Visiting Professorships and Fellowships Benefaction Fund
Applications are invited from the above fund for grants (not exceeding €650.00) to assist in financing the cost of research visits to College by academics from other institutions. Application forms are available from the Senior Lecturer’s Office, West Theatre. They can also be obtained by email as an attached Microsoft Word document by sending an email to vpfbf@tcd.ie, ensuring that ‘Application Form’ is in the subject field. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 10th December, 2004.
Only one application may be submitted by an individual in any given year. Applicants must be permanent members of academic staff or on contracts of three years or more. Applications are considered by the Deans’ Committee. Application results may be expected in January 2005. On completion of a grant-aided visit, a short report should be submitted to the Academic Secretary for consideration by the Deans.
This year’s Students' National 10K Walk will take place on Thursday 18 November, starting at 1 pm from Trinity College’s Front Square. Set up five years ago to raise funds for the children of post-Chernobyl Belarus, the10k walk is the only national student-run charity event in the world.
“Since the Chernobyl Belarus nuclear disaster in 1986, a disproportionate number of children there are born with severe birth defects, and the rates of childhood cancers are incredibly high,” stated Ruth Ní Eidhin, Deputy President of TCD Students' Union, who visited Belarus last month and witnessed the effects first hand. “Most of these children end up in institutions for the duration of their often short lives and some suffer from a condition known as Chernobyl Aids which is a total break down of the immune system.”
Bellarussian Minister, Irina Alexanova, who met with student representatives when they visited Belarus in early October this year, will travel to Ireland to take part in the walk as one of her first official engagements of her new appointment.
For students wishing to take part, sponsorship cards are available from the Students' Union Office, House No 6 on Front Square and from stands in the Arts Block and Hamilton Building. Alternatively, the event may be supported by making a donation or by sponsoring a participant.
For further information please contact Ruth Ní Eidhin at 10k@tcdsu.org or visit http://www.10kwalk.com
Students at last year's Students National 10K in aid of
children of post-Chernobyl Belarus.
The newly established National Institute for the Study of Learning Difficulties (NISLD) at Trinity College received a generous donation from Special Olympics Ireland (SOI) in July of this year. The grant of €400,000 was made by the Chair of SOI, Fergus Finlay to Provost, John Hegarty at a reception in the Provost’s house.
Provost John Hegarty is presented the donation for the National Institute for the Study of Learning Disabilities by Ronan King of the Special Olympics Committee.
NISLD is committed to promoting the full inclusion for people with learning difficulties through influencing policy development in all aspects of their lives and developing education programmes focused on the lifelong learning needs of people with learning difficulties as well as developing information and resources for family members and carers.. It will also engage in high quality multi-disciplinary research and create a network of research. Through NISLD people with learning difficulties will be given the opportunity to participate in structured curriculum programmes within a third level institution and transferable models of ‘best practice’ will be developed and disseminated to the wider national and international community.
Librarian launches resource for students with print disabilities
A national resource for higher education students with print disabilities, such as visual or mobility impairments, was launched by Trinity’s Librarian, Robin Adams on 28 October. Text Access is a website containing a union catalogue of alternative format material that lists material from a number of Irish academic libraries. In addition to the catalogue, the site has a resource guide containing useful information on print disability of relevance to the Irish higher education sphere and links to key sites.
Funded by the HEA, this AHEAD initiative is supported by the Library, TCD, and by the Consortium of National and University Libraries (CONUL).
Guest speaker at the launch, Prof. John Kelly, Chairman of AHEAD, congratulated those involved in the website’s creation, especially co-ordinator Anne Madden of TCD’s Library. He stressed the resource’s importance in education today, especially for students who are unable to read standard print materials.
Off-the-shelf availability of accessible (Braille, audio or electronic format) academic texts is almost non-existent. However, 1% of higher education students require one or more of these formats to complete their course. Thus they rely on support services in their institutions to modify the print texts accordingly. An exemption clause in the Copyright Act 2000 permits this labour-intensive process, without requiring the copyright owners’ permission in each instance. Text Access will provide a central pool for these resources, which will be shared by all participating institutions.
Library staff will also gain from this new resource - benefits include the creations of an inter-library lending system, preventing duplication in the modification of new items, controls to protect the interests of the rights holders, and a convenient means of managing their own collection of resources.
The Text Access website, http://www.textaccess.ie, has been designed to meet web accessibility standards by Irish IT company Communicraft Ltd.
TCD Coordinates National Software Access for Irish Academics
TCD is running a National Scientific Computing Demonstration, which began on October 15 th 2004 . This unique event, run in collaboration with industrial partners Accelrys and the Chemical Computing Group, will provide three-month access to leading molecular simulations software as part of a demonstration of an Irish National Facility for high-end scientific computing. The demo is being co-ordinated by Dr Geoff Bradley of the Trinity Centre for High Performance Computing, with Dr Graeme Watson of the Department of Chemistry, and Dr. David Lloyd, Hitachi Lecturer and Head of the TCD Molecular Design Group in the Department of Biochemistry.
The overall purpose of the trial is to demonstrate the feasibility and desirability of widespread access to such molecular simulation technologies, with a view to providing more permanent arrangements for scientific software provision in Ireland in future. Academics will be encouraged to use and to promulgate use of Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) and Materials Studio software locally, in order to demonstrate the possibilities for research offered by the accessibility of such software. Additionally, registered users can explore the benefits of access to high-end compute hardware through submission of large simulations to the main 160-node linux cluster in the Trinity Centre for High Performance Computing.
“We are delighted to be working with both Accelrys and the Chemical Computing Group on this initiative,” said Dr David Lloyd, Head of the TCD Molecular Design Group, “The wide range of applications that these software provide in the areas of materials science and biomolecular simulation and drug discovery, can now be appreciated, and more importantly, used by all Irish researchers in these fields.”
Dr. Steve Maginn, Director of Scientific Services at Chemical Computing Group, said “The Irish academic community is an ideal size, and Trinity College Dublin is ideally placed to turn the concept of widespread access to computational scientific facilities into a reality. We are very much looking forward to the trial and to continuing to work with Trinity on this on a more permanent basis in future.”
Further details on the initiative are available on the demo website - http://demo.tchpc.tcd.ie
International Science Festival to Come to TCD in 2005
Dublin city will be alive with science next September as one of the world’s leading scientific meetings, The BA Festival of Science, will be hosted by Trinity College Dublin, it was announced on 5 October.
Over 7,000 people will gather to attend public lectures, take part in hands-on activities, observe demonstrations, join in visits or field trips, meet scientists and generally have fun. Organised by the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science), the Festival will run for one week, from 3 September 2005, and consists of a programme of talks and discussions, workshops and events for schools and a series of highly-accessible Festival in the City events.
“During the Festival, over 300 key people from the world of science, engineering and technology will discuss the latest research in their field with the public. The Festival is an excellent opportunity for scientists and the public to connect and talk about their hopes and concerns. It will inspire, engage and challenge visitors of all ages,” said Professor Helen Haste, Chair of the BA, at the launch reception.
“This event will play a big part in renewing the interest in science among young people and in showing how science is as much about culture as it is the basis by which we will sustain ourselves economically and environmentally in the future. I am delighted that the BA has decided to bring the Festival to Dublin and to Trinity College,” said the Provost of Trinity College, Dr. John Hegarty.
The main Festival programme will consist of 700 public lectures that reveal many of the latest developments in scientific research to a general audience under the themes of: Archaeology, Agriculture & Food, Anthropology, Biological Science, Chemistry, Economics, Education, Engineering, Geography, Geology, General, History of Science, Mathematics, Medical Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, Psychology, Sociology & Social Policy.
A programme for primary and secondary school pupils will run in tandem with the main lecture series and it is anticipated that schools nationwide will participate. The Festival of Science in the City is a week of events, all linked to the BA Festival of Science, that will appeal to families, schools, businesses and city visitors alike, with celebrity guest speakers, hands on activities and performances.
Minister Ivor Callely Opens Trinity College Therapy Schools at St. James’s Hospital
A €9 million purpose built, state of the art facility at St. James’s Hospital for Trinity College Dublin’s Schools of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Radiation Therapy was officially opened by Mr. Ivor Callely, TD, Minister for Services for Older People on 30 September. The new facilities provide a unique opportunity for integrated education and research between all disciplines in the Faculty of Health Sciences in addition to helping students understand the importance of integrated patient care from the full range of medical/health science professionals.
Speaking today, Professor Shanley, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, TCD, welcomed the Department of Health’s acceptance of the need to provide support for the clinical placement of students in all health care disciplines in community, hospital and clinical settings. “These are essential for students gaining invaluable hands-on experience in the application of appropriate patient-centred evidence-based care,” he said.
The new accommodation includes 3,500 sq.m. of specialised laboratories, seminar and lecture rooms and departmental accommodation. The relocation of Trinity’s Schools of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Radiation Therapy to this facility at St. James’s is part of a larger project that includes the School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, the John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories and the Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre.
Minister opens TCD School of Nursing & Midwifery Studies
As part of the response to the 1998 Report of the Commission on Nursing recommending the setting up of a national strategy for the education of nurses, Trinity College Dublin’s School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies was officially opened by Mr. Brian Lenihan, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children on 14 September.
The newly refurbished Art Deco building, funded by the Department of Health and Children at a cost of €16.7 million, was formerly the Bord Gais headquarters on D’Olier Street and is complemented by state-of-the-art clinical skills laboratories situated in the Trinity Centres at St. James's Hospital and in a planned new development in the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital at Tallaght.
“The courses offered by the Trinity School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies are provided in partnership with the nine health service providers linked to the School,” said Prof. Cecily Begley, Director of the School. "The nurses and midwives educated at the School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies will continue to uphold Ireland's long tradition for excellence in practical, caring care. As well as a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, such as nursing, midwifery, paediatric nursing, and gerontological nursing on offer to students, a new four-year degree course in midwifery is proposed for commencement in October 2005.”
The School has a national and international reputation for the quality of its research activity and has successfully brought in over €1.4 million in research funding from the Health Research Board and other bodies in the past five years.
The newly refurbished building has been subject to surprisingly few modifications since its completion in 1934. The combination of the quaint Neo-Tudor and jazzy Art Deco styles in one building is unique to Dublin. The Art Deco interiors of the building are among the finest in the country. Great care has been taken to conserve the unique architecture of the building and many of the original fixtures and fitting from the 1930s have survived.
Mexican Ambassador Unveils Sculpture in Trinity at his Last Irish Engagement
The Ambassador of Mexico to Ireland, Dr. Agustin Basave attended his last official engagement in Ireland on Monday 13th September, when he officially unveiled a sculpture donated by the Mexican artist, Sebastian, to Trinity College Dublin.
Mexican Ambassador, Dr Augustin Besave and Provost, Dr John Hegarty at the unveiling of the Chac Mool sculpture donated to Trinity by the Mexican artist Sebastian.
The sculpture, entitled Chac Mool, represents the Mayan reclining God of Rain, who was also considered to be the ‘messenger of the gods’ by the ancient Mayan civilisation. Acting as a focal point at the East end of the College campus, home to the College’s science buildings, the sculpture (1.2 x 3.2 metres) sits between the Sami Nasr Institute for Advanced Materials and the newly constructed INS Building.
The sculpture is overlooked by the railway viaduct, making it one of the College’s most public pieces of art. It will be seen daily by thousands of rail commuters in addition to being accessible to Trinity’s staff and students.
“This is a most generous gift and I am extremely grateful to Sebastian and the Mexican Ambassador. The Chac Mool sculpture will join treasured sculptures by international artists on campus such as Henry Moore, Pomodoro and Calder, ” stated the Provost , Dr. John Hegarty.
