Queen’s
Members of the public flocked to Queen’s at lunchtime last Thursdayto meet and hear from the people behind some of the biggest scientific, medical and technological breakthroughs of recent times.
In a special lunchtime research showcase in the University’s Whitla Hall,entitled Local Talent, Global Impact, members of the public discovered how Queen’s researchers are making an enormous impact around the globe.
Experts working on advances in fertility treatment, cancer care and sight-threatening diseases; cutting-edge developments in laser technology, wave energy and ultra-fast high speed wireless connections; and who use innovative methods of social data collection on demographic aging, poverty and social exclusion that help to shape policies, will all be on-hand to discuss their work.
The event marks the launch of the new publication, ‘The DNA of Innovation: Volume 2’, which includes case study profiles of many of these researchers, their cutting-edge work and its impact on society.
Did you know NI has a budding space industry? And that Queen’s University is set to play a key role in doubling the UK’s share of the global market for space products and services by 2030?
Leading leading figures from UK and European space agencies gathered for Northern Ireland’s first Space Summit at Queen’s Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT) last week.
Currently, the UK’s space industry contributes £9.1bn annually to the economy. The aerospace, defence, security and space sectors contribute over £1bn to the NI Economy.
Those attending the Space Summit at ECIT are aiming to increase this share by outlining future research requirements for antennas and related technologies, and highlighting potential commercial opportunities for both local and other UK-based companies involved in the space industry.
One ECIT research project being highlighted at the event could eventually lead to a huge increase in the number of people able to access the internet around the world, particularly in rural areas and other sparsely populated regions of the planet.
Overseen by Professor Vince Fusco, Director of Research at ECIT’s High Frequency Electronics Cluster, it was sponsored by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Royal Academy of Engineering.
* Details of courses, etc at Institute’s website www.ecit.qub.ac.uk
BUDDING financial innovators can use Northern Ireland’s first ever financial trading room which has opened at Riddel Hall in Queen’s.
Replicating the stock exchanges of New York and London, The First Derivatives Trading Room (FDTR), will provide a dynamic learning environment for students hoping to embark in a career in financial services or technology.
Based at Queen’s University Management School at Riddel Hall, the facility will give students the experience of trading in a busy stock exchange, with the capacity to deal in real-time equities, bonds, foreign exchange and derivative instruments.
Students have access to 12 trading stations (capacity of 24 students at a time), a real-time electronic ticker tape featuring financial information feeds from Bloomberg, two large-screen displays providing live coverage of CNBC, CNN, and other financial networks, and software for trading, deal capturing, settlement, analytics, pricing, portfolio management, derivatives pricing, and other finance-related challenges.
The Trading Room has been funded by First Derivatives plc, a Northern Ireland provider of software and consulting services to the global capital markets industry, and Invest Northern Ireland.
University Of Ulster
The first university-accredited qualification in digital and social media in Northern Ireland is proving a success with employers and students alike as its first graduates continue to be snapped up by businesses.
The University of Ulster’s one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Media Communication (DMC), based at the Belfast campus, was launched last year.
Recent graduates Leigh Walsh and Michael Bonner have taken up new posts in marketing communication and social media marketing.
Just a few months into the programme Leigh was snapped up by one of Northern Ireland’s leading digital agencies, Blue Cube Interactive, and now works as the community manager across the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s/ni2012 social channels.
Michael is now working for top music promoters, Moving On Music, as a marketing officer – combining digital and offline marketing communications to promote artists and events.
For more info on Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Media Communication see www.ulster.ac.uk/dmc or email course director, Fiona McMahon: dmc@ulster.ac.uk or Tweet @dmculster
New masters and PhD scholarships in conflict resolution programmes will be created by increased funding for the new Hume O’Neill Chair at the University of Ulster’s Magee campus.
The new funding will will be an endowed, full-time academic position, based on the Magee campus and will oversee a new INCORE Peace Initiative (for which the University is currently fundraising).
The expanded programme of activities will include: a distinguished Global Peace Fellow; a Lesson Learning Programme; Masters scholarships (8 per year); PhD scholarships (4 three-year scholarships).
INCORE has pioneered practice-based learning on conflict, developed a global network of peacebuilders and built a proud heritage of active involvement in peacemaking.
The University of Ulster today announced funding of a further £876,000 for the John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Peace which will be established at the Magee campus.
Once established, the Chair will form part of a wider initiative building on the work of the International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE) at Magee, which applies lessons from Northern Ireland’s peace process to conflict zones around the world.
The latest donations take the total funds pledged so far to the University for the £3 million endowed Chair in Peace Studies past the £2 million mark.
The new Chair will build on the success of the original Tip O’Neill Chair, supported by the Ireland Funds, which – under John Hume’s tenure from 2002 -2009 – gave the University of Ulster “unrivalled visibility on the world stage” in these areas of study.
FE Colleges
Belfast Met graduate Johnjo Kyles is blazing a trail for Northern Ireland’s young culinary talent after being offered a job by not just one, but two, of the UK’s leading restaurateurs.
During the summer Johnjo undertook work placements at The Fat Duck and The Hinds Head owned by celebrity chef, Heston Blumenthal, and The Hand and Flowers owned by Michelin Star restaurateur, Tom Kerridge.
Johnjo had already won the highly coveted Student Culinarian of the Year at the IFEX ChefSkills 2012 with a stand-out performance resulting in him scooping the top spot in both the individual and team competitions.
Speaking of his student’s success, Belfast Met chef tutor Thomas Turley said: “Johnjo is a chef with a natural ability and flair. He works incredibly well under pressure and displays a maturity beyond his years when running the kitchen.
“He has an exciting future ahead of him and everyone at Belfast Met is delighted with his well-earned success. He is a rare talent and we are not surprised that he is making such an impression on a wider stage.”