School of Natural Sciences News

Past Stories

6th May 2026

Congratulations to Buddila Wijeyesekera on winning the AIB Student Impact award.  The award recognises individuals demonstrating leadership thereby creating positive changes within the student communities in Higher Educational institutes across Ireland.  See Photo here.

Óir na Farraige 

Congratulations to Alex Wan and Mark Johnson on the excellent Óir na Farraige project recently featured on Nuacht.  The coverage highlighted the strength of this EU‑funded work and the impact of seaweed innovation research.  Warm thanks to Liz Coleman for her outstanding efforts in bringing the project so clearly to screen.  A great showcase of the work of the School & Ryan Institute. See here for post.

ACTRIS Science Conference 2026! 

Jurgita and team attended the ACTRIS Science Conference 2026! 
Lu Lei shared exciting preliminary results from EPIC‑AIR on oxidative potential from stove and fireplace burning experiments. Vaios Moschos presented on long‑term decadal trends from Mace Head, with further insights from recent campaigns.  The conference also featured the launch of COAST‑VOC and CARES from last summer at Mace Head. See post here.

TY Week Videos

See some very nice videos produced by students that really showcase breadth of activities within the school. A big thank you to all the team members and those that provided workshops and supported the week.

 Team7-take2.mp4

 The Carbons.mp4

Field Trips 

Thanks to Declan Hughes (Asst Quarry Manager), Mary O'Brien (Health/Safety & Environmental) and Nicky Mulchrone (Operations & Compliance Supervisor) for hosting the 2nd Year Earth & Ocean Sciences students and 2nd year Environmental Science students at McGrath's Quarry in Cong. See photo here.

23rd April 2026

Congratulations to Ray Butler who has been appointed as the Head of Physics.

Congratulations to Alexa Parimbelli has successfully completed her viva, presenting impactful research on deep‑sea black‑coral biodiversity along the Northeast Atlantic margin. Her thesis combined predictive species‑distribution modelling with molecular species delimitation to better understand the environmental drivers and genetic diversity of Antipatharia corals. Under the supervision of Prof. Louise Allcock, Alexa assembled and annotated six new black‑coral mitogenomes and identified a highly variable mitochondrial region, offering new tools for species identification. Her findings highlight the limitations of morphology‑based identification and the value of molecular approaches for improving global species catalogues. The project was funded by the Hardiman Scholarship (Year 1) and the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship 2022 (Years 2–4). See Photo.

Congratulations: Four final year Physics students (Nora Abdel Rahim, Holly Ryan O’Connor, Ava Henley and Marie O’Brien) attended the 10^th edition of the international theoretical physics competition, PLANCKS UK & Ireland, at the University of Kent. The event took place from Friday 20^th – Sunday 22^nd February 2026. PLANCKS encompasses the values of IAPS and the IOP, providing a unique opportunity that inspires students to develop their passion for physics, network with peers, and build skills and knowledge to take into the rest of their degrees and careers. See photo and press release.  Plancks 2.jpeg

Medical Physics: Over 60 Transition Year students attended a TY Taster Day presentation on Medical Physics this week.  Dr Michael Martyn delivered an engaging talk titled “Radiation, Research, and Real‑World Impact – A Career in Medical Physics.”  Students gained insight into how physics is applied in healthcare and cutting‑edge research.  The session sparked strong interest and lively discussion throughout.  It was an excellent opportunity to showcase STEM pathways and real‑world career possibilities. See Photo.

Seaweed Farming - A new project led by Óir na Farraige, in collaboration with researchers in the Ryan Institute, will assess the environmental and lifecycle impacts of seaweed farming to help validate its potential as a regenerative aquaculture solution. Dr Liz Coleman (Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Ryan Institute) discusses the project with Nuacht TG4 @8.53.

Increase in False Widow Spider - Dr Michel Duggan describes rising populations of the noble false widow spider as a key factor in increased bites and hospital admissions in the UK. More from ITV News, The Independent UK, The Express and The Mirror.

9th April 2026

Astronomy student discovers second planet

An international team of astronomers, led by PhD student Chloe Lawlor (Centre for Astronomy at the School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute), have made the groundbreaking discovery of a second planet in the same system where they discovered another planet last year.  Detected at an early stage of formation in the disc around a young star, the young planet named WISPIT 2c is estimated to be about 5 million years-old and most likely ten times the mass of Jupiter. The discovery was also announced by European Southern Observatory. 