“We are honoured that the Ambassador is in Trinity for his last public engagement before he returns to Mexico. During his time in Ireland he has undoubtedly enriched the cultural life of Ireland. Hiberno-Mexican relationships have never been better. This sculpture donation reinforces the College’s special links with Mexico. Two years ago, President Vincente Fox Quesada gave a public lecture in the College and last year the annual TCD Mexican Lecture was established”, the Provost continued.
The ceremony was attended by members of the Mexican Diplomatic and Consular Corp, and representatives of the academic, cultural and artistic sectors of Ireland.
The rapid growth in funding for science and technology must be partnered with related research into the global, national, sectoral and business settings in which the fruits of scientific and technological research should be commercialised in order to generate competitiveness, employment and wealth, according to a keynote speaker at Ireland’s largest management conference in Trinity College on 2 September.
Management research into Ireland’s position in the global economy and the evolution of critical sectors and firms must be put on the national agenda, Prof. John Murray, School of Business Studies, TCD, stated in his plenary address.
“Deeper engagement between scholars, managers and policymakers is vital to ensure that policy and business strategy is well founded and that success and failure is seen as a source of learning rather than a cause for denial or mythmaking,” he said.
Prof. Murray was speaking at the Irish Academy of Management conference, hosted by TCD’s School of Business Studies. 350 national and international academics, representing 110 academic institutions from 28 different countries are gathering at the conference, the theme of which is ‘Understanding, Shaping, Managing Change’.
Over two days 250 papers will be presented and discussed covering a selection of ongoing research topics in the management arena such as: Business and Society – Governance / Ethics / Society; international business and the dynamics of globalisation across societies and nations; innovation / entrepreneurship; the challenges of the information society; and meeting the challenges of establishing and applying knowledge in health science and health management.
James Cunningham and Willie Golden of NUI Galway are the overall winners of the inaugural competition for Irish Case Studies in Entrepreneurship, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland. The prize will be presented by Mr. Pat Molloy, Chairman, Enterprise Ireland at a gala dinner in Trinity’s Dining Hall.
The Irish Academy of Management is the leading professional association for management research and education in Ireland. Its purpose is to promote the advancement of research, knowledge and education in the field of organisation and management studies.
Trinity College Dublin Researchers Win Health Research Board Funding
Ten Trinity College researchers were among those recently awarded grants as part of the Health Research Board’s aim to improve health through research. Trinity’s successful projects focus on a broad range of health issues including fertility, immunology and genetics. A total of €6.3 million has been allocated by the HRB to tackle all areas of human health, including biomedical and clinical research, public health and health services. Trinity College researchers were awarded 22% of the overall funding for their projects.
Professor Fitzgerald, Chairman of the HRB, congratulated successful applicants. ‘Irish researchers are at the forefront in solving some of the mysteries of human disease and the HRB are delighted to support their efforts’, he said. ‘As one of the wealthiest nations in the world, we have an obligation to contribute to the global effort against cancer, heart disease and other major health challenges.’
One successful researcher, Dr David Lloyd of the College’s Biochemistry Department, will use 3D computer images to examine the interaction of a potential drug with its target protein. The structure of the drug can be altered in the computer to see which will work best before it is actually produced. The group will also aim to eliminate interaction of the drug with other proteins, which could lead to side effects. This approach could make the search for a new drug more efficient and reduce the need for lengthy, expensive tests in cell cultures and ultimately in animals.
As well as addressing specific research questions, the HRB project grants provide training for PhD students. This training element aims to build national health research capacity and ensure Ireland can retain the highest calibre of researchers within the healthcare arena.
Developing Deaf Studies in Ireland will be Theme of Centre for Deaf Studies Conference
TCD’s Centre for Deaf Studies, will host a conference entitled “Encouraging Signs: Developing Deaf Studies in Ireland”, from Thursday, September 9th to Saturday, September 11th, 2004. This will be the first conference on deaf studies to be held in Ireland.
Keynote speakers at the conference will include Markku Jokinen, President World Federation of the Deaf, who will examine the “Policy, Politics and Rights of Deaf People: the Global Challenges” and Prof. J.G. Kyle from the Centre for Deaf Studies, University of Bristol, who will focus on the issue of “Living and Learning Bilingually – Deaf Experiences and Possibilities”.
Other topics to be addressed during the conference include, the role of linguistics in promoting recognition of signed languages, applied linguistics developments in interpreting and teaching signed languages, living and learning bilingually and deaf culture, community and identity.
For further information go to www.centrefordeafstudies.com or to register contact:
The Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin.
Tel: 01-8301252. Email: cdsinfo@tcd.ie
Vice-Provost Elected Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering
Vice-Provost, Prof Jane Grimson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering at the Academy’s AGM on 7 July 2004. Prof. Grimson received this honour in recognition of her standing as an international authority on advanced health informatics and for her contribution to making the fields of science and engineering attractive to women as a profession.
A Past-President of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland, the Irish Academy of Engineers and the Irish Computer Society, Prof. Grimson is currently President of the Healthcare Informatics Society of Ireland, of which she co founder. She is also a member of the European Research Advisory Board, the Executive Board of the European Science Foundation, a member of the Irish Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, and on the Board of Science Foundation Ireland. Her main research interest is in health informatics and in particular in health information systems and electronic health records.
The Royal Academy of Engineering promotes the engineering and technological welfare of the country. It comprises the UK’s most eminent engineers and provides the leadership and expertise for activities, which focus on the relationships between engineering, technology, and the quality of life. With the recent election of 42 new Fellows, the Academy now has 1250 Fellows, 26 Honorary Fellows and 83 Foreign Members.
Tony Award Winner and Olympic Gold Medallist among distinguished women receiving Honorary Degrees at Trinity College Dublin
As part of the celebrations marking the centenary of the admission of women to Trinity College Dublin, today's honorary degree ceremony celebrated the achievements of seven women from varied walks of life. Among those receiving an honorary degree was Tony Award winner Ms Garry Hynes (Litt.D.), in tribute to her contribution to theatre at home and overseas. 'Ballaghadereen's famous daughter' was commended for her 'skilful revival and spirited direction of a number of Irish classics, for her ground-breaking work as Artistic Director at the Abbey and for her direction on Broadway of The Beauty Queen of Leenane, for which, in 1998 she became the first woman to win a Tony Award.'
Also receiving an honorary degree today was Dame Mary Elizabeth Peters, (LL.D.) who was described as 'a perfect example of the Olympic spirit, who is known for her dedication and integrity of her character.' Dame Peters competed for Northern Ireland on five occasions in successive Commonwealth Games (1958-1974), twice winning gold, 'reaching the ultimate summit of an athletic career in Munich 1972, emerging as Olympic victor.'
The honorary degree award ceremony also featured the world premiere of a commissioned fanfare by leading Irish composer Gráinne Mulvey who previously studied music at Trinity.
The recipients of Honorary Degrees were:
Dr Shirley Ann Jackson - Sc. D.
Dr Jackson is a distinguished physicist who is currently President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA). Her research lies in the field of theoretical condensed matter physics, especially layered systems and the physics of opto-electronic materials. From 1995-8 she was chair of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, one of many posts she has held in the field of government, industry and academe. From 2004 she will be president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and she is a member of the (US) National Academy of Engineering.
Ms Eavan Boland - Litt. D.
Internationally acclaimed writer, critic and poet. Her poetry includes Against Love Poems (2001), The Lost Land (1998); An Origin Like Water: Collected Poems 1967-87 (1996), In Time of Violence (1986); Outside History: Selected Poems 1980-90 (1990); The Journey and Other Poems (1986); Night Feed (1982); In Her Own Image (1980); author of Object Lessons: the Life of the Woman and the Poet in Our Time (1995); A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms (2000).
Ms Garry Hynes - Litt. D.
Garry Hynes was a co-founder of the Druid Theatre Company, the repertoire of which brought the company to the forefront of Irish theatre in the 1980s. She has directed for the Abbey Theatre since 1984 and was appointed Artistic Director of the national theatre in 1990, during which time she staged many successful productions. Her direction of Martin McDonagh's play The Beauty Queen of Leenane on Broadway gained her a Tony award for direction, the first woman to be so honoured.
Dr Alison Elliot - LL. D.
Dr Elliot, O.B.E. is Moderator-Designate of the 2004 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. She is the first woman to become the Moderator Designate. She has a Ph.D. in Children's Language Development from Edinburgh University and has been Associate Director of Edinburgh University's Centre for Theology and Public Issues since 2001. She is an Honorary Fellow of New College Oxford, and has previously lectured in the psychology departments of Edinburgh and Lancaster Universities. She has played a crucial role in fostering ecumenical relations in Scotland.
Judge Fidelma O'Kelly Macken - LL. D.
Judge O'Kelly Macken is the first woman judge at the European Court of Justice. She graduated in 1972 and held the Averell Devereux Lectureship in the Law School in the 1970s.
Dame Mary Peters - LL. D.
Mary Peters represented Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games from 1958-74 and won the gold medal in the Pentathlon at the Munich Olympic Games. She was awarded the M.B.E. in 1973, the C.B.E. in 1994, and Dame Commander in 2001. Since her retirement from active sport, she has devoted her time to sports management and charity work.
The Hon. Hilary M. Weston - LL. D.
Hilary Weston was born in Dublin; founder of the Ireland Funds of Canada; the Hilary M. Weston Foundation for Youth; established the Lieutenant Governor's Community Volunteer Award; transformed the role of Lieutenant Governor, which she held from 1997-2002, from a largely ceremonial appointment to an active position with a mission to serve the community.
L-R Chancellor Mary Robinson, Ms. Hilary Weston, Judge Fidelma O'Kelly Macken, Dr. Shirley Anne Jackson, Ms. Garry Hynes, Ms. Eavan Boland, Dame Mary Peters, and Dr Alison Elliot.
Trinity Student awarded Donegal Medal
Eric Farrell, a 2nd year PhD student at Trinity, was awarded the Donegal Medal (1st Prize) in June 2004. Eric received the medal for his oral communication entitled "Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering" at the summer meeting of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, University of Ulster.
Eric's project is an interdisciplinary project concerned with manipulating adult mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into bone and cartilage. The overall aim of the project is to develop tissue engineered constructs for use in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Eric is supervised by Dr Veronica Campbell (Physiology) and Professor Patrick Prendergast (Trinity Centre for Bioengineering).
The 4th European eGovernment Conference was launched on Wednesday 16th June at a pre-conference reception in the Dining Hall of Trinity College.
The conference is being hosted by the Irish Government in Dublin Castle as part of the programme of events during Ireland's Presidency of the EU and will be chaired by two of Trinity College lecturers. Dr Dan Remenyi, Programme Chair and Dr Frank Bannister, Conference Chair, are both from the Department of Statistics.
(Left to Right) Dr. Dan Remenyi, Provost John Hegarty and Dr Frank Bannister
The Conference will focus on two main issues of e-Government. The first issue is to do with the value equation. This involves understanding the economics of e-Government and how this type of investment can deliver value for both the institutions of government and the public sector as well as for the citizens themselves. The second issue focuses on the thinking required to make e-government a practical reality. At the heart of e-Government there is often, a modernisation agenda, which the application of information communications and technology can facilitate.
Of twenty awards made by the Irish Fulbright Commission for 2004-05, two of Trinity College's academic staff received scholar awards and three postgraduate students were awarded postgraduate scholarships.
Dr Anna McMullen, School of Drama and Dr Ronan Kelly of the Department of English will be conducting research at New York University. Dr McMullen will research American performances of Samuel Beckett's prose and Dr Kelly will be carrying out research for a biography of Thomas Moore.
Cathal Kearney, a final year student in Mechanical Engineering will undertake postgraduate study at MIT. David Fennelly, a final year law student will specialise in constitutional law and politics law at New York University and Amanda Kelly of the School of Classics will be doing post-doctoral research at Harvard University.
