We hope you and your loved ones remain in good health at this extraordinary time.
Here at UCD, the safety and wellbeing of our students, colleagues, and wider community is our utmost priority as together we face the challenge of containing the spread of COVID-19. Physical classes and tutorials on campus have been suspended and teaching and learning is instead progressing by technological means, including video conferencing, online chat rooms, and podcasts.
At UCD Foundation we remain committed to our vision for the advancement of UCD as a global centre of excellence in education and research. However, despite everyone’s best efforts, it is not business as usual. Rather, we are seeking creative and innovative ways of working together as a remote team and remaining engaged with our friends and supporters as we navigate this new normal. You may continue to reach us by phone at +353 1 7161393 or email at info@ucdfoundation.ie .
One of the most effective actions we can take to slow the spread of the virus is to practise social distancing, and so we are not organising in-person meetings at present. We are also working to reschedule a number of our upcoming events, including the annual Newman Fellowship Dinner and our Seasonal Supper Club, which will now take place in September.
Now, more than ever, it is vital that we keep open the lines of communication and support one another in solidarity. The constant barrage of worrying news can leave us feeling overwhelmed and anxious, but there is good news too, and cause for hope. As Ireland’s Global University, UCD has a vital role to play in shaping our response to the current crisis nationally and globally, culturally and scientifically. Be assured that our brightest minds are rising to the challenge across all academic disciplines, from medicine, science and engineering to the arts and humanities.
Last week the Presidents of all Irish Universities and Institutes of Technology sent a joint letter to students. I will leave you with their parting words – wise advice for all of us as we find our way through the coming months:
“Be kind to each other and take care of yourselves and each other. Let’s give each other the space to find our way through these challenging times, and the time to find humanity and meaning here too.”
Through research, innovation and frontline delivery of our healthcare services, UCD academics are at the forefront of the nationwide effort to combat coronavirus
Dr Patrick Wall, Professor of Public Health in UCD, responding to the UK’s coronavirus lockdown with the British public ordered to stay at home.
“In Ireland we have plenty of space…it is possible for people to stay two metres apart.”
Dr Patrick Wall on the positive impact of social distancing so far in Ireland and Britain’s new lockdown measures. #COVID19 #TonightVMTV pic.twitter.com/djOGieKYTB
— The Tonight Show (@TonightVMTV) March 23, 2020
Dr Tom Curran from the UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering on how the current societal changes could have a detrimental impact on our environment.
DON’T FEED THE FATBERGS IN THE PANDEMIC| Aquatech https://t.co/uxUvVQPsEm
— UCD Eng & Arch (@UCDEngArch) March 23, 2020
Dr Cillian De Gascun – a medical virologist, chair of the HSE’s Coronavirus Expert Advisory Group, and Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory at UCD – on the latest developments around contact tracing and scaling our testing capacity.
Medical Virologist @CillianDeGascun and GP @Finnmaire answer listeners’ questions on #coronavirus on RTÉ’s @todaySOR | Live #covid19 blog: https://t.co/MJHqr99J7E https://t.co/izebl9b4Rr
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 23, 2020
UCD and UCC to give free course to help more nurses treat coronavirus patients: https://t.co/IusnIPnawi
— UCD ALUMNI (@UCDALUMNI) March 24, 2020
A look inside Ireland’s first remote contact tracing coordination centre located within the UCD O’Brien Centre for Science. With Dr Patrick Wall, Professor of Public Health, and Mary Codd, Associate Professor in UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science.
Public health experts have warned that social distancing alone is not enough to stop the transmission of Covid-19. They’re warning that Ireland could end up like Italy if we don’t put more physical space between each other | https://t.co/mhkadRliQc pic.twitter.com/JYkwto3rSF
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 22, 2020
The Open Source Ventilator project is the brainchild of Colin Keogh, a 3D printing expert from UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering who has previously appeared on Forbes Magazine’s “30 under 30” ranking of leading innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. The project is seeking to develop a working ventilator that can be built using 3D printers and off-the-shelf components.
“We want to help solve this global crisis.”
An Irish engineer is leading a global group of 600-plus experts trying to develop an easy-to-assemble ventilator that could be used in the battle against #coronavirus #Covid-19 pic.twitter.com/5x7wYx6aEh— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 21, 2020
Speaking here with presenter Baz Ashmawy, Professor Patrick Mallon (Professor of Microbial Diseases in UCD School of Medicine and a Consultant in Infectious Diseases in St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin) gives an update on the current pandemic, and again stresses the importance of social distancing.
