateoftheuniversityofulmingermany,joinedthenanoscaleFunctiongroupatucdin2008.

“ifindthecombinationofphysicswithotherfieldsofresearchlikebiologyoreconomicsveryinterestingasyougettoworkwithpeoplefromadifferentbackgroundwhooftenhaveacompletelydifferentviewonaproblem.”

underthesupervisionofprofessorSuziJarvis,ursisworkingonaScienceFoundationirelandsponsoredproject,researchinghowcellmembranesinteractwiththefluidenvironmentandsaltsthatsurroundthem.Byunderstandingthestructureandfunctionofthesemolecularinteractions,noveltechnologiessuchasnewdrugtreatmentsfordiseasesandbiomedicaldevicescouldpotentiallybedeveloped.

“asthecellmembraneactsasabarrierforthecell,thepropertiesofthisbarrierarecrucialtoall

moleculesorparticlespassingthroughthemembrane.Forexample,interactionswithions(suchassalts)playanimportantroleincellularprocessesanddruginteractions.”

inordertostudymoleculesaslittleas0.1nanometre(ananometreisonebillionthametre),ursusesabespokeatomicforcemicroscope(aFm),oneofonly5microscopesofitskindintheworld.conditionsneedtobeperfectlystilltousethemicroscopeandthesmallestvibrationscandisturbthemeasurements.

“everythingneedstobeperfecttoachieveatomicresolution.clappingyourhandsclosetotheaFmwillshowupinyourimageandnearbyconstructionworksometimesdisturbsourmeasurementsduetogeneratedvibrationslikedrillinganddigging.”

workingonananoscaleprojectisnotwithoutitschallengesandursadvisesthatalotof

patienceisrequiredbutultimatelyitisarewardingfieldofresearch.

“onceyouovercomethefrustrationofmanyfailedtries,suchassomepartofyoursetupnotbeingabsolutelyperfect,youreallyenjoyworkingonthisverychallengingandveryinterestingfieldofresearch.”

PhD Profile - Exploring cells on a nanoscale

This image, an entrant of the 2009 UCD Images of Research competition, shows a lipid bilayer. It uses a high-resolution atomic force microscope (AFM). The “mountains” are the headgroups of individual lipid molecules

achangeinvegetationleafshape,alongsidewarmertemperaturesandmorefrequentstorms,ledtoafive-foldincreaseinnaturalwildfiresineastgreenlandmillionsofyearsago,accordingtonewresearchpublishedonthecoverofnaturegeoscience.

withthesefindings,ucdscientistsclaimthatcurrentrisinglevelsofatmosphericco2contributingtoglobalwarming,couldleadtoincreasingnumbersofwildfires.

wildfiresareagrowingnaturalhazardinmostregionsoftheunitedStates,posingathreattolifeandproperty,particularlywherenativeecosystemsmeetdevelopedareas.

accordingtotheuSgeologicalSurvey,morelandhasbeenaffectedbywildfiresinrecentyearsthanatanytimesincethe1960s.in2004,wildfiresburnedmorethan8millionacresin40StatesintheuS.thegreateryellowstonenationalparkfireof1988burnedmorethan1.2millionacres.

“weselectedtheboundarybetweenthetriassic-Jurassicperiod,200millionyearsago,asitrepresentsanaturalglobalwarmingevent,thatisbelievedtohaveledtoacatastrophicmassextinctionevent,”saysdrclaireBelcherfromtheucdSchoolofBiologyandenvironmentalSciencewholedthestudy.

“Bystudyinghowplantsandfirechangedintheancientpastandusingexperimentsonlivingplants–muchlikethosethatgrew200millionyearsagoineastgreenland–weidentifiedtheconditionsunderwhichecosystemsbecamemoreflammable.”

accordingtodrBelcher,awarmingclimateandhighlevelsofco2intheatmospherecausedplantstoevolvenarrowerleavestopreventthemfromlosingwaterasquicklyunderincreasedtemperatures.

“ourlaboratoryexperimentsshowthatplantsofthisshapearemoreflammableandthereforemorepronetowildfiresthroughlightningstrikes,”explainsdrBelcher.

thefindingshelpscientiststounderstandhowclimate-drivenchangesinvegetationcancauseincreasesintheflammabilityofplants.theresearch

alsohelpspredictthattheplanetmaybecomemoreflammableasglobalwarmingcontinues.

thelaboratoryexperimentswereconductedattheuniversityofedinburgh’sBrecentreforFireSafetyengineering.

“thisresearchbroughttogetherscientistsfromverydifferentbackgrounds,anddoingsohasgivenusinsightsintoancientwildfiresthatwemightotherwisenothavehad,”saysdrguillermoreinfromtheuniversityofedinburgh’sSchoolofengineering,whoco-authoredthework.

“thisisthefirsttimeourflammabilitytechnologyhasbeenappliedtotestgeosciencehypothesisandhighlightshownewideascanbeformedwhenscientistsfromverydifferentbackgroundsworktogether.”

researchersfromtheuniversityofoxfordandtheFieldmuseumofnaturalhistoryinchicagowerealsoinvolvedinthestudy.Fundingfortheprojectwasprovidedbytheeumariecurieprogramme.

Forests more prone to wildfires as climate heats up

Cover of Nature Geoscience June 2010 showing a scientific illustration of Greenland’s vegetation 200 million years ago

13

news

inaspeechdeliveredattheucdinstituteforBritish-irishStudiesannualconference,whichcoincidedwiththevisitofthenewuKprimeminister,davidcamerontonorthernireland,antaoiseach,Briancowentd,stressedtheneedforalltorecogniseoursharedhistoryinthecomingdecadethatwillseecommemorationsofcentenariesliketheulstercovenant,theBattleoftheSomme,theeasterrising,thewarofindependence,thegovernmentofirelandactandthetreaty.

“recentweekshaveseenhistoricdevelopmentsinBritain,withtheformationofanewconservative-liberaldemocratcoalitiongovernmentledbydavidcameron,”quotesthetaoiseach,intheopeningofhisspeech.“ihadtheopportunitytospeakwiththeprimeministeronhisfirstfulldayinofficeandwereaffirmedourjointcommitmenttothepeaceprocessandtotheagreementsthathavehelpedusmakesomuchprogressinnorthernirelandandinBritish-irishrelations.”

thetaoiseachwentontorecognisetheworkofformeruKprimeminister,gordonBrown,especiallywithregardtothedevolutionofpolicingandjustice.

duringthecourseofhisspeechcowenstressedtheneedtobeconsciousofireland’ssharedhistoryinthecomingdecadeofcommemorationsinnorthernirelandandinthe

republic.“Formostofthelastcenturywhenwelookedacrosstheborder,wesawandwerewaryofthe‘other’,”hesaid.

“weforcedeachotherintomakingchoices,intodefiningourselvesinexclusiveterms.wefailedtorecognisethat,eventhoughwehavedifferenttraditionsandperspectives,whatweshareismuchmoreimportantthanwhatseparatesus.”

academicandmediaspeakersattheconferenceincluded:davidadams(irishtimes),ianadamson(theSommeassociation),BrianFeeney(irishnews),davidhoey(apprenticeBoys’maidencityFestival),professorJohnhorne(trinitycollegedublin),tonyKennedy(communityrelationscouncil),professorBrigidlaffan(ucdcollegeofhumanSciences),professorevanthialyons(Queen’suniversityBelfast),drmarcmulholland(universityofoxford),drmargareto’callaghan(Queen’suniversityBelfast),daltunoceallaigh(Setantainitiative),Johno’dowd(ucdSchooloflaw),ronniepedlow(paradescommission),SirgeorgeQuigley,professorBillrolston(universityofulster).

thetaoiseach’sfulladdress,alongwiththespeechofmrnelsonmccausland,mla,northernirelandministerforculture,artsandleisureandtheremarksofucdpresidentdrhughBrady,canbeaccessedfromwww.ucd.ie/ibis.

UCD researchers Dr Gethin McBean, Dr Alice Vines and Dr Alfonso Blanco Fernández are pictured here on an advertising screen on New York’s Times Square. The team from the UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science and UCD Conway Institute won the 2009 Accuri Flow Cytometer Creativity Award Programme for their research outlining the use of a flow-cytometric method for continuous measurement of intracellular calcium concentration

ministerforhealth,msmaryharneytdunveiledthefoundationstoneforthecharlesinstitute,thefirstnationalinstitutedevotedtodermatologyinireland.

Skindiseaseisaseriousandcommonproblem–particularlyinireland.Skinconditionsarethefourthmostcommonreasonforgpvisitsinirelandandskincanceristhecommonestformofcancerinireland.today,between25%and33%oftheirishpopulationsuffersfromadermatologicalconditionatanyonetime.

FundedbythecityofdublinSkinandcancerhospitaltrustfromthesaleofthehumeStreetpremisesandbyucd,thecharlesinstitutewillundertakeresearchintocommonskindiseasessuchaspsoriasis,eczema,skincanceraswellasraregeneticskindiseasesandtrainingforundergraduateandqualifiedhealthprofessionals.thelocationofthebuilding,adjacenttotheucdconwayinsituteanducdhealthSciencescentre,

isdesignedtofostercooperationbetweenscientistsandhealthcareprofessionalstoaddresstheissue“frombenchtobedside”.

theinstituteisalsodirectlylinkedtotheteachinghospitalsinthedublinacademichealthcentre,Stvincent’suniversityhospitalandmatermisericordiaeuniversityhospitalandtheBoardofgovernorsofthecityofdublinSkinandcancerhospitalcharityaswellasextendingtopatientgroupsandcharitiesinthecommunity.

Speakingattheevent,ministerharneysaid,“thecharlesinstituteatucdwillrecruitupwardsof50scientists,graduatestudentsandmedicalpractitioners,devotedtodermatologyresearchandtraining.theoutcomesofthisworkwillhelptotackleandtreatskinconditionsandgiveustheopportunitytodevelopaninternationalcentreforresearchexcellenceinthisarea.and,thecalibreoftheinternationaladvisorypanelbringsanaddedlayerofexpertisetotheinstitute.”

theinternationaladvisoryconsistsoffourinternationalexpertsindermatology.theyare:professorJamesg.Krueger:d.martincarterprofessorinclinicalinvestigation,laboratoryofinvestigativedermatology,therockefelleruniversity,newyork;drStephenKatz:director,nationalinstituteofarthritisandmusculoskeletalandSkindiseases,nationalinstitutesofhealth,uSa;professorJean-hilaireSaurat:deptofdermatology,hospitalcantonal,geneva,Switzerland;professorrodhay:chairmanoftheinternationalFoundationfordermatology,(andbasedinStJohn’sinstituteofdermatologyinKing’scollegelondon).

inhispubliclecturemarkingthelayingofthecharlesinstitutefoundationstone,drdavidFisher,chiefofthedepartmentofdermatologyatmassachusettsgeneralhospital,harvardmedicalSchool,addressedthescienceandrisksofuvradiationandtheskin.

Charles Institute moves ahead on skin disease research

Pictured at the IBIS Annual Conference ‘A Decade of Centenaries: Commemorating Shared History’ were: Prof Jennifer Todd, UCD Institute for British-Irish Studies and An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen TD

Shared history key to Irish and Northern Irish commemorations

14

UCD Strategic Plan to 2014

Setagainstachallengingeconomicclimate,ucdhaslauncheditsstrategicplanto2014,Forming Global Minds.

theplanwillseethenextphaseofdevelopmentofucd’sground-breakingucdhorizonsundergraduatecurriculum,significantexpansionoftheuniveristy’s4thlevelportfolioandinternationalprogrammes,andthemainstreamingofinnovationasthethirdpillarofactivityalongsideteachingandresearchinthecontextoftheucd-tcdinnovationalliance.

“overits155yearhistoryucdhasplayedanimportantroleinthedevelopmentofmodernireland.”ucdpresidentdrhughBradysaidatthelauncheventinapril,attendedbystudents,staffandstakeholders.“now,inatimeofnationaland

globaldifficulty,ucdisonceagaincommittingitsintellectualresourcestotherebirthofeconomicprosperityinireland.”

theucdStrategicplanto2014,Formingglobalmindscanbedownloadedfromwww.ucd.ie/president

Forming Global Minds

Pictured at the launch of Forming Global Minds - UCD Strategic Plan to 2014 (l-r): Dr Philip Nolan, UCD Registrar; Prof Des Fitzgerald, Vice-President for Research, UCD; Dr Hugh Brady, UCD President; Prof Brigid Laffan, Principal, UCD College of Human Sciences; and Mr Gerry O’Brien, UCD Bursar

thenextphaseofdevelopmentoftheucdhorizonsundergraduatecurriculumwillexpandtheinternationalopportunitiesforucdstudentsandfurtherinternationaliseucd’sstudentbody,preparinggraduatesforlifeandworkacrossinternationalborders.therewillbeafocusonstimulatingcreativity,innovation,entrepreneurshipandactivecitizenshipamongstudents.

theuniversitywillestablishtheucdadastraacademyforhighlytalentedstudents.theacademywillcreateindividualisedprogrammesforthetopstudents,offerthemearlyaccesstoadvancedmodulesandacceleratedentrytomastersprogrammes.theacademywillalsonurturethedevelopmentoftopclassstudentsinsportandtheperformingarts.

thenewucdinstituteforlearninginnovationwillbringthelatestdevelopmentsresearchonuniversityteachingandlearningtobearonenhancingeducationatucdaswellasmakingthewiderworldawareofthemajorchangesinucd’sapproachtoteachingandtheirpossibleimpactonstudents.

ucdwillmainstreamtheassessmentandenhancementofteachingquality,utilisingstudentevaluationofmodulesandprogrammes,studentsatisfactionandexperiencesurveysandfeedbackonthewiderstudentexperience.

whilemaintainingitsundergraduatepopulationatitscurrentsize,ucdwillincreasegraduatestudentnumbersfrom26%to33%ofthestudentbodyby2014.theuniversitywillwidentheparticipationofnon-traditionalstudentsonundergraduateprogrammesfrom17%to25%byextendingthenumberofstudentsfromsocio-economicallydisadvantagedbackgrounds,matureandpart-timestudentsaswellasstudentswithdisabilities.thepercentageofinternationalstudentswillincreasefrom17%to25%.

ultimately,theeducationstrategyiscommittedtocreatingucdgraduatesthatare:academicallyexcellent,intellectuallyflexible,culturallyliterateandgloballyengaged.tounderpinthis,renewedfocuswillbegiventotheholisticucdstudentexperiencetoensureasupportiveandencouragingenvironmentinwhichstudentscanrealisetheirfullpotential.

