Impact & Opinions | Tionchar & Tuairimí

Research

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SDG Champion
18 December 2023
24  MINS

“Ragged Desolation of Men and Things”?

Breandán Mac Suibhne, Laura Kelly, Niall Whelehan

In an essay published in July 2023 in the catalogue for Christina McBride’s Críocha an Chroí / Heartland exhibition in An Gailearaí, Gaoth Dobhair, historians Breandán Mac Suibhne of the University of Galway and Laura Kelly and Niall Whelehan of the University of Stratheclyde respond to her images of the rock-strewn landscape of north-west Donegal.

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SDG Champion
18 December 2023
11  MINS

Críocha an Chroí—An Artist’s Return to the Heartland

Christina McBride

A residency in the University of Galway’s Gaoth Dobhair Centre in 2022–23 allowed Glasgow visual artist Christina McBride to explore the natural and built environment of her mother’s homeplace in nearby Bun an Inbhir in a series of analogue photographs developed using local fauna and peatland materials. McBride’s residency in Donegal and the resulting exhibition, Críocha an Chroí / Heartland—was made possible by a partnership involving the University, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Ealaín na Gaeltachta and the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny. In autumn 2023, a second exhibition, Thall Udaí / Over By, focusing on the people of the place, was mounted in Sean-Scoil Bhun an Inbhir and a third is planned for Glasgow in 2024.

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SDG Champion
18 December 2023
14  MINS

The Secrets to our Future, preserved in Climate Archives: A 32-Day Research Expedition

Dr Audrey Morley

Observing marine sediments in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Seas, Dr Audrey Morley looks to the past to further understand the future of climate change. Here, the University of Galway lecturer reveals to Cois Coiribe how she prepared for a 32–day-long journey across the Arctic aboard the RV Celtic Explorer, and what Research Project SiTrAc’s findings tells us about climate change’s tipping points.

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SDG Champion
15 December 2023
18  MINS

Imagine a Futuristic, Sustainable City between Galway and Dublin

Prof Padraic Kenna

We like to mix the global and the local in Galway. We talk a lot about climate, justice, land and housing, which is why the Sustainable Development Goals mean so much to us. Our greatest task now is to envisage the carbon-free, sustainable and inclusive communities of the future. ‘THE LINE’ offers a glimpse into what these could look like. 

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SDG Champion
15 December 2023
23  MINS

Shaping MedTech’s Future: Gerry Kilcommins, Medtronic

Gerry Kilcommins

Medtronic’s Vice President of Global Platform Manufacturing & Medtronic Ireland Country Director, Gerry Kilcommins sits down with Cois Coiribe to discuss corporate responsibility in healthcare and sustainability, and the significance of the Medtronic–University of Galway partnership in cementing Galway’s place at the epicenter of one of top world MedTech hubs.

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SDG Champion
15 December 2023
33  MINS

Dr Martin Walsh OBE: Understanding Viruses at the Molecular Level

Dr Martin Walsh OBE

University of Galway alum, Dr Martin Walsh OBE has spent 30+ years studying the structure of biological molecules. In his work at Diamond Light Source, Oxfordshire, Dr Walsh uses X-ray crystallography to image a range of biological macromolecules from proteins and nucleic acids to viruses at the molecular level. The technique relies on generating crystals of the macromolecules which are then illuminated with X-rays to determine their atomic structures. At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the skills of Dr Walsh and his team were diverted towards early drug discovery in the race to address the worldwide health crisis. Now in 2023, he has been named an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to Science during COVID-19.

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SDG Champion
17 November 2023
17  MINS

Aligning our Research with Sustainable Development Goals

Prof James Livesey

In today’s hyper developed and interconnected world, we see isolated actions give rise to global repercussions like never before. As a framework for addressing global issues, the UN Sustainable Development Goals are a call to action for universities to consider the wider impact of their research. Here VP for Research & Innovation, Prof James Livesey explains how the SDGs have inspired a new approach to research strategy and prioritisation.

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SDG Champion
07 November 2023
13  MINS

The Real-World Effects of Cyberbullying

Dr Mairéad Foody

Easy access to virtual social space has seen young people face dangers of cyberbullying, sextortion and online victimisation. Many primary schools have taken steps to ban smartphones on school grounds, following the launch of government guidelines on restrictions of smartphone use among young people. According to Assistant Professor of Psychology, Dr Mairéad Foody, research is key in informing quality prevention and intervention among schools, parents and guardians.

