Northern Region Annual Dinner Dance

Rounding off a busy week,  I attended the Northern Region annual dinner dance in the Ramada Hotel,  Shaws Bridge, Belfast.

Atlantic Corridor Conference 2010

On Thursday,  I attended and spoke at the 2010 Atlantic Corridor conference in the Tullamore Court Hotel.  Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs,  the organisation has built links between Ireland,  and in particular the east coasts of Canada and the USA.   The main theme of the conference this year was the education of Science and Mathematics.

Sir Bernard Crossland Lecture

I had the honour of being one of four keynote speakers and panellists at the 9th Sir Bernard Crossland Lecture series,  in Queens University Belfast this evening,  on the theme of "Engineering Innovation - re-inventing business".

Innovation Forum

Yesterday evening I chaired the Innovation Forum at Clyde Rd.

West Region Annual Dinner

I had the pleasure of attending the annual dinner for the West Region,  in the Ardilaun Hotel in Galway,  hosted by the regional chairman John Colleran.

Water Research Facility at Tuam

This afternoon,  I spent a few hours visiting the recently opened Water Research Facility at Tuam this afternoon,  hosted by Dr Michael Rodgers and Dr Eoghan Clifford,  both of the Department of Civil Engineering at NUI Galway.

Innovation Connections Programme Launch

I had the honour yesterday of representing Engineers Ireland,  and speaking,  at the launch of the InterTradeIreland Innovation Connections Programme,  at the EU buildings in Dawson St,  Dublin.

Cork Region Annual Dinner

I had the immense pleasure of attending the Cork Region Annual Dinner this evening,  at the Maryborough Hotel.

Finance Committee Meeting; Executive Committee Meeting

Yesterday evening we had scheduled meetings of the Finance Committee and Executive Committee.

Launch of Mathematics and Science education report

The work of our taskforce,  led by PJ Rudden,  was published today and is available on our web site here.   Very considerable work and effort,  and an inspiration to us all.

Considerable media interest,  including being the very first item on RTE's "Morning Ireland" this morning ay 7am;   also Matt Cooper,  George Hook and others...

Minister Ryan and Engineers Week

Attended a photo-shoot this morning at Clyde Road,  with Minister Ryan.   Photo here.

Taoiseach launches Engineers' Week

We were honoured by the Taoiseach at lunchtime today to launch Engineers' Week from Clyde Road.

www.CareersPortal.ie

I'ld like to bring to your attention the new Careers Portal website and specifically its presentation of careers in engineering.

BT Business of Science and Technology Programme

This year,   BT have extended the Young Scientists Exhibition to take the top 50 (actually,  53:-)) students and offer them a three month programme to extend their projects using insights from entrepreneurs and innovators.   Hopefully some of these students will be inspired and guided not only to successfully conclude their academic careers,  but also to consider founding and launching their own innovative businesses in due course.

This morning I was invited by William McAuliffe of BT to give my personal experiences as an entrepreneur to the students in the Science Gallery (which,  coincidently,  I chair).   It was quite a humbling experience,   with insightful questions from the audience!

The Place of Mathematics Education in Ireland’s Future

I had the privilege today of being asked to chair a national symposium on mathematics teaching,  organised by Professor Clive Williams and the TCD Faculty of Engineering,  Mathematics and Science and hosted at the RIA.   The full programme of speakers is here,  and about 90 people nationwide attended - third level academics,  second and primary level teachers and associations,  business associations and public servants - and, for part of this afternoon, the Minister for Education and Science,  Batt O'Keefe.