Established in Ireland in 1957, the Fulbright awards programme enables students to undertake study, research or lecturing at a recognised college or institution in the United States. The awards are made through open competition to outstanding post-graduate students and post-doctoral scholars who demonstrate leadership qualities and to potential and established leaders of professional, academic and artistic excellence who are recognised in their fields.
A number of the College's researchers have recently been successful in receiving research funding and scholarship awards from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS).
SFI, the National Foundation for Excellence in Scientific Research announced funding to be awarded to 31 Trinity research proposals under the Basic Research Grants Programme (BRGP) on Thursday 20th May. In total 120 research proposals from the universities and institutes of technology received awards, which have been made to academic scientists and engineers in fields embracing the Earth Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Biosciences and Computer Science. Overall Trinity received 26.6% of the first year's BRGP total funding from SFI.
The BRGP awards go to researchers with proposals that were rigorously
evaluated by a panel of their peers, who were expert in the subject matter
of each proposal. The very best proposals receive funding and it is
anticipated that the efforts of these scientists and engineers will lead to
research advances in the future.
The IRCHSS has granted 26 Trinity researchers Post-Graduate Scholarship awards for 2004/5. There were a total of 299 eligible applications for the scholarships, of which 84 received awards. The Post-Graduate Scholarships are granted to students undertaking post-graduate research degrees at third-level institutions in Ireland. These Scholarships are tenable for up to a maximum of three years and are worth €12,700 per annum.
The Post-Graduate Scholarship Scheme supports research in the humanities and social sciences, including law and business studies. Researchers funded this year are from a wide variety of areas including political science, management studies, education, economics, social policy, sociology, law, psychology, finance, globalisation, environmental studies, linguistics and cultural studies.
Lochlann Quinn Launches the Irish Art Research Centre
Lochlann Quinn, Chairman of the National Gallery of Ireland, officially launched triarc, Trinity's Irish Art Research Centre on Monday 24th May, at a reception in the Long Room.
Left to Right - Dr Yvonne Scott, triarc, Lochlann Quinn, Chairman of the National Gallery of Ireland and Dr Rachel Moss, triarc at the launch of the Trinity College Irish Art Research Centre.
The launch followed an inaugural symposium, featuring high profile academics from Ireland, the UK and the United States including Prof, James Elkins of UCC and Catherine Marshall, Senior Curator of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Dr. Yvonne Scott, Director of triarc explained that the theme of the symposium "Crossing Boundaries" highlighted the relevance of exploring the contribution of Irish art in its global context.
"It is vital to engage directly with the artwork," says Dr. Yvonne Scott, Director, Irish Art Research Centre. "We are fortunate that Trinity College is located in such close proximity to the national and municipal collections of Irish art, and houses some of the finest examples of medieval manuscripts. The campus itself comprises exceptional examples of Irish architecture of various periods and we are surrounded by important public sculpture. But the benefits of establishing triarc go way beyond Trinity College. triarc would like to see itself as a resource both nationally and internationally to universities, museums and galleries, to students, researchers and to artists."
Already, the Centre provides a range of courses which are generating considerable interest. The new taught Masters, the M.Phil. in Irish Art History is now attracting applicants from the United States, Canada and Australia as well as Europe. A survey course, Irish Art and its Contexts, which is available to the public, explores the range of visual expression from prehistory to the present, and highlights the long provenance of excellence, which predates the pyramids. These developments build on the existing expertise and range of undergraduate courses already in the History of Art department.
The Centre is also home to the largest known photographic archive of Irish art, with more than 60,000 images of art ranging from early Medieval to 20th century, and including painting, sculpture, and architecture. Plans were announced today to further develop and research this impressive resource to cover all periods. The project to digitise the collection will ensure that detailed information on the images is widely available on the web. With the support of Trinity Foundation, triarc's entire funding to date has come from private benefactors and it is hoped that additional sources of funding will be attracted to support the work of the Centre.
Lochlann Quinn, Chairman of the National Gallery of Ireland, officially launched triarc today at a reception in the Long Room at Trinity College. This followed the inaugural symposium, featuring high profile academics from Ireland, the UK and the United States. Dr. Scott explained that the theme of the symposium "Crossing Boundaries" highlighted the relevance of exploring the contribution of Irish art in its global context.
2004 Scholars and Fellows Announcement
The announcement of two Honorary Fellows, 19 new Fellows and 79 new Scholars was made on Trinity Monday, May 10th, by the Provost, Dr. John Hegarty. The ceremony marked the beginning of Trinity Week activities. Students and staff celebrated the occasion with colleagues, friends and families in Front Square.
Dr Michael Ryan, President of the Royal Irish Academy and Director of the Chester Beatty Library who received an honorary Fellowship with Provost John Hegarty
Dr Michael Ryan, President of the Royal Irish Academy and Director of the Chester Beatty Library and Sir Derek Morris, Provost of Oriel College, Oxford were named as Honorary Fellows.
Finnian McElroy, Theoretical Physics and Eoin Long, Maths, who were both named Scholars on Trinity Monday. Eoin received the St. Patrick's Benevolent Society of Toronto Prize for the best performance in the Scholars exam.
Other Trinity Week activities included an Academic Symposium entitled 'Reshaping the Intellectual Landscape: Women in Academe' (Wednesday 12 May) which will bring together a panel of international experts, the Trinity Monday discourse by Susan Parkes will recall the role of Alice Oldham, a leader in the campaign to admit women to Trinity College and the annual College Races.
Fellows and Scholars 2004 website
College Project Scoops Top European Award
The Áit Eile Project run by the College's Centre for Health Informatics reached the finals of the eEurope Awards and was awarded second prize in their category on Wednesday 5th May. The prize presented by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr. Michael Martin, is a remarkable achievement as Áit Eile was competing against very large nationally funded projects from across Europe.
Eligibility to compete in the eEurope Awards is restricted to actual working eHealth applications, which have proved their usefulness. There were 180 entries, 30 were shortlisted divided across 3 categories, with a 1st and a 2nd prize in each category. The 30 finalists were exhibited at an EU Presidency event in Cork (www.e-europeawards.org) this week where the judging took place.
Áit Eile is an online network for children in hospital, which will allow young patients to communicate with each other via e-mail, video conferencing and live chat over a secure Internet connection. The system also allows access to child friendly medical information, which will enable them to research their illness and also locate other children with similar conditions.
Research has shown that children in hospital, especially those suffering from a chronic illness, can experience feelings of isolation, change in family dynamics, depression and loss of peer interaction. Áit Eile will offer hospital-to-hospital, hospital to home, hospital to school and even home-to-home communication allowing parents and children never to be more than a click away.
Áit Eile currently links eleven sites throughout the country; the National Children's Hospital, in Tallaght, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Cork University Hospital, Temple Street Hospital, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Beaumont Hospital Dublin, Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, Cork, Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, Sligo General Hospital, University College Hospital, Galway and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
Through the web portal the system provides access to activities and information, such as arts & crafts, educational opportunities and links to favourite web sites with appropriate content. The security of the system has been a top priority and appropriate solutions have been incorporated into the overall system design.
Funded by Information Society Funding and the National Development Plan under the auspices of the Department of Health and Children, the project has also received sponsorship from IBM and the Irish Computer Society. Future plans include widening the community of users to include European hospital schools.
Vice Provost, Dr. Jane Grimson presided over the 3rd Peer Support Programme Recognition Ceremony held in the College Chapel on Wednesday 28th April 2004. This ceremony acknowledged 21 students from 5 faculties and 17 departments, who completed the College's training course in Peer Support Skills.
Since 2000, the Peer Support Programme has trained nearly 200 Trinity students to help their fellow students through difficult times by offering support and a listening ear. Participants in the Peer Support Course engage in an intensive 30-hour experience where they are invited to develop a broader awareness of how they communicate with others. Throughout the course they are challenged to practice active listening and facilitate their peers in problem-solving dialogues. Successful completion of the course qualifies students to volunteer as Peer Supporters in the College Peer Support Network. Those who put themselves forward as volunteers are matched with fellow students in need of support.
As Third-level students face increasing pressures in their lives, the Peer Support Programme equips them with the skills to be an on-the-ground, first-stop resource to each other. "Much of the research tells us that university students' prefer their peers as their primary source of support. The programme at Trinity is based on the premise that it is only logical to train students to help each other," said Chuck Rashleigh, Co-ordinator of the Peer Support Programme.
Women's Centenary Sports Day a Great Success
To celebrate 100 years of women in Trinity the Department of Sport/DUCAC hosted a day of sporting events on Friday 23rd April 2004, in which current women students and graduates took part. Sporting events of the day included hockey, tennis, fencing, camogie, croquet, volleyball and basketball matches, as well as a synchronised trampoline exhibition, an 800 metre run, and an inter-club tug of was competition.
The day was completed with a discourse and reception in the Pavilion Bar chaired by Professor Moira O'Brien at which the Vice Provost, Jane Grimson spoke about the centenary celebrations that are happening throughout the year in College. Maeve Kyle, the first female to represent Ireland at the Olympics in Melbourne in 1956, spoke about her time at the University and how things have changed since she was a student. To mark the celebrations, AIB sponsored a Trinity Women's Centenary Perpetual Cup for the most successful women's DUCAC Club to be presented annually. Pat Breen from AIB presented the cup to the Ladies Boat Club due to their competitiveness, professionalism and dedication to the development of their club.
The sports day was aid in "People in Need Telethon 2004" and raised over €1800 for charity. Congratulations to all who took part in these celebrations for a successful day of sporting events
Prof Moira O'Brien, Drinda Jones of DUCAC, and Pat Breen of AIB Bank, presenting the Trinity Women's Centenary Perpetual Cup for the most successful women's DUCAC Club to members of the DU Ladies Boat Club.
Final year business student Alan Foy was named winner of the prestigious Trinity Business Alumni/Bank of Ireland Business Student of the Year Award for 2004 at a ceremony in the House of Lords on Wednesday 21st April. This award is presented annually to the student who maintains a high level of academic performance as well as demonstrating sporting prowess, business acumen or service to the wider community.
Foreground: Alan Foy, Business Student of Year 2004
Background: Provost John Hegarty and Cathal Muckian, Retail Banking Director, Bank of Ireland East
"Alan Foy was selected as Trinity Business Alumni, Business Student of the year because of his academic achievements and his initiative in setting up a novel and successful business and his cognisance of giving something back to those less well off in society." Said Helen Keelan, President of Trinity Business Alumni.
Currently in Senior Sophister (Final) year of the Bachelor in Business Studies (B.B.S) degree course, Alan is actively involved in many organisations within Trinity College including the Foresight Business Group and the Rotary Club of Dublin Central, which is part of an international body underpinned by the ideal of service to the wider community. Alan also has his own small enterprise called VIP Service Provider
Now in its 13th year, the Trinity Business Alumni/Bank of Ireland Business Student of the Year competition is open to all Senior Sophister students studying Business Studies as part of their degree in Trinity College Dublin. Nominations are accepted from fellow students, class groups, academic staff, tutors, the department of sport, student societies or from individual students themselves. This year there were 15 nominations, from which six were short listed for interviews conducted by Ms Helen Keelan, TBA President, Mr Martin Fennelly Manager Bank of Ireland Trinity Branch and Margaret Farrell, Careers Advisory Service.
Sir David Tweedie lectures on International Accounting Standards
at Trinity College Dublin
On 13th April 2004, The School of Business Studies hosted the second Horwath Bastow Charleton annual lecture in the Edmund Burke Theatre. This year's lecture was delivered by Sir David Tweedie, Chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board on the topic of international convergence in accounting standards and was attended by Irish accounting professionals.
