This year’s SETU undergraduate student awards in Science and Land Sciences featured industry recognition of student excellence and the importance of undergraduate projects.
Numerous Industry awards were presented to students at the awards ceremony, held at the end of the academic year at the SETU Arena. The awardees excelled in their research from the Lab Science programmes including Pharmaceutical Science; Molecular Biology with Biopharmaceutical Science, Lab Analyst Apprenticeship programme, and Physics with Modern Technology.
Professor Peter McLoughlin, Head of the School of Science and Computing at SETU, emphasised the awards ceremony's importance, saying, “Our students and their families take great pride in receiving acknowledgement for their excellent work through these awards. Each year we have an increase in the number of companies who are delighted to sponsor awards recognising the excellence of our students.”
Sofrimar, Sanofi, TriviumVet, Eurofins, BioEnz Technologies, Bausch and Lomb and IBEC were among the industry sponsors of the awards.
“The involvement of these industries in our undergraduate projects, work placements, and our Industry consultation forums enable us to ensure that our programmes are constantly evolving to reflect the changing needs and practices and to ensure our graduates are work ready,” Prof. McLoughlin added.
The involvement of these industries in our undergraduate projects, work placements, and our Industry consultation forums enable us to ensure that our programmes are constantly evolving."
Professor Peter McLoughlin Head of the School of Science and Computing at SETU
A BSc (H) Molecular Biology with Biopharmaceutical Science student was also the recipient of the Environmental Science Association of Ireland Undergraduate of the Year award.
New this year was the ‘Student Spirit Award’ sponsored by Haleon. The award recognises a student deemed to have made the most significant contribution to creating a positive atmosphere of engagement in Pharmaceutical Science, thereby enriching the learning experience of others.
Dr Orla O’Donovan, Head of the Department of Science noted, “These annual awards demonstrate the recognition of industry for the hugely important undergraduate projects which develop the key attributes of scientific enquiry and research. While the ‘Student Spirit Award’ recognises that the development of interpersonal skills is just as important as the scientific skills as an SETU Laboratory Science graduate.”
Industry sponsors
Thanking industry sponsors for their ongoing support and recognition of the annual student awards, Eleanor Kent, Head of the Department of Land Sciences added, “These awards allow students to showcase their excellent achievements across research, innovation, and academia.”
For the ninth year, Dairymaster sponsored the Dairymaster Award, acknowledging the high standard of work produced by the students from Agricultural Science at SETU.
Daragh Little, Managing Director Forestry, of Veon Forest Management & Ecology Consultancy, presented the inaugural Veon Excellence in Forest Management Scholarship. Mr Little stated, “We are proud to partner with SETU to develop the next generation of forestry professionals, and this scholarship award underscores Veon's fundamental belief in the future of the Irish forestry sector.”
Niall O'Toole, representing the Society of Irish Foresters, presented the Augustine Henry Memorial Medal. Niall, also a graduate of SETU Forestry, noted that this annual award marked 25 years of co-operation between the Society of Irish Foresters and SETU, since the first forestry graduating class of 2000.
Legacy Irish Cider presented the “Best Market Research Analysis” award to a group of Food Science students, while longtime sponsor, AIB presented the final year Agricultural Awards for the 10th time.
Food innovation
Paul Nolan of Dawn Meats presented the best “Food Product Innovation” award. As chair of the SETU Land Sciences Industry Board Paul noted the importance of the collaborative work between industry and the University in preparing the next generation of graduates skilled workforce and researchers for the region.
“It is fantastic to have Veterinary Practices such as Comeragh Veterinary Clinic be part of our Department of Land Sciences student awards,” said Eleanor.
Sponsors of the Land Sciences awards included; Society of Irish Foresters, Veron Forest Management & Ecology Consultancy, The Forestry Company, Legacy Irish Cider, Comeragh Veterinary Practice, Dawn Meats, and AIB.