Urban spider

The invasive Noble false widow spider (Steatoda nobilis) is now one of the most common urban spiders in Ireland, according to a new study by researchers at the School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute. Doctoral researcher Brandon Collier discusses the findings with Radio 1’s Today with David McCullagh and the Irish Independent. 

Staff Member’s Work Featured in ‘Saoirse: Freedom’ Exhibition  

Ray Butler has had two of his photographs selected for Saoirse, the University of Galway PhotoSoc exhibition exploring the theme of freedom. Now on display in the Art Gallery in the Quad, the exhibition showcases around 45 student works interpreting personal and collective ideas of liberation. [sin.ie]  Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ray-butler-61184964_i-have-two-photos-in-the-saoirse-freedom-ugcPost-7442384134980763648-Y-1y 

Congratulations to Aistė Vitkauskaitė 

Congratulations to Aistė Vitkauskaitė on receiving a Research Ireland Government of Ireland Postgraduate Award. Her funded project will explore innovative applications of 3D spheroid cultures for parasite growth in vitro, advancing research in this important area.  Read more: https://lnkd.in/ekFgrxNF 

Congratulations: Nineteen new Physics teachers have graduated from the Professional Diploma in Teaching Physics (PDITP) at DCU. This national upskilling programme, delivered in partnership with DCU, the University of Galway and UL, continues to strengthen Physics education across Ireland. Now in its fourth cohort, the PDITP has supported 124 teachers to date, including those teaching through Irish. The programme covers key areas such as Mechanics, Environmental Physics, Electricity and Electromagnetism. These new graduates will help expand opportunities for students to study Physics nationwide. See Photo. 

Hedgehog refuge

Elaine O’Riordan (School of Natural Sciences) spoke to The Irish Times about the urgent need to protect hedgehogs in Ireland, highlighting how gardens have become critical refuges as the species faces habitat loss, pesticides, and other threats. 

Plesiosaur Research Visit at the James Mitchell Geology Museum

The James Mitchell Geology Museum recently welcomed Dr Sven Sachs from the Naturkunde-Museum Bielefeld for a two‑day study of the museum’s impressive fossil plesiosaur. With support from the Buildings team, a scaffold was installed to allow close examination of the specimen, the first such access in many years. 

Dr Sachs provided valuable insights into the museum’s marine reptile collection and highlighted the significance of the plesiosaur’s exceptional preservation. A short film documenting the visit and the specimen’s remarkable details is available here: https://youtu.be/gdHVMsb2Q-s.  This collaboration marks an exciting step forward in understanding one of the museum’s most iconic fossils. 

26th March 2026

New Planet Discovery

A Galway PhD student has helped identify a brand‑new planet after first thinking it was a clump of dust.  Chloé Lawlor a PhD student in Physics has helped identify a brand‑new planet after first thinking it was a clump of dust made the discovery just seven months after her team working under Dr Christian Ginski found another planet 430 light years from Earth.  The newly named WISPIT 2c is around 5 million years old and already ten times the size of Jupiter.  This remarkable achievement adds to Ireland’s growing impact on global astronomy research.  Congratulations to Chloé and the entire team behind this breakthrough.  A new paper Chloe’s first lead author paper has also been published. Direct Spectroscopic Confirmation of the Young Embedded Proto-Planet WISPIT 2c Direct Spectroscopic Confirmation of the Young Embedded Protoplanet WISPIT 2c - IOPscience 
Explore the posts and reactions across our social media in the links below. (9) Instagram; Instagram; (6) Post | LinkedIn, (6) Post | LinkedIn RTE Galway astronomer leads team on discovery of new planet

The Botany Society is celebrating a fantastic double win! 

They were awarded Best Departmental Society and Best Green Initiative, making them the only society to take home two awards this year.  They now go forward as nominees for the national awards in Tullamore, huge congratulations to Freya Bohan and the entire Bot Soc team!

Open Day 21^st March 2026 

We had a fantastic Open Day with sunny weather and a great turnout of visitors exploring our undergraduate courses. A huge thank‑you to all volunteers and to John Murray and committee for making the day such a success.  Check out highlights from the event on Instagram using the links below. Botany & Plant Science, Earth and Ocean Science, Environmental Science, Marine Science, Occupational Health & Safety Management, Physics and Zoology.

Medtronic Visit

University of Galway 2nd Year Students studying the BSc in Occupational Health and Safety Management (OHM) and members of Medtronic’s EHS team during a recent site visit. Students were introduced to all members of Medtronic’s EHS team, were given an excellent presentation about Medtronic including their EHS management system and were then brought on a site tour. A big thank you to Mark and his team (a few of which are also proud University of Galway alumni!) for spending the full morning with our students and sharing all their experience in their various EHS roles. Photo here.

