The Institute of Technology, Sligo was recently listed as a finalist in the Innovative Company of the Year award at Engineers Ireland annual awards. IT Sligo was the only college listed among the finalists which included such companies as IBM and ABB. The overall winner of the section was OpenHydro, a company that generates electricity from ocean tidal streams.

Brian Coll Lecturer, School of Engineering, IT Sligo and Louise O’Gorman, Open Learning Facilitator, IT Sligo attended the awards on behalf of the Institute. Brian Coll commented: ‘We were delighted to be recognised by Engineers Ireland for the innovative nature of our online courses and particularly in how they are addressing the need to upskill the workforce. The provision of live interactive lectures, remote labs and simulations to our students via the internet demonstrates that IT Sligo is a leader in the delivery of online education in Ireland.’

Jim Hanley (l), Head of School of Engineering, IT Sligo; Louise O’Gorman, Open Learning Facilitator, IT Sligo; Frank Carter, Head of Department of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, IT Sligo with their certificate for being nominated as a finalist in the Innovative Company of the Year award at Engineers Ireland Annual Awards.

The concept behind the Engineers Ireland Innovation awards is to recognise and reward innovation that is taking place across the country. The awards expanded this year to four categories including Innovative Company of the Year, Innovative Engineer of the Year, the long-standing Innovative Student Engineer of the Year award which is sponsored for the eleventh year running by Siemens, and the sustainability award sponsored by Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). Judges included John Walshe, Irish Independent Education Editor, Paul Rellis, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland, Eoghan Nolan, Online Sales & Operations Manager, Google, Dr Srdjan Krco, Senior Researcher in Ericsson Ireland Research Centre and John Power, Director General, Engineers Ireland.

For further information contact:

• Louise O’Gorman
• Open Learning Facilitator
• IT Sligo
• 071 9137249/9155319
• ogorman.louise@itsligo.ie

The Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) has awarded Dr. Marion Dowd of the School of Science, I.T. Sligo a Research Fellowship towards the Irish Cave Archaeology Project. Of 67 applicants, 17 individuals were successful in what has become a highly competitive and prestigious research award. This is the first time I.T. Sligo has been the recipient of an IRCHSS fellowship and it is one of the first instances where this award has been made to the IOT sector.

Dr. Dowd has been researching the archaeology of Irish caves for over 12 years and the primary purpose of the Irish Cave Archaeology Project is to write a book on the subject bringing together a series of research projects and postgraduate research. Academics from universities and museums across Ireland and Britain will collaborate on the project by undertaking specialist analysis of particular artifact assemblages that have been discovered in caves such as prehistoric pottery, lithics (stone tools), early medieval shrine fragments and medieval ceramics. The project will also involve a significant amount of fieldwork, surveying caves and mapping.

Dr. Marion Dowd, Lecturer, IT Sligo surveys the Sramore Caves on a recent filed trip

Approximately 700 caves are dotted around limestone regions of Ireland and of these, 100 have produced archaeological material. Most of the discoveries have been made by antiquarians in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and by cavers in more recent decades. It is only in recent years that the archaeological community is beginning to realise the significance and rich potential of caves as multi-period sites that have been used over the past 10,000 years. The prehistoric evidence points to the use of caves primarily for burial and ritual purposes whereas with the advent of Christianity, evidence emerges for occupation of caves. The religious dimension is not diminished however and from Medieval to modern times caves have been the focus for pilgrimage and veneration.

For further information, or if you have information on unpublished discoveries in caves or folklore and folk traditions related to caves in Ireland, please contact:

• Dr. Marion Down
• Lecturer, School of Science
• IT Sligo
• 071 9155255
• dowd.marion@itsligo.ie.

