October

Study shows what really makes someone a superhero is selflessly working for the greater good - whether you’re Superman or a frontline healthcare worker Researchers have finally answered one of pop culture’s most enduring questions: do all superheroes wear capes? The answer, according to the team from University of Galway, University of Florida, and University of Arkansas, is a resounding no.  In a study of the top 25 highest-grossing superhero movies, the research team meticulously reviewed 97 major characters that included Superman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, the Avengers, Iron Man 3, Marvel and Aquaman.  It found that the characters capes do not make them a superhero. What transforms them into one is a good heart. The single strongest predictor of superhero status was having an altruistic mission, where nearly every superhero (98%) demonstrated a commitment to helping others.  The study has been published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science.  The authors, superhero film enthusiasts, carried out their analysis after hours, outside of their day jobs, independently watching all 25 movies over two months.  The team had a preselected list of possible superhero attributes, including whether the hero is human or alien, their intelligence, whether they have an alter ego (think Clark Kent) and, of course, altruism and a cape. They also examined villains, who sometimes enjoy capes, but are absent from altruism.  Dr Derek O’Keeffe, senior author of the study and Professor in Medicine at University of Galway, said: “Capes may look dramatic, but it’s altruism that truly defines a superhero. Our analysis shows that what really makes someone a hero is selflessly working for the greater good - whether you’re Superman or a frontline healthcare worker.”  The study’s light-hearted design had serious undertones. During the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors, nurses, teachers, and first responders were frequently described as “superheroes without capes”. This research offers empirical support that cultural sentiment: altruism, not superpowers or costumes, is the hallmark of heroism.  The researchers also cautioned that while the superhero narrative can be inspiring, it can also place unrealistic expectations on real-life professionals and contribute to burnout.  Dr Naykky Singh Ospina, lead author and Associate Professor in the College of Medicine, University of Florida, said: “Meaningful work gives people purpose, but even heroes need rest. Our findings highlight both the uplifting and the challenging sides of the ‘healthcare hero’ label.”  Lest anyone thinks this scientific study is no more authentic than Captain America’s “vibranium” shield, the analysis is very real, right down to its citations, design and statistical analysis. The researchers’ purpose is to use it to teach medical trainees and others how studies are built, but in a translatable and accessible way.  Using a scientific approach and rigorous methodology, the team set research protocols, decided what traits to look for in superheroes, calculated sample size and did all the things scientists do to examine and test a question.  So, the next time you see a cape fluttering on the big screen, remember: true heroism is less about the outfit - and more about the mission.  Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-025-04080-6 and here: file:///C:/Users/0116056s/Downloads/s11845-025-04080-6%20(2).pdf  Ends      

Ócáid náisiúnta dhá lá bithgheilleagar gorm mar cheiliúradh ar dul chun cinn suntasach agus cruth a chur ar straitéis geilleagar ghorm na hÉireann Tá comóradh in ómós 50 bliain d’Ionad Taighde Charna á seoladh ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe in éineacht leis an ócáid, Todhchaí Ghorm. Beidh nuálaíocht, ceardlanna agus líonrú ar chlár na n-imeachtaí don ócáid, a reáchtálfar thar dhá lá ar an 7 Deireadh Fómhair agus an 8 Deireadh Fómhair. Tabharfar leathchéad bhliain de thaighde mara agus pleanáil straitéiseach do thodhchaí bhithgheilleagair mara na hÉireann le chéile ag an ócáid.   Tabharfaidh Todhchaí Ghorm fiontraithe mara, taighdeoirí, iascairí, daoine sa phobal agus lucht déanta polasaithe le chéile ar mhaithe le dul i bhfeidhm straitéise. Osclóidh an tOllamh Frances Fahy, stiúrthóir Institiúid Uí Riain in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an comóradh, a thagann ag an am céanna le pleananna forbartha do Lárionad Nuálaíochta Mara na hÉireann ag an gCrompán, Conamara. Chomhlíonfaí an fhorbairt bheartaithe, le tacaíocht Fhiontraíocht Éireann, príomhaidhm den chomhpháirtíocht idir Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus Údarás na Gaeltachta. Dúirt Máire Ní Éinniú, Ceannasaí Nua na Mara: “Ní fhéadfaimis am níos fearr a roghnú. Tá 50 bliain de bharr feabhais taighde mara á gceiliúradh againn agus muid inár gceannródaithe ar thodhchaí gheilleagar mara na hÉireann. Is léiriú foirfe í an Lárionad