From left to right are: Dr. Gerard McHugh, Head of School of Business Studies, University of Dublin, Trinity College; Sir David Tweedie, Chairman, International Accounting Standards Board and Brian Conroy, Managing Partner, Horwath Bastow Charleton.
Welcoming Sir David Tweedie to the University, Dr. Gerard McHugh, Head of School of Business said that the goal of achieving convergence in accounting measurement and valuation principles across the world is the single most pressing issue in company reporting and he praised the significant progress that the IASB is making under Sir David's leadership.
Dr Cormac Kilty, Chairman of the Irish BioIndustry Association launched the first in a series of Enterprise Ireland-supported incubation facilities aimed at fostering the growth of biotechnology companies on Thursday April 1st 2004.
The bioincubator, located in Trinity College's Enterprise Centre on Pearse Street, comprises of 400 square metres of fully flexible laboratory and serviced office space. Offering a range of on-site specialist and targeted business services, the facility will provide a nurturing 'hot house' environment for early stage biotechnology companies. Enterprise Ireland provided funding of €750,000, enabling the conversion of existing facilities into a bioincubator. The Trinity bioincubator is the first of six Enterprise Ireland-funded bioincubators, which are coming on-stream in Irish research institutions in the coming months.
Front: Feargal ÓMóráin and Dr Ciaran Megan of IdentiGEN Ltd.
Back: Provost, Dr John Hegarty and Dr Cormac Kilty
"With 500 million Euro being invested in biotech research over 5 years it is vital that our third level institutions are equally prepared and resourced to catalyse commercialisation of the intellectual property produced from this considerable investment," stated Dr Kilty.
Dr Eoin O'Neill, Director of Research and Innovation Services at Trinity College Dublin said "The bioincubator in Trinity's Enterprise Centre builds our capability to nurture spin-out companies in this specialized sector and we look forward to further collaborative developments of this nature in our Enterprise Centre. The Enterprise Ireland biotechnology team in Trinity College is regarded as an excellent example of how the State and universities can work together in partnership towards a common goal of nurturing ideas emerging from advanced research in the universities, leading to the development of biotechnology-based spin-off companies."
Commenting at the opening of the facility, Feargal ÓMóráin, Director of Science, Innovation and Corporate Support Services at Enterprise Ireland said, "Specialised bioincubators such as this will provide the appropriate business and scientific support needed for new companies to survive and grow. Increased funding for research in the life sciences will result in increased commercial technology in the next decade. The Trinity bioincubator will provide a launch pad for innovative new ideas and products, which are the future for our knowledge-based economy. This is a central objective of Enterprise Ireland's biotechnology strategy, 'Building Biotech Businesses'."
The first tenant for the Trinity College bioincubator is IdentiGEN Ltd., a company that has developed the world's first DNA-based traceability system for meat (TraceBackTM) from research initially carried out at the Institute of Genetics at Trinity College. Using IdentiGEN's system to assure consumers of the source of their meat, Superquinn saw an 11% increase in beef sales. The Irish and UK Food Control Agencies have also selected IdentiGEN's DNA-testing technology for high-profile studies. IdentiGEN's tests were shown to be the only ones sensitive enough to consistently detect the low amounts of target-DNA present in certain processed food samples.
Secondhand Booksale
The 15th Annual Trinity Secondhand Booksale opens at 5.30 pm on Thursday 1st April in the Exam Hall (admission €3 includes a glass of wine), auction of rare books at 7.00 pm. The Sale continues on Friday from 10 am - 6 pm (admission free) and on "Half Price" Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. Clearance auction of all remaining books at 2.15 pm.
Senator Mary Henry opens new synthetic grass courts in Botany Bay
The new synthetic grass courts in Botany Bay were opened on Monday 29th March 2004. Senator Mary Henry, Chair of TCD Association and Trust Committee officially open the Courts by playing a quick game. The Association and Trust Committee supported the resurfacing of these courts through a financial donation, which has been greatly appreciated. A new synthetic grass surface has been laid, the lighting system has been upgraded and the fencing replaced. The courts are primarily for tennis with one court easily transferable into a FUTSAL pitch (5-aside soccer).
George Soros delivers lecture to IIIS Trinity College Dublin
George Soros delivered a lecture on "The Bubble of American Supremacy" to the Institute for International Integration Studies (IIIS) at Trinity College Dublin on Wednesday March 24th. Former Taoiseach, Dr. Garret Fitzgerald also contributed to the proceedings by responding to Soros's comments. The lecture was followed by a questions and answers session chaired by the Director of the IIIS Professor Philip Lane.
The lecture coincided with the launch of Soros' new book "The Bubble of American Supremacy", a compelling and heartfelt analysis of the United States' role in the post-9/11 world in which George Soros challenges the Bush administration's conduct of foreign policy and the War on Terror.
A survivor of the Nazi occupation of Budapest and the Communist takeover of Hungary, Soros settled in the United States in 1956. World-renowned as a financier and philanthropist, Soros has a deep commitment to American values, demonstrated by the nearly $500 million his foundations spend each year to promote open society around the globe.
Celia Holland, Senior Lecturer in Zoology, Luke O'Neill, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Ian Robertson, Professor of Psychology and Brian McGing, Professor of Classics were elected as Members of the Royal Irish Academy on 16th March 2004 . In the election Trinity College had more Members elected in the Sciences than any other University in Ireland.
Professor Celia Holland is an Associate Professor of Zoology at Trinity College , Dublin . She is a Helminthologist, that is one who studies parasitic worms such as tapeworm or roundworm. Her particular interest is in the epidemiology and control of human helminth infections. She has recently been appointed to a World Health Organisation (WHO) expert advisory panel on parasitic diseases.
Professor Brian McGing is one of the most distinguished Irish Classical scholars of his generation. He started his scholarly career as an ancient historian, specialising in the politics of Republican Rome, and its relation with the kingdoms of the East, but more recently he has turned to papyrology, a discipline in which he has become one of the leading authorities in Europe.
Professor Luke O'Neill is a Research Professor of Biochemistry in Trinity College Dublin. He is one of the world's leading researchers in the area of the molecular basis for inflammation. He has published over 100 papers in this area, which describe processes inside cells that lead to an enhancement in the expression of immune and inflammatory genes, most notably those emanating from the cytokine IL-1 and the family of Toll-like receptors.
Professor Ian Robertson has been Professor of Psychology at Trinity College , Dublin since 1999 and was a founding director of the Institute of Neuroscience . His research on Neuropsychology, rehabilitation and brain plasticity is highly regarded as are his over one hundred books and articles.
Dr Martin Naughton contributes €5million to support Nanoscience Research in Trinity College Dublin
It was announced on Wednesday 10 th March, that Dr Martin Naughton, a member of Trinity Foundation, donated €5million to support nanoscience research at the College. In thanking Dr Naughton for this very generous gift, Provost John Hegarty, stated that when the College launched its Strategic Plan last summer, Trinity made clear its determination to confirm its position as one of the world's leading universities. The Plan identified a number of key areas where Trinity could become world leaders and not just key players in helping Ireland compete internationally in the knowledge age.
Left to Right: Dr. Martin Naughton, Provost John Hegarty and
Professor John Pethica
"Trinity has recently built up a critical mass of world-class expertise in nanoscience by establishing our Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN). Over the last few years we have attracted a number of superb people in the area, who have been externally assessed as one of the best groups in the world.” said Dr. Hegarty.
Martin Naughton, announcing his gift added, "This is not only a flagship project for Trinity but one for Ireland as well and one that I am unhesitatingly enthusiastic about. There is no doubt that nanotechnology will make a great impact on our lives, and if we grasp this opportunity, we can establish Ireland as a world leader in one of the most important fields of innovation. Rarely does a university get a chance like this and I'm delighted to be able to help."
The CRANN building will provide 150 scientists, technicians and graduate students with the facilities needed to explore the nanoworld:
• ultra-stable environments with vibration, temperature and humidity control for scanning-probe microscopes,
• clean rooms equipped with facilities to engrave or assemble the smallest molecular structures,
• specialist laboratories for nanoscale mechanics, magnetics, molecular biology, optics, chemistry and computation.
Dr Hegarty elaborated on the College's plans for the future, saying “Nanoscience or nanotechnology is much talked about as the being key to many future technologies, from information to biology. It has become a high priority in the US , and we believe that if Ireland gets the right start, nanotechnology could be what software and pharmaceuticals were for our economy in recent decades. While we have been very successful in forging relationships with funding partners such as Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and Intel Ireland Ltd. (CRANN's principal industry partner), we are especially delighted that this adventure in the technology of the future has attracted much needed private support”
Recipients of the 2003 Provost's Teaching Awards Celebrate their Achievements
Recipients of the 2003 Provost's Teaching Awards were announced on Tuesday 9 th March 2004 . Dr. Edna Roche, Department of Paediatrics, Dr. Brian Foley, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ms. Meriel Huggard, Department of Computer Science and Dr Amanda Piesse, Department of English were all recognised for their dedication and commitment to teaching and learning excellence.
Left to Right: Ms. Meriel Huggard, Dr. Edna Roche
Provost John Hegarty, Dr. Amanda Piesse and Dr. Brian Foley
Provost John Hegarty, presented the winners with their citations and awards at a ceremony in the Provost's House. There were 33 nominations by staff and students for the 2003 Provost Teaching Awards of which seven were selected to submit comprehensive portfolios of evidence of their work. These portfolios were examined, together with feedback from academic peers and current students, by members of the Academic Practice and Quality Sub Committee who had the difficult task of selecting the winners.
Dr. Brian Foley, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering received this award in recognition of his enthusiasm for his subject and his passion for teaching. Dr. Edna Roche, Department of Paediatrics was commended for her innovations in teaching Paediatrics and her problem-based learning approach has received wider recognition in the field of medical education. Dr Amanda Piesse, Department of English was recognised by the College for encouraging students to participate in genuine debate and to address challenging questions, and Ms. Meriel Huggard, Department of Computer Science was the recipient of the “Early Career” award for her exemplary teaching achievements at an early stage in her academic career.
Launched during the 2000/01 academic year, the Provost's Teaching Award Scheme rewards academic staff members who have made an outstanding contribution in the pursuit of teaching excellence in College and promotes teaching as a scholarly activity. The scheme is sponsored by the Higher Education Authority and funded under the National Development Plan 2000/2006.
President Mary McAleese Celebrates 100 Years of Women at Trinity College Dublin
President Mary McAleese launched the celebrations marking the admission of women students to the College 100 years ago, in the Dining Hall at Trinity College on Wednesday March 3rd.
“We celebrate an event in the life of Trinity College , one step in the march towards equality but a hugely important step for generations of women and for the country,” said President McAleese. “We have come a long way and the challenge is that we still have a long way to go both nationally but more especially globally. That is the job of our generation of we are to honour and vindicate the huge achievement by Alice Oldham and her supporter which led to the admission of women to College a hundred years ago.”
To mark the occasion Prof. Jane Grimson presented President McAleese with a photograph of the first eight women graduates of Trinity College . After the presentation, Trinity's drama students took to the podium in period costume to re-enact historical scenes of the admission of Women to the College one hundred years ago. The President also spent time visiting with the guests at the launch, many of whom were colleagues during her time lecturing at the College.
The launch of the Women's Centenary on March 3 rd was the first of many events schedule in celebration, which include the launch of the book “ A Danger to the Men?: A History of Women in Trinity College, Dublin 1904-2004 ” edited by Susan Parkes, a photographic exhibition tracing the history of women in Trinity, a societies debate, and an outdoor drama performance day.
A Blast from the Past - 100 years of Women in Trinity
Celebrating the Women's Centenary, Trinity's drama students took to Front Square in period costume on March 3rd to re-enact historical scenes of the admission of Women to the College one hundred years ago.