IT Sligo hosted a visit from Fulbright Senior Specialist, Dr Thaddeus K. Graczyk , in late August. Associate Professor Graczyk, from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH), Baltimore, US is a leading international expert on Cryptosporidium, which is a continuing problem in Irish drinking water systems. His visit focussed primarily on plans for a joint international workshop entitled ‘Water Quality – Issues We Cannot Afford to Ignore’. This will be jointly hosted by IT Sligo and JHSPH, with sponsorship by the EPA, and will be held in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone on October 28. The chief focus of the meeting will be on current Cryptosporidium research in Ireland. The Biomolecular Environmental Public Health (BEPH) research centre at IT Sligo is involved in three separate EPA funded Cryptosporidium projects, with other project partners primarily Dr. Graczyk and Dr.Theo de Waal (University College Dublin). At the workshop, IT Sligo researchers (Drs. Frances Lucy, Michelle Connolly and Ms. Hui-Wen Angel Cheng) and these named partners will present recent research findings on environmental , human and animal sources of cryptosporidiosis. There will also be sessions on the increasing problem caused by zebra mussel fouling of water abstraction facilities and on the latest Irish aquatic invaders, Lagarosiphon major (curly pondweed) and the shrimp Hemimysis , which are impacting the quality of Irish lakes.

While visiting Ireland, Dr. Graczyk joined members of BEPH, who gave a series of presentations at the Irish researchers’ symposium held during the ISEE (International Society for Environmental Epidemiology) conference at UCD on August 25.

In his role as Fulbright specialist, Dr. Graczyk provides a valuable, continuing advisory role for research carried out by BEPH at IT Sligo. This includes assessing laboratory techniques, reviewing publications and investigating future research opportunities.

For details on the workshop please contact Dr. Frances Lucy lucy.frances@itsligo.ie

Good interview skills are a necessity in the current economic climate. Recognising this, the Institute of Technology Sligo in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) North West Branch and the Department of Social and Family Affairs, has just completed an intensive Interview Skills Programme with fifteen jobseekers.

Over the past three weeks the participants benefited from two morning sessions each week designed to boost their confidence, improve career management opportunities and hone their job seeking and interview skills. This first course concluded today with “real interviews” using selection panels drawn from both IT Sligo and HR specialists from industries based in the North West.

‘The current difficult environment has resulted in a huge rise in jobseekers – most of whom are now facing job prospecting for the first time’ commented Niall McEvoy, Head of Technology Transfer and Information at IT Sligo. ‘The bar is now higher in terms of CV preparation and interview skills and this programme is designed to help jobseekers develop the skills and confidence necessary to perform well at interview. The programme is both practical and team based, using the best coaching and interview skills of practicing HR professionals to further develop the skills of jobseekers’.

Front Row (l-r) Andrew O’Grady, Rod Toner, Mary Phair – Dept of Social &Family Affairs, Mairead Higgins, Deirdre Ruddy, Debbie Woodward, Janette Gillen – Business Innovation Centre Manager, Fintan Hanson – Dept of Social & Family Affairs. Back Row: (l-r) Niall McEvoy – Head of Technology Transfer & Innovation IT Sligo, Gay Kelly, Adrian Kenny, Joshua Loisell, John Ryan, Niall Murray – Collins McNicholas.

The feedback from the course participants has been outstanding with special commendations for IT Sligo’s career’s staff, HR lecturers and HR professionals.

Further interview and job skills programmes for jobseekers are scheduled to run at IT Sligo. This programme is based in the Business Innovation Centre of IT Sligo and is conducted in a professional business environment. It includes CV preparation and review by professionals, ‘real’ applications and interview procedures with full debriefing. Information on eligibility for the next programme is available through your local Department of Family and Social Affairs.

For further information contact:

• Niall McEvoy
• Head of Technology Transfer & Innovation
• Institute of Technology, Sligo
• +353(0)71 9155385
• +353(0)71 9144500
• mcevoy.niall@itsligo.ie

Dr Brendan McCormack, Registrar, Institute of Technology, Sligo recently addressed ‘The Bologna Process and Employability’ colloquium . The colloquium discussed the ‘The Bologna Process’ which is looking at wide ranging reform of higher education in Europe. The ultimate aim of the process is to establish a European Higher Education Area by 2010 in which staff and students can move with ease and have fair recognition of their qualifications throughout Europe.