Nuálaíochta agus Forbartha Mara ar seo, áit a dtagann taighde eolaíochta na blianta caite leis an nuálaíocht fiontraíochta amach romhainn. Cruthófar deiseanna a athróidh ár bpobail cois farraige agus cuirfear Éire chun cinn go hidirnáisiúnta mar cheannródaí sa gheilleagar gorm. Beidh tionchar díreach á imirt ag na ceardlanna Todhchaí Ghorm ar fhorbairt náisiúnta polasaithe.” Dúirt an tOllamh Frances Fahy, Stiúrthóir Institiúid Uí Riain in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Le leathchéad bliain anois, tá Carna chun tosaigh ó thaobh taighde mara. Leis an gcomhoibriú seo le Nua na Mara, áit a dtagann áiseanna nuálaíochta mara le chéile le buntaighde leanúnach, cruthófar éiceachóras ar leith ag an suíomh i gCarna. Le chéile, tá foinse nua á dtógáil againn a cheanglaíonn taighde acadúil le nuálaíocht tráchtála. Cinnteoidh sé seo go mbeidh fíor bhuntáistí eacnamaíochta agus sóisialta ag muintir na Gaeltachta agus ag geilleagar gorm na hÉireann. Leag Tomás Ó Síocháin, Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta, béim ar an tionchar réigiúnach: “Is léiriú í Lárionad Taighde Carna ar ár gcur chuige straitéiseach ar son forbairt inbhuanaithe sa Ghaeltacht. Cruthóidh an lárionad deiseanna oibre ar ard chaighdeán, fad agus aitheantas á thabhairt, agus tógáil á dhéanamh, ar bhunachar eolais oidhreacht cultúrtha na Gaeltachta. Cuirfidh sé an réigiún chun tosaigh mar cheartlár domhanda don nuálaíocht mara.” Ó bunaíodh é in 1974, tá Stáisiúin Taighde Carna tar éis obair ríthábhachtach a dhéanamh i dtreo forbairt eolaíochta mara na hÉireann, tacaíocht a thabhairt do na céadta taighdeoirí, taighde ceannródaíoch a léiriú, agus cuir go mór le geilleagar mara €1.4 billiúin na hÉireann. Tógfaidh an Lárionad Nuálaíochta agus Forbartha Mara nua ar an mbunús seo, ag déanamh ionadaíocht ar fhorbairt uaillmhianach Pháirc na Mara i gCill Chiaráin. Tá tacaíocht curtha ar fáil don fhorbairt seo ó eagraíochtaí éagsúla ina áirítear BIM, Fiontraíocht Éireann, Foras na Mara, an Roinn Aeráide, Fuinnimh agus Comhshaoil, Teagasc, Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh agus Laurentic Forum. Is féidir clárú don ócáid Todhchaí Ghorm ag https://lnkd.in/et6MWpb5 Lá 1 (7 Deireadh Fómhair): •          Cuir i láthair taighde úrnua ar nuálaíocht feamainne agus bith-theicneolaíocht mara •          Ceardlanna Praiticiúla le coistí maoinithe ina áirítear Údarás na Gaeltachta, BIM, Hatch Blue, agus Restore Ventures. •          Léargas idirnáisiúnta ó hAmbasáid Cheanada •          Ceiliúradh 50 bliain le fáiltiú líonraithe Lá 2 (8 Deireadh Fómhair): •Seisiúin pleanála straitéise idirghníomhach ina gcuirfidh rannpháirtithe le straitéis bithgheilleagar gorm na hÉireann • Turas treoraithe feamainne ag cur acmhainní mara áitiúla chun solais Críoch

University of Galway has been awarded Green Campus status for the third time by An Taisce, for its ongoing commitment to embed sustainability. The accreditation was celebrated at a special ceremony on campus with the raising of the Green Flag, a symbol of the quality of the campus and a focus on environmental and sustainability issues. Professor Becky Whay, Deputy President and Registrar of University of Galway, said: “Sustainability is a core value of our University, reinforced in our new Strategic Plan 2025-2030. We are very proud to have the most biodiverse university campus in Ireland, a Stars Gold Rating, an Excellence in Sustainability Award, and to be the first university in Ireland to become an SDG Ambassador. “The Green Campus programme is very important to us. Having first raised the flag in 2019, it is a hugely important recognition of the quality of our campus and our commitment to the environment and sustainability. A huge credit goes to all of our students and staff who make a difference on a daily basis, to our Community University Sustainability Partnership members which helps to drive our ambitions, and our community partners who contributed to this fantastic achievement.” The award coincided with SDG Week which ran from the 20th–27th September, with University of Galway hosting a week-long series of events as a national SDG Ambassador - dedicated to increasing awareness, engagement and action to help achieve the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Highlight activities included a Sustainability-themed Parkrun with over 200 runners, a Community Climate Assembly, the raising of the third Green Flag and a guided walk along the University’s Biodiversity Trail. The Green Flag is awarded by An Taisce and the International Foundation of Environmental Education and it recognises the promotion of best practice in sustainability across six themes which include energy, waste, travel, biodiversity, water and green laboratories. Through learning and research activities, and as a signatory to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Accord, University of Galway is committed to a transition towards a more sustainable