Latest news with #MunsterTechnologicalUniversity
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Cork town to host a 5km walk to raise awareness for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
The 5km walk will begin outside Macroom GAA at 11am on Sunday, and is expected to be a 'lovely event' according to Fundraising Team Lead Chris Bennett. 'It will be a lovely event, especially if the weather is fine. 'Families and dogs will be very welcome to come along and join us on the day. 'It will give people the chance to take part in a nice old walk, meet our volunteers and find out a little bit more about what the charity does,' he said. The charity will celebrate its 50th year in operation next year and has, in its lifespan to date, provided independence and mobility for people with visual impairment and support for families of children with Autism. Mr Bennett added that the charity is very proud of its Cork roots. 'We are known as a national charity, but we are proud to be known as a Cork-based charity. 'We are one of the few charities that would have all their main offices and everything in the county. 'We are also looking for volunteers in Macroom and parts of West Cork to help us with our fundraising campaigns,' he added. Volunteers will be raising funds for the charity outside Dunnes Store on Saturday from 9am until 2pm. They will also raise money in Macroom town centre on Friday from 9am to 2pm. Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind recently announced a partnership with Munster Technological University to provide training programmes for their dogs across their six Cork and Kerry campuses, and Mr Bennett described the partnership as 'fantastic.' 'The partnership with MTU is fantastic because it gives us access to their campuses across Cork and Kerry as well. 'For dog trainers, that's gold because it allows them to work with dogs in a variety of different environments and distractions. 'You can imagine on a campus there will be cars, grass cutting, potentially other animals walking around and these distractions can only help the dogs to learn and deal with them,' he concluded. If you want to become a 'puppy raiser' please contact: pups@ or phone 0818 506 300.
Agriland
15-05-2025
- Science
- Agriland
Walsh Scholars Gold Medal goes to PHD student who examined welfare of calves
A PhD student in Teagasc's animal and grassland research and innovation programme, Luca van Dijk, has been awarded the Walsh Scholars Gold Medal. Luca van Dijk's PhD research examined the health and welfare of young calves transported from Ireland to the Netherlands. According to Teagasc her research found that 'prolonged fasting during transport impacts calves more severely than the journey itself'. It also highlighted that Luca van Dijk's research demonstrated that 'providing milk replacer during ferry transport significantly improves calf health and wellbeing'. Teagasc said these findings have 'direct relevance for Irish and EU policy'. Gold medal Luca, who grew up in The Netherlands, is a Walsh Scholar registered with Munster Technological University under the supervision of Dr. Muireann Conneely (Teagasc) and Dr Gearóid Sayers (MTU). Before starting her Walsh Scholarship at Teagasc, she completed her master's degree at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, where she studied automatic methods to detect disease in veal calves. She has said said that her passion for animal welfare was sparked during hands-on work with cattle in remote Australia and that she hopes to continue postdoctoral research in animal welfare after her PhD studies. The Walsh Scholars Gold Medal, the highest honour given to a postgraduate student in the Teagasc programme and this year, 39 final-year scholars applied for the 2025 Walsh Scholars of the Year competition. Applicants were assessed across five core competencies, submitted written applications, completed science communication training, and – if shortlisted – took part in interviews with external assessors. According to Teagasc Director, Professor Frank O'Mara, completing a PhD is a major achievement, and the Walsh Scholars of the Year finalists have shown 'outstanding ability, determination, and vision throughout their journey'. 'Their research spans a diverse range of topics, each contributing in meaningful ways to the future of agriculture, food, and rural development,' Prof. O'Mara added. Walsh Scholars of the Year 2025 In addition to the gold medal, awards were presented to top scholars across Teagasc's four research programmes. These included: Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Programme Gold Medal winner: Luca van Dijk (Dutch); 2nd Place: Sofia Tisocco (Argentine) – Developed biogas yield models for co-digestion of grass silage and slurry; 3rd Place: Charles Dwan (Irish) – Investigated methane emissions from pasture composition and animal traits. Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme 1st Place: Rajas Shinde (Indian) – Developed a grass-based biorefinery model to co-create climate solutions with farmers; 2nd Place: Fatima Latif Azam (Spanish) – Used genomics to breed potato varieties resistant to common scab; 3rd Place: Virgile Ballandras (French) – Created DNA tools for pest monitoring to reduce pesticide use. Food Programme 1st Place: Mariana Maçãs (Portuguese) – Incorporated Irish pea flour into high-protein breads through novel milling; 2nd Place: Francesca Bietto (Italian) – Built the first in vitro infant gut model to test formula impacts; 3rd Place: Animesh Singh Sengar (Indian) – Explored plant-based meats from Irish-grown pulses using extrusion. Rural Economy and Development Programme 1st Place: Holly Mullan (Irish) – Researched farm succession and social sustainability in rural Ireland; 2nd Place: Carlos Francisco-Cruz (Mexican) – Created regional GreenHouse Gas emissions models to support policy targeting; 3rd Place: Felipe Aguiar-Noury (Ecuadorian) – Analysed adoption of sustainable fertiliser practices across 700 plus farms.