Marion Wier Johnston, the first woman student at Trinity was portrayed entering through the Front Gate, followed by the women students of later generations who fought to have the same rights as male students. Together the group of women dashed across Front Square and stormed the Dining Hall steps re-enacting the first women students' protests. These campaigns resulted in women students gaining access to the Dining Hall in the 1960's and their subsequent admission to on campus accommodation in the 1970's.
Male students, representing the Board of Trinity in 1892, stood by Provost's Salmon statue, debating the entry of Women to the College and dangers which they would bring with them. Provost Salmon once stated, "Over my dead body will women enter the College." Women students were admitted to Trinity shortly after his death in 1904.
The day's festivities continued with President Mary McAleese officially launching the Women's Centenary celebrations in the Dining Hall that evening.
Trinity's Business School Ranked in the FT Top 100
The latest rankings from the Financial Times Top 100 Business Schools for 2003, is a triumph for Trinity's Business School.
The School has maintained its tradition of high standards and excellence in education and this is rewarded by being ranked among the top 100 world-wide, and 22nd among European schools included in the top 100.
Commenting on the ranking, John Quilliam, Trinity MBA Programme Director said, "This is great news for Trinity, it places our business school firmly in the field of world- class business schools, globally and in Europe." He added, "Trinity is delighted to see its place among the world's top Business Schools confirmed by the latest FT rankings."
The results continue to vindicate Trinity's strategy of running a global programme, illustrated by its 6th place ranking in the world for the international mobility of students, ahead of INSEAD's 7th place."
Other significant achievements shown by the latest Financial Times rankings see Trinity maintaining their global position at 86, and also a 3 year average at 83 in the rankings. Another accomplishment for Trinity is their position at number 10 worldwide in the Value for Money Rankings. This is measured on how past students careers have developed and student feedback reports of the course.
The Financial Times' ranking of business schools throughout the world is the most global of the many ranking and rating schemes available. In an environment in which the important business schools now have to compete on a global scale these rankings take on an unusual importance.
Senator Davis Norris Launches Trinity Green Week 2004
Senator David Norris launched Trinity Green Week 2004 on Monday 9th February at 1pm in the Public Theatre in Trinity College. This year's Green Week themed, "Waste Costs: Practising the Three R's" focuses on the savings that can be made through Recycling, Reducing and Reusing waste products.
In his address, Senator Norris congratulated the grounds staff at Trinity for their hard work and effort in maintaining the College's litter-free status, which it was awarded last year. He also acknowledged the endeavours of Trinity staff and students in making the College as environmentally friendly as possible and encouraging others to follow in their footsteps.
Senator David Norris and Dr Anne Walsh-Daneshmandi, Chairperson of the Trinity Green Week Committee, help to keep to Trinity Green.
The aim of Green Week is to encourage people to become more aware of, and actively involved in, preserving the environment. Green Week is an annual event in the College and features a full programme of events including seminars, symposia, lectures and debates as well as nature walks around the College campus.
"Legislative requirements coupled with the interest and concerns of environmentally conscious staff and students have resulted in major changes in the whole approach to waste management in College in recent years. Costs are also a huge factor on a campus the size of Trinity and recycling contributes substantially to reducing these costs," commented Noel McCann, Facilities Officer in Trinity College. "The financial savings that can be achieved through recycling are significant. For example, we can recycle a tonne of waste at approximately half the landfill disposal cost."
The College's environmental policies contributed to Trinity being the only third level college in Ireland to be awarded litter-free status in June 2003 by Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) after a nationwide survey on urban litter. Throughout the Trinity campus there are many recycling facilities for a broad range of waste products such as paper, magazines, newspapers, glass and cans as well as electronic equipment, batteries, mobile phones and organic waste. These facilities currently enable the College to recycle approximately 30% of its general waste.
A full programme of Trinity Green Week events and further information on recycling are available at http://www.tcd.ie/GreenPages.
Trinity awarded €21 million from Science Foundation Ireland
Dr John Hegarty, the Provost of Trinity College Dublin, has welcomed the recent award of €10 million for a new Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) which will be developed in partnership with UCC and UCD. The Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN) will develop tools and techniques to build new structures and devices atom by atom with endless possibilities for biotechnology and information and communications technologies. Examples of the impact of this technology include next generation microelectronics technologies and new drug delivery systems. Intel Ireland Ltd. is CRANN's principal industry partner. Professor J Pethica, FRS and Professor M Coey, FRS are joint Directors of the Centre, a position they hold on a rotational basis.
'We are also particularly pleased that our proposal to SFI for funding for a specialised nanoscience research facility to be used by nanoscience investigators at TCD has been successful', the Provost said, adding that a further grant of €11 million will allow a state-of-the-art facility to be built to the highest environment and vibration standards.
Annual Mexican Lecture at TCD to Foster Knowledge of Mexican Culture
Trinity College Dublin and the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs today (Monday 15 December) signed an agreement to establish The Mexican Lecture at TCD.
The Mexican Lecture will promote Mexican culture and a greater knowledge in Ireland of subjects such as Mexican politics, economics, literature, journalism, history and art. Each year a Mexican visiting Professor will be designated to deliver a lecture on his or her specialist area to contribute towards strengthening relation and a greater understanding between the two countries.
The agreement was signed by the Provost of Trinity College, Dr. John Hegarty and Dr. Agustin Basave, Ambassador of Mexico.
Local Community Leader among group receiving Honorary Degrees at Trinity College
Mrs. Betty Watson is among six recipients to receive honorary degrees at Trinity College Dublin today (Friday 12 December). Mrs. Watson, M.A. (Master in Arts) is Co-ordinator of Education at the St. Andrew's Resource Centre, Pearse Street and is actively involved in the Voluntary Tuition Programme, a scheme run between the Resource Centre and TCD, which this year has provided free tuition to 400 young people. She has been closely involved with the Trinity Access Programmes and in particular the foundation course for mature students. She has made a highly significant contribution to breaking down the barriers of social disadvantage by broadening entry into higher education.
The other recipients of honorary degrees are:
Professor Albert Fert, Sc.D (Doctor in Science) Director, Unité Mixte de Recherche, CNRS/Thales, France, has made groundbreaking discoveries in electro-magnetic theory.
Professor Edna Longley Litt.D (Doctor in Letters), Professor of English, Queen's University Belfast, is a distinguished and influential literary critic and founding editor of Fortnight Magazine and Irish Review.
Dr. R. Brendan McDowell LL.D (Doctor in Laws), Historian and Author, Trinity College,
has an honoured place among Irish historians with his wide-ranging publications. Dr. McDowell recently celebrated his 90th birthday.
Mr Joseph O'Connell M.A. and Mr Patrick Reid M.A. For a combined 90 years of outstanding service to the Department of Microbiology, Trinity College, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2003.
493 students representing 32 counties receive Trinity College High Achievers Awards
A total of 493 first-year students have been awarded special 'Entrance Exhibition Awards' at Trinity College. The students receiving awards each achieved 545 points or higher (more than 6 A2 grades) in this year's Leaving Certificate (or equivalent public school examination). The students represent 277 schools from 32 counties as well as from schools in England, Scotland and France.
Congratulating the students on their achievement at a ceremony to mark the occasion, the Provost of Trinity College, Dr John Hegarty stated that approximately "Fifty-one per cent of CAO entrants to Trinity College had over 500 points in the Leaving Certificate in 2003".
Resounding No Vote for Waste Incineration in Dublin
- Citizens' Jury Verdict
An incineration plant for Dublin waste as part of an overall waste management strategy for Ireland should not be located in Ringsend, Dublin 4, according to a Citizens' Jury on 9 November. A jury panel of 60 Dublin voters, randomly selected by the ESRI, considered two important issues to reach this consensus 'verdict': Is there a role for household waste incineration in an integrated waste management strategy for Ireland?; and if so, should an incineration plant for Dublin household waste be built in the Ringsend area?
The Citizens' Jury was an experimental initiative of Trinity College's Policy Institute designed to explore new ways of involving citizens in important public decisions that affect their lives.
"This experiment is the first ever of this type in the Ireland. While citizens' juries are beginning to be used in other countries, the Dublin experiment was carefully designed to test the representativeness of the outcome far more carefully than previous experiments overseas. A citizens' jury is a way to give ordinary citizens a voice on imperative and controversial issues. I hope this model will become more widely used by public agencies and the Government to consult the public on topical and controversial issues in the future," commented Prof. Michael Laver, Head of the Political Science Department, TCD and co-ordinator of the experiment.
Jury members received briefing materials on both sides of the issue of waste incineration before convening all day to hear expert advice on the topic. They heard evidence and argument on both sides of the case and then deliberated on the role of waste incineration in an overall strategy for dealing with domestic waste in Ireland
Moderated by Olivia O'Leary, speaking in defence of incineration as part of an integrated waste management strategy for Ireland were Pat Carey, Fianna Fáil TD; Donal Buckley, Head, Environment Unit, IBEC; and Toon Ansems Emission Assessment Department, TNO Consultants, the Netherlands while those speaking against the motion were John Gormley, Green Party TD; Tom Prendeville, Earthwatch Ireland; and Paul Connett, Prof. of Environmental Chemistry, St Lawrence University, New York.
Minister Dempsey Opens TCD's Institute of Molecular Medicine
Research Institute to develop new approaches to diagnosis and treatment in diseases
A new research Institute devoted to a medical science that has revolutionised our understanding of how systems within the human body function in health and disease was opened on 7 November. The Institute of Molecular Medicine houses the TCD component of the Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre and also contains the John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories. The Institute, located at the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James's Hospital, comprises 4,500 sq.m. of research space. It will provide a centre for collaborative molecular medicine research, linking directly with areas of research into cancer, leukaemia and the molecular basis of disease, providing a major contribution to graduate education in the life sciences.
Funded under the Higher Education Authority's Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) Cycle 2, the Institute was officially opened by the Minister for Education and Science, Mr. Noel Dempsey, TD.
"Molecular medicine has already permitted the development of new strategies of disease prevention, diagnosis, therapy and cure. For example, conditions such as familial colon cancer can now be diagnosed at a genetic level before the disease has manifested itself and appropriate preventative measures can be introduced. Viral infections are now frequently identified at a molecular level long before the virus is visualised," explained Prof. Dermot Kelleher, Director of the Institute.
"The completion of the Human Genome Project represents not an end, but a beginning. We now need to understand the functions of all of the sequenced genes and to understand how these functions can go wrong in the development of human disease. This process will best be served by a critical mass of high quality biomolecular and biomedical researchers closely affiliated to clinical centres of excellence. The opening of the Institute of Molecular Medicine at Trinity's St James's Hospital campus allows this synergy to take place on a major teaching hospital site in Dublin."
A pioneering Masters course in Molecular Medicine operating from the Institute attracts students from all over the globe. It is one of the first of its kind in Europe and admits both medical and scientific graduates. A business stream has now been introduced in which students take modules in business methods, a novel development to prepare graduates for the world of pharmaceutical biotechnology.
In addition, the Institute of Molecular Medicine is linked to TCD's Academic Centre for Oncology. Such educational developments are not only essential for the education of health professionals, but are also critical in order to provide support to Ireland's rapidly expanding biotechnology industry.
The Institute is working to utilise state-of-the-art molecular biology approaches to understand mechanisms of disease and develop new approaches to diagnosis and treatment in three major disease areas: Cancer biology, including groundbreaking work in understanding leukaemia; Infection, inflammation and immunity, for example rheumatoid arthritis; and Vascular biology. It is collaborating with the Trinity College Institute for Neurosciences in the study of neuropsychiatric disease. In addition, a number of international collaborations have been established.
"The Institute of Molecular Medicine was a founding partner of the Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre (DMMC) with UCD's Conway Institute. This highly focused research partnership in the life sciences, which more recently includes the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, reflects the commitment of the institutions to forging a dynamic research collaboration that will serve Ireland's broader social, economic and health needs going forward," stated the Provost of Trinity College, Dr. John Hegarty.