Forming Global Minds – Innovation outlinedintheplanistheuniversity’sambitiontolinkeducation,researchandinnovationmoreeffectively.

ucdhasthreecoreobjectivesforinnovation:1.tomaximisetheimpactofucd’sknowledgeandexpertisetobenefitireland,especiallyfromconverging

disciplines2.tofosteracultureofinnovationandentrepreneurshipat3rd-and4th-levels3.tofosterinnovationamongstallucdstaff

inmarch2009ucdandtcdlaunchedtheirinnovationalliance.Significantprogresshasbeenmadetowardstheestablishmentofajoint4thlevelinnovationacademyinSeptember2010whichwillstrivetotransformthetrainingofadvancedscience,engineeringandtechnologystudentswithaviewtoproducinganewbreedofbusiness-mindedandentrepreneurialgraduateswhowilldrivetheSmarteconomy.theinnovationalliancewillbuildonkeynationalpartnershipsalreadydevelopedbyucd,including:molecularmedicineireland;thenationalinstituteforBioprocessingresearchtraining(niBrt);thenationaldigitalresearchcentre;andtril(technologyresearchforindependentliving)

inaddition,ireland’stwoleadinguniversitiesareadoptingajointapproachtotechnologytransferandenterprisedevelopmentandwereparticipantsinthegovernment’sinnovationtaskforce.

Forming Global Minds – Researchthepastfiveyearshaveseenextraordinarygrowthinresearchactivityatucd.intheareaofresearchandphdtraining,ucdhasprioritisedfourmajorthemes:

•earthSciences,energyandtheenvironment•healthandhealthcaredelivery•information,computationand

communications•globalireland

thesebuildontheuniversity’sestablishedoremergingstrengths,dovetailwithnationalresearchpolicyobjectivesandcontributetoireland’sculturalheritageandthedevelopmentofsolutionsforcurrentglobalchallenges.

asireland’slargestproducerofadvancedscience,engineeringandtechnologygraduates,ucdbelievesithasamajorroletoplayinthenationalrecoveryprocesswithparticularemphasisonkeyareassuchasbiopharmaceutics,ict,renewableenergyandagrifood,allofwhichlinktopriorityucdresearchthemes.

itwillfurtherdevelopitsresearchinstitutemodeltopromoteinterdisciplinarythematicresearchandphdtraining.Specifically,theuniversityisdevelopingthreenewinterdisciplinaryinstitutes:ucdearthSciencesinstitute,ucdcomplexadaptiveSystemslaboratoryanducdcharlesinstitute(fordermatology)usingtheapproachthatsuccessfullyestablishedtheconwayinstitute(biomedicalresearch)andgearyinstitute(microeconomicsandsocialchange)overthepastdecade.

emphasisingthehumanitiesandsocialsciences,drBradysaidinlaunchingtheplan:“itisequallyimportantinthesechallengingtimesthatirelanddoesnotlosesightofitsculturalheritageandtradition,continuestoexploreitsidentityandvalues,engagesitsdiasporaanddevelopsacompellingsocialandculturalframeworkfornationalrenewal.”

whilethesethematicresearchareaswillreceiveparticularattention,ucdacademicswillcontinuetoworkacrosstheentirerangeofdisciplinesinthehumanitiesandthesciencesandtheuniversitywillcontinuetoinvestincoredisciplinesasthebedrockofindividualscholarshipandpostgraduateeducation.

Forming Global Minds – Education

15

UCD Strategic Plan to 2014

Forming Global Minds – Enabling Foundations theStrategicplanalsosetsoutanambitiousprogrammeofactivitiesintheareasthatprovidethesupportsystemsfortheuniversity:Finance;humanresources;library,informationandKnowledgemanagement;communications;developmentandalumnirelations;andStudentadministrativeandSupportServices.

KeyFinanceplansincludethedevelopmentofrevenue-enhancingstrategies;developmentofinternationalandpostgraduateofferings;pursuitofeffectivecost-reductionstrategies;eliminationofuniversitydeficitovertheperiodoftheplan;implementationofaservice-levelagreementsforallfinancesupportservices;heighteningoffinancialandcontrolawareness;developmentofimprovedmanagementinformation.

intermsofhumanresources,keyareasofactioninclude:establishmentofclearhr-planningpolicies;recognitionofinnovation,commercialisationandincomegenerationinucddevelopmentpathwaysandrewardsystems;evolutiontheperformancemanagementdevelopmentSystem(pmdS)andleadershipprogrammes;actionstostrengthencollegialityandtobuildstaffmorale;initiativestoenhanceflexibleworkingarrangements;developmentofstaffmentoringprogrammes;anddevelopmentofservice-levelagreementsforallhrsupportservices.

theobjectivesinlibrary,informationandKnowledgemanagementaresummarisedinfourmajorareas:1. tomakeavailabletotheucdcommunity

data,informationandknowledgeneededtopromotelearningandtocatalysethecreationofnewknowledge

2. toenablemembersoftheucdcommunityandtheexternalpartnerstouse,interactwithandcollaboratearoundinformationonrobustinformationsystems,platformsandnetworks

3. toenhancecapacityforcommunicatingtheoutcomesandsocialimpactoftheuniversity’steaching,researchandinnovationactivities

4. toenabletheeffectivemanagementofadministrativeinformationandthecapacitytotranslatethatinformationintoactionableorganisationalintelligence

thefocusforcommunicationsactionswillbe:promotingthesingleucdbrand;associatingucdandinnovationinthepublicmind;developinganddeliveringucdhorizonscommunications;developinganddeliveringaco-ordinatedgraduatemarketingstrategy;highlightingindividualacademics’researchachievementsandacademicexpertise;buildingasenseofcommunitythroughmajoroutreacheventsandinitiatives;developingauser-drivenintranettoprovidestaffwithonelocationforallinternalinformation;developingasuiteofstudent-focusedcommunications.

thekeydevelopmentandalumnirelationsactionsfallintothreeareas:thesuccessfullaunchofthecampaignforucd-Formingglobalminds;deliveryofamultifacetedfund-raisingprogrammeincludingmajorgifts,massfund-raising(telethons/directmail),corporatefund-raising,trustandFoundationfundraisingandlegacy-giving;growthofanalumnirelationsprogrammeandanactiveglobalalumni-associationnetworktoaffiliatealumnimorecloselywiththeuniversity.

thekeyplansforStudentadministrativeandSupportServicesinclude:greaterintegrationofstudentandacademicservices;seamlessprovisionacrosscentralisedanddistributedacademicandstudentsupportfunctions;supportofcurricularflexibility,newmodesofstudyandthestudentexperience;creationofanintegratedstudent-supportmodel;developmentofservicesandsupportsthatspecificallyfosterstudents’intellectualflexibilityandskillsforarewardinglife;developmentofexcellentservicestoensurethewell-being,healthandwelfareofstudents;enhancedengagementwithprospectivestudentsandthosewhoadviseandsupportthem.

placingthestrategicplanincontext,atthelauncheventthepresidenthighlightedanumberofmajorreformsandachievementsoftheuniversityoverthepast5years.theintroductionofucdhorizons,amodular,semesterisedandcredit-basedcurriculumforundergraduates,hasbroadenedtheappealofucddegreestoirishandinternationalstudents.

newacademicstructurescreatedfivecollegesand34schoolstoreplaceelevenfacultiesandninetydepartmentsandweredesignedtohelppromoteinterdisciplinaryresearchandteaching.thecreationofgraduateschoolsfacilitatedstructuredphdprogrammestosupport4thleveltraining.ucdhas31%ofallfull-timephdstudentsinireland.

theresearchstrategyplacedspecificfocusonthedevelopmentoflargethematicmultidisciplinaryresearchprogrammeswithconsequentincreases

infundingawarded,nationalandinternationalcollaborations,publicationsandresearchoutputs.overtheperiod,theuniversitydevelopedfiveresearchinstitutes,twoSFicentresforScienceengineeringandtechnology(cSets),sevenSFistrategicresearchclustersandthreemajorindustrypartnershipsaswellassomeofthelargestnationalinvestmentsinresearch,includingtheida-backedniBrt.ucdclimbedto33rdineuropeintheQSworlduniversityrankingsin2009.

theinternationalisationstrategyledtheuniversitytojoinuniversitas21,anetworkofglobalresearchuniversities.closercollaborations

athomewereformalisedthroughthesigningofmouswithtcdandQueensuniversityBelfast.theformationoftheinnovationalliancewithtcdmarkedauniquepartnershipbetweenthetwoleadinguniversities.

anoverhaulofacademicrecruitment,developmentandpromotionssystemsgaveyoungeracademicstaffgreateropportunitytoadvancetheircareersbasedonmerit.alongside,theuniversityintroducedaperformancemanagementdevelopmentSystem(pmdS).

atimelineofkeyachievementsofthelastfiveyearscanbedownloadedfromwww.ucd.ie/president

Forming Global Minds – Highlights of the past five years

Forming Global Minds – Capital DevelopmentucdwillusethenewgatewaycampusmasterplantoguidethedevelopmentofBelfieldasaliving,greenandsustainablecampuswhichisalaboratoryforandanexemplarofenergy-efficientbuildingdesignandlandscaping.

theuniversitywillcompleteitsrecentlylaunched€300mcapitaldevelopmentprogrammethatincludes:

•redevelopmentofucdSciencecentre•ucdSutherlandSchooloflaw•ucdcharlesinstitutefordermatology

researchandtraining•newStudentlearning,leisureandSports

centre•developmentofanewsupportfacilityfor

ucd’sinternationalandgraduatestudents•refurbishmentandexpansionofstudent

residences•nationalinstituteforBioprocessingresearch

andtraining(inpartnershipwiththeida).importantlythisprogrammeemploysa

leveragedmodelwherebylessthan50%offundingcomesfromtheexchequer.intotaltheprogrammewillprovideover2000construction-relatedjobswhileprovidingkeyinfrastructuretosupportireland’sknowledgeeconomy.

ucdwillalsocompleteamasterplanfortheucdnewman/libraryhumanitiescomplexanducdSmurfitgraduateBusinessSchool.

Shown at the launch of Forming Global Minds - UCD Strategic Plan to 2014 were UCD Students (l-r): Rachael McKenna (Arts); Christine Lewis (Science); Simon Makuvaza (World Heritage Management); Sihan Feng (Commerce); Mark Langtry (Physics), Cong Xu (pre-master’s accounting)

16

news

Prehistoric birds were poor flyerstheearliestknown‘dinobirds’,archaeopteryx(145millionyearsago)andconfuciusornis(120millionyearsago),wereincapableofvigorousflappingflight,accordingtonewresearchpublishedintheleadingscientificjournalScience.

researchersatucdandtheuniversityofmanchesterconductedaseriesofbiomechanicaltestsonthefeathersandwingsoftheseancientfeathereddinosaurstocalculatetheloadbearingforcestheywouldhavehadtowithstandtosupportflight.

Bothdinosaurfossilshadprimaryfeatherswithextremelynarrowcentralstemsfortheirbodysizeandfeatherlengths.accordingtotheresearchers,themuchthinnercentralstem(rachis)ofthedinosaurfeathersmusthavebeensolidortheywouldhavebrokenundertheliftforcesgeneratedduringflightorbygustsofwind.thissolidstructureisverydifferenttomodernbirds,whoserachisesarebroader,hollowstraws.

“itisimpossibletotellfromfossilswhethertherachisesweresolidorhollow,”saysdrrobertlnuddsfromtheuniversityofmanchester,theprincipalauthoroftheresearchpaper.“Butibelievethedinosaurs’feathersweresolidandthereforetheycouldfly,butverypoorly.theywouldhavebeenincapableofflightunlesstherefeatherswereofafundamentallydifferentstructuretothoseoflivingbirds.”

“ourfindingssuggestthatarchaeopteryxandconfuciusorniswerenotcapableofvigorousflappingflight,rapidturnsorfastascents,rathertheyweresoarersorgliders,”explainsdrgarethdykefromtheucdSchoolofBiologyandenvironmentalScience.

thesefindingshaveimportantimplicationsforinterpretingthebehaviouroffeatheredearlybirdsandproto-birds,andunderstandingtheevolutionofflight.