Pictured above (L to R): Mr Gerry O Sullivan (Bologna Coordinator, Higher Education Authority), professor Ellen Hazelkorn (Director of Research & Enterprise, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ms Teresa Wilde (Head of HR, Siemens Ltd), Dr Jim Murray (CEO, National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI)), John O Connor (Bologna Coordinator, NQAI), Dr Brendan McCormack (Registrar, Institute of Technology, Sligo)

For further information contact:

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The Institute of Technology, Sligo recently hosted a staff exchange programme with Aalen University in Germany. Antje Discher, the International Officer at the University, spent a week working with Eileen Curley, International Officer at Institute of Technology, Sligo. Antje worked alongside Eileen Curley, using the experience to meet with staff and further develop relations between the Colleges. ‘It was an opportunity to exchange ideas and experience the culture as well as seeing the workings of the international office’ she commented.

Antje Discher (L) International Officer from HTW Aulen University in Germany with Eileen Curley International Officer, IT Sligo. Antje spent a week at IT Sligo as part of the Erasmus Lifelong Learning Exchange programme.

As an outcome of the visit, it is planned to further develop existing student exchanges to include student work experience blocks in Germany. Each year one hundred European students study at IT Sligo and live in Sligo, as part of the EU Erasmus programme.

For further information contact:

• Eileen Curley
• International Officer
• Institute of Technology Sligo
• curley.eileen@itsligo.ie
• 00 353 (0) 71 91 55384

CEIM trade mission outside Sun Micro Systems meeting with Aisling MacRunnels (Vice President, Application Platform Software Marketing)

Front Row – James McGloin Eointech, Enda Madden Groupnos, Patsy Donaghy LYIT, Joanne Grehan WDC, Janette Gillen IT Sligo
Back row – Dr Heinrich Anhold IT Sligo, Aidian McKenna SokoHealth,Ultan Faherty WESTBIC.

SAN FRANCISCO – July 2009

Commercializing Entrepreneurial Ideas and Management Development Program (CÉIM), a successful Irish enterprise development program offered by the Institute of Technology, Sligo (IT, Sligo), Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) and managed by WESTBIC conducted a trade mission to Silicon Valley from July 20 to 25, 2009. The mission has provided an opportunity for select CÉIM technology participants to meet with Silicon Valley businesses, participate in networking and educational events and showcase Irish technology innovation.

Ireland has long been a hub for multi-national technology companies. However, the country also has a strong commitment to building a smart economy focused on entrepreneurship and other initiatives. One such program is CÉIM, an enterprise development initiative offering selected entrepreneurs training, financial support, mentoring, networking opportunities and incubation space.

For more information: www.ceim.ie

CÉIM technology start-ups participating in this trade mission include:

• Sokohealth, an aggregator of private healthcare providers in the US http://www.sokohealth.com
• Text-a-Track, a company enabling artists to sell music via text messaging http://www.downloadmusic.ie
• Trinity Innovations, a developer of software for the print publishing industry www.3dissue.com
• Eointec Solutions, a provider of solutions for the security and smart home industries http://www.eointecsolutions.com
• GroupNos Software, a provider of clinical groupware software to analyze and manage the treatment of mental and behavioral health
• JB Interactive Mobile Marketing, a provider of permission-based mobile marketing solutions
• Synergy Flow, a company developing a facility in North-West Ireland for the purpose of commercializing medical devices

Irish entrepreneurs seek Silicon Valley pot of gold – Author Robert Mullins an Examiner from San Jose reports on the CEIM group visiting Silicon Valley.

Click here to view publication

Listen to a podcast from The Business Show on RTE 1

• Janette Gillen
• BIC Centre Manager
• IT Sligo
• 071 91 55315
• 071-91 44500
• gillen.janette@itsligo.ie

Institute of Technology, Sligo is making its part time Higher Certificate in Business programme available online from September. Students will have the choice of studying on line with lectures delivered by podcast, or they can attend lectures face to face on campus.

‘This flexibility of approach is integral to addressing the needs of our part-time students’ said Pat Scanlon, Head of Business. ‘They can choose either study option, or a combination of both, when partaking in our blended learning and Distance Learning programme (ODL).’ He continued ‘We have received an upsurge in applications for our Business Courses in the past months, as people seek a high calibre qualification in general business.