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SDG Champion
06 November 2023
22  MINS

Cultural Values in a Sustainable Future

Prof Lillis Ó Laoire

We may not associate SDGs with culture, but the UN’s 2030 Agenda acknowledges the need to safeguard the world’s diverse cultural heritages, and the role of culture in fostering a collective sense of responsibility and belonging. Award-winning writer and singer, Prof Lillis Ó Laoire asks: how can we steward our cultural heritages to realign them with sustainable futures?

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SDG Champion
04 October 2023
14  MINS

Food Systems are Failing SDG Efforts: What are the Trade-offs?

Dr Anne Mullen

“The goals and targets of the SDGs don’t always synergise – there are many trade-offs – and fixation on individual SDGs is a hurdle for progress.” According to Dr Anne Mullen of the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and the Ryan Institute, sustainable food systems are a key entry-point to accelerate progress across multiple SDGs. University of Galway is uniquely placed to understand and act on food systems – and our designation as SDG Champion gives us an even greater voice and responsibility to do so.

videos
01 August 2023

Cois Coiribe: Our Research, in Brief

Looking for insights informed by data and research? Cois Coiribe is University of Galway’s platform for research and opinion from our global academic and alumni community – bringing clarity to tomorrow’s challenges.

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Resilient Innovation
06 July 2023
20  MINS

Teaching Students to Think Critically about Digital Storytelling

Deborah Miranda Roldán

The advent of Artificial Intelligence has transformed the landscape of media, presenting society with enormous challenges as well as opportunities. In this era of rapid technological advancements, the cultivation of accountability and critical thinking skills within these disciplines is of paramount importance. The challenge for universities will be how best to prepare graduates to navigate the complexities of the digital age. 

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Resilient Innovation
22 June 2023
16  MINS

The Nine-to-Five is Dead: What’s Next?

Assistant Professor Maeve O’Sullivan

Which ‘genius day’ do you take off as part of your four-day week? Does your co-bot take milk in their coffee? Fancy a ‘match-making’ session for remote workers in your company retreat? These are questions workers and workplace leaders face in the new world of work. Predictions about the future world of work range from organisational inertia to a complete robotic takeover. Assistant Professor Maeve O’Sullivan, Lecturer in Human Resource Management and Decent Work, unpacks some of the issues to be tackled as we contemplate this uncertain future.

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Resilient Innovation
22 June 2023
17  MINS

Lua Health: How Algorithms Can Help Detect Mental Health Issues at Work

Mihael Arcan, Fionn Delahunty

With support from the University of Galway, Lua Health is working to overcome the stigma around mental health in the workplace. Using machine-learning algorithms – this research-led start-up interprets how we speak and write at work to detect early signs of poor mental wellbeing – combining expertise in both natural language processing and clinical psychology.

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Resilient Innovation
22 June 2023
20  MINS

Jack O’Meara: Developing New RNA Therapies to Treat Liver Disease 

Jack O'Meara

University of Galway alum, Jack O’Meara is the co–founder and CEO of Ochre Bio, the cutting-edge startup that is developing new RNA therapies to treat liver disease. In 2023, O’Meara was named one of Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’ star entrepreneurs in Science & Healthcare for breakthroughs in genomics empowering scientists to swap unreliable animal testing for studies on discarded human donor livers. 

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Creative Galway
09 February 2023
15  MINS

What Makes Us Empathetic?

Bernadine Brady, Conn Holohan

While there is evidence to suggest that empathy is on the decline in society, using varied methodologies, researchers at University of Galway are exploring new ways to counter these trends. Dr Bernadine Brady was Principal Investigator in a recent study at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre (UCFRC) assessing the attitudes of 700 12–16-year-olds in Ireland on empathy, social values and civic behaviour. In Immersive Empathy, Principal Investigator Dr Conn Holohan and his colleagues are investigating empathy through a different lens, empowering clients of Galway Simon to tell their life stories and reflections on homelessness through oral history and virtual reality.

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Creative Galway
11 January 2023
11  MINS

Making a Cultural Galway

Dr. Patrick Collins

Creativity as an aspirational goal has found its way into policy and popular discourse in recent years. It is a goal that, according to Patrick Collins – University of Galway Lecturer and author of the upcoming Galway: Making a Capital of Culture – requires a historical, cultural and geographical context. While Galway boasts a rich creative economy, here Patrick asks: does it have the capacity to support young creatives to make new types of culture in the future? Feature image: Artist: Galway Community Circus. Performance/event: LifeLine. Photographer: Emilija Jefremova.