“ouranalysisalsoshowsthatconfuciusornis,whichisyoungerby25millionyears,wasworseatflyingthanarchaeopteryx.thisraisesthefurtherquestionoflineage–didthedinosaur-birdlinebranchoff,givingrisetoflyingandflightlessbirds?”addsdrnudds.

Image of Archaeopteryx, courtesy of Todd Marshall

accordingtoresearchpublishedbytheecologicalSocietyofamerica,1in4(25%)offishproductslabeledandsoldascodandhaddockinirelandbelongtoentirelydifferentspeciesoffish.whenonlysmokedfishproductswereincludedinthesample,theucdscientistswhocompletedthestudyclaimthat8in10(82%)weremislabeledundereuregulations.

thefindingsindicatethateupoliciesgoverningseafoodlabelingarenotadequatelyimplementedandenforcedinirelandandtheeu.undereulaw,freshfisheryandaquacultureproductsofferedforretailsalemustbelabeledwithanapprovedcommercialdesignation,theproductionmethodusedandtheareawherethefishwerecaught.

usingdnabar-codingtoidentifythespeciesoffish,thescientiststestedsamplesoffishproductslabeledascodandhaddockpurchasedfromsupermarkets,freshfishcountersand‘fishandchip’shops.

“wefocusedoncodandhaddockbecausewhitefishisthesecondmostconsumedseafoodinireland–behindfarmedsalmon-andthesimilaritiesinappearanceoffilletedwhitefishmakeitdifficulttodistinguishonespeciesfromanother,”saysdrStefanomarianifromtheucdSchoolofBiologyandenvironmentalScience,wholedthestudy.

“wetestedsamplesoffishproductslabeledaseither‘cod’or‘haddock’fromrandomlyselectedretailoutletsfromwithintenpostaldistrictsacrossdublin.withineachdistrict,weselectedtwosamplesfromeachof:two‘fishandchip’shops,twofreshfishcounters,andfoursamples(twofrozen,twopackagedfresh)fromeachoftwosupermarkets.”

usingdnabar-coding,thescientistsgeneticallyidentifiedthat25%ofallsamples(or39outof156)labeledandsoldas‘cod’or‘haddock’werefromentirelydifferentfishspecies,andwerethereforeconsideredmislabeledundereuregulations.whenthesampleonlyincludedsmokedfishproductslabeledascodandhaddock,themislabelingreached82%.

accordingtodrmariani,sustainedconsumerdeceptionthroughmislabelingmayhampereffortstowardstherecoveryofdepletedcodstocks.“thehighlevelsofcodmislabelingfoundinirelandgivesafalseperceptionofmarketavailability,allowingconsumerstobelievethatbecausecodissowidelyavailable,thestocksmustbehealthy.”

theresearchrecommendsthattheresponsibilityforenforcingseafoodlabelingandtraceabilitystandardsinirelandbeassignedtoonenationalagency.atpresent,threeormoreirishgovernmentagenciesareinvolvedintheareaofseafoodlabelinginireland.

UCD Radiographer Dr Michaela Davis, UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, was presented with a Winston Churchill Research Medal and Fellowship by the HRH the Duchess of Cornwall in London in May 2010. Dr Davis was awarded the medal in recognition of her research into the role of radiographers in dealing with non-accidental injury in children in New Zealand. Dr Davis’ work included aspects specific to the Maoiri population and she also worked with the TePau organisation, which deals with all child protection issues in Auckland

High level of inaccurate fish labelling in Ireland

universitytuitionfeesforundergraduateswereabolishedinirelandin1996.arecentpaperbyucdeconomistdrKevindenny,ucdgearyinstitute,findsthatthemeasurewasunsuccessfulinachievingitsobjectiveofpromotingeducationalequality.

inthepaper,dennyshowsthatSecondarySchoolperformanceisthecriticalpredictorofwhowillgoontothirdlevel.onaverage,studentsfromwhitecollarbackgroundsget50-90moreleavingcertificatepointsthanchildrenborntomanualworkers.Femalestudentsalsoperformbetterintheleavingcertificate,andsobothgroupstendtobewellrepresentedatthirdlevel.

thepaperalsofoundthatcertaincircumstances,suchashavingdisabledordeceasedparent,alsoimpactedonleaving

certificateperformanceandsawstudentsachievingonaverage50pointslessthanthenationalaverage.childrenofunemployedfatherswereshowntoachievesome30pointslessthanaverage.

thepaperisbasedondatafromtheeSrischoolleavers’surveyswhere2,000to3,000youngpeopleareinterviewedninemonthsafterleavingschool.itsuggeststhatstudentsfromlowersocio-economicgroupsordisadvantagedbackgroundsareunlikelytoachievetheleavingcertificatepointsrequiredforhighly-competitiveprogrammessuchasmedicine,andso,theabolitionoffeesdidnothelpthesestudentstoparticipate,particularlyasmanylow-incomefamilieswouldalsohavebeenentitledtoahighereducationgrant.

whatdidabolishinguniversityfeesinirelanddo?

17

news

Prize for thesis on Viking longphorts ucdgraduateniamharthur(2009mainarchaeology)wasannouncedasthejointwinneroftheuKmedievalSettlementresearchgroup’s(mSrg)JohnhurstprizefortheBestmathesis/dissertationinBritainandirelandonmedievalSettlement(2009).thisisthethirdtimethattheprestigiousawardhasbeengiventoadissertationfromtheucdSchoolofarchaeology(trionanicholl,2004;JonathanKinsella,2005)andalldissertationsweresupervisedbydraidano’Sullivan.thewinningdissertationwasonvikinglongphortsorraidingbasesinireland.

australianambassadortoireland,heBrucedavis,visiteducdinmaytomakeagenerouspresentationofaustralianbookstothelibrary.thebooks,thesecondsuchdonationinthelasttwoyears,areawelcomeadditiontothelibrary’saustralianhistoryandaustralianStudiescollection,andcovertopicssuchasaboriginalhistory,australianenvironmentalhistory,anzac,politics,landandlandscape,australiancolonialhistory.inpresentingthebooksambassadordavisnotedtheimportanceoftheKeithcameronchairandtheaustralianStudiescentreinpromoting

greaterunderstandingofaustraliainireland,andinrepresentingthecontinuinglinkbetweenthetwocountries.thegiftofbooksfurtherconfirmstheaustraliangovernment’sinvestmentintheaustralianStudiescentreanducdandambassadordavislookedforwardtobroadeningtherelationshipbetweentheaustraliangovernmentanducd.theoccasionwasalsoanopportunityforambassadordavistopresenttheprizeforthebestessayinaustralianhistorytopetermolloy,whoseworkhenotedreflectedakeenappreciationandunderstandingofhissubject.

Teanglann nuaosclaíodhanteanglannnuaathchóiritheledeanaí.Bhícathalgoan,ceannasaírtÉ,iláthairleisanoscailtoifigiúilacheiliúradhimeasccairdeófhoireannScoilnagaeilge,anléinncheiltigh,BhéaloideasÉireannagusnateangeolaíochta.labhaircathalgoanarathaithíféinaranteanglannsnabliantaatácaiteagustábhachtnaforbarthaseosanollscoil.labhairantollamhliammacmathúna,ceannnaScoile,aranluachmórabhainleseantaifidachoinneáilagusiadseoashníomhleisantrealamhnua-aimsearthaatáinúsáidgolaethúilsateanglann.tádeisanoisagmicléinnfhochéimeagusiarchéimeleasabhaintasanteanglannmarionadclosamhaircdenchéadscoth.tátaifeadtaísateanglannarchanúintínachbhfuilannathuilleadhagusódhaoineatáimithearshlínafírinne.táannua-ghaeilgelánlehábharsaibhir,níhamháinsateanglannachigcartlannnagcanúintíatálonnaithesaScoilfreisin.SaseomrabeagseoganleitheadatásuitesaScoiltábunábhartaighdethomáisdeBhaldraithe,achumfoclóirríthábhachtachBéarla-gaeilge,arcoimeádidtarraiceáinbheagaatáarbhallaínacartlainne.táseodanagaeilge,idirscríofaaguslabhartha,ádtabhairtlechéileiláthairnua-aimseartha.Beifearagsúilleisgombeidhmicléinnagtapúnandeiseannaatácurthaarfáildóibhanoislebreisanailíseagustaighdeadhéanamharanteangaalabhraíodhanallódtrítheicneolaíochtanlaeinniu.tádháchomhaltachtiardhochtúireachtataighdeagusteagaiscádtairiscintaglárionaddeBhaldraithedoléannnagaeilgedonbhliain2010/11chungurféidirlescoláirítaighdeadhéanamharangceangalidirgluaiseachtnahathbheochanaagusábharabailíodhóchaintbheonagaeltachtasanfhichiúhaoisagusriachtanaistéarmaíochtanalinneseo,chomhmaithletaithíartheagascafháil.deirantollamhmacmathúnagobhfuilsédebhuntáisteagStiúrthóiragusfoireannlárionaddeBhaldraithedoléannnagaeilgeagusiadagcurlescileannacéimithegaeilgesnaréimsíaistriúchán,eagarthóireacht,riarachán,dlíagusateangaireachtgurféidirleotarraingtarshaibhreasaircívenaScoile.isbuntáistean-mhórégurféidirobairfhorásachnuálachanlárionaidathógáilarandúshraithdhúchasachseo.tátuilleadheolaisarfáilówww.ucd.ie/gaeilge

UCD scientists and scholars at Royal Irish Academy

embassy’sdonationenhancesaustraliancollectionatucdlibrary

Dr John Howard (University Librarian); HE Bruce Davis, Australian Ambassador to Ireland; Mr Don E Smith, Deputy Head of Mission and First Secretary at the Australian Embassy; Prof Katie Holmes, Keith Cameron Chair in Australian History at UCD

inrecognitionoftheiroutstandingachievements,fiveucdacademicshavebeenelectedtotheroyalirishacademy.“thisgroupisasaccomplishedandasacademicallydiverseasanycohortelectedsinceourfoundingmemberssignedtherollin1785,”saidprofessornicholascanny,presidentoftheroyalirishacademy(ria).

drhughBrady,presidentofucd;drcaoimhínBreatnach,ucdSchoolofirish,celticStudies,irishFolkloreandlinguistics;professormariaBaghramian,ucdSchoolofphilosophy;professorda-wenSun,ucdSchoolofagriculture,FoodScience,andveterinarymedicine;andprofessorKarlwhelan,ucdSchoolofeconomics,wereamongthe24academicswhoachievedthedistinctioninmay2010attheacademy’s225thadmissionofnewmemberssinceitwasfirstfounded.

duringhisaddress,professorcannysaidthatthepromotionofresearchwithinuniversitiesmust

berelatedto,andintegratedwith,theirteachingmission.henotedthatifgovernmentfundingtosupportresearchispredicatedtooccuronlywherethisfundingcan‘beseentopromoteinnovation,enterpriseandimmediatejobcreation,itwouldbebetter[toenforcesuchamodel]instand-aloneresearchinstitutesratherthanthroughcross-subsidisationfromtheteachingmissionofhigher-researchinstitutions’.

theroyalirishacademy(ria)isireland’spremierlearnedbodyandvigorouslypromotesexcellenceinscholarship,recognisesachievementsinlearning,directresearchprogrammesandundertakesitsownresearchprojects,particularlyinareasrelatingtoirelandanditsheritage.

competitionforelectiontomembershipiskeenasitisthehighestacademichonourinirelandandapublicrecognitionofthehighestacademicachievement.

Four UCD academics recently elected to the RIA are shown here with UCD graduate, Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, Dr Maurice Manning, who was also elected. From l-r: Dr Caoimhín Breatnach; Dr Maurice Manning, Chancellor of the National University of Ireland; Prof Nicholas Canny, President of the RIA; Prof Maria Baghramian, UCD School of Philosophy; Prof Da-Wen Sun, UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science, and Veterinary Medicine; Prof Karl Whelan, UCD School of Economics

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innovationatUCD

Biancamed,theucdmedicaltechnologycompany,wonaninauguralirishtimesall-islandinnovationawardinassociationwithintertradeireland.Biancamedwaspresentedwiththeproduct/Serviceinnovationcategoryaward,sponsoredbytheucdmichaelSmurfitgraduateBusinessSchool,foritsbreakthroughwirelesssensortechnologyforthenon-contactmonitoringofsleepandbreathinginthehome.

BiancamedhasdevelopedandismarketingSleepminder™,anaccurate,contactlessandconvenientdeviceforthemeasurementofsleepandbreathinginthehome.thecoreofBiancamed’sproprietarytechnologyisasensitiveradiofrequencymotionsensorthatcandetectrespirationandmovementwithoutbeingconnectedtothehumanbody.thesensorincorporatessophisticated

biometricsoftwarethatconvertsthemotiondataintoameasurementofsleep.