DAFMQ Talk

Helen Mooney was invited to DAFM HQ at Government buildings; to give a talk about the Asian hornet and the threat it poses to biodiversity (and human safety) in Ireland.  Photo here. 

Bee Products

The Diploma in Apiculture team wrapped up their Bee Products module on Saturday 21^st March with a fantastic final workshop.  Brendan Dowling, past pupil, led a morning session on mead‑making after continuing his studies in brewing and distilling.  In the afternoon, Vickie Henshaw guided participants in creating a beeswax moisturiser and explained the legal requirements for selling such products. A great end to a hands‑on, inspiring module. Photo here. 

11th March 2026

Rev Sam Millar Award 

Congratulations to Prof Grace McCormack on receiving the Rev Sam Millar Award at the weekend.  The award is in recognition of outstanding service to the preservation and promotion of the Native Irish Black Honey Bee. (9) Instagram

Smokeless fuel health risks

New research has found that burning "low smoke" manufactured fuels release tiny ultrafine particles that are potentially more harmful to human health. The study was led Professor Jurgita Ovadnevaite (Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Ryan Institute), in collaboration with partners from Ireland, China, Australia and the USA. More from The Irish Times, Newstalk Breakfast, Phys.org and Irish Medical Times.

Explore Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station, a crucial site for Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS), tracking our international success (or not) in reducing levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to slow down climate change.

Squirrel and pine marten survey

Professor Colin Lawton (School of Natural Sciences) joined Radio 1’s Mooney Goes Wild @34.07 to discuss the 2026 All-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey.

Scorpion venom

Dr Michel Dugon (School of Natural Sciences) joined Ireland AM @1.19.35 to discuss a new study that has identified the environmental factors that determine where the world’s most dangerous scorpion species thrive.

Animal time perception

A new international study co-led by Dr Kevin Healy (School of Natural Sciences) and colleagues in Trinity College Dublin, has revealed that animals experience time at different speeds, with fast-living species processing visual information far more quickly than slow-moving ones. Analysing 237 species, the researchers found species with fast-paced ecologies - such as flying animals and “pursuit predators”, which chase fast, manoeuvrable prey - have much faster visual perception than slow-moving or sedentary species. More from Phys.org, Earth.com, Science Magazine, My Science, and World Today News.

Congratulations 

Dr. Stanley Chid Iheanacho, who has been awarded the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025 for the project “Modelling climate impact and moulting-failure syndrome in the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) and mitigation strategies.” Climate warming and other stressors can disrupt successful lobster moulting, a fundamental biological process in the development of many invertebrates. Moulting failure can threaten the animal’s survival, have consequences in wild stocks, fisheries, and aquaculture. This project will investigate how environmental stressors, such as elevated temperature, affect moulting from biomechanics to gene regulatory pathways, while testing nutritional interventions to enhance resilience and moulting success.

Diploma in Apiculture.  

On Saturday, 28^th September, second year adult learners on the Diploma in Apiculture gathered on campus for the workshop on "Honey, Best Practice".  This workshop ensures that students meet all the criteria required to sell honey of the highest quality. This is part of a practical module (ZO 1205, Honey Bee Products) which complements the more academic modules in second year (ZO 1204, honey bee genetics and ZO 1202, honey bee health) .  We began with a lecture by Sinead Mulcahy (DAFM) on how beekeepers must register as food business operators (FBOs) and what to expect when an inspector visits their premises to check their operation meets EU regulations. In the afternoon students (1) measured the moisture content of their own honey, which must be under 18% in order to prevent fermentation and spoilage; (2) measured the HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural) content of their own honey : this is a chemical marker of quality assurance, that builds up in old and/or overheated honey.   Finally, different methods of liquefying honey under controlled conditions, were looked explored. Active assessment ensured that learning outcomes were met and instant feedback could be provided. Students then completed an online quiz .  Free native trees were provided by the Tree Council of Ireland in advance of National Tree Week (www.nationaltreeweek.ie). Photo here. 

26th Feb 2026

New Article Improvising Climate Conversations Published  

New JCOM paper explores how the improv show We Built This City on Rock and Coal helped audiences engage with climate change in creative, emotional ways. By combining surveys with in‑the‑moment observations, the team captured how people connected with the themes. One standout feature is a playful data visualisation of what audiences appreciate about the outdoors, explaining the giant bird and plenty of water!  Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/drCaG-VZ