Winter conferring ceremonies commenced today (13 December 2006) at UCC
with 555 students graduating from the College of Science, Engineering
& Food Science and the College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social
Sciences. There were 418 graduates from the Faculty of Arts
followed by 103 from the Faculty of Science and 34 from the Faculty of
Food Science & Technology.
An Honorary Master's