Biancamed,foundedin2003,currentlyemploysover20peopleandisheadquarteredinnovaucd,theinnovationandtechnologytransfercentreatucd.theSleepminder™technologywasinitiallydevelopedatucd’sSchoolofelectrical,electronicandmechanicalengineeringbyprofessorconorheneghananddrphilipdechazal.

lastyearthecompanysecuredanadditional€6millioninfundingledbypan-europeanventurecapitalfirmSeventurepartnerswithexistinginvestorseplanetventures,enterpriseirelandandresmed.Biancamed,whichalsohasanofficeinSunnyvale,california,iscurrentlyworkingwithseveralmajorcorporationstolauncharangeofconsumerproductsin2010and2011.

thegenerationofgoodideasisgenerallynotthebottleneckintheinnovationprocessforirishcompanies.theirrealchallengeisthesuccessfulcommercialisationofthoseideas.thisrequirescompaniesgivingtheiremployeesthefreedomtoactasentrepreneursandprovidingthemwithadequatestructuresandprocessestocreateanentireentrepreneurialenvironmentwithinthecompany.

thiswasthemainmessagefromprofessorpeterrusso,aninternationalentrepreneurshipexpert,whodeliveredtheintertradeireland2010innovationlecture,Corporate Entrepreneurship - the Key to Making Innovation Happen,atnovaucd.

professorpeterrussoisfounderanddirectoroftheStrascheginstituteforinnovationandentrepreneurshipattheeuropeanBusinessSchool,Frankfurt,germany.hisresearchexpertise

includesinnovationmanagement,corporateentrepreneurshipandgrowthmanagement.hehasalsoheldseniorpositionswithinthebankingandthehigh-techindustryandhasco-foundedanumberofstart-upcompanies.

professorrusso’sinnovationlecturewasdeliveredaspartoftheintertradeirelandall-islandinnovationprogramme.thisprogramme,apartnershipbetweenintertradeireland,Queen’suniversityBelfast,novaucdandthecentreforinnovationandStructuralchange,nuigalway,aimstopromoteandencourageinnovationacrosstheislandofireland.Bestinternationalpracticeinanareaofinnovationissharedwithbusinessleaders,students,academics,knowledgetransferprofessionalsandpolicymakersineachregionviainnovationlectures,seminarsandmasterclasses.

rendezvu,thenovaucd-basede-learningventure,haswonthedavidmanley2009emergingentrepreneuraward.onwinningtheawardrendezvureceived€10,000incashandover€100,000worthofmentoringandconsultancyservicesfromavarietyofbluechipcompanies.

thereiscurrentlynoconvenientwayformoststudentslearninglanguagestopracticetheirlanguageskillsotherthantravellingtoforeigndestinationswhichcanbeexpensiveandimpractical.toaddressthisissueinthelearningenvironmentrendezvuhasdevelopedanext

generationlearningplatformtoprovideimmersiveeducationforlanguagesandothersubjectsusingvirtualworldandgamingtechnologies.

rendezvuwasco-foundedin2008bypaulgroarkeandgarretthussey,bothex-Baltimoretechnologiesemployees,andthecompanywaspreviouslytheoverallwinnerofnovaucd’s2008campuscompanydevelopmentprogramme.

the2009davidmanleyemergingentrepreneurawardswerepresentedataceremonyintherhagallerybyantánaistemarycoughlantdanddrchrishorn,co-founderandformerceo,ionatechnologies.

novaucdclientcompaniescreate30jobsin2010thirtynewhigh-techjobshavebeencreatedbynovaucdclientcompaniessincethebeginningoftheyear.Fournewstart-ups,cernam,logScreen,SmartBuilderSoftwareandtethras,havealsolocatedatnovaucd,addingtoitsgrowingcommunityofentrepreneurs.

tethras,establishedearlierthisyearbyBrianFarrellandBrendanclavin,isdevelopingweb-basedlocalisationtoolsforSmartphoneapplicationdevelopers,andalreadyemploys7people.othernovaucdcompanieswhichhavetakenonnewstaffincludeaontatechnologies,Biancamedandenzolvetechnologies.

“thecreationofnewjobsbynovaucdclientcompaniesisclearlyimportantforthelongtermdevelopmentofireland’sSmarteconomy,”saysdrpatFrain,director,novaucd.“itisparticularlysatisfyingforusinthatthesenewjobsarefurtherevidenceofthegrowingconfidencethathasbeenevidentamongourclientcompaniesinrecentmonths.”

“wearealsodelightedtowelcomeourlatestcompanyrecruitstonovaucd.thesecompaniesaredevelopinginnovativeproductsandservicesandtheybringuniqueexpertiseandexperiencetonovaucdwhichwillmakeasignificantcontributiontoourcommunityofentrepreneurs.”

newinventiondisclosuresatucdareupby60%,accordingtothelatestfiguresreleasedbynovaucd.researchersattheuniversityreported85newinventiondisclosuresin2009,upfrom53thepreviousyear.atotalof247inventionshavenowbeendisclosedtonovaucdoverthepast5years.

thenovaucd2009annualreportisavailableviawww.ucd.ie/nova

Irish Times Innovation Award for BiancaMed

Pictured at the Irish Times Innovation Awards ceremony were (l-r): Dr Philip de Chazal and Dr Conor Hanley, BiancaMed co-founders with Paul Haran, Chairman, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School

A RendezVu with entrepreneurial successGarrett Hussey and Paul Groarke, co-founders, RendezVu

Corporate Entrepreneurship is key to innovation

Brian Farrell, co-founder, Tethras, one of the new high-tech ventures which has located to NovaUCD since the start of the year

19

innovationatUCD

Innovation Alliance bursaries and graduate programmerespondingtothepublicationoftheinnovationtaskforcereport’srecommendationsinmarch2010,ucdpresidentdrhughBradyandthetcdprovost,drJohnhegartywelcomedthetaskforce’sacknowledgementoftheinnovationallianceanditsendorsementasamodelwhichshouldberolledoutnationally.

takenintheirtotality,therecommendationsofthereportprovideaplatformconnectingallpartsoftheinnovationecosystemincludingeducation,enterpriseandgovernmentandhavethepotentialtochangethefutureofireland.

alsoontheoccasionofthefirstanniversaryofthealliance,bothuniversitiesjointlyannouncedaseriesofnew,focused,innovationBursariesthroughajoint€2millionfund.

initssuiteoffundedinterdisciplinaryphdstudentshipsandpostdoctoralawards,ucdoffersbursariesinpriorityresearchthemes:earthSciences,energyandtheenvironment;globalireland;healthandhealthcaredelivery;andinformation,computationandcommunications.trinitycollegewillbepromotinginnovationandresearchonthethemeofSustainableSociety.

ucdandtcdhavealsolaunchedtherolloutofthegraduatetrainingprogrammeoftheinnovationacademy,theeducationalcentrepieceofthealliance.professorJulieBerndsen(ucdSchoolofcomputerScience&informatics)andprofessorcarolo’Sullivan(tcd)areworkingwithcolleaguesfrombothuniversitiestoadvancethis.professorSuziJarvis(ucdSchoolofphysicsanducdconwayinstitute)hasbeenappointedtotheroleofucdcourseco-directoroftheinnovationacademy.workingcloselywithhercounterpartpaulcoughlanintrinitycollegedublin,professorJarviswillleadthedesignandimplementationoftheacademyeducationandtrainingprogramme.

themissionoftheinnovationacademyistodevelopanewbreedofcreativegraduate,withathoroughunderstandingofhowinnovationcanconvertknowledge,ideasandinventionsintoproducts,servicesandpoliciesforeconomicandsocialbenefit.

ucdandtcdstudentswillparticipateineventsinbothlocations.rampingupfromaninitialmasterclassesseries,thefirstintakeofucdandtcdstudentsforajointpostgraduatediplomaininnovationisscheduledforSeptember2010.theprogrammewilldrawonfacultyfrombothinstitutions,aswellasexternalindustrymentorsandspeakers.itwillcombineinnovationandentrepreneurshipmodulesandworkshopswithcasestudiesandrealexperience.

“webelievethattheinnovationacademycanandwillplayacentralroleintheemergenceofirelandasaglobalhubforinnovation.throughitsformationourtwouniversitiesaimto‘futureproof’qualitygraduateeducation–furnishinghighlyskilledgraduatesuniquelypositionedtocontributetoireland’srecoveryandprosperity,”concludeducdpresident,drhughBradyandtcdprovost,drJohnhegarty.

Engineering design innovation event newbiomedicaldevices,buildingnetworksontwitter,estimatingthecarbonfootprintoftravel-to-workjourneysanddetectingdamagetowindturbinebladesweresomeoftheresearchandpotentialcommercialproductsondisplayatarecentengineeringdesigninnovationforum.

Speakingattheopeningoftheevent,theministerforScience,technology,innovationandnaturalresources,mrconorlenihant.dwelcomedtheindustrialpartnerswhosupportedtheresearchondisplayandencouragedmoreintensecollaborationbetweenresearchandindustry.

heldundertheauspicesoftheinnovationalliance,theeventwasorganisedbyucdcollegeofengineering,mathematicalandphysicalSciencesandthetcdSchoolofengineering.Betweenthem,tcdanducdhaveapproximately2,000advancedscienceandengineeringpostgraduatestudentsintrainingwhowillbetheentrepreneursandinnovatorsofireland’sknowledgeeconomy.

theresearchpresentedviaelevatorpitches,posterdisplaysanddemonstrationstoindustryrepresentativesandpotentialresearch

collaboratorsfocusedonkeyareasofnationalimportanceunderfourthemes;futureenergysolutions;sustainableinfrastructureandenvironment;information,communicationandmediatechnologies;andbioengineeringforhealth.apaneldiscussionchairedbydrchrishorn,presidentofengineersireland,withindustryandacademicrepresentativesaddressedthequestionoffurtheringuniversity–industryinteraction.

The President of Stanford University, Dr John L Hennessy has become the first International Advisor to TCD-UCD Innovation Alliance. Shown here on a visit to the Stanford School of Engineering and its internationally renowned ‘D-School’ programme are (l-r): Dr John L. Hennessey; An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD; TCD Provost Dr John Hegarty; and UCD President Dr Hugh Brady.

President Hennessy’s appointment augments and complements the established relationship with the Silicon Valley-based Irish Technology Leadership Group. President Hennessy will lend his expertise as a specialist academic, the leader of one of the top universities in the world and will share his experiences of building companies through successful entrepreneurship.

irelandfacestheeconomicimperativeofrecoveringitsproductivitytosecurejobsandlivingstandards.itmustalsomeetitslegallybindingobligationstoreduceitsannualgreenhousegasemissions.thecountrymustadapttotheclimatechangeinducedchangesthatarealreadyunderway.

innovationintermsoftechnology,policy,enterpriseandmanagement–smarttechnologyandsmartpolicy-isessentialifthesenationalandglobalchallengesaretobemetsuccessfully.

the2010‘transformingireland’lectureseriesisorganisedbyucdearthSciencesinstitutewithtcdtrinityhaus,inconjunctionwiththetcd-ucdinnovationalliancepubliclectureSeries.itbringstogetherresearchers,businessandcommunityleadersandcitizenstodiscusshowtobringtherighttechnologiestotherightpeopleandplacesattherighttime,sothatproductivityis

enhanced,jobsareprovided,climatechange,energyandotherobjectivesaremet,andadaptationinirelandandinthepoorestpartsoftheworldismadefeasible.whiletheseriesfocusesisonireland,thescopeandrelevanceisglobal-irelandcanbeseenasalaboratoryandtestbedforsolutionsthatarepotentiallyglobal.

theseriesrunsfrommarchtodecember2010andcoverstopicsrangingfromfarming,wildlifeandclimatechangetobioenergy,carbonstorageandrenewableenergy.enterpriseandinnovationwascovered,withpresentationsfromenterpriseireland,iBm,intelireland,episensor,clarity,SiemensirelandandeSB.theautumnprogrammeswillcovertopicssuchasenergyefficiency,energydiversification,transportandeconomics.

FurtherdetailsofthetransformingirelandSeriesareavailablefromesi.admin@ucd.ie

Transforming Ireland lecture series

Pictured at the TCD-UCD Innovation Alliance Engineering Design Event are (l-r): Interaction Designer Flip van den Berg; Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources, Mr Conor Lenihan TD; and Social Science Researcher Chiara Garattini. This TRIL research project, based at UCD, is entitled Building Bridges and explores new ways that communication technology can help reduce risks of loneliness and social isolation in older people

20

UCD St Vincent de Paul — top local winners of AIB Better Ireland AwardstheucdStvincentdepaulSocietyhasbeenawardedthe€5,000throughtheaiBBetterirelandawards.underthescheme,eachlocalaiBbranchcandonateatotalprizefundof€10,000toworthycausesvotedforbycustomers.attheucdaiBbranch,thesecondprizeof€3,000wasawardedtothegroveafterSchoolcaremanagementcoltd.theucdStudents’unionreceived€2,000.

theStvincentdepaulSocietywasenteredintotheaiBBetterirelandawardbytheBelfieldaiBbranchbecauseoftheircharitableworksuchasorganisingpartiesthroughouttheyearfordisadvantagedchildren.conortonry,auditorofucdSvp,said“weweredelightedwiththeawardasitgivesusmoneytohelpouttheyouthgroupsthatweworkwith.wewerealsohappytowinasitwasarecognitionoftheworkourvolunteersdidovertheyear.”

twoucdlawstudentshavewontheinauguralnationaladvocacychallengeorganisedandsponsoredbymccannFitzgerald.andrewmcelweeandianBoyleharpercamethroughaseriesofqualifyingroundstoreachthefinalatdublin’sFourcourts.inthefinaltheybeatoffstrongcompetitionfromanotherteamofucdlawstudents,markcurranandnicholadelaney,toscoopthetopprizeof€2,000.professorJohnJackson,deanucdSchooloflaw,said“iwouldliketopaytributetomccannFitzgeraldoninauguratingthisimportantinitiativeforstudents.iamdelightedthattwoucdteamsmadethefinalandcongratulatethewinningteam.”

