Events

The summer bursary programme involves not just a dedicated research project, but also a range of social and scientific events intended to put the research experience in a wider context. Below are examples of recent visits and events undertaken by the students.

Visit to Novartis International

In 2009 the bursary students visited in Ringaskiddy Co. Cork. Novartis International in Ringaskiddy Co. Cork. Novartis is a Pharmaceutical Company. This was of particular interest to the Chemistry students in the group. Gemma Kelly who is Head of their International Services Laboratory directed her staff to give the students a guided tour of their facilities and labs. Novartis also kindly gave the students lectures on the importance of Quality in the preparation of samples in the laboratory.

Visit to Fota Animal Wildlife Park.

As there is also a social element to our programme the students visited the Fota Wildlife Park near Cobh. They had a very relaxing time there and enjoyed the experience immensely. This was followed by a wonderful lunch in Cobh. Click here for photos of recent trips.

Visit to Intel.

The Intel manufacturing plant in Leixlip, Co. Kildare is the company's largest fabrication facility outside the United States. Here, they produce many of Intel's latest products, including the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo and Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme processors. The tour takes the students into the clean rooms, where they can experience one of the world's most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities at first hand. Click here for photos of recent trips.

Visit to Bunratty Castle (2007)

The bursary programme is not just about science. A visit to the famous Bunratty Castle in Co. Clare provides the students with a taste of Irish history and hospitality. The castle began life as a Viking Trading Camp in 970 and has variously been occupied by the Normans, the King of England and several Irish chieftains. Today, it has been extensively restored and is one of Ireland's premiere tourist attractions, hosting medieval banquets every evening. Click here for photos of recent trips.

Visit to Analog Devices (2007)

Analog Devices are one of the world's largest and most innovative suppliers of analog and digital signal processing products. Their product range encompasses everything from amplifiers and analog-to-digital converters to processors and sensors. The FASTNET bursary programme includes a day trip to their plant in Limerick, where the students get a tour of the facilities and experience hands-on working life in a modern ICT company. Click here for photos of recent trips.

.

Visit to UCC UREKA Site

Two other Undergraduate Research Experience & Knowledge Award {UREKA) sites are hosted at UCC, with which joint social events are organised. The first of these is hosted by the Alimentary Pharmabiotics Centre, the Department of Microbiology and the BioSciences Institute. The research theme, entitled "Microbe-Host Interaction: the Molecular Dialogue", includes topics relating to the interactions between bacterial, fungal cells and viruses with host cells. The second site, UPCRO, hosted by the Department of Chemistry, offers Undergraduate PharmaChemical Research Opportunities. Similar to the FASTNET programme at Tyndall, both provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to work in research and acquire a range of scientific skills over the summer period. Click here for photos of the recent trip.

Visit to Dow Corning

The students have also visited the Dow Corning manufacturing facility in Midleton, Co. Cork. Dow Corning are a leading multinational in silicon-based technology and innovation. Their Cork plant is host to the Plasma Solutions division, which uses Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Liquid Deposition (APPLD) technology to apply thin film surface coatings. Click here for photos of the last trip.

Visit to the Midleton Distillery

The Midleton Distillery is today the main distillery of the Irish Distillers Group and is responsible for the majority of Irish Whiskey produced in Ireland. Whiskey has been distilled here since the 1820's and the tour takes the visitor through the historic old buildings, past the waterwheel and the world's largest pot still (31,618 gallons). The tour culminates in a whiskey tasting session, with the possibility of becoming a qualified Irish Whiskey Taster. Click here for photos of the last trip.

Presentation Day

At the end of the bursary programme, each student presents their work to an audience of their fellow students and Tyndall personnel. Click here for photos of the 2008 presentation day.

Back to Introduction

FASTNET, a Tyndall Outreach programme, is funded by