Kathleen O’Sullivan (President of the Irish Statistical Association (ISA), School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Cork) launched the Young Statisticians’ Section of the ISA, the Young-ISA, on Friday October 04, 2019, in the Glen Royal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

The ISA formed its Young-ISA  to provide a forum for career-young statisticians, that is, statisticians in the early stages of their careers, across Ireland.  This is an exciting initiative by the ISA to encourage and nurture career-young statisticians.

This inaugural meeting, organised by the Young-ISA Section, showcased the breadth of research undertaken by career-young statisticians in Ireland. I would like to specially thank the keynote speakers, Drs Norma Bargary (University of Limerick) and Aidan Boland (Edge by Ascential) for providing insights into their career paths from academia and industry, and to all those who contributed talks and participated in the round table discussion.

Having recently returned home from China, where I took part in Huawei Technologies' Seeds for the Future programme, my thoughts turn back in reflection to the amazing three weeks I spent in a country with such an amazing culture, heritage and future. A clear highlight was being hosted by Ambassador O'Leary in Beijing. A fellow Cork man, we were soon chatting about Cork's All Ireland chances. Getting to visit the Great Wall and Forbidden City before starting a week long course in Mandarin and Chinese culture at the Beijing Language and Culture University was another highlight. After Beijing it was off to a week of ICT training at Huawei HQ in Shenzhen, a city which only 40 years ago was just a small fishing village. The rate of change in China makes it a place of undoubted opportunity. The training there offered great insights into the cutting edge of future technologies. Finally, we finished in Hong Kong, where we very fortunate to be hosted by the Irish Consulate in a round table discussion with Irish expats. I am very thankful to Huawei for this wonderful opportunity, as well as to the nine other partaking Irish students who I am now happy to count as friends. Hopefully one day I will be able to return to China, as I feel I have barely scratched its surface.

 Fionn Bracken

4th Year Mathematical Sciences 2019

University College Cork. 

Dr. Clifford Gilmore, School of Mathematical Sciences, UCC.

This week the School welcomed the fourth group of students from Bejing Technology & Business University. The students are part of our BSc Risk and Actuarial Science Degree with students undertaking 2 years in their home University followed by 2 years in UCC. A total of 32 students have enrolled for 2019 with a busy schedule this week and next of settling into their new homes, tours of Cork and the University with Orientation arranged by the Admissions Office and the International Office next week. 

The School wishes the student every success in their studies and their time in Cork. 

Novel Applications of Statistical Method

On Thursday 20th June, 18 of our students were conferred with their BSc Risk and Actuarial Science Degree. The class of 2019 is the second group of students to have graduated from the programme since it commenced in 2014. The students and their families attended the morning graduation ceremony followed by a reception in the Western Gateway Building, attended by Professor Sarah Culloty, Head of College of SEFS, Professor Finbarr O'Sullivan, Head of School of Mathematical Sciences, along with academic colleagues and friends.

Many of the students are pursuing additional postgraduate studies, with some having secured graduate positions both in Ireland and the UK.

This week a number of our students were involved in the first ever "Free Maths Grinds Program" which ran over 200 tailored sessions to individual students/small groups. Students from accross the County took up the opportunity to avail of these sessions in advance of the State Exams taking place on June 7th and 10th. Students were guided through exam techniques and making use of their remaining time before exams. The volunteers also concentrated on key themes of the exam papers such as:

1. Algebra
2. Numbers
3. Functions
4. Probability and Statistics 
5. Trigonometry and Geometry 

Award for Irish Teachers of Mathematics 

On Friday 3^rd May, the School of Mathematical Sciences welcomed Professor Yu DongChuan from the Nanjing Software Valley, China.

Best New Society at National Awards 2019