The UCD Student Welfare fund has received a donation of €27,356.78 from Ricoh Ireland Ltd in conjunction with UCD IT Services. The donation is a result of accumulated student printing credit left over in accounts no longer in use. UCD Vice-President for Students Dr Martin Butler and former Students’ Union President Gary Redmond received the cheque on behalf of the Fund. Pictured here at the presentation are (l-r): Ciara Acton, Head of Customer Services, UCD IT Services; and Aine O’Shea, Marketing Manager, Ricoh Ireland Ltd

ucdhasteamedupwithSkywareglobal,theworld’sfirstandonlytotal-solutionsproviderofsatelliteterminalequipment,todeliveranindustry-focusedpartnershipfortopengineeringandtechnologystudents.thepartnershipenablesstudentsfromtheucdSchoolofelectrical,electronicandmechanicalengineeringtogainappliedexperienceinmechanicalandrFengineeringinvariousdepartmentsofthemulti-nationalcompanyaspartofaninternshipprogramme.

professortomBrazil,headofelectronicengineeringatucdcommented:“throughthispartnershipourstudentswillbeabletoworkwithSkywareglobal’sengineeringteamsbasedintheuK,germanyandtheuSoncuttingedgesatellitetechnology,gainingvaluableindustryexperience

andpotentiallychanginghowpeoplearoundtheworldcommunicate.”

Skywareglobalhasastrongtraditionofworkingwitheducationalinstitutionsandinbringinginnovativeproductstomarket.davidcmccourt,ceoofSkywareglobalcommented,“tomBrazilandhisteamarerenownedexpertsinmicrowaveandrFcommunications,whichiswhythispartnershipmakessenseforSkywareglobal–ourownhistoryhasshowntheeffectivenessofacademicandcommercialpartnerships.

Skywareglobalhasalong-standingreputationinthedesignandmanufactureofleading-edgesolutionsforsatellitebroadbandantennasandelectroniccomponentstocoverawiderangeofapplications.Skywareglobalanducdareexploringadditionalcollaborationsinresearchanddevelopment.

veolia/irelandfundofFranceScholarshipshavebeenawardedtotwoucdmastersofengineeringstudentsbasedontheirresearchproposalsinthefieldofenergy.eamonKeaneandcraigreddinreceivedtheirawardsatareceptionhostedbyFrenchambassadorhisexcellencyyvonroed’albertinapril2010.

thewinningstudentswillconductresearchintotechno-economicsubjects,focusingonhowinternationalenergyservicescompaniescanbestmeetthepublicsectorenergydemandthroughperformancebasedcontractingmodels,andtheeffectofincreasingwindgenerationoncombinedheatandpowerandhowthismaychallengethe

positionofnaturalgasasthedominantpricedriverforelectricityinireland.

Speakingaboutthewin,drdavidtimoney,deanofengineeringatucdsaid:“thissupportfromtheirelandFundofFranceandtheenvironmentalservicesgroupveoliaiscriticaltotheprofessionaldevelopmentofourstudents.itprovidesthemwithpracticalandappliedexperienceastheypursuetheirresearchprojects,andultimatelytheirprofessionalcareerinengineering.weencourageallofourmastersinenergySystemsengineeringstudentstoworkwithindustrypartners.”

The winning team, Andrew McElwee, (second right), and Ian Boyle Harper, (centre), are pictured with the judging panel, Mr Justice Peter Kelly (left), John Cronin, Chairman McCann Fitzgerald(right) and Rose Hynes, Chairman, Bord Gáis Eireann

UCD Law students win national advocacy challenge

Skyware Global partnership creates opportunities for engineering students

Energy expertise secures Veolia scholarships for graduate engineering students

21

news

asthebiggestentertainmentorganisationintheworld,thewaltdisneycompanyisknownforweavingaworldofmagicforchildrenandadultsalike,butwhatmanymaynotknowisthatbehindthemuch-

lovedmickeymousemascotliesyearsofresearchandinnovationonsubjectsrangingfromroboticsandhuman-computerinteractiontodataminingandcomputervision.

whendisneyresearch,abusinessunitunderwaltdisneyimagineering,begantolookatthefutureofsportsbroadcastingandhowadvancedtechnologycouldopenupnewopportunitiesfordedicatedsportschannelssuchaseSpn(whichisowned80pcbythewaltdisneycompany),itlookedtotheclaritycentreforSensorwebtechnologiesresearchcentrehereinireland.

clarityisapartnershipbetweenuniversitycollegedublin,dublincityuniversityandtyndallnationalinstitute,andhasagrouplocatedonucdcampus.itisaScienceFoundationirelandcentreforScience,engineeringandtechnology(cSet)centrewhoseresearchfocusesprimarilyonadaptivesensingandinformationdiscovery,andinanagewhere‘toomuchinformation’isacommoncomplaint,ithasjoinedforceswithdisneyresearchtolookathowsportsbroadcastingcantakestreamsfrommultiplecamerasanddeliversmart,enhancedresultsforthesportsfanaswellasthecoachandindeedthesportsplayersthemselves.

“theideafortheclarity/disneyresearchcollaborationhadbeenincubatingforsometime:itstartedasaresultofdiscussionsthattookplacebetweenclarityanddrJoemarks,vicepresidentofdisneyresearch.hewasawareofsomeoftheresearchthatwewereengagedinandovertimethereemergedaconvergenceofhisthinkingandtheresearchagendaofclarity,”explainsprofessorgregoryo’hare,associateprofessorintheucdSchoolofcomputerScience&informaticsatucd,andprincipalinvestigatorandco-founderofclarity.

aspartofthiscollaboration,o’hareisworkingcloselywithprofessornoelo’connor,anotherprincipalinvestigatorwhoisanassociateprofessoratdublincityuniversity,aswellasvirginiaperrySmith,producerandr&dmanageratdisneyresearchanddro’gradyofucdwhoatanoperationallevelfacilitatestheengagement.

explainingwhatkindofresearchgoesonatclarityo’haresays:“intermsofitsbroadremititisconcernedwithhowwemanagelargevolumesofheterogeneousstreameddatacomingfromavarietyofsensors.”

“thesesensorsmightsimplybepassiveinfraredsensorsthatrecognisesomeonemovingthroughadoorortheycouldbeacontactsensor;reactingtoadooropening,orperhapsthegpScomponentofyourmobilephonethattrackswhereyouarecurrently,orindeedcouldcomefromaudioorvideosensors.”

“giventhatwe’regettinganever-increasingamountofsensordataintoday’sworldweaskquestionsabouthowtostartfilteringthisandanalysingit.howdoyoustarttomakesenseofitall?”

inthecaseoftheventurewithdisneyresearch,clarityhassetupmultiplecameras(currentlythirteen,whichcouldpotentiallyincreaseto21)aroundthenationalhockeyStadiumsituatedatucd.thedatarecordedfromhockeymatchescanberelayedlivetoresearchersatthedisneyresearch,pittsburghlabandisalsostoredonserversinucd.

“disneyresearchershavedirect,always-onaccesstothisvideocontentsotheycangrabitandstartapplyingsomeoftheiralgorithms”.

“SpecificallyinthecaseofthesportingarenathereareanumberofcamerasthatarepositionedaroundthenationalhockeyStadiumandthetrickishowtobeabletounderstandthestreamsofvideocontentthatyouaregettingfromyourdifferentvideosensors”.

thiscouldinvolvefilteringfeedstoextractdesiredfootageorcameraangles,orfiguringouthowtogettherichestsetofvideoinputinorderthatitwillgiveyouthemostcompellingviewoftheaction.abankofmonitorstakinginallthecamerafeedsiscollectingthisdata.

coulditbethatsportsfansgettheirownpersonalizedviewofasportingeventinthefuture?ifyouthinkabouthowtheaveragesportsfanlikestodissectgameplayoverapintwithhisorhermatesyoucanimaginetheexperienceofnotonlybeingabletostreamfootageofaparticularlyimportantgoalorsavetoyourmobilephonebutbeingabletoseethatactionfrommultipleangles.

“absolutely.whatwearereallyinterestedinishowwemightbeabletorapidlyanddynamicallysegmentvideofootageandaugmentorintegrateitinawaytogetcompellingvideofootageofagivenvideoincidentinasportingevent–perhapsagoalscoredinhockey”.

theresearchbeingcarriedoutatclarityalsoopensuptheworldofmicro-casting:extractingtheselittlesegmentsfromtheoverallvideostreamandsendingitinreal-timetopeople’smobiledevices.thisiswherenichesportscanbenotonlykeptalivebutfindanewmarketbyofferingextrafunctionalitybasedonemergingtechnologies.

theengagementofirishhockey,intakingpartinthisresearchventureinandofitselfwillresultintheshiningofaspotlightonwhatisregardedasasomewhatnichesportinireland.

“therearepotentiallyverylucrativemarketingopportunitiesifyouareabletoextractandsegmentparticulareventswithinasportingmatchandbeabletostreamthatto,say,mobiledevices,”headds.

“inallsortsofgenresofsportspeoplewanttoseeparticularkeymoments.disneyresearchiscollaboratingwithusbecausetheybelieveitisgoingtoproduceinterestingintellectualpropertyinthefuturethatwillgivethemamarchontheir

competitors”.thetechnologiesthatemergefromthis

venturewillnotjustbenefittheviewerbutalsothesportsplayerandcoach:“thebiggerpictureweareinterestedinisnotonlytakingvideosensingfeedsfromthestadiumbuttoaugmentthatwithamyriadofotherinputs.

“oneofthethingswe’reinterestedinisbiometricsensing:wearablesensorsontheplayersmonitoringrespiratoryrate,heartrate,possiblythingslikegalvanicskinresponse,”explainso’hare.

thepossibilitiesforthemodernsportsteamarelimitless:itcouldalsomonitordistancetraveled,averagespeedandsoon.

“intheoryyoucouldusethistechnologytounderstandnotonlyhowanindividualplayerisperformingbuthowtheyareperformingasateam:thenumberofpassesthathavemadeandsoon.Forcertainsportsyoucouldusethefootageandplacementofteammatesandanalysewhatwouldhavebeenthemostpenetratingpasstoplayatagivenmomentandcompareittotheonethatactuallytookplace”.

“allofthisrichdatasetcouldpotentiallyoffervaluableinsightsintotheaerobicperformanceofanindividualplayer”.

“onecouldenvisageinthefuturethatacoachsittingonthesidelinecouldidentifythatexactmomentwhenitisoptimumtoreplaceagivenplayer.”

Marie Boran (BSc 2002) writes in the Technology section of the Irish Independent and for Silicon Republic and Gadget Republic.

A quest for CLARITY in the sports arenaFromhigh-endbespokebroadcastingtosportsvisualisationandmatchanalysis,professorgregoryo’haretellsmarieBoran(BSc2002)aboutthepotentialofanewdisney-clarityresearchcollaboration.

Pictured at the official launch of the Sports Visualisation Project: Emmy Award-winning Sports Director, Artie Kempner and Nikki Symmons, Irish Hockey International who holds 130 caps for Ireland, in the control room

Professor Gregory O’Hare

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Inaugural Great Lakes Novel Prize goes to MA Creative Writing ScholarStrangers in America byerikameyershasbeenselectedasthewinneroftheinauguralgreatlakesnovelprize.anativeofmantua,ohio,msmeyersisagraduateofKentStateuniversityandisstudyingforthemaincreativewritingatucd.

novelistrobertFlanaganwasthedecidingjudgeinthecompetition,runbytwoofohio’sindependentpresses,Bottomdogpressanddrinianpress.hedescribedtheaward-winningnovelasa‘Kafkaesquefable’whichgivesakeeninsightintomodernamerica.thenovelwillbepublishedinspring.

anothermaincreativewritingscholar,msnatalieryanwonthelistowelwriters’weekoriginalsShortStorycategorywithherpiece‘Sunsetprayer’.

aspecialissueoftheirishuniversityreview,dedicatedtotheworkofFrankmcguinness,professorofcreativewritingattheucdSchoolofenglish,dramaandFilm,andmarkingthe40thanniversaryofthepublication,givesanopenandcandidaccountoftheplaywright’sworkoverthepastdecade.

asastudentatucdintheearly1970s,mcguinnesswasprofoundlymovedbyanabbeytheatreproductionofyeats’oedipus.nearly30yearslater,in2008,hewasaskedtowriteaversionforthenationaltheatre,london,starringralphFiennes.“thiswasthestageplayiwasworkingonwhenireturnedtowritingfortelevision,afilmcalledaShortStayinSwitzerland,andthetwotasksare,ibelieve,linked.