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
North Kerry learners celebrate completion of Irish language programme at Teach Siamsa Finuge
Adult learners keen to get speaking 'as Gaeilge' took part in the Irish language programme over a number of weeks and received special certificates of participation. The Blas Beo programme was delivered by Dr Muiris Ó Laoire, of Munster Technological University, and was supported by Karen Trench. Adults came from well beyond the borders of Finuge to participate in the Teach Siamsa classes, in which they were put into groups categorised as beginners and intermediates. The course was met with great enthusiasm by its participants and proved to be a tremendous success in improving the speaking ability of students. Teach Siamsa is working with Irish language officer Aodán Mac Gearailt to promote the Gaeilge in the locality and plans are already underway to offer a new round of classes for both adults and young people starting in September. Teach Siamsa will announce details of the upcoming programmes on its Facebook and Instagram pages.
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Science
- Irish Independent
Cork MTU astronomer says promising signs of extra-terrestrial life are very ‘exciting for students'
The James Webb Space Telescope was used to look at the light that goes through the atmosphere and they discovered two molecules that suggested they discovered two molecules that on Earth are associated with life on the exoplanet known as K2-18b. Astronomers at Cambridge University detected the most promising signs of extra-terrestrial life to date by using data from James Webb Space Telescope, and the Head of Blackrock Castle Observatory at Munster Technological University (MTU) spoke to The Corkman about the revelations. The James Webb Space Telescope was used to look at the light that goes through the atmosphere on the exoplanet known as K2-18b and they discovered two molecules that are indelibly associated with life on Earth.
Irish Examiner
26-04-2025
- Science
- Irish Examiner
Meet the Cork teens hoping to win the Robotics World Championship in Texas
At a time when most summer jobs entail pulling pints or serving 99s, schoolboy Cillian O'Toole is making parts for bomb disposal robots. Of course the 17-year-old, who attends Coláiste Choilm secondary school in Ballincollig isn't one to brag. On the contrary, his humility has become a running joke within the school's robotics team. Cillian O'Toole works on electroplating the team's robot, giving it a fresh green finish ahead of its journey to Texas. Picture: Chani Anderson Cillian is joined by his teammates Colm Doyle, Fionn Beale Walsh, Ferdia Cussen Gannon and Sean Springorum as they prepare for their biggest challenge yet, the Vex World Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas, this May. Known as the world's largest robotics contest, it will see robots tackle specific challenges, testing their design, durability and programming. This year's VEX V5 Robotics Competition High Stakes event involves a 12' x 12' square field where machines battle it out by scoring rings on stakes. The team put their robot through its paces. This year's VEX V5 Robotics Competition High Stakes event involves a 12' x 12' square field where machines battle it out by scoring rings on Chani Anderson It will be a first for the teens, who earned their place in the finals after securing a win in the regional finals held in Munster Technological University, Cork last February. Collectively known as Nuts and Bolts, the team is enjoying a tinkering session as they make the finishing touches to their beloved machine. The banter is in full force as the students unleash their impressive creation. The Gaelcholáiste Choilm robotics team, from left, Cillian O'Toole, Fionn Beale Walsh, Ferdia Cussen Gannon, Sean Springorum and Colm Doyle put their robot through its paces during a practice session as they prepare for the VEX World Finals in Texas. Picture: Chani Anderson Fionn Beale Walsh, who only joined the team last year after undergoing knee surgery, praised his teammates when met by the Irish Examiner. 'I know very little compared to the others,' he said. 'I want to be a musician when I leave school so that's my thing, more so than the robotics but I've learned so much. Everyone is so knowledgeable. Cillian is far too humble. He's even made a bomb disposal robot.' Cillian interjects insisting that 'it wasn't a big deal". 'I just built a part for the bomb disposal robot,' he says referring to his part-time job in an engineering firm. 