News & Events

University of Galway has been named as one of the top universities in Europe, according to the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025. For the second year in a row, the Europe-wide rankings have placed University of Galway 98th out of almost 700 institutions in more than 40 locations. President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “Being ranked in the top 100 universities in Europe two years in a row, as well as being recognised as number one in Ireland and among the best in the world for sustainability, is a tremendous endorsement of our community of teaching, learning and research and the culture of the people who work at our university. “I would like to thank everyone across our University who continues to make the effort to be a university for the public good, true to our values of respect, excellence, openness and sustainability. We are a place of learning and research, that goes without saying. We are distinctive by being more than that. Our university community is built around our people whether you are a student, a member of staff, an academic, a researcher, a technician or among the many who keep our operations running every day of the year. We have made great strides in recent years to be more outward looking, creating a space and carving a place for our university and our work, from this place, at an international level. I wish everyone continued success on that journey.   “We are also delighted to see three Irish universities in the top 100 in Europe – with University of Galway alongside Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin. This is testament to the capacity of the academic and research community to achieve, despite challenges the sector faces in terms of funding.”   The QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025 recognition also builds on the reputation that University of Galway has earned in recent years for progress on sustainability, having retained the position in Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings as the number one university in Ireland; top 5 in the EU; and in the world’s top 50, for progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   More information on the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024 is available at https://www.topuniversities.com/europe-university-rankings Ends

A University of Galway professor whose research focuses on the biology of stem cells has been elected a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), Europe’s leading academy across the life sciences. Professor Uri Frank, who is based in the University’s Centre for Chromosome Biology, secured the membership in recognition of his research over the past 20 years. Professor Frank joins two other colleagues from the research centre who have been elected members of EMBO - Professor Brian McStay and Professor Noel Lowndes.             Speaking about his election, Professor Frank said: "I am delighted to join the international EMBO community, whose members perform basic, curiosity-driven research across the life sciences, contributing essential knowledge for future applications." Professor Frank's research addresses fundamental questions in the biology of stem cells, focusing on the role of these cells in development and regeneration. His team has established the jellyfish-related animal Hydractinia as a laboratory model organism for this purpose. These highly regenerative animals are unusual as they do not succumb to age-related deterioration, nor do they develop cancer. It is thought that understanding how Hydractinia's stem cells act in mediating these traits will provide insight into how stem cells function in other animals, including those of humans. Research in Professor Frank’s lab has been funded by Wellcome Trust, Science Foundation Ireland, the US National Science Foundation, the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), and by Human Frontiers Science Program. After completing his PhD at the University of Amsterdam, Professor Frank went on to train as a postdoctoral scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography in Israel, and continued for two additional postdoc periods, in Jena and Heidelberg in Germany, before joining University of Galway in 2005.             EMBO Director Fiona Watt said: “The new EMBO Members and Associate Members have made immense contributions to fundamental life science research, and, in many cases, their work has paved the way for innovations that have improved lives and livelihoods around the world. As EMBO marks its 60th anniversary, we celebrate the pivotal roles played by the EMBO Membership in strengthening international life science research and contributing to the EMBO Programmes and activities. I send my warmest congratulations to all those elected.” EMBO Members guide the execution of the EMBO Programmes and activities, for example by evaluating funding applications, serving on EMBO Council and committees, and contributing to initiatives such as training, policy, outreach and mentorship. New members are nominated and elected by the existing EMBO Membership. Ends

University of Galway has announced the appointment of leading environmental geographer Professor Frances Fahy as the new Director of the Ryan Institute. A Fulbright Scholar, Frances Fahy was previously Head of Geography at the University and is the past President of the Geographical Society of Ireland.   Professor Fahy currently leads several international research teams on sustainable consumption and energy citizenship research. President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Fahy, an accomplished researcher in her field and an exemplary colleague, to lead the Ryan Institute at the University, building on the work of Professor Charles Spillane. University of Galway is ranked #1 in Ireland, top 5 in the EU and among the Top 50 in the world by the THE for our impact in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This work carries a particular resonance in Galway, given our location and the Ryan Institute is a fulcrum of this work.  We look forward to a deepening of the interdisciplinary research that happens at the institute thanks to our academics and the postdoctoral fellows, PhD students and research assistants and the stories of their impact on the world.” Professor Frances Fahy, Director of the Ryan Institute, said: “It is a great privilege to lead the largest research institute at University of Galway, supporting all our colleagues from the natural and social sciences who pursue cutting edge interdisciplinary research that provides knowledge for transformations to environmental, social and economic sustainability for people and our planet." Professor Frances Fahy Bio Frances is a leading environmental geographer and has more than 100 publications to her name, including four books (Methods of Sustainability Research in the Social Sciences published by Sage, 2013, Challenging Consumption Routledge, 2014, Energy Demand Challenges in Europe Palgrave 2019 and Energy Citizenship across Europe, Palgrave Macmillan forthcoming in 2024). Professor Fahy has coordinated more than 20 funded research projects and obtained competitive research funding, totalling more than €36 million, including from Horizon Europe, H2020, JPI-Climate, Interreg, the Marine Institute, National Economic and Social Council and the Environmental Protection Agency.  She has supervised 10 PhD students to completion, 11 Postdoctoral Research Fellows and Master’s students, many of whom have gone on to hold key roles in policy and academia. Professor Fahy has also won numerous awards for her research and academic life, including the President’s Award for Research Excellence (2017); Societal Impact (2017); Teaching Excellence (Team Award 2020); and the Irish Research Council’s National Ally Award for Mentoring and Supervision (2023).  Professor Fahy joined University of Galway as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2005 and lives with her family in Corcullen. Ends