[oedipus]removeshimselffromthecitytoleadalivingdeathasexileandoutcast.Strippeddowntonexttonothing,oedipusdoesthe

inconceivable.againstalloddsheacquiresalittlecontroloverhiswastedlife,andthatcontrolletshimlive.”

thatispreciselytheoppositedecisionmadebydranneturnerinaShortStayinSwitzerland,theBBctelevisiondramastarringJuliewalters,forwhichmcguinnesswasrecentlynominatedforaBaFta.

Frankmcguinness,playwright,poet,lecturer,donegalman:whosecreativestimulitranscendhisculturalbackground.hehimselfadmitstoseekingoutinfluencesbeyondthetraditionalirishboundariesofpolitics,religionandsex.

heapingtherichnessoftheatrefromthegreeks,throughtherenaissanceintothecontemporary,Frankmcguinness’theatreworkspanstheacclaimedSomeonewho’llwatchoverme,carthaginians,observetheSonsofulstermarchingtowardstheSomme,andmostrecentlygretagarbocametodonegal.

editedbyJohnBrannigan,withcontributionsbypatrickmason,anthonyroche,anneFogarty,hirokomikami,JohncreganandeamonnJordanamongothers,thisspecialissueoftheirishuniversityreview(Spring/Summer2010)gatherstogetheracriticalappreciationofsomeofthemanyhighlightsofmcguinness’careerbyestablishedscholarsofcontemporaryirishdramaandpoetry.

theirishuniversityreviewwasestablishedin1970byprofessormauriceharmon,nowemeritusprofessorofanglo-irishliteratureanddramaatucd.Sincethatfirstissue,ithasbecomeoneoftheleadingjournalsofirishliteraryandculturalcriticism.JoiningthecurrenteditordrJohnBranniganandmauriceharmontolaunchthespecialeditionwereformereditors.theeditioncanbepurchasedbycontactingKateBatemanatkate.bateman@ucd.ie.

eightucdresearchprojectsreceivedalmost€8millionofthe€25millionfundingannouncedbytheministerforenterprise,tradeandinnovation,Batto’KeeffetdundertheScienceFoundationirelandprincipalinvestigatorprogramme.

professordesFitzgerald,vice-presidentforresearchatucdcongratulatedtheawardees,noting“…theucdpisareworkingonmajorchallengesinenergy,animalandhumanhealthanddrugdevelopment,keyareasintheucdstrategyforresearchandinnovation”.theucdrecipientsare:

•Professor Steffen BackertoftheucdSchoolofBiomolecularandBiomedicalSciencereceivedfundingof€665,934.hisresearchintoamajorcauseoffood-borneillnessanddiarrhoealdiseaseisentitled“importanceofbacterialfactorsandsignalingcascadesinhostcellinvasionofthefood-bornepathogencampylobacterjejuni”

•Dr Damian FlynnoftheucdSchoolofelectrical,electronic,andmechanicalengineeringwasawarded€666,482forhisprojectinrenewableenergyentitled,“enhancementofshort-termpowersystemflexibilityathighwindpenetrationlevels”

•Professor Declan Gilheany,ucdSchoolofchemistryandchemicalBiology,secured€1,609,890forworkintodrugdevelopmententitled,“constructionofp-Stereogeniccomponentsofprotidedrugcandidates”

•Professor Joao Marques-SilvafromtheucdSchoolofcomputerScienceandinformaticsreceived€865,193forhisworkincomputermodellingforbiologicalsystemsentitled“Beacon:Boolean-baseddecisionandoptimizationprocedures”

•Professor Grace MulcahyfromtheucdSchoolofagriculture,FoodScienceandveterinarymedicinewasawarded€866,190forherparasitologyworkon“helminthco-infectionasamodulatorofthebovineimmuneresponse”

•Dr Evelyn Murphy, ucdSchoolofagriculture,FoodScienceandveterinarymedicinereceived€631,223forherwork“Functionalanalysisofnr4areceptoractivityduringdistinctphasesofacuteandchronicinflammation”regardingdiseasessuchaspsoriasisandarthritis

•Professor Ronan O’Connell and Dr Desmond Winter oftheucdSchoolofmedicineandmedicalSciencewereawarded€842,072fortheirulcerativecolitisresearch,“colonisationbysulphatereducingbacteria(SrB)subspeciesinnormalandinflamedcolonandcolonocyteresponsestotheSrBmetabolitehydrogensulphide”

•Professor Jeremy Simpson,ucdSchoolofBiologyandenvironmentalSciencesecured€1,588,726forhisworkinto“dissectingplasmamembranetoendoplasmicreticulumtraffickingpathwaysinmammaliancells–potentialnewavenuesforimproveddrugdelivery”

ScienceFoundationireland’sprincipalinvestigatorprogrammesupportsstrategicworkinthelifescience,informationcommunicationstechnologyandsustainableenergysectors.accordingtoministero’Keeffe,theselectedprojectshave“thecapacitytocreatenewjobsinthe‘smart’economybecausetheytargetedhigh-growthareasatthecutting-edgeofinnovation”.

Boost for eight UCD research projects under SFI Principal Investigator programme

Frank McGuinness: Honoured by Irish University Review

The UCD Volunteers Overseas Haiti Earthquake Appeal involving students, staff and alumni has to date raised €105,943. UCDVO has been working in Haiti since 2005, with students only returning to Ireland one day prior to the devastating earthquake on 12th January 2010. The monies raised will be used for small scale development projects in Gros Morne, a rural part of Haiti five hours north of the capital Port-au-Prince, which though not damaged in the earthquake, has been inundated with refugees. This June, 27 UCD students, staff and alumni led by Prof Frank Monahan return to work with UCDVO’s local partners to carry out planned projects and assess future development proposals for funding. In total 116 students, staff and alumni will travel to Africa, India and South America this summer on UCDVO projects

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ucdcentreforFoodSafetydesignatedwhocollaboratingcentretheucdcentreforFoodSafety(ucd-cFS)hasreceivedofficialdesignationasaworldhealthorganisation(who)collaboratingcentreforresearch,referenceandtrainingoncronobacter, apotentialcauseofseriousbacterialinfectionsininfants.

awhocollaboratingcentreisaninstitutionofficiallydesignatedbythedirectorgeneralofthewhotoformpartofaninternationalcollaborativenetwork.thewhohasbeencollaboratingwiththeFoodSafetyauthorityofireland(FSai)andtheucd-cFSindevelopingthescientific-basedriskassessmentsandguidelinesrequiredforthemanagementofCronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii)asanemergingopportunistichumanpathogenandtheaetiologicalagentinlife-threateningbacterialinfectionsininfants.althoughtheincidenceofC. sakazakiiinfectionislow,theprognosisispoor.irelandproduces15percentoftheglobalsupplyofpowderedinfantformula.

professorSéamusFanning,directoroftheucd-cFS,anticipatesthatthisresearchatucdwillassistthewhoinassemblingawell-characterisedstraindatabasewhichcanbeusedbythebroaderscientificcommunityforstudyandalsoimprovingunderstandingofthegeneticmakeupofCronobacter spp.

Secondary school students who completed UCD’s Introduction to Computer Science and Programming (ICSP) module celebrating with a tour of Google’s high-tech Dublin HQ with UCD staff. (L-R) Shane Conroy; Prof Joe Carthy; Thea Koutsoukis; Eoghan Nolan; Nicholas Graydon; Prof Tahar Kechadi; Alan Leech; Clare Foley; Dr Michael O’Neill (UCD School of Computer Science & Informatics and UCD CASL and creator of the module); Esme Baldwin; Matthew Stabeler; Micheal Newton; Alex Cronin; Nisa Baldwin; Michael Kehoe. (Photo courtesy Matthew Stabeler)

Some550peopledieannuallyinirelandfromprostatecancer,themostcommonmalignancyamongmeninthiscountry.tomaximiseresearchpotentialinthearea,theprostatecancerresearchconsortiumwasestablishedin2004,toconnectscientists,clinicians,researchnursesandpatients.oneoftheconsortium’skeysuccessesofthelastfiveyearshasbeenireland’sfirsttrans-institutionalbiobankofpatientsamples.

theconsortium’srecently-publishedfive-yearreportshowedthatthebiobank,whichcontainssamplesfromsome560donorpatients,haddrivenmulti-investigatorresearchprogrammesintheareasofbiomarkerdiscoveryandvalidation,molecularcharacteristicsandtherapeuticsforprostatecancer.

intheprocess,theconsortiumhasleveragedover€4millionofadditionalresearchfundingandhasgenerated31publicationsininternationalpeerreviewedjournals.thegroupisbuildingthefoundationsforcontinuedirishparticipationinprostatecancerresearchbymentoringandtraining33scientistsandclinicianswithinphdandmdprogrammes.

atthepublicationofthereport,hostedbytheirishcancerSocietyandmolecularmedicineirelandinmay2010,professorwilliamwatson(ucdSchoolofmedicine&medicalScience)explainedthatbiobankhadrecruitedover560patientswhohavedonatedblood,urine,tissueanddnatosupporttheresearchofthegroup.thebiobank’sdatabaserepresentsthecornerstoneoftheresearchactivitiesoftheconsortium,whichhaspublishedpapersintheareasofbiomarkerdiscoveryandvalidation,molecularcharacteristicsandtherapeutics.

throughthecorefundingfromtheirishcancerSociety,theconsortiumhasleveragedan

additional€4millionfromScienceFoundationireland,healthresearchBoard,ircSetandnon-exchequerfundingfromtheuKandtheeu.thisfundinghasallowedtheconsortiumtorecruitandemergingscientistsandcliniciansinphdandmdprogrammesandforgeinternationalcollaborationswithgroupsineurope,australia,canadaandtheuS.

theconsortiumissettinganambitiouspatient-focusedresearchandtrainingagendaforthenextfiveyearsandhassecuredfundingaspartofthedublincentreforclinicalresearchtosupportthecontinuedcollectionofsamplesfortheBiobank.researchwillfocusonbiomarkerdiscoveryandvalidation,epigeneticsandhypoxia.

thelauncheventwasaddressedbymrdeclanlynchonbehalfofthedonorpatientsandbyphdresearcherdrtheresemurphywhoundertookherresearchwithintheconsortium.

theconsortiumbringstogetherexpertsandpatientsinmatermisericordiaeuniversityhospital,StJameshospital,tallaghthospitalandBeaumonthospitalwithscientistsfromucd,trinitycollegedublin,royalcollegeofSurgeonsanddublincityuniversity.Somekeyfindingsbythegroupinclude:

•novelgeneticchangeshavebeenidentified,whichmayincreasetheriskofgettingprostatecancer

•increasedexpressionofspecificcombinationsofdifferentproteinshavebeendetectedintheserumofcancerpatientsindicatingmoreextensiveandaggressiveformsofthedisease

•potentialnewtargetshavebeenfoundandnewexperimentalapproachesdeveloped,whichmayallownewtreatmentapproachestobedevised

SmokingBans–lesssecond-handsmokereducesheartattackratesincountriesandstatesthathaveintroducedpoliciesthatrestrictsmokinginpublic,peoplehavelessexposuretosecond-handsmoke.thereisalsoareductioninthenumberofpeoplewhohaveheartattacks,aswellasanimprovementinotherindicatorsofhealth.

“takentogether,thebenefitsforworkersandthereductionofhospital-relatedmorbidityareimpressive,”saysleadresearcherprofessorcecilyKelleher,ucdSchoolofpublichealth,physiotherapyandpopulationScience.“thebalanceofevidencesuggeststhatlegislativesmokingbanshaveachievedtheirprimaryobjectiveofreducingexposuretosecond-handsmoke.”

theevidencefromthereviewsuggestsanimportantimpactoflegislativebansonpassivesmokeexposurewhichcouldbereplicatedbypolicymakersinothercountries.aroundtheworld,manycountriesareintroducingpoliciesthatrestrictwherepeoplecansmoke.thisfollowsfindingsthattobaccosmokeisthesecondmajorcauseofdeathintheworldand,accordingtotheworldhealthorganization(who),iscurrentlyresponsibleforthedeathofaroundoneintenadults.

theteamofresearcherslookedatsituationalstudieswherealegislativebanhadbeenintroduced,orwhererestrictionsonsmokinghadbeenappliedtopopulations.theyconsidereddatafrom50studiesthatmonitoredatleastthefirstsixmonthsafterapolicychangehadbeenimplemented.

thesefindingsarereportedinthecochranelibraryacollectionofdatabasesinmedicinewhichsummarizeandinterprettheresultsofmedicalresearch.