Pat Scanlon, Head of Department of Business, IT Sligo, answered queries about options for Online and Business Learning at the recent information evening held in the Institute

The Higher Certificate in Business opens a range of job opportunities in the public and private sectors, as well as providing a foundation for people interested in running their own business or advancing to further study.

For further information contact:

• Pat Scanlon
• Head of Department of Business
• School of Business and Humanities, Institute of Technology Sligo
• 071 9155280
• scanlon.pat@itsligo.ie

On Thursday 25th June 2009, Professor Philip Farrell of the University of Wisconsin will visit the Institute of Technology Sligo to present an evening lecture at 7.30pm in room A0004 on “Studying The Ancient Origin of Cystic Fibrosis”. He is currently working on a collaborative project in this area with Dr Jeremy Bird, School of Science, Institute of Technology Sligo and he will outline some of their recent results and their proposed future project.

Prof. Philip Farrell of the University of Wisconsin will give a guest lecture at IT Sligo On Thursday 25th June 2009

Philip Farrell is Professor of Paediatrics and Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and served as Dean of the University of Wisconsin Medical School from 1984 to 2006. As Professor of Paediatrics and Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Professor Farrell concentrates his efforts on cystic fibrosis newborn screening and population health promotion.

The high incidence of cystic fibrosis (CF) is mainly due to one mutation (F508), but the reasons for high levels of this mutation in the European and Euro-American populations has not been explained, although a selective advantage for the carriers has long been suspected. The Irish population has a particularly high incidence of the F508 mutation. Dr. Farrell and an interdisciplinary, international team are applying genetic archaeology to address various hypotheses directly regarding the genetic history and spread of this mutation in human populations.

Their pilot studies have utilized prehistoric skeletons from Austria (La Tene culture of the Celts) and several other European countries to analyze molar teeth for DNA markers and femur specimens for radiocarbon dating, paleo-diet reconstruction, and trace metal determinations. Results thus far reveal that F508del was present in the skeletons of 3 of 32 humans who lived during circa 500 to 100 BC near the Danube River and that many such inhabitants had high levels of arsenic and lead in their bones.

Pilot studies have utilized prehistoric skeletons to analyze molar teeth for DNA markers and femur specimens for radiocarbon dating, paleo-diet reconstruction, and trace metal determinations

Dr Farrell will outline possible extension of this study to an early Irish population and initial results on the recovery of DNA from human remains, and the reason behind why such a study may answer some important questions about the emergence of the cystic fibrosis mutation in the Irish population.

Professor Farrell’s lecture is at 7.30pm on Thursday 25th June in lecture theatre A0004 at Institute of Technology Sligo.

For further information please contact:

• Jeremy Bird, PhD.
• Department of Applied Science
• School of Science, Institute of Technology Sligo
• 00-353-719155222 Extension 5101 or Extension 256
• bird.jerry@itsligo.ie

IT Sligo recently put its online teaching infrastructure to good use in giving several presentations live to Zaragoza University in Spain. The live link up was set up with the technology used for delivery of on-line courses by IT Sligo. This event was organised by Grace Corcoran, Lecturer in Mathematics in the School of Engineering as part of an Erasmus Mobility initiative. The event was opened by Grace who was in the University of Zaragoza, Spain where she explained how IT Sligo was complying with the Bologna Accord. Several presentations were then made by IT Sligo staff from the Institute in Sligo. Stephanie Donegan, Education and Quality Manager, presented on Quality Assurance at IT Sligo, Eileen Curley, International Officer, spoke about student mobility, Etain Kiely, Learning and Teaching Coordinator, presented on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), meeting learning outcomes and assessment criteria and how this translates into practice and, finally, Brian Mulligan, Open Learning Coordinator and Grace concluded the event with a presentation on the development of online distance learning in IT Sligo.

Members of the Educational Development Unit on webcam at IT Sligo taking a break from the live link up with the University of Zaragoza, Spain which was conducted recently

The presentation was very timely as the University of Zaragoza is now beginning to restructure their programmes to comply with the Bologna Accord. Grace was presented with a piece of pottery by Dr. Fernando Tricas the vice director of Quality at the Centro Politécnico Superior of the University of Zaragoza.