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Creative Galway
15 December 2022
15  MINS

Laughing to Learn

Dr. Jessamyn Fairfield

Why might a Lecturer in Physics at University of Galway go about training hundreds of academics to perform comedy around their research? According to Bright Club Ireland founder Dr Jessamyn Fairfield, comedy is a creative process, a remixing of stories with the aim of flipping one’s perspective and piercing through the tension of a watchful audience. With the toolkit of improv comedy in hand, Jessamyn is building confidence, connection and innovative learning methods among a variety of academic fields.

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Creative Galway
15 December 2022
12  MINS

Telling the Story of Sexual Consent in Ireland

Dr Charlotte McIvor

We need to change national conversations around sexual consent; creativity makes that possible, says Dr Charlotte McIvor.

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Creative Galway
15 December 2022
14  MINS

Science Needs Storytelling

Lindsay Deely and Claire Riordan

Communication is key, according to Lindsay Deely and Claire Riordan, in reaping the rewards of scientific research. At its best, science communication connects complex concepts with the human condition—bringing the stories behind the research to light. This human-centred approach to science is the driving force behind Science on Screen, a partnership between CÚRAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices at University of Galway, and the creative platform, Ardán.

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Sustainability
05 July 2022
14  MINS

Tackling Energy Consumption – We Have More Power than We Think

Prof Frances Fahy, Professor Frances Fahy

A recent study led by Prof Frances Fahy and Dr Gary Goggins shows evidence that people can significantly reduce energy use when given the tools to challenge their everyday practices. If implemented at societal level, these savings could play a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonising the economy.

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Sustainability
18 May 2022
30  MINS

Taking Risks on Life on this Planet

Tom McDermott, Dr Denis O’Hora

More than ever, we understand the causes of climate change and the likely consequences of inaction. So, what stops us from reducing carbon emissions in a meaningful way? Lecturer in Economics of Climate Change & Development, Tom McDermott and Behavioural Scientist, Dr Denis O’Hora investigate why we, as a society, have been unable to make greater progress in tackling this existential challenge.

articles
26 April 2022
11  MINS

Recent Graduate Profile – Amanie Issa – LLM, 2021 

LLM graduate Amanie Issa shares her experience of moving from Bethlehem to Galway to study at NUI Galway in the middle of a pandemic.

podcasts
04 February 2022

AI & Higher Education

Join Tom Felle and his guest Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of NUI Galway in this edition of the Cois Coiribe Podcast – a series that explores major societal issues and the role that NUI Galway, and our global alumni network play in creating new knowledge, in research, in policy making and in problem solving. Here Prof Ó hÓgartaigh shares his views on the future of the university as concept, campus and community.

videos
20 December 2021

NUI Galway Global Challenges

NUI Galway Global Challenges is a targeted research initiative to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues. The programme will offer support to multi-disciplinary teams as they begin to pursue genuinely novel research and innovation and engage with others around the world. For more information on the NUI Galway Global Challenges click here.

articles
17 December 2021
8  MINS

Editor’s Note

A note from the editorial team of the Cois Coiribe winter edition, ‘AI and Human Creativity’.

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Internationalisation
29 July 2021
18  MINS

In Conversation With: Professor Tim O’Brien

The Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences – a father of five, a dual US-Irish citizen and an endochrinologist – sat down with Cois Coiribe to share his views on internationalisation and how it influenced his career and how he values its place in the University.

articles
28 July 2021
4  MINS

Artificial Intelligence Next Step for Medtech

Prof Derek O'Keeffe

Hundreds of patients are having their voices and coughs recorded as part of a global project using Artificial Intelligence to detect minute changes caused by Covid.

articles
04 June 2021
30  MINS

175 Years of Memorable Moments

2020 marked the 175th anniversary of the foundation of the National University of Ireland, Galway. Here, we take a look back at the major milestones that have occurred throughout the history of the university

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Equality
28 April 2021
16  MINS

Loneliness and inclusion by MA in Public Advocacy & Activism students

Students in NUI Galway's MA in Public Advocacy & Activism, School of English and Creative Arts

Students in NUI Galway’s MA in Public Advocacy & Activism, School of English and Creative Arts offer some thoughts on their experiences of having come to Ireland to live and study.

articles
15 December 2020
6  MINS

NUI Galway’s Research – Covid-19 Response

Prof Lokesh Joshi,

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