Biobank crucial in prostate cancer research

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highratesofconcussioninequestriansportsleddrmanuelForeroruedatoresearchmethodsofimprovingtheperformanceofequestrianhelmetsandreducingheadimpactcasualties.drrueda’sphdthesisentitled“equestrianhelmetdesign,acomputationalandheadimpactBiomechanicsSimulationapproach”analysedcurrentequestrianhelmetsandtheabilityofeuropeanstandardstoreduceheadinjuryrisk.

theresearchwasawardedthefirstBertramBrobergmemorialmedalforbestphdthesisintheucdcollegeofengineering,mathematical&physicalSciencesbyprofessoranneButtimer-BrobergatajointmeetingoftheirishmechanicsSocietyandtheirishSocietyforScientific&engineeringcomputation(iSSec)inmay.

themedalaimstodistinguishyoungresearcherswhohaverecentlycompletedaphdthesisonatopicinlinewiththeresearchinterestsofeminentscientistprofessorKnutBertramBroberg,whoseworkspanneddynamicfracture,biomechanicsandappliedmathematics.itissupportedbytheBertramBrobergmemorialFund,whichhasbeenestablishedthroughthegenerosityofhiswidowanneButtimer-Broberg,emeritusprofessorofgeographyatucd.

drmanuelForerorueda’sworkwasfundedbytheturfclub,thebodyresponsibleforhorseracinginireland.heispartoftheresearchgroupofprofessormichaelgilchrist,ucdSchoolofelectrical,electronic&mechanicalengineering.

newautismgeneshavebeendiscoveredbyresearchersatucdandtrinitycollegedublin(tcd)aspartofaglobalautismgenomeproject,involving50institutionsworldwide.thefindingsarepublishedintheinternationalpeer-reviewedpublication,Nature.theresearchprogrammehasreceivedsignificantfundingfromthehealthresearchBoardinireland.

theirishcomponentoftheworkoftheautismgenomeprojectinvolvesacollaborationbetweenucdandtcdandfocusedontheidentificationandstudyofchildrenwithautismandtheirfamiliesfromacrossireland(tcd);theproductionofthevastamountsofdataonthegeneticvariationintheindividualsandtheirfamilies(ucd);theanalysisofthedata,someofwhichisinthepresentreport(ucdandtcd)andthecoordinationoftheautismSimplexcollection(taSc)projectacrosstheinternationalclinicalsites(tcd).

professorandrewgreenanddrSeanennisfromtheucdSchoolofmedicineandmedicalScience,andtrinitycollegedublin’sprofessormichaelgillanddrlouisegallagherfromthetcddepartmentofpsychiatryintheSchoolofmedicineareco-leadinvestigatorsintheglobalautismgenomeproject.

alargesampleofindividualsandfamilieswithautismhasbeenrecruitedinirelandandaroundtheworldbytheautismgenomeproject(agp)consortium,whichconsistsof120scientistsfrommorethan50institutionsrepresenting19countriesinafirst-of-its-kindautismgeneticsconsortium.

researchwascarriedouttoidentifygeneticvariationcontributingtotheriskforautism.researchersanalysedgeneticvariationfromacross

thegenomeofover1,000individualswithautismandrelateddisorders,theirparentsandacontrolsampleof1,300individualswithoutautism.theautismgenomeprojectreportedthatindividualswithautismhavesubmicroscopicsectionsofdnathatoccurmoreoften(duplications)orlessoften(deletions),calledcopynumbervariants(cnv)intheirgenome.thesearealsofoundasfrequentlyasindividualswithnoautism,butinautismtheyaremorelikelytodisruptcertaingenesandinparticularthosepreviouslyreportedtobeassociatedwithautismorintellectualdisabilities.Someofthesecnvsappeartobeinherited,whileothersaredenovo,ornew,becausetheyarefoundonlyinaffectedoffspringandnotintheparents.

theautismgenomeprojectstudyalsoidentifiednewautismsusceptibilitygenes.Someofthesegenesbelongtosynapse-relatedpathways(themechanismwherebyonenervecellconnectswithanother),whileothersareinvolvedinnervecellproliferation,projectionandmotilityinthebrain,andthesignalingbetweennervecellsinthebrain.thesefindingswillhelpresearchersbetterunderstandthebrainmechanismsinvolvedinautismandcouldbecometargetsthatmayleadtothedevelopmentofnewtreatmentapproaches.

“BecauseofmatchinginvestmentbytheirishgovernmentthroughthehealthresearchBoard,overhalfofthelaboratoryworkforthisprojectwascarriedoutinireland,”saiducd’sdrSeanennis.“theresultsshowthatirishresearchersandirelandcantrulycontributetoscientificdiscoveryontheglobalstage.”

“theglobalreachofthisresearchconsortiumenablesscientiststomagnifytheir

discoveriesinordertobringunderstandingandinturntherapiestoindividualsandfamiliesaffectedbyautism,”concludeducd’sprofessorandrewgreen.

thefindingsfurthersupportanemergingconsensuswithinthescientificcommunitythatautismiscausedinpartbymany“rarevariants”orgeneticchangesfoundinlessthanonepercentofthepopulation.whileeachofthesevariantsmayonlyaccountforasmallfractionofthecases,collectivelytheyarestartingtoaccountforagreaterpercentageofindividualswithautism,aswellasprovidinginsightsintopossiblecommonpathogenicmechanisms.theoverlapbetweenautismsusceptibilitygenesandgenespreviouslyimplicatedinlearningdisabilitiesfurthersupportsthehypothesisthatatleastsomegeneticriskfactorsforautismoverlapwiththoseimplicatedinlearningdisability.Finally,identificationofthesebiologicalpathwayspointstonewavenuesofscientificinvestigation,aswellaspotentialtargetsforthedevelopmentofnoveltreatments.

thegeneticdiscoveriespublishedinNaturearefromthesecondphaseofthecollaborativestudy.

A ‘translocation’ that is a switch of DNA between 2 different chromosomes

researchintoequestrianheadgearwinsfirstBertramBrobergmemorialmedal

At the Bertram Broberg Memorial Medal presentation (l-r): Prof Adrian Ottewill UCD School of Mathematical Sciences; Medal recipient Dr Manuel Forero Rueda; Anne Buttimer-Broberg, Emeritus Prof of Geography at UCD; and Prof Michael Gilchrist, UCD School of Electrical, Electronic & Mechanical Engineering

Irish researchers discover new autism genes

universitycollegedublinhasbeenawarded€18millionfortwocancerresearchprojectsunderthelatestroundoftheeu7thFrameworkprogrammeforresearch(Fp7).

oneoftheucdprojects,coordinatedbyprofessorwilliamgallagherfromtheucdconwayinstitutewasawarded€6millionbytheeu,willinvestigatepossibletreatmentsfordifficult-to-treattypesofbreastcancer.

theseconducdprojectcoordinatedbyprofessorwalterKolch,directorofSystemsBiologyirelandatucd,wasawarded€12millionbytheeu,willexploregeneticmutationsthatleadtothedevelopmentofcancercells.theprojectwillfocusonunderstandingchildhoodcancers.

Bothcancerresearchprojectscoordinatedbyuniversitycollegedublinandinvolvingpartnersacrosstheeuwillrunforfiveyears.

Fp7isakeytooltorespondtoeurope’sneedsintermsofjobsandcompetitiveness,andtomaintainleadershipintheglobalknowledgeeconomy.itrunsfrom2007until2013andhasatotalbudgetofover€50billion.

recentlyreviewingireland’ssuccessfulparticipationintheeu7thFrameworkprogrammeforresearch(Fp7)2007-2009,theministerforagricultureFisheriesandFood,BrendanSmithtdacknowledgedtwokeyirishcoordinators,professormikegibneyandprofessorpatrickwalloftheucdinstituteforFoodandhealthinstitute,fortheirleadershiproleinthesecuringeufundingforireland’sagri-Food,FisheriesandForestryresearchers.

EU FP7 success

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professordenysturner,yaleuniversity,wasawardedanhonorarydoctorateoflettersbyucdinrecognitionofhisacademicaccomplishmentsinthefieldoftheology.

denysturnertaughtmoralandpoliticalphilosophyatucdfortenyearsandduringhiscareerhehasservedasnorris-hulseprofessorofdivinityandFellowofpeterhouseatcambridgeuniversity.in2005,hetookuphispresentpositionofhoracetracypitkinprofessorofhistoricaltheologyatyaleuniversity.

“denysturnerisaremarkableucdgraduatewhohasgoneontobeanexceptionalacademicwhileremainingapersonofgenerousandeffectivesocialinvolvement,”saidformerucdpresident,drpatrickmastersonwhodeliveredthecitationattheconferringceremonyinmarch.

whilstinireland,professorturneralsodeliveredawellreceivedpubliclectureattheucdinternationalcentrefornewmanStudiesentitled:“christians,muslimsandthenameofgod:whoownsit,andhowwouldweknow?

thepresidentofthedemocraticrepublicoftimor-leste,drJoséramos-hortawasawardedanhonorarydoctoroflawsbyucdinrecognitionofhiscommitmenttohumanrightsandhisdedicationtotheindependenceoftimor-leste.

For24yearsramos-hortaledacampaigntomobiliseglobalopinionagainsttheindonesianpresenceinhishomeland,lobbyinggovernmentsandpromotingapeaceplan.Joséramos-hortawasjointlyawardedthenobelpeaceprizein1996forhiseffortstosecureapeacefulsolutiontotheconflict.inmay2002timor-lesteachievedindependencefromindonesia.Josémanuelramos-hortaformallytookofficeaspresidenton20thmay2007inthefirstnationalelectionssinceindependence.

“presidentramos-hortaisamoralgiant,whofromayoungagehasactedasavoiceofhispeopletoassistthemtowardsindependencefromoppression,”saiddrniamhhardiman,ucdSchoolofpoliticsandinternationalrelations,whogavethecitationatthehonoraryconferralceremonyatucdon8thmarch2010.“hisadvocacyhasshownthatthebestwaytorespecttherightsoftheoppressed,andtoachievefreedomandjustice,isthroughpeace-building.”

peptidesintheskinofmanyspeciesoffroghaveanti-bacterialandanti-fungalpropertiesaswellastheabilitytorupturecells.thisarmouryispartasystemofimmunitythatprotectstheamphibianfromattack.Scientistsarecurrentlyexploringthepotentialfordevelopingfrogskinpeptidesintotherapeuticallyvaluableanti-infectiveandanti-cancermedicines.

oneparticularpeptide(Xt-7),isolatedfromtheskinofthetropicalclawedfrogSiluranatropicalisshowsimpressiveactivityagainstthegrowthofbacteriaandcandidaalbicans,acommoncauseofyeastinfections,butitstherapeuticpotentialislimitedbytheabilitytoruptureredbloodcells.

however,scientistshavebeenabletochangethestructureofXt-7tocreateananaloguethatstillhasanti-infectivepropertiesbutwithoutthecomplicatinghaemolyticactivity(damagetoredbloodcells).thischange(asingleaminoacidsubstitution-glycinereplacedbylysine)improvesthetherapeuticpotentialofthisnaturallyoccurringpeptide.

researchersledbyconwayFellow,drchandralalhewagefromucdSchoolofBiomolecular&BiomedicalSciencecarriedoutstructuralandmolecularmodellingoftheXt-7peptideanditsanalogue[g4K]Xt-7inavarietyofsolutionsinordertounderstandthestructuralbasisforthedifferenceinbiologicalactivity.theirresearchindicatesthatinalteredpeptides,thereduceddamagetoredbloodcellsisaresultof

thechangedshapeofthecells,andwaythemoleculesinteractwithwater.thestudymayallowthedevelopmentofpotentbutnon-toxicanti-infectiveagentsfromnaturalsources.

thisworkishighlypraisedbytheeditorsoftheinternationalBBaJournalofproteinsandproteomicsandselectedtocoverthefrontpageoftheapril2010issue.

Honorary Conferrings at UCD

Honorary Doctorate for President of Republic of Timor-Leste

Leading Philosopher and theologian honoured by UCD

Dr Patrick Masterson, former President of UCD (left); and Dr Philip Nolan, UCD Registrar (right); pictured with Prof Denys Turner, Yale University receiving his honorary award from UCD

President of The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Dr José Ramos-Horta who was conferred with an honorary doctorate in March

equalityinatimeofcrisismoreequalcommunitiesprosperacrosstheboard,andsocietalproblemssuchasanxiety,bullyingandill-healtharesymptomsofinequality.

thiswasoneofthemessagesofrichardwilkinson,professorofSocialepidemiologyatnottinghamuniversity.oneoftheworld’sleadingscholarsofinequality,hewasspeakingviasatellitelinkattheEquality in a Time of Crisis internationalconferenceheldatucdinmay.

wilkinsonwasoneofanumberofinternationalspeakersattheconference,whichbroughttogetheracademics,activistsandcommentatorstoanalysecurrentinequalitiesandimagineasociallyjustsociety.

interdisciplinaryinnature,theconferencealsofeaturedapaperfromtherobertw.woodruffprofessoroflawatemoryuniversityatlanta,professormarthaFineman,whowasalsoaewiucdmariecurietransferofKnowledgeresearchFellow.

alongwithspeakersfromucdandotheririshandinternationaluniversities,theconferenceheardapaneldiscussiononthetopicofEconomic Crisis and State Reaction: Implications for Equality.theconference,organisedbytheucdegalitarianworldinitiative(ewi)andtheucdSchoolofSocialJustice,markedtheendoftheEWI Marie Curie Transfer of Knowledge Programme andthe20thanniversaryoftheestablishmentoftheucdequalityStudiescentre.

theproceedingsfromtheconferencecanbeaccessedviawww.ucd.ie/ewi

researchintofrogpeptidesmayholdcluesforanti-infectivemedicines

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Scientistshavedeterminedthefirstmitochondrialdnagenomesequencefromextinctgiantcattle(aurochs),accordingtofindingspublishedinthescientificjournalPlos ONE.mitochondrialdna(mtdna)ispasseddownfromamothertoheroffspring.

Followingthisdiscovery,thescientistsclaimtobeabletosequencethecompletednagenomeoftheaurochswithinthenext12months.

aurochsarefamouslyfeaturedintheancientcavepaintingsatlascaux,France.theyweremuchlargerandmoreaggressivethantheirmoderndescendants.