The update with Paddy Mallon @HIVTox .Spread the facts “If we get this wrong it’s potentially the biggest disaster to hit this country since it was founded and if we got it right, it’ll be the biggest societal success. #COVID19 #IrelandVsCOVID #coronavirushttps://t.co/P3GcUWhql7
— Baz Ashmawy (@bazashmawy) March 20, 2020
Associate Professor Paul D’Alton is co-director of the MSc in Mindfulness Based Interventions and teaches on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across UCD School of Psychology. He is also Head of Psychology at St Vincent’s University Hospital.
Anxiety is perfectly normal in response to an abnormal situation, says clinical psychologist Dr Paul D’Alton.
Read Dr D’Alton’s tips on how to look after your wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak here: https://t.co/bEp4X2Fu1y
— Irish Cancer Society (@IrishCancerSoc) March 18, 2020
Professor Mary Horgan, a world-renowned expert in infectious disease and UCD Alumni Award Winner in Health and Agricultural Sciences, has been one of the leading voices on the importance of social distancing in controlling the spread of the pandemic.
“1 person with Covid-19 could infect 400 people over 30 days”-Prof Mary Horgan told @morningireland
We must exercise social distancing- science shows that social distancing is one of the best things that we can do to protect the vulnerable. Listen back. https://t.co/d7XdYRTPSa pic.twitter.com/MSABx1EBsO— Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (@RCPI_news) March 19, 2020
Due to the cancellation of Agri Aware’s “Farm Walk & Talk 2020” educational series, the Irish agri-food body along with the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science have gone the extra mile and created a series of videos from UCD Lyons Farm to support students and teachers. More than 1,600 Leaving Cert Agricultural Students from over 60 secondary schools nationwide participated in the ‘Farm Walk and Talk 2020’ which took place in the Teagasc Colleges and Research Farms across Ireland.
Agri Aware and @ucdagfood have come to the rescue of Ag Science students and teachers with our virtual Farm Walk and Talk videos packed with relevant syllabus info filmed at @ucdlyonsfarm recently.https://t.co/rkZUPjQUtr#FarmWalkandTalk2020 #HomeSchooling #Learning #Farming pic.twitter.com/NdfTFHktJb
— Agri Aware (@AgriAware) March 20, 2020
Based within NovaUCD, Akkure’s risk assessment tool aims to give users an idea of their status and the impact the coronavirus could have on their health within 90 seconds.
Akkure, an Irish digital health start-up based in @NovaUCD has launched the ‘COVIDMedBot’, an online personalised risk assessment & guideline tool for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the story at https://t.co/t3BhEh2qj5#Covid_19 #innovation pic.twitter.com/qBKjJ07nKD
— KTI Connect (@KTIconnect) March 20, 2020
Serving the Greater Good: Alumni Find Ways to Give Back Amid Coronavirus
The spread of the novel coronavirus has closed schools, shuttered restaurants, and left much of the world sequestered in their homes. The cascading series of events has altered nearly every aspect of everyday life, creating a need that is being filled with increasing urgency by a host of UCD alumni eager to make a difference.
In the past few weeks UCD alums have stepped up time and again, across the country and around the world, whether to assist students, reach out to classmates, or support their local communities.
Examples of projects and programmes being led by UCD alumni include a free to use online form that is speeding up COVID-19 testing which has been developed by UCD Smurfit School MBA alumnus Dr Knut Moe and the manufacture of rapid testing kits, developed by Seán Mac Fhearraigh and Colm Ryan of Assay Genie.
“Food for Heroes”, a GoFundMe page set up by Cian O’Flaherty, has raised close to €400k since it began on March 15th. Donations go towards providing meals for emergency frontline medical staff fighting COVID-19 in Ireland.
Our future alumni are also stepping up. Pharmacist and UCD medicine student Margaret-Ellen Clerkin is one of the organisers behind a network of students and pharmacists across Ireland who are delivering medicines to people at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is truly awe inspiring to see the UCD community rising to the challenges posed by the coronavirus with creativity and the will to assist those in need. These types of initiatives demonstrate the unity and creativity we must all show in order to get through this crisis, stronger, more resilient and more united.
If you would like to share any stories, projects or initiatives, please don’t hesitate to contact us on +353 1 7161393 or email info@ucdfoundation.ie. We would love to hear from you.
