Presidents Awards for Engagement

Dr. Eilish McLoughlin, of the School of Physical Sciences at DCU, wins President’s Award for Engagement.

The School of Physical Sciences is delighted to announce that, Dr. Eilish McLoughlin, is a winner of one of the President's Awards for Engagement for 2017. 

It stands as a recognition of her many outstanding contributions to public engagement and education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and her leadership in this area. Over the past 12 years, Eilish has initiated and led several major STEM education initiatives, including Physics Busking, Science on Stage and Scifest@DCU.

DCU President, Professor Brian MacCraith declared that “For DCU, engagement with the wider society is a key plank of our philosophy. It promotes many of our own key values, such as equality, inclusion and sustainability. The entries - and particularly the winners – of the 2017 President’s Awards for Engagement – are a fine testimony to that mission”.

DCU Students’ Union Vice –President for Engagement and Development, Eimear Maguire, added that “Students engage with society in many different ways. During their time at the university they engage with a wide range of social, cultural, international and personal interest issues. Students are a key driver of DCU’s engagement mission”.

Special invited guest speaker Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Social Innovation Fund Ireland delivered an enlightening speech on civic engagement and social innovation. She stated that “it is fantastic to see DCU lead the way in student and staff community engagement. The winning projects are impressive and inspiring and I wish them the very best of impact too”.

DCU’s head of civic engagement Professor Ronnie Munck commented on how the number of entrants to this competition and those attending the ceremony were increasing year on year. For him “DCU’s engagement activity is second to none and it contributes greatly to the civic health of the university. The sheer diversity and level of engagement shown by all entrants is truly inspiring”

For further details see: https://www.dcu.ie/community/presidents-awards-for-engagement-2017.shtml