University of Galway has officially launched its newest research unit - the Centre for Creative Technologies. The aim of the new centre is to foster and support research and teaching activities that explore and develop links between creative practice and technology and creativity as a principle and practice that extends beyond the arts. Building on the University’s strong relationships with the creative community in the western region and beyond, including the Strategic Education Partnerships with Galway International Arts Festival and Druid, the Centre for Creative Technologies will explore the impact on the traditional creative industries of rapid technological change in areas such as immersive reality, artificial intelligence and virtual production processes. The Centre’s newly launched PhD in Creative Technologies brings together research that combines critical enquiry with technological and artistic practice to investigate important developments in this field. University of Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh officially launched the Centre for Creative Technologies at a special event on campus in the O’Donoghue Centre on Thursday September 21, 2023. Professor Ó hÓgartaigh said: “University of Galway, our city and our region all have strong bonds with the world of the arts and creativity. These ties have afforded us opportunities that enable our university to grow and develop in special ways, in line with our values of openness, excellence and sustainability. The new Centre for Creative Technologies is symbolic of that and we wish every success to all of those who will tap into this important research entity and the new opportunities it brings.” Professor Rebecca Braun, Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, said: “The Centre for Creative Technologies is an exciting initiative that will support research and teaching initiatives that explore the intersections between creative practice and technology within and beyond the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies. It draws on existing strengths in the areas of creativity across the College and will support the kind of interdisciplinary research needed to tackle the key societal challenges we face today.” University of Galway Vice-President Research and Innovation Professor Jim Livesey said: “We are living at a time when the pace and scale of change in the world of technology is seismic. Now we have an exciting opportunity to harness some of that in the areas of research, teaching and learning by bringing together bright minds in an environment which promotes excellence across our academic disciplines.” Conn Holohan, Director of the Centre for Creative Technologies at University of Galway, said: “We look forward to supporting exciting collaborations between researchers, industry and artists that explore the many ways that creativity and technology intersect with our daily lives.” The Centre for Creative Technologies is the first research centre of its kind in Ireland, exploring the intersection of creativity and technology across disciplines from within the traditions of the arts. As creative engagement with technology is an increasingly central element of our responses to global challenges, the centre will enable researchers, academics and those involved in the arts to bring their expertise and insight to a diverse range of areas of activity, from healthcare to manufacturing to the societal responses to climate change. Ahead of the launch of the Centre for Creative Technologies, James Riordan, Brú Theatre, took on a two week Digital Artist-in-Residence where he and his interdisciplinary artist collaborators explored opportunities for technology and creativity, including showcasing the centre's new technologies such as augmented reality virtual reality and motion capture. Ends
Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Tá Ollscoil na Gaillimhe sa 50 is Fearr maidir le hInbhuanaitheacht freisin Tá Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ainmnithe mar cheann de na hOllscoileanna is fearr san Eoraip, de réir Ranguithe Ollscoile QS an Domhain: An Eoraip 2024. Seo an chéad uair a ndearnadh rangú Eorpach agus tháinig Ollscoil na Gaillimhe sa 98ú áit as 690 institiúid i 42 suíomh ar fud na hEorpa. Rangaíodh Ollscoil na Gaillimhe freisin i rangú QS na hEorpa de na 50 ollscoil is fearr maidir le hInbhuanaitheacht, agus an nuacht sin ag teacht ar na sála ar an bhfógra gur ainmnigh Ranguithe Tionchair Times Higher Education (THE) an Ollscoil seo mar an ollscoil is fearr in Éirinn, agus i measc na 50 ollscoil is fearr ar domhan, as dul chun cinn a bheith déanta i dtreo Spriocanna Forbartha Inbhuanaithe na Náisiún Aontaithe (SDGanna) níos luaithe i mbliana. D’ainmnigh Rialtas na hÉireann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe mar churaidh náisiúnta SDG i mí Bealtaine, agus an tseachtain seo tá a céad Seachtain Spriocanna Forbartha Inbhuanaithe á óstáil ag an Ollscoil a bhfuil sé mar aidhm léi feasacht, rannpháirtíocht agus gníomhartha a spreagadh féachaint le cabhrú le baint amach 17 Sprioc Forbartha Inbhuanaithe na Náisiún Aontaithe. Seo mar a labhair Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Tá pobal agus cultúr na hollscoile le moladh go hard as bheith rangaithe i measc na 100 ollscoil is fearr san Eoraip sa chéad rangú QS seo agus as an gcéad áit a bhaint amach in Éirinn maidir le hinbhuanaitheacht sna Ranganna Tionchair THE. Léiriú atá ann den iarracht leanúnach a dhéantar ar fud na hOllscoile a bheith ina hollscoil ar mhaithe le leas an phobail, agus muid dílis dár luachanna, mar atá meas, barr feabhais, oscailteacht agus inbhuanaitheacht. Táimid meáite, ón áit seo agus ar mhaithe leis an áit seo, cur lenár gclú agus ár dtionchar, agus muid ag freastal ag an am céanna ar ár gcuid mac léinn agus ár bpobal. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil lenár mic léinn agus lenár bhfoireann as a gcuid oibre crua agus a dtiomantas, agus lenár gcuid alumni as a bheith ina n-ambasadóirí den scoth.” Tá tuilleadh eolais ar na Ranguithe Ollscoile QS: An Eoraip 2024 ar fáil ag www.topuniversities.com/europe-university-rankings. Críoch
Monday, 18 September 2023
Cuirfidh Máirín Mhic Lochlainn, Ealaíontóir Cónaithe Scéalaíochta, tús leis an dara sraith de cheardlanna scéalaíochta in Ionad Léann na hÉireann, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Tá na cúig ceardlanna saor in aisce agus beidh fáilte roimh chách. Beidh na ceardlanna ar siúl Dé Céadaoin ag 7pm, ag tosnú ar 27 Meán Fómhair, in Ionad Léann na hÉireann ar Bhóthar na Drioglainne, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Ceapadh Máirín mar Ealaíontóir Cónaithe Scéalaíochta in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe i mí Eanáir 2023. Tá sí tiomanta chun ceird na scéalaíochta a fhorbairt agus cleachtadh aici ar cheardlanna scéalaíochta a stiúradh ar fud na hÉireann. Ba aoi speisialta í ag an bhFéile Idirnáisiúnta Scéalaíochta ar Oileán Chléire i mbliana. Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Ollamh Louis de Paor, Stiúrthóir Ionad Léann na hÉireann: “Tá Máirín i measc na n-ealaíontóirí is cumasaí dá bhfuil ag plé leis na healaíona béil in Éirinn. Is deis iontach é seo mar sin d’éinne a bhfuil suim acu sa scéalaíocht dúchais.” Is iad Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta, An Chomhairle Ealaíon, agus Ionad Léann na hÉireann, Ollscoil na Gaillimh, a mhaoiníonn an tionscnamh seo. Tuilleadh eolais ó Samantha Williams ag 091 512428 nó samantha.williams@universityofgalway.ie. Críoch
Monday, 18 September 2023
University of Galway’s Storyteller-in-residence Máirín Mhic Lochlainn will deliver the second series of story-telling workshops at the University. The five workshops, which will be delivered through Irish, are free and open to the public and will run every Wednesday, beginning on September 27, at 7pm at the Centre for Irish Studies, 4 Distillery Road, University of Galway. Máirín has won several awards for story-telling including Corn Neidí Frainc at the Oireachtas festival. Developing the craft of story-telling is a mission for Máirín and she has conducted workshops in story-telling throughout Ireland, Wales and Denmark. She was a special guest at this year’s Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival. Professor Louis de Paor, Director of the Centre for Irish Studies at University of Galway, said: “Máirín is one of the most accomplished performers working in the vernacular arts tradition here in Ireland. This is a marvelous opportunity therefore for anyone interested in the Irish language storytelling tradition.” This project is funded by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta and The Arts Council, in association with the Centre for Irish Studies at University of Galway. Further information available from Samantha Williams at 091-492051 or samantha.williams@universityofgalway.ie. Ends