Standingoversixfeettalltotheshoulderandweighingmorethanaton,aurochsweregiantwildcattlethatroamedtheplainsofeuropeforthousandsofyears.

europeandomesticcattlearethoughttohavedescendedfromaurochsthatweredomesticatedatthedawnofagricultureintheregionoftheneareastknownastheFertilecrescent.thelastrecordedaurochsdiedinpolandin1627.

“ourresultsdemonstratetheincrediblepromisethatnext-generationdnasequencingholdsforarchaeogenetics,”saysprofessordavidmachughfromtheanimalgenomicslaboratoryanducdconwayinstitute,wherethednasequencingwasconducted.

“oncewecompletethefullnucleargenomesequencing,wecancomparethednaoftheaurochswiththatofmoderndomesticatedcattletoidentifygenesassociatedwithimprovedhealth,productionandbehaviouraltraitswhichhaveevolvedsincecattlewerefirstdomesticatedalmost10,000yearsago,”heexplains.

theteamofscientistsfromucd,trinitycollegedublin,oxforduniversity,theuniversityofSheffield,andtheuniversityofleeds,analyseddnaextractedfromawellpreservedaurochslegbonediscoveredinacaveinderbyshire,england.theboneisradiocarbon-datedasbeingapproximately6,500yearsold.

International fascination with Hiberno-Englishenglishhasbeenspokeninirelandforcenturies.thecountry’srichliterarytraditionanditsdistinctivecharacterisrenownedworldwideandthelanguageusedisfrequentlycitedininternationalscholarlyworksincontactlinguisticsandintheresearchfieldofvarietiesofenglish.

researchtodatehasfocusedalmostexclusivelyonasmallnumberoflinguisticfeaturesinirishenglish,thesimilaritieswithirishconstructions,thehistoricaldevelopmentofirish-english,andtheimpactonothervarietiesofenglisharoundtheworld.theimpressioncreatedisthathiberno-englishcanonlybestudiedasahistoricalphenomenonandthatitisspokenonlybyinner-cityorruralcommunities.

howeverscholarsfromallovereurope,theuSaandJapanpresentednewresearchonirishenglishattheNew Perspectives on Irish Englishconferenceheldatucdinmarch.theconferencewasorganisedbydrBettinamiggeanddrmáireníchiosáinoftheucdSchoolofirish,celticStudies,irishFolkloreandlinguisticsinconjunctionwiththeucdJohnhumeinstituteforglobalirishStudies.Speakersexaminedmanyaspectsoflanguagevariationandattitudesandhowtheseplayaroleinexpressinghistoricalandcontemporarysocialidentitiesamongthelocalpopulationandnewcomerstoireland.

“Mysteries of Medicine Solved” is a community outreach programme from the UCD School of Medicine & Medical Science aimed at primary schools.

Conceived by Dr Seamas Donnelly at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, it involved interactive discussions with 6th class students in schools on healthy lifestyle choices and common medical ailments.

A key part of the School’s outreach educational programme, it focuses on children at an age group where through peer pressure or curiosity they are making decisions which may adversely affect their health as they get older.

Medical teachers from St. Vincent’s University Hospital including Dr John Seery, Prof Donal O’Shea, Dr Seamas Donnelly and Dr Brian Kirby have been involved in the project, which covered “Smoking makes you ugly”; “You are what you eat”; “Bugs and Stuff ”; and “Spotty Skin”.

It is planned to expand this programme in 2011 to incorporate practical scientific demonstrations on campus at UCD. The programme will recommence in Januray 2011.

Further details can be obtained from Dr Seamas Donnelly at seamas.donnelly@ucd.ie.

atanationalconferencehostedinucdinmarch,Barryandrewst.d.inhisopeningaddressreaffirmedthecriticalcontributionthatsocialworkersmaketochildrenandfamilyservicesinireland.healsoadvisedsocialworkerstodevelopastrongernationalvoicetoensurethattheircontributionisbetterunderstoodbythepublicandotherprofessionals.hewelcomedtheappointmentofphilgarlandasthefirstassistantnationaldirectorinthehSeforchildrenandFamiliesSocialServices.

mrgarlandemphasisedtheneedforgreaterconsistencyofstandardsandequityinaccesstoservicesandunveiledhisprogrammeofforthcomingreform.professorcolettemcauley,recentlyappointedtothefirstchairofSocialworkatucd,calledformuchclosercollaborationbetweenthehSeandsocialworkacademiatoensurethatadvancesinresearcharetranslatedintopolicyandpracticeatthiscrucialtimefortheservices.

theconference(Social Work and Social Development: Celebrating the Contribution of Social Work to Children and Families Services)wasorganisedbythehSeinassociationwithBarnados,thenationalSocialworkQualificationsBoardandtheinternationalBranchoftheirishassociationofSocialworkers.itwasplannedinassociationwiththeFourthworldSocialworkdayanddrewstrongattendancefromseniorsocialworkstaffacrossthecountry.

norahgibbons,directorofadvocacy&centralServicesatBarnardoswillspeakinJuneaspartoftheucdSchoolofappliedSocialSciencepubliclectureSeriesinitiatedbyprofessormcauley.hertopicis“professionalpracticeunderScrutiny:inthepublicinterest?”theseriescommencdinlate2009withtheinaugurallecturefromSyldalangford,directorgeneral,officeoftheministerforchildrenandyouthaffairs.detailsoftheseries,alongwithpodcastsofrecentlectures,canbeaccessedatwww.ucd.ie/appsocsc

Celebrating Social Work at UCD

At the Social Work and Social Development conference were (l-r) Prof Brid Featherstone, NUI Galway; Barry Andrews, T.D, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; Prof Colette McAuley, UCD School of Applied Social Science; and Phil Garland, Assistant National Director HSE

Scientists unpick genetic code of extinct giant cattle

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In the company of more than 20 Irish Olympians, UCD launched its bid to become a pre-Olympic training base-camp for one of the international teams competing in the London 2012 Olympics. Pictured at the launch (l-r): The Minister for Tourism, Culture & Sport, Mary Hanafin TD with Irish athletes, Brendan O’Kelly and Jimmy Reardon, who competed in the 1948 Olympics (the last time the Olympics were hosted in London)

Gaelic football scholar Donal Kingston of Laois in action for UCD in the first round of the Dublin Senior Football Championship. Kingston scored three points in the match, with the final score UCD 2-10 THOMAS DAVIS 1-9

A UCD Cycling Club team of students and alumni successfully competed in the major eight-day international stage cycling race, the FBD Rás. All five team members completed the race, which saw them pit their skills against 155 riders from professional and semi-professional international teams from 16 countries. Team captain Anthony Walsh secured a Category II placing in one of the stages. Shown here before the race start are: L-R: Nicky Greene, team masseur; John Power, team car driver; Fergus Ryan; Killian Quill, team mechanic (in background); Ciarán Ó Conluain; Fiachra Rowan; Colm Cassidy; Anthony Walsh; Niall Dwyer, team manager

The Irish netball team recently returned from Malta where they finished 2nd in an International European tournament featuring teams from Gibraltar, Great Britain (development), Israel, Malta and Sweden. The 12 strong Irish squad, boasting 7 UCD students, is shown here: back row (l-r): Sile Smith; Jan Haynes, Niamh Murphy; Caroline Conlon (UCD); Michelle Dunne (UCD), Sinead Bewick Darcy (UCD). Front row (l-r): Zara Hueston, Julie Fogarty (captain and UCD); Katie Henderson (UCD); Michelle Liddy (UCD), Sandra Green; Anna Heffernan (UCD)

Over 300 Students from 26 different sports clubs were honoured in UCD Athletic Union Council Sport Awards ceremony in May. Pictured here (l-r) are: UCD Soccer manager Martin Russell; Soccer Scholar and UCD goalkeeper Gerard Barron who was awarded Dr Tony O’Neill Sportsperson of the Year; and Soccer first team captain Evan McMillan whose side were named Elite team of the year in recognition of their achievements in winning the National League First Division title, the three premier Irish soccer intervarsity competitions, and the Colleges and Universities League

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The UCD Choral Scholars are shown here at a performance with the EU Chamber Orchestra in Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple, Devonshire in Spring 2010. The group were invited to join the Orchestra for a performance of a Mozart Symphony, Mozart’s famous motet Ave Verum Corpus, and a performance of Haydn’s St. Nicholas Mass setting. Soloists at the performance included Irish mezzo-soprano Sharon Carty.

The European Union Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1981 and now gives up to 70 concerts annually worldwide. Promoting European music with its support and training of young musicians, it plays repertoire from the 17th to 21st centuries, commissioning new works each year from young composers.

“This was a great opportunity for UCD Choral Scholars to perform alongside the European Union Chamber Orchestra, we are looking forward to hosting the EU Chamber Orchestra in Dublin next April (2011) for a joint performance of Georg Friderck Handel’s great work Messiah,” said Desmond Earley, Artistic Director of UCD Choral Scholars

withthehelpofancientfossilsunearthedintheSaharadesert,scientistshaveidentifiedanewtypeofpterosaur(giantflyingreptileorpterodactyl)thatexistedabout95millionyearsago.

accordingtothefindingspublishedinthescientificjournalploSone,thescientistsconsiderthenewlyidentifiedpterosaurtobetheearliestexampleofitskind.

unearthedinthreeseparatepieces,thejawbonehasatotallengthof344mm(13.5inches).eachpieceiswellpreserved,uncrushed,andunlikemostotherpterosaurfossils,retainsitsoriginalthreedimensionshape.

“thispterosaurisdistinguishedfromallothersbyitslance-shapedlowerjawwhichhadnoteethandlookedratherlikethebeakofaheron,”saysnizaribrahim,anadastraphdresearchscholarfromtheucdSchoolofmedicineandmedical

Science,wholedtheexpeditionandistheleadauthoronthescientificpaper.

“duringtheexcavation,wealsodiscoveredapartialneckvertebrathatprobablybelongedtothesameanimal,inferringawingspanofaboutsixmetres.

thescientistshavenamedthenewpterosaurAlanqa saharicafromthearabicword‘alanqa’meaningphoenix,amythologicalflyingcreaturethatdiesinafireandisrebornfromtheashesofthatfire.

alongwithnizaribrahim,theinternationalteamofscientistsinvolvedinthediscoveryincluded:davidm.unwin,SchoolofmuseumStudies,universityofleicester;davidmmartill,SchoolofearthandenvironmentalSciences,universityofportsmouth;andlahssenBaidderandSamirZouhri,laboratoiredegéosciences,universitéhassanii,casablanca,morocco.

newresearchbyscientistsledbyconwayFellow,drBreandánKennedyfromucdSchoolofBiomolecular&BiomedicalScienceindicatesthattreatmentofdiabeticblindnessshouldlookatprotectingtheneuronsresponsibleforcolourvisionintheeyeandnotjusttargetingthebloodvesselsasiscurrentlythepractice.thework,fundedbyScienceFoundationirelandandthehealthresearchBoard,wasrecentlypublishedinthejournalDisease Models & Mechanisms.

nearly2.5millionpeopleworldwideareblindduetodiabeticretinopathy,asecondarycomplicationofdiabetes.thisdisorderactivatesthegrowthofnewleakybloodvesselsintheeyeandisresponsibleforthedeathofphotoreceptors,theneuronsthatsendvisualmessagestoourbrain.

untilnow,scientistswereunclearifthechangestovesselsandneuronsoccurredindependentlyofoneother.Questionswerealsoaskedaboutwhichtypeofretinalneuronismostlikelytodieasaresultoftheraisedglucoselevelsseenindiabetes.

drKennedyandhisteamfoundthatnewbloodvesselsandtheneuronalcelldeathindiabeticretinopathycanariseindependentlyofeachother.inaddition,theyidentifiedthatconephotoreceptorneurons,thoseinvolvedincolour

visionandwhichweusetoseeduringdaylightaremostaffectedbythehighglucoselevels.

theresearchteammadetheirobservationsbysuccessfullygeneratingazebrafishmodelofdiabetes.theeyesofthesesmall,tropicalfreshwaterfishareverysimilarindesigntohumans,makingitausefulspeciestostudyblindness.thehighlevelsofglucosetypicallyseeninpeoplesufferingwithdiabeteswerestimulatedinzebrafishandthefishstudiedtoseewhethertheyexhibitedknowndiabeticsymptoms.thisnovelmodelofthediseaseresemblestheearlystagesofdiabeticretinopathyinhumans.itisanexcitingdevelopmentfortheKennedygroupwhonowhopetofurtherextendtheirresearchandestablishamodeloflatestagediabeticdisease.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Mr Barry Andrews TD was at UCD in April to officially open the new extension to childcare facilities at UCD Oakmount Crèche, which can now offer services for up to 110 children of students and staff of the university, and the local community. Minster Andrews is pictured here with: Bereket Mengesha Taye; Harry Judge; and Nicola Little

Retinal blood vessels of adult zebrafish were studied as part of the research into diabetic blindness

95 million-year-old Saharan jaw bones reveal new pterodactyl

An artist’s impression of Alanqa saharica, the newly identified pterosaur (Artist’s impression by Davide Bonadonna)

Fishmodelgivesinsightsintodiabeticblindness