future. The University is ranked number one in Ireland and third in the EU in the THE Impact rankings which measure achievements based around the UN SDGs. Valentina Stampa, Green-Campus programme officer at An Tasice, said: “The green flag for University of Galway is renewed by An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland on behalf of the international Foundation for Environmental Education. University of Galway has proudly renewed its Green Flag for the third time, marking a milestone in their sustainability journey and leadership in embedding the Sustainable Development Goals across the campus. Their commitment to sustainability is contagious and they are setting a powerful example for institutions nationwide.” An Taisce’s Green-Campus Programme is an international environmental education and award scheme that promotes long-term, whole college action for the environment that empowers both students and staff to create a more balanced campus community and to reduce environmental impacts and associated costs. Ends

Two-day national marine bioeconomy event celebrates historic milestone while shaping Ireland's blue economy strategy University of Galway has launched a 50th anniversary celebration of Carna Research Station with the Todhchaí Ghorm - Blue Future event. Two-days of innovation, workshops and networking are being held on October 7th and 8th, combining five decades of marine research excellence with strategic planning for Ireland's marine bioeconomy future. Todhchaí Ghorm - Blue Future brings together marine entrepreneurs, researchers, fishers, community members and policymakers to shape strategy. The anniversary celebration, to be opened by Professor Frances Fahy, Director of the Ryan Institute at University of Galway, is also being held as plans progress to develop Ireland's Marine Innovation and Development Centre at Crumpán, Connemara. The planned development is being supported by Enterprise Ireland and will fulfil a key objective of the strategic partnership between University of Galway and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Máire Ní Éinniú, Head of Nua na Mara, said: "The timing couldn't be better. We're honouring 50 years of marine research excellence while actively pioneering the future of Ireland's ocean economy. The Marine Innovation and Development Centre represents this bridge perfectly, where decades of scientific discovery meet tomorrow's entrepreneurial innovation, creating opportunities that will transform our coastal communities and establish Ireland as a global leader in the blue bioeconomy. The Todhchaí Ghorm- Blue Future workshops will directly contribute to national policy development.” Professor Frances Fahy, Director of the Ryan Institute at University of Galway, said: "Carna has been at the forefront of marine research for half a century. This collaboration with Nua na Mara, where cutting-edge marine innovation facilities will complement our ongoing fundamental research, creates a unique ecosystem at the Carna site. Together, we're building a powerhouse that bridges academic research with commercial innovation, ensuring real economic and social benefits for the Gaeltacht community and Ireland's blue economy." Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, emphasised the regional impact: "The transformation of Carna Research Station exemplifies our strategic approach to sustainable development in the Gaeltacht. This facility will create high-quality employment opportunities while acknowledging and building on the deep knowledge within the cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht and positioning the region as a global hub for marine innovation." Since its establishment in 1974, Carna Research Station has been instrumental in advancing Ireland's marine sciences, supporting hundreds of researchers, producing ground-breaking research, and contributing significantly to Ireland's €1.4 billion marine economy. The planned new Marine Innovation and Development Centre will build on this foundation, representing a cornerstone in the ambitious development of Páirc na Mara in Cill Chiaráin. The development is supported by multiple organisations including BIM, Enterprise Ireland, the Marine Institute, and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Teagasc, Atlantic Technological University, Laurentic Forum. Registration for the Todhchaí Ghorm - Blue Future event is open at https://lnkd.in/et6MWpb5 Day 1 (October 7th): Cutting-edge research presentations on seaweed innovation and marine biotechnology Practical workshops with funding bodies including Údarás na Gaeltachta, BIM, Hatch Blue, and Restore Ventures International perspectives from the Canadian Embassy 50th Anniversary celebration with networking reception Day 2 (October 8th): • Interactive strategic planning sessions where participants directly contribute to Ireland's Blue Bioeconomy Strategy • Guided seaweed tour showcasing local marine resources Ends