The Institute of Molecular Medicine in collaboration with the DMMC aims to fuel Irish drug discovery and biotechnology ventures, and attract pharmaceutical contract R & D research to Ireland. An Enterprise Ireland grant has been awarded to develop a bio-incubator facility on this site which will permit rapid translation of the results of bench science to development of products of use in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. A number of new companies are in process as a result of IMM / DMMC research which have the potential to generate new strengths in the Irish economy in addition to providing for enhanced patient care.
The College Art Collections
Trinity is fortunate in having the finest art collection of any Irish
University, comprising works from the seventeenth century to the present
day. These have been catalogued in two Quatercentenary publications, both
still available from the Library Shop ('The Modern Art Collection', and
Paintings and Sculptures in Trinity College Dublin').
The care and conservation of the collection is a matter of some concern,
and works in public areas are especially vulnerable to damage. All members
of college are asked to be vigilant and to do their best to ensure that
paintings and other works of art are well looked after. The Board has
recently confirmed that the curator of the modern collection, Dr. Peter
Cherry, has both the duty and the authority to take such action as may,
in his judgement, be necessary to ensure the protection and well-being
of individual works. The historic collection of portraits is maintained
by Ms.Marcella Senior, who has similar responsibilities.
Everyone is urged to take pride in college's paintings and sculptures,
and to assist in the task of caring for them.
TCD Presentation to the Biblioteca Antoniana, Padua
An unusual presentation took place during the Summer in the Bibilioteca
Antoniana in Padua, Italy, when Dr. Dan Mc Carthy of the Department of
Computer Science presented the Librarian, Padre Ludovico M. Bertazzo with
an edition of the third century Paschal tract De ratione paschali by Anatolius,
bishop of Laodicea in Syria. This edition was prepared jointly with Dr.
Aidan Breen and published by Four Courts Press in March 2003 entitled,
'The ante-Nicene Christian Pasch - De ratione paschali, The Paschal tract
of Anatolius, bishop of Laodicea'. The edition is based upon eight manuscripts
of which the most important is that preserved at the Biblioteca Antoniana,
a facsimile of which is reproduced in the edition by the kind permission
of the Librarian. In appreciation of this Dr. Mc Carthy travelled to Padua
and on 11 June presented a copy of the edition to Padre Bertazzo, who
expressed his appreciation on behalf of the Biblioteca Antoniana. Padre
Bertazzo remarked that, while this manuscript has been intensively studied
for its religious, calendrical, computistical and scientific tracts, this
is the first book treating the manuscript ever to be published.
Padre Ludovico Bertazzo, the Librarian of
Biblioteca Antoniana, Padua, Italy, examines the edition of Anatolius'
Paschal tract presented to him by Dr. Dan McCarthy (left)
Glass Bottle Sculpture Unveiled in TCD Chapel
to Mark
All Saints' Day
A sculptural installation made from 600 large glass bottles
containing photographic transparencies was unveiled on Saturday 1 November
in Trinity College's Chapel to celebrate All Saints' Day. The installation
by Brazilian artist Ivana Panizzi forms The Reredos Project - (a wall
decoration at the back of an altar) - to explore, recontextualise and
celebrate the ancient creedal concept of the Communion of the Saints.
"The Reredos Project brings modern art into medieval architecture.
Using images of ordinary people taken from around the world, placing them
inside old milk bottles, and constructing a reredos from these bottles
behind the altar in Trinity's Chapel, the Reredos Project presents the
viewer with a questioning of the meaning of saintliness; of its possibility
in a secular world; of the viability of its age-old interpretation in
continuing religious dialogue; and, of its historical portrayal in the
arts," explained Rev. Dr. Alan McCormack, TCD Chaplain.
Artist Ivana Panizzi has previously used bottles to create sculptural installations which draw upon her own associations with the bottle's symbolic value - the celebration; the special occasion; containment; and capturing - photographic transparencies within the bottles of the installation juxtapose these ideas and in effect crystallize the metaphor in a moment of time.
Placing the Reredos Project in Trinity's Chapel also echoes the history of the place: the College stands on the site of the Priory of All-Hallows, closed during the Reformation, which itself witnessed a questioning of the efficacy and legitimacy of the cult of the Saints.
The Reredos Project, supported by the Chaplaincy of Trinity
College and the Brazilian Embassy, is on view in the Trinity Chapel Monday
3 Nov - Friday 7 Nov, 9:30am - 5.00pm (please note that there is a daily
service at 1.05pm for 30 minutes).
David Went appointed as Chairman
of Trinity Foundation
David Went Group Chief Executive of Irish Life & Permanent plc, has been appointed Chairman of Trinity Foundation. David, a graduate of Trinity College (LL.B. 1969), joined Irish Life as Managing Director in 1998. Prior to this he spent most of his career in the NatWest Group including holding Chief Executive positions in the Ulster Bank Group (1988-1994) and the Coutts Group (1994-1997)
The Provost expressed his delight that David, a great champion of Trinity and its mission, had accepted this role. "David has been very influential in helping Trinity secure a number of major donations - his enthusiasm, dedication and leadership have been a inspiration. However, securing philanthropic funding is set to become even more important to College if it is to meet the targets in the Strategic Plan. The support and hard work of David and his colleagues on the Trinity Foundation Board will be central to College's future. They deserve our thanks."
David replaces Mr. Pat Molloy who was Chairman for six years - a period
of exceptional growth in philanthropy in College. In the year ending September
2003 alone, Trinity Foundation secured gift in excess of €10 million.
Ireland's welfare spend below EU average
Ireland's spending on social welfare is much lower than the EU average, according to a report written by Trinity lecturer, Dr. Virpi Timonen. In spite of Ireland having the second fastest rate of social expenditure growth in the EU in the 1990s, as a percentage of GDP, social expenditure in Ireland was only 16% in comparison to the EU average of 28% in 1998.
Among the findings of 'Irish Social Expenditure in a Comparative International Context', commissioned by the Combat Poverty Agency, was that Irish social expenditure is predominantly tax-financed (60%) in contrast to most other European countries that are predominantly financed by employee and employer social contributions. This makes financing of social protection particularly vulnerable in case of reduced economic growth and diminished tax revenue.
The report also found that Irish social expenditure is less focused on expenditure on old age than other EU countries. Expenditures on family cash benefits, unemployment cash benefits and active labour market policies form a larger share of GDP in Ireland than in OECD countries on average.
The Irish welfare state is very weakly developed in the area of services, according to the report. For example, GDP share of expenditure on services for families is less than a third of the OECD average, while GDP share of expenditure on services for older people and people with disabilities is a little over 40% of the OECD average.
A rebalancing of expenditure on services, means-tested benefits and tax expenditure on private insurances, especially private pensions is necessary argues Dr. Timonen.
"Means-tested benefits must be reformed with the view to encouraging
and enabling labour market participation, more investment is needed in
services, and employment-related benefits must be more effectively used
as part of a 'making work pay' strategy", she stressed. Dr. Timonen
is a lecturer in Social Policy and Ageing, a new post in the Department
of Social Studies established with the help of funding from the Department
of Health and Children.
Trinity College launches its €475m
5-year Strategic Plan
[For a copy of the Plan click
here]
Trinity College Dublin plans to transform the make-up of its student body,
making it more inclusive and diverse than ever before. The College aims
to include greater numbers of mature students and students from various
ethnic and international communities now residing in Ireland among its
student body, and objectives have been set by the College to ensure that
at least 5% of all students attending Trinity are from under-represented
and underprivileged sectors of Irish society and that 20% of all students
come from outside Ireland.
"Depending on the extent of Government commitment, we plan to double the number of students participating in the Trinity Access Programmes for students from disadvantaged sectors of society," explained Dr. John Hegarty, Provost of Trinity College, who was speaking today (Wednesday, 16 July 2003) at the launch of the College's Strategic Plan 2003-2008.
"We will further develop a learning and social environment for students with disabilities that is appropriate to their needs and place the recruitment and induction of international students on a firmer footing by the strengthening of our International Office," said Dr. Hegarty.
Trinity's extensive five-year proposal aims to tackle a wide variety of issues facing the College such as the nature of its student body; the scope of Trinity's research initiatives; the promotion of excellence in teaching; strengthening the contribution of the University to the social and economic vitality of Dublin; and the provision of adequate space and facilities to cater for the academic, sporting, social and housing needs of students and staff.
According to the Provost, the total cost of the wide-ranging plan is estimated at €475m, of which €357m is for capital spending and €80m for endowments. "Additional recurrent funds of €38m per annum will also be necessary," added Dr. Hegarty. "The additional space requirements for the period of the plan are in the order of 40,000 m2 and an additional 1,500 residential units for students."
One of the boldest aspects of the five-year project is to significantly develop the physical infrastructure of the College, to include high-specification space and facilities to cater for the research needs of postgraduate students and staff, a new Student Centre to house student clubs and societies and a state-of-the-art self-financing Sports Complex.
"Ideally," stated Dr. Hegarty, "all first year students from outside Dublin and from overseas will be living in student accommodation organised and operated to enhance community experience and the college experience."
Under the Strategic Plan, Trinity College aims to specifically channel
its resources into four major research areas; these are:
· Establishing and applying new knowledge in health sciences and
health management,
· Meeting the challenges of the Information Society,
· Helping to develop public social policy and to understand the
dynamics of globalisation, and
· Contributing to a deeper appreciation of culture and the creative
arts in Ireland and the world.
"Our goal", emphasised the Provost, "is that in at least one of these sub-themes we will become the world reference point and leader over the next five to ten years. In line with this research-led policy of the University, we will by 2008 have increased the number of research students taking both masters and PhD degrees to approximately 2,000 and opportunities for part-time postgraduate teaching will be extended."
"In an effort to restore the intimacy of the College of earlier years, smaller class sizes and additional social space will be sought, and the range of student support systems and tutorial services available will be better resourced. The College also intends to establish a new Dean of Students who will develop an integrated policy on student issues and will promote the greater involvement of students based in hospitals and in locations far from the College Green campus into the life of the University."
The Strategic Plan also affirms that Trinity will launch a series of discussions with Dublin City Council on a partnership agreement that will guide the College's plans to rejuvenate the Pearse Street area.
In addition, the plan outlines proposals to develop a distinctive approach to promoting a better cultural appreciation of the Irish language, through encouraging the use of Irish on campus and strengthening the College's connections to the educational and cultural life of the Irish-speaking community in Dublin.
The Provost acknowledged that securing the extra funding
required to implement the plan would be a major challenge. "Nevertheless,
we expect that the College will continue to be successful in securing
competitive research funds from organisations such as Science Foundation
Ireland, the Health Research Board, Enterprise Ireland, the European Union
and others, and a fund-raising campaign will be launched based on the
strategic priorities identified in this plan."
Lead Singer of U2 and President of the
European Parliament
Among Leading Figures to Receive Honorary Degrees at
Trinity College Dublin
Mr. Paul Hewson (Bono), lead singer of U2 and campaigner for humanitarian rights in the developing world, and Mr. Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, were among five recipients to receive an Honorary Degree from the University of Dublin (Trinity College) today, Friday 11 July.
The recipients of Honorary Degrees were:
· Dame Judi Dench Litt.D. (Doctor in Letters)
Awarded the Order of the British Empire and made Dame of the British Empire,
she is one of the England's most esteemed actresses. Famous for her commanding
stage and screen presence, she excels at both drama and comedy. The winner
of a number of acting awards (including Best Actress Oscar Nomination
and a five-time BAFTA winner), she has starred in a wide variety of film,
TV and theatre roles, including 'M' in the James Bond film 'Goldeneye'.
