Latest news with #WalshScholar
Agriland
19-05-2025
- Science
- Agriland
DAFM policy leader receives Walsh Scholars Alum Award
A former PhD student whose work has helped shape Ireland's agri-food policy has been honoured with the 2025 Walsh Scholars Alum Award. Dr. Karl Walsh, head of the Research, Bioeconomy and Codex Division at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), received the award at a ceremony in Teagasc Ashtown in recent days. The Walsh Scholars Alum Award recognises outstanding graduates of the Teagasc Walsh Scholars Programme who have gone on to make a meaningful impact in agriculture, food, and rural development at national or international level. Teagasc Walsh Scholars The Teagasc Walsh Scholars Programme provides scholarship opportunities for postgraduate students to pursue a PhD while carrying out research in collaboration with Teagasc and its partner universities and higher education institutions. The programme has had over 1,300 graduates to date. Dr. Walsh, who previously worked as an agricultural attaché in Paris and helped lead the development of Food Vision 2030 – Ireland's national agri-food strategy – said the Teagasc programme had a lasting influence on his career. 'Being a Walsh Scholar was a turning point in my career. Along with strong scientific and analytical skills, it also gave me the confidence and connections I needed for a career in the public service,' Walsh explained. 'What makes this programme special is how it connects research with the everyday issues facing farmers, food producers, and rural communities.' He has encouraged current Walsh Scholars to consider a career in the agri-food sector and to utilise their skillset to contribute to addressing the complex challenges and exciting innovation opportunities it faces. He also emphasised their role in communicating science to the public. Head of research development and Walsh Scholars at Teagasc, Jane Kavanagh praised Dr. Walsh's leadership and example: 'Our alumni demonstrate the lasting value of the Walsh Scholars Programme. 'Dr. Walsh is a perfect example of how the experience gained as a Walsh Scholar translates into leadership, innovation, and public impact. 'His career is a reminder to current and future Walsh Scholars of what's possible – and of the powerful role research can play in shaping policy, people, and progress.' Established in 2018, the Walsh Scholars Alum Award celebrates alumni who exemplify the values of the programme and go on to make a lasting difference through their work in research, policy, or practice.
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.