'I didn't build the robot itself.' He's not the only humble member of the group. I'm told that Sean has created parts for airplanes in his part-time job at an engineering firm. Collectively known as Nuts and Bolts, the team enjoys a tinkering session as they make the finishing touches to their beloved machine. Picture: Chani Anderson Right now, though, they are focused on the task at hand as their baby gets ready to break America. They don't have a name for it yet but Nuts and Bolts member Colm Doyle jokes that they look upon their robot like parents with a newborn. 'There are a lot of jokes that I'm like the new dad with the baby pulling out the photographs to show friends. They just smile and nod.' Colm Doyle of the Gaelcholáiste Choilm robotics team pictured with the awards that earned them a place at the VEX World Finals in Texas. Picture: Chani Anderson Colm said it will be difficult to see the robot taken apart. 'We'll keep him around to use as demos for open days but sooner or later it will have to be taken apart. There's a possibility we might be able to see the same parts on display in other robots though.' The 17-year-old spoke about his dream robot build. 'I saw this really cool thing that Nasa did where they made a drone fly around Mars. It was really cutting-edge technology done on a really low budget because they didn't think it would work. "I like the way they were working on it against the odds. It was so restricted in what it could do. I'd love to do something like that. It would be amazing to build a machine that goes off exploring another planet.' Sean Springorum: 'I was 15 when I made my own computer. The power supply did blow up but I was able to get it replaced.' Picture Chani Anderson Sean Springorum has always been skilled with his hands. Not content with purchasing a computer, he decided to make his own two years ago. 'It's cheaper because you're not paying for labour,' he explained. 'I was 15 when I made my own computer. The power supply did blow up but I was able to get it replaced.' He admits that his interests don't always lend themselves well to breaktime conversation. Physics teacher Tara Lokhurst, who was awarded Best Teacher at the recent VEX competition in MTU, pictured with her award and the Gaelcholáiste Choilm robotics team. Picture: Chani Anderson 'Usually at lunch my friends are on about some new phrase they've heard about online or what was on their social media feed. None of these things really have any meaning but you can normally wade through the conversation to get to the interesting parts.' Tara Lokhorst, who teaches science, physics and computers at the school, says the boys make a great team. 'I'm really proud. They have been doing this for four years now and they are getting better and better. Working as a team, there are never any hurdles they can't overcome. They always come up with a solution and work around problems together. "If they go into engineering or programming they will already have built all those skills as teenagers in school. They don't know how much this is going to stand to them.' Engineering teacher Nigel O'Callaghan praised the students for their strong work ethic. Ferdia Cussen Gannon, one of five students from Gaelcholáiste Choilm's robotics team that has qualified for the VEX World Robotics Finals in Texas next month. The team is currently upgrading their robot ahead of the trip and fundraising to cover the €25,000 cost. Picture: Chani Anderson 'They've shown how much growth there can be in extracurricular activities other than GAA and rugby. This gives students the opportunity to meet like-minded people.' He lauded the team for inspiring younger students. 'What they do inspires and gets people interested. There are a number of levels. To start with you have a list of parts similar to that of a Lego set. For the younger ones you have a prescribed robot but this has limitations. Colm Doyle, team captain of Gaelcholáiste Choilm's robotics team: 'There are a lot of jokes that I'm like the new dad with the baby pulling out the photographs to show friends.' Picture Chani Anderson "The seniors built their own robot from scratch which, from an engineering point of view is incredibly difficult. It's something that younger students can aspire to. The team have set a pathway for them. "Instead of having to look to students achieving brilliant things in different countries, younger students have their own role models in the school.' The robotics team is currently fundraising for the trip to Dallas so they can afford flights as well as accommodation which is set to cost upwards of €25,000. To donate to the project visit Read More Cork heritage group gets go-ahead to build Lusitania museum