· Professor Roy Foster Litt.D. (Doctor in Letters)
Professor of Irish History at the University of Oxford, he is internationally
recognised as a leading authority on Irish history in the Victorian and
Modern periods. He is currently working on the second volume of the authorised
biography of W.B. Yeats and his previous publications include biographies
of Charles Stewart Parnell, Lord Randolph Churchill, a History of Modern
Ireland and more recently a collection of essays entitled 'Paddy and Mr
Punch: Connections in Irish and English History'.
· Mr. Pat Cox LL.D. (Doctor in Laws)
The first Irishman to be elected President of the European Parliament,
he has been an MEP since 1989, representing the constituency of Munster.
He was elected to Dail Eireann and became Finance Spokesperson for the
Progressive Democrats. Prior to entering politics he worked as an economics
lecturer and as a journalist and television presenter on Irish television.
He is also President of the European Liberal Democrat Group and was awarded
the European Movement's European of the Year Award earlier this year.
· Mr. Paul Hewson (Bono) LL.D. (Doctor in Laws)
Lead singer of internationally acclaimed rock group, U2, Bono is an outspoken
fundraiser for Third World problems. Founder of DATA (Debt, Aid, Trade
for Africa), a non-profit debt-relief advocacy group, he has been instrumental
in the Drop the Dept campaign which wiped out millions of dollars of international
debt owed by Third World governments. He has lobbied world leaders to
encourage them to contribute more aid relief to developing countries.
He has been nominated for the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize.
· The Hon Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness LL.D. (Doctor in Laws)
Supreme Court Judge, she is recognised as a leading Irish lawyer and jurist
who has promoted the principles of legality, justice, equality and integrity
within Irish Society. She has served for two terms in the Seanad representing
Trinity College Dublin (1979-1997) and as Chairperson of the Employment
Equality Agency, the Kilkenny Incest Investigation and the Forum For Peace
and Reconciliation.
International Conference to highlight and analyse major issues affecting the developing world and the global environment
Trinity College hosts the "Global Development Challenge" Conference
US foreign policy and its impact on human rights in an age of globalisation is just one of the important themes being tackled by an all-day conference being hosted today (Thursday, 10 July 2003) by Trinity College Dublin. The aim of the conference is to highlight and analyse some of the major issues in promoting broadly-based global development and to identify the most effective forms of development assistance.
The event, entitled the Global Development Challenge Conference, has attracted a significant number of notable speakers from around the world, among whom are a Nobel Laureate, a former UN Commissioner for Human Rights, a past President of Mexico, a Pulitzer Prize Winner and a special advisor to the UN General Secretary, Kofi Annan.
Tackling the sensitive issue of American foreign policy in the modern
world and its relation to international human rights in an age of globalization
is Samantha Power, a former war correspondent currently lecturing in Public
Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, where she
was the founding executive director of the Carr Center for Human Rights
Policy. Ms. Power is the author of A Problem from Hell?: America and the
Age of Genocide, which won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize in general non-fiction.
Another distinguished speaker, the Honourable Ernesto Zedillo, will also
address the conference. Mr. Zedillo was President of Mexico from 1994
- 2000 and is now Director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalisation.
Addressing the role played by international institutions in global governance,
Mr. Zedillo will focus on the upcoming world trade talks at Cancun. Mr
Peter Sutherland, Chairman of BP, will also address the future of multilateralism
in international trade negotiations.
Another former head of state and former UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Mary Robinson, will address the conference in her current role as Executive Director of the Ethical Globalisation Initiative and will speak on the importance of improving the quality of domestic institutions and policies in developing countries.
A major theme of the conference is the role to be played by scientific research in addressing the healthcare problems facing the developing world: speakers on this topic include Dr. Harold Varmus, a Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine, and Dr Richard Klausner, Director of Global Health at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The conference will also address other priority topics such as the challenge of overcoming hunger in Africa, the HIV/AIDS crisis and the potential role of the ICT sector in accelerating development.
The conference is being hosted by the Institute for International Integration Studies (IIIS) at Trinity College. The IIIS is a major research initiative on the global and regional dimensions of international economic, political and cultural integration. The conference co-organisers are Philip Lane, Director of the IIIS, and Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Special Advisor to the United Nations' Secretary General on the Millennium Development Goals.
Taoiseach opens John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories
The John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories at the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences in St. James’s Hospital were officially opened by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern TD, on 19 May.
The laboratories, funded through contributions of €2.7m and €250,000 respectively from the John Durkan Leukaemia Trust Fund and the Bone Marrow for Leukaemia Trust, provide high-tech facilities for the Academic Department of Haematology, Trinity College Dublin, to carry out crucial cutting edge research in the field of leukaemia and related diseases. The laboratories are housed in Trinity College’s Institute for Molecular Medicine research building, located in St. James’s Hospital.
“With the opening of the John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories, innovative discoveries related to the molecular basis of leukaemia will be used to develop new diagnostic tests and improved therapeutic approaches for patients,” explained Professor Shaun McCann, Head of the Department of Haematology in Trinity College and Clinical Director of the HOPE Directorate at St. James’s Hospital.
“Through the work of consultants from Trinity’s Department of Haematology in St. James’s Hospital, Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Tallaght Hospital and the Coombe Women’s Hospital, we provide a comprehensive service to both children and adults with haematological diseases. This has allowed the development of significant research potential in terms of the numbers of consultants, scientists and higher specialist trainees. The opening of these laboratories will further enhance our understanding of and skills in tackling leukaemia and other blood disorders and will consolidate the Department’s position as the only centre for the completion of Higher Specialist Training in Haematology in Ireland.”
Professor McCann further highlighted how the Bone Marrow Transplant Programme in St. James’s Hospital and Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin was continuing to expand with the highest number of transplants (79) ever being recorded in 2002. “Long-term survivors of transplantation are now 19 years following this therapy, which has been extremely successful.”
Dr. John Hegarty, Provost of Trinity College stated that the opening of the laboratories would complement the groundbreaking research carried out by the College. “The work of the John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories will link directly with programmes in the area of cancer and leukaemia research and molecular medicine in Trinity’s Institute of Molecular Medicine.”
Mr. Bill Durkan, Chairman of the John Durkan Leukaemia Trust, said that today was a milestone for the Durkan family and the John Durkan Leukaemia Trust Fund. “I would like to thank the very generous donors, trustees and fundraisers for all of their help in achieving the target of the Trust of fulfilling John’s wish of helping fellow leukaemia suffers after his death,” said Mr. Durkan.
The opening of the laboratories marks the completion of the new phase
in the development of facilities for education and research in the health
sciences of St. James’s Hospital. This phase has added in total,
a further 7,000 square metres for research and teaching at a total cost
of €25.4m. The building was completed a number of weeks ago and is
now fully occupied.
President McAleese opens Ussher Library
The
President of Ireland, Mary McAleese admires the architecture of the James
Ussher Library with the Librarian, Mr. Robin Adams, left, and Provost,
Dr. John Hegarty.
The James Ussher Library, Trinity’s first 21st century building, was officially opened by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese in April. The eight storey, €27 million building provides 9,500 square metres of high quality accommodation for staff and students of the College, in addition to being an important resource for scholars and researchers from higher education institutions elsewhere.
The James Ussher Library is the third library to be opened in Trinity’s 400 year history. It provides 750 new reader spaces, each of which is provided with connections to the campus network and the World Wide Web, greatly enhancing the quality of access to the rich diversity of information available to scholars.
The Ussher Library makes available more than 450,000 volumes of printed books and periodicals on shelving adjacent to study facilities. Much of the Library’s collections of 4.5 million items has to date remained in closed access, resulting in a reliance on catalogues to find materials and delays before the publications were made available to the user.
Some 100 workstations have also been provided for the staff carrying out the acquisition, description and cataloguing of over 100,000 new items each year, which Trinity receives as a Legal Deposit Library for Ireland and also one of only six Libraries acquiring UK Legal Deposit material. The flow of published material into collection can now take place as a continuous integrated process, enabling the prompt delivery of academic material into the catalogues and onto the shelves.
The James Ussher Library also houses the Glucksman Map Library, Ireland’s largest map collection, with more than 650,000 printed and digital items in its care, dating from the 16th century to the present day.
Within the new building, the Glucksman Conservation Department has been provided with a custom-built facility for the further development of innovative techniques and quality benchmarks for its work on the care of manuscripts and early printed material.
“The opening of the James Ussher Library provides a statement of Trinity’s continued commitment to maintain its responsibilities to preserve what is best of the past and to facilitate the future exploitation of information resources. This Library will provide for the integrated use of the great range and diversity of media now available to the academic community in a flexible and stimulating environment,” said Mr. Robin Adams, Librarian.
“The Library also recognises the importance of the provision of services to the widest possible range of readers through appropriate services for students with disabilities, in the design of study spaces and the availability of assistive technology facilities.”
The Library, named after James Ussher, one of the university’s first graduates and responsible for bringing together the core of the Library’s works at the end of the sixteenth century, is funded by the Government’s Higher Education Authority’s Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions initiative. Private donations were also received from Lewis Glucksman and Loretta Brennan-Glucksman, Atlantic Philanthropies and the Getty Grant Program for conservation equipment.
Designed by McCullough Mulvin Keane Murphy Duff, a collaboration of two Dublin firms of architects, the Ussher Library scooped the top prize in the latest Architectural Association of Ireland awards list when it was awarded the prestigious Downes Bronze Medal.
Drs.
Lewis and Loretta Glucksman, whose generosity provided accommodation for
a new Map Library, study an 1837-8 Railway Commissioners map of Ireland
with the President, Provost and Map Librarian, Mr. Paul Ferguson.
Ms.
Susan Bioletti, Keeper of Preservation and Conservation, outlines the
conservation treatment of the Library's collection of drawings from the
Harry Clarke Studio to the President, Librarian and Provost.
DNA co-discoverer comes to College for ‘DNA at 50’ celebrations
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the double helix of DNA by Nobel Prize winners James Watson and Francis Crick, the Department of Genetics organised a series of events, the highlight of which was a keynote lecture by Dr. James Watson.
The Nobel Laureate’s talk, ‘DNA 50 years ago and today’, organised in association with Science Foundation Ireland, BioResearch Ireland and The Irish Times, was Webcast live and related events were held at universities across Ireland. Dr. Onora O'Neill, the distinguished philosopher and Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge delivered the response to Dr. Watson’s lecture.
At the lecture the Tanáiste, Mary Harney, TD, announced the winners of ‘DNA Times’ - a competition for schools to produce a report in the form of a newspaper supplement dealing with DNA and genetics from 1953-2003 and beyond. The winners were Ruth Waldron, Ella Tyrrell and Victoria Shevlin and their teacher Ms. Pat Lally from the Dominican College, Galway.
Other celebratory events included a Public Lecture Series. Dr. Watson unveiled a large bronze sculpture beside the Smurfit Institute of Genetics entitled ‘The Double Helix’ by Brian King, one of Ireland's foremost modern sculptors. “This wonderful piece of art will be a long standing testimony to the DNA at 50 celebrations. I am delighted that Dr. Watson himself performed the unveiling and is in Trinity to deliver his lecture. I wish to gratefully acknowledge Dr. Beate Schuler’s generosity in funding the sculpture,” commented Prof. Kevin Devine, Head of the Genetics Department.
Double book launch in College
The scientific and chronological aspects of historical material are the distinctive features of two complementary books launched on 29 May in the Atrium of the Dining Hall in College by Dr. David Howlett, Corpus Christi College Oxford, editor of the Dictionary of Insular Latin from British sources. Dr. Howlett himself has published editions of many Insular texts, identifying for the first time the repeated use of numerical principles in their composition.
Dr.