Tips and other resources to help you manage anxiety, put news reports in perspective and maintain a positive outlook.
Irish singer lifts spirits in Colombia
An Irish singer who lives in Colombia is keeping her neighbours' spirits up during the stay-at-home order brought on by Covid-19. Rebecca Winckworth has been singing to people from her balcony every evening during the lockdown in Medellin. (Recommend sound on)
Posted by RTÉ News on Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Listen to @drpauldalton‘s @drivetimerte mini podcast episodes on how to stay calm during stressful periods as heard on @RTERadio1 here:
Staying calm: https://t.co/UumIYvRdeT
Sleep tips: https://t.co/eHabnhnjne@UCDPsychology #COVID19ireland #mentalhealth
— Drivetime RTE (@drivetimerte) March 27, 2020
To help boost mental & physical health in these times, there’s a ‘Hooley in the Kitchen’ weeknights @RTERadio1 8pm. Find some space & let rip ! Here are a few simple steps you might like to try.. Whiteys Lindy Hoppers .. Hellzapoppin. https://t.co/7mj9pMMjZa via @YouTube
— john creedon (@johncreedon) March 25, 2020
At home with the kids or caring for a loved one? See the ebooks in our Parent & Carer collection. Topics include books on emotions and coping for kids, caring for toddlers, the carer’s bible & more. Loads of great online resources too. See https://t.co/PAqkiF0RFM. 💻❤️ pic.twitter.com/3Oh8eKpDgN
— UCD Library (@UCDLibrary) March 24, 2020
https://t.co/4gdf5XJYSZ
Action for Happiness have put together this brilliant Coping Calendar to help you get through this crazy global crisis and reach out for others. #coronavirusuk #CoronavirusPandemic #copingcalendar #actionforhappiness pic.twitter.com/Ihy5I7jX9Q— Tin Man (@TinManOnline) March 23, 2020
If you are self-isolating because you have coronavirus, or because you’re trying to reduce your chances of infection, there are lots of things you can do to make sure you feel well in mind and body. Read our easy tips. https://t.co/RUZThEfa9E
— BHF (@TheBHF) March 25, 2020
Philosophy can be particularly useful in difficult times like these. #COVID19
Silvia Panizza, @ucddublin fellow and #PERiTiA‘s team member, casts an eye over this crisis from a philosophical perspective @ConversationUK https://t.co/19TFF0EFP5#MeetPERiTiAteam #philosophy
— PEriTiA (@PERITIAnews) March 23, 2020
Associate Professor Paul D’Alton is co-director of the MSc in Mindfulness Based Interventions and teaches on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across the School of Psychology, @ucddublin https://t.co/Yf2fbD2Zh1
— UCD Foundation (@UCD_Foundation) March 19, 2020
Bright Sparks #CreativeBursts – created by @sarahwebbishere – are short activities to do at home with your children. In today’s edition, Sarah asks you to identify your spirit animal 🦉 🐕 🐟 and gets you to play with words! https://t.co/aztb4s8iga pic.twitter.com/DXCqlAZDby
— MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland (@MoLI_Museum) March 16, 2020
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Each of the seven schools in the UCD College of Science engages in exciting and internationally recognised research. Research includes drug discovery, development and delivery which aim to identify biomarkers, novel therapeutic targets to guide drug development and target medicines toward specific populations.
The James Joyce Library receives on average one million visits per year. Behind these doors there is vast study space amongst hundreds of books and academic journals. The library’s special collections houses the first documentation of the Flight of the Earls, a letter written to Éamon de Valera as well as numerous manuscripts by some of Ireland’s most celebrated writers such as Frank McGuinness, Edna O’Brien, and Maeve Binchy.
The UCD Student Centre is home to the UCD Student Union which aims to promote student wellbeing on campus be it mental health, disability rights, mature students or accommodation support. The UCDSU provides free counselling services as well as running life skills courses for students suffering from depression or anxiety.
Newman is a multi-storey mixture of the arts and social sciences. With lecture theatres that can house up to 500 students as well as smaller spaces for tutorials, students can share ideas with both their peers and their tutors. Whether it be current politics, history or literature there are a wide array of topics up for debate and discussion.
There is no better training for students than in Richview, the home of architecture in UCD. This space includes design studios, a well-equipped workshop and building laboratory, exhibition spaces and the most extensive architectural library in the country.