NUI Galway News Recap 2021

January 

20/01 – Breast cancer specialists in the Lambe Institute contribute to international study on the identification of nine breast cancer risk genes 

25/01 – PhD student Sukanya Saikia was selected as a Climate Force Ambassador for the 2021 International Antarctic Expedition 

February 

2/02 – A two-year project, PANDEM-2, which will be led by NUI Galway, was awarded €10m in funding to develop IT systems to improve the EU’s preparedness and response to future pandemics 

03/02 – Researchers identified genomic signatures in women developing the most common type of breast cancer that can be associated with long-term survival.  

19/02 – CÚRAM and BIOFORGE Lab at the University of Valladolid in Spain, have developed an injectable hydrogel that could help repair and prevent further damage to the heart muscle after a heart attack. 

March  

02/03 – J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics secured global recognition for excellence with accreditation by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. 

12/03 – Funding of €4.3 million awarded for the masterplan development of Nuns’ Island and Earl’s Island as the Innovation and Creativity District in Galway.  

29/03 – The Build-a-Box campaign saw students delivering over 100 parcels to the most vulnerable to help ease isolation. 

April 

26/04 – International partnership between NUI Galway, the International Organisation for Migration and Irish Aid established to offer media training on migration and misinformation. 

May 

18/05 – Second annual National Remote Working Survey shows 95% in favour of working remotely. 

26/05 – Minister Simon Harris T.D. launched NUI Galway’s Domestic Violence Leave Policy, the first Higher Education Institution to do so in Ireland. 

27/05 – Scientists at the Venom Systems Lab confirms that a bite from the Noble False Widow spider can result in symptoms very similar to the true black widow spiders and some severe cases require hospitalisation. 

June 

13/06 – Study shows high rates of kidney disease among adults with diabetes, with almost half of patients attending clinic showing signs of kidney damage. 

July 

16/07 – Sheol an Dr Máire Geoghegan Quinn Straitéis na Gaeilge 2021-25, OR Dr Máire Geoghegan Quinn launched A Strategy for the Irish Language 2021-25 

August 

22/08 – A global research project sponsored by NUI Galway found that critically-ill Covid-19 patients are less likely to die or to require invasive ventilation if lying prone on their stomachs while receiving oxygen. 

27/08 – Fourteen Irish Travellers were recognised at a special ceremony after completing NUI Galway Access Centre’s first Educational Transition Project.  

September 

08/09 – The University renewed Bronze Athena SWAN Award in recognition of the University’s continued progression on gender equality, with Bronze award status also been granted to five of NUI Galway’s Schools. The School of Nursing and Midwifery received a Bronze Award in March 2021. 

13/09 – Owen Ward appointed the first full-time Traveller Education Officer to lead the teaching and learning of students from the Traveller community. 

October 

06/10 –  Caroline Ní Fhlatharta is appointed the University’s first ever Irish Language Officer. 

19/10 – NUI Galway launches Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-26, which will see an investment of €5million under its Global Challenges Programme. 

November 

05/11 The University launched Speak Out, an online tool for students and staff to anonymously report violence and harassment. 

08/11 – NUI Galway earns a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Gold rating for sustainability achievements by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). 

14/11 – NUI Galway named University of the Year 2022 in the new edition of The Sunday Times Good University Guide. 

16/11 – Professor Henry Curran, Professor Donal O’Regan, and Professor Patrick W. Serruys (pictured) were named on the annual Highly Cited Researchers 2021 list from Clarivate. 

December 

2/12 – INTERSTROKE, a global study co-led by NUI Galway into causes of stroke, found that one in 11 survivors experienced a period of anger or upset in the one hour leading up to it. One in 20 patients had engaged in heavy physical exertion.