Dan Mc Carthy, Department of Computer Science is co-author of one of the
books with Dr. Aidan Breen. Entitled ‘The ante-Nicene Christian
Pasch – De ratione paschali, The Paschal tract of Anatolius, bishop
of Laodicea’, the book provides the critical edition of Anatolius’
third century Paschal tract, and demonstrates it to be an accurate Latin
translation of Anatolius’ original Greek text in which he specified
many details of early Paschal computation. Consequently it establishes
that allegations of ‘Irish forgery’ made repeatedly by scholars
over the last one hundred years were unfounded. Rather it was Eusebius
of Caesarea, in his citation of Anatolius in his celebrated Ecclesisatical
History, who deliberately distorted Anatolius’ Greek text. In an
Insular context Anatolius’ tract is important since it provided
the basis for the unique Paschal tradition found in the Celtic churches
of Britain and Ireland from the fifth to the tenth centuries, which tradition
was at the centre of the Paschal dispute at the synod of Whitby in 664.
The second book, entitled, ‘Early Irish History and Chronology’, by Prof. Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Department of History, NUI Galway, comprises his extensive collection of papers published on Irish computistical material. The books are published by Four Courts Press.
Trinity Annual Fund Gathers Momentum
Now in its second full year of operation the Trinity Annual Fund has grown to become a regular feature of College’s contact with Alumni. Managed by Trinity Foundation, the Fund has so far contacted over 39,000 graduates in Ireland, the UK and US. To date the Fund has raised over €358,000. The aim is not only to raise funds for worthy College projects but also to keep the lines of communication with graduates open. This is achieved via a phone operation where trained student callers telephone alumni in a follow-up to mailings despatched.
All monies raised are allocated to the projects of the graduate donors’ choosing. The list of projects includes:
- Academic Research
- Trinity Access Programme
- Capital projects
- TCD Association & Trust
The remainder of the funds are unrestricted and will be allocated according to College priorities.
Trinity Access Programme (TAP) has proved the most popular with donors with 41% of funds being allocated to this area. This means that 13 TAP students will be sponsored directly as a result of the Fund. The unrestricted option is the next most popular with donors. Projects which will benefit from this area include: non-academic student awards, support for events in celebration of 100 years of women students in Trinity, provision of infrastructure for the Ussher Library orientation space and the provision of student space.
Many thanks are due to alumni for all their support. In addition a special thanks to staff who, as graduates, have also given support.
For further information on any aspect of the Trinity Annual Fund, please contact Jillian Coffey, Alumni Director, Trinity Foundation. Tel: 01 608 2662. Email: coffeyjj@tcd.ie.
Provost’s Teaching Awards mark outstanding
contribution to teaching excellence
Recipients
of the Provost’s Teaching Awards for 2002 celebrate their achievements
with the Provost, Dr. John Hegarty, centre, Dr. Ray Fuller, Department
of Psychology, left, Dr. Nicola Marples, Department of Zoology, Ms. Agnes
Higgins, School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies and Mr. Brendan Tangney,
Department of Computer Science.
The Provost’s Teaching Award Scheme rewards academic staff members who have made an outstanding contribution to teaching excellence in College.
Improving the retention of students with disabilities in third level
Enhancing the uptake of a third level option by students with disabilities and improving subsequent retention is the focus of a project within the Careers Advisory Service. Funded by the HEA, this three year partnership project between Trinity and the Institute of Technology Tallaght is being co-ordinated by Jim Jordan, Project Officer. Staff from each college, a student representative and representatives of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors make up the steering committee.
A report of a survey commissioned by AHEAD of 42 higher education institutions in the academic year 1998/99 shows a significant increase in the numbers of students with disabilities attending third level over the numbers attending in 1993/94. While this is an encouraging trend and represents a 90% increase, it still means that students with disabilities represent just 0.9% of the total undergraduate population.
The groups targeted for consultation in relation to this project are students, staff in each institution and second level guidance counsellors. Students in each college as well as second level guidance counsellors have already been surveyed in order to identify the issues and inform the work of the project. A survey of staff is in progress.
“Evidence from second level highlights a lack of knowledge among staff in this area. Guidance Counsellors declare that their professional training did not prepare them to work with students with disabilities. Work with this cohort is seen by some as extra on top of an already burgeoning workload. There is room for improvement in communication between colleges and second level. There is some confusion around college application for students with disabilities and a lack of transparency and commonality around entry routes,” explained Jim Jordan.
“In addition, evidence from students with disabilities would suggest that there is a lack of awareness and appreciation of their needs at second level. There is no systemic provision. They have experienced a deficit of information to help them in the decision making process. Some would say that expectations of them are generally lower than of their peers. At third level they attest to a higher level of flexibility and support but still find themselves constrained by the built environment, pedagogic practices, assistive provision and evaluation/assessment procedures,” he added.
For further information, please contact: Jim Jordan, Project Officer, Careers Advisory Service, E-mail: Jim.Jordan@tcd.ie / Tel: 608 3112.
TCD academics honoured in 216 year old
tradition
Three Trinity staff members are among the newly elected members of the Royal Irish Academy. Prof. Michael Jones, Department of Botany, Prof. John McGilp, Department of Physics and Prof. Eunan O’Halpin, Department of Modern History join those individuals who have gained an international reputation in their disciplines.
For 216 years the Royal Irish Academy has been honouring Ireland’s foremost academics by electing them as members of the Academy on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day. Today there are 320 members from the sciences, humanities and social sciences.
“Ireland can be proud of the high standards achieved by its top scientists and scholars. They are of a high international calibre and can be compared favourably against the best in the world. We are delighted to welcome these outstanding individuals to membership of the Royal Irish Academy and look forward to their contributions to our future activities,” commented Dr. Michael Ryan, President of the Royal Irish Academy.
Prof. Michael Jones researches climate-plant interactions, particularly the effects of climate on photosynthesis, growth and productivity. He is internationally recognised for his research on plants with C4 photosynthesis, their adaptation to temperate climates and their potential uses as energy crops. His current work has focussed on the effects of changing climate, and in particular the effects of rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, on agricultural and natural grasslands.
Prof. John McGilp has an international reputation in surface and interface physics, particularly in the area of the surface optical response, where he is one of the leaders in Europe of the emerging field of epioptics. His current research is focused on understanding the exploiting the nonlinear optical response of surfaces and interfaces using ultra-short laser pulses.
Prof. Eunan O’Halpin specialises in 20th century Irish and British history. He is among the most distinguished historians of modern Ireland. His recent research has focused on aspects of domestic and international security. Defending Ireland: the Irish state and its Enemies since 1922 (1999) and MI5 and Ireland, 1939-45: the official history (2003) represents the very best of contemporary Irish scholarship. His works adds significantly both to our understanding of modern Ireland, as well as to more general aspects of intelligence and state security policy.
New Fellowship Award in Dementia Studies
is launched
Congratulating Avril Dooley on being the first recipient of a new
Fellowship Award in Dementia Studies were, from left, Dr. Suzanne Cahill,
Director of the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre,
Dr. John Hegarty, Provost and Dr. Evelyn Mahon, Course Director of the
MSc in Applied Social Research
Links between the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre
(DSIDC) at St. James’s Hospital and Trinity were further consolidated
with the recent launch in College of a new post-graduate research award
in Dementia Studies. The scheme forms part of a growing commitment in
Ireland to increase professional awareness about dementia and to improve
standards of care and services for all those affected by the condition.
Avril Dooley, a MSc student in Applied Social Research, is the first recipient of the award and is now on a placement at the DSIDC. Her thesis will focus on the topic of dementia as a disability and the role of specialist care units in promoting quality of life and fostering more independent living.
“This new fellowship award will enable students from across a wide range of health and social science disciplines to undertake Masters research training leading to an improved understanding of the social and psychological needs of persons diagnosed with dementia,” explained Dr. Suzanne Cahill, Director of the DSIDC.
“Dementia is an age-related condition with an estimated 30,000 sufferers in Ireland. Population ageing means that the numbers of people presenting with Alzheimer’s Disease, which is the most common type, will increase significantly in the future. In the absence of a cure or treatment, it seems evident that the disability will need to be managed by social and community care policies aimed at providing the economic, social and emotional support needed by individuals and their family members,” Dr. Cahill added.
Policy Institute Publication
At
the launch of ‘The Containment of Heritage: Setting Limits to the
Growth of Heritage in Ireland’ were, from left, Prof. Bob Holton,
Director of the Policy Institute, author Mr. Pat Cooke and Dr. Michael
Ryan, Director of the Chester Beatty Library and President of the Royal
Irish Academy who launched the publication. The study is the 11th Blue
Paper in the series ‘Studies in Public Policy’ published by
Trinity’s Policy Institute.
Fulbright Scholars
Congratulations to the two Trinity students who have been awarded Fulbright
Scholarships for the 2003-04 academic year - Wendy Murray, Centre for
Deaf Studies, has been awarded the Fulbright-American Ireland Fund Scholarship
in Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University while Tanya Sheridan, a final
year student on the BA in Law and German course, has been awarded a Fulbright
Commission Scholarship to pursue an LLM at Harvard University.
Justin
Kilcullen, Director of Trocaire is presented a cheque for €15,000
for Trocaire’s Emergency Relief Fund for Africa by Vanessa Liston,
outgoing President of DU One World Society and Rev. Richard Sheehy, College
Chaplain. Over 200 staff and students took part in the 24-hour sponsored
fast.
Service for the Thanksgiving for the Gift of
Sport
This year’s Service for the Gift of Sport was indeed a special one with a procession of the Special Olympics World Summer Games Torch, carried into the College Chapel by Special Olympics athletes.
The annual Service, part of DUCAC’s tradition of celebrating the achievements of its sporting clubs, was organised by the College Chaplains and involved wonderful singing by the Chapel Choir. In his Address, the Senior Dean, Prof. Cyril Smyth warmly welcomed the athletes, coaches and officials of the Special Olympics Irish team.
The Senior Dean reflected that the Olympic Flame in its cauldron is one of the most visible symbols of the modern Olympic Games. “It will burn brightly in Croke Park this summer at the Special Olympics World Games. Not only will it symbolise purity, endeavour for perfection and struggle for victory or achievement, but peace and friendship among nations, much needed commodities in today’s turbulent World,” he said.
Two of Ireland’s first Olympic medallists were referred to by the Senior Dean, both of whom had links to Trinity - Oliver St. John Gogarty, writer and poet, was a graduate of the university and artist Jack B. Yeats was conferred with an LL.D. honoris causa. They were competitors for Ireland at the VIIIth Olympiad in Paris in 1924, although not in sport. From 1912 to 1948, in addition to athletic competitions, artists could compete in the areas of architecture, sculpture, painting, music and literature. Each work had to be related to sport. Jack B. Yeats won the Silver Medal for Painting for The Liffey Swim which now hangs in the National Gallery. Oliver St. John Gogarty won the Bronze medal for Literature for his epic poem Ode to the Tailltean Games.
The Service for the Gift of Sport was followed by Sporting Commons during which the Chapel Choir performed and guests joined in the College's sporting anthem, Nos Nomine Dominum. Prof. T.T. West, Chairman of DUCAC congratulated the 17 clubs present. A number of them won intervarsities, including DU Badminton, Boxing, Climbing, Equestrian, Hockey (Ladies), Karate and Rifle Clubs. The Men’s Hockey Club First XI have made it back to Division One of the Leinster Hockey League for next season. DU Harrier and Athletics Club won the JP O’Sullivan Cup for the Men’s Track and Field Athletic Intervarsity, adding to the Green Fox Trophy for the Men’s Cross Country won earlier in the year. The DU Football Club Under 20s beat Buccaneers in the All Ireland Championship and the First XV were promoted to Division Two of the All Ireland League next season for their 150th year of rugby.
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Last Updated:
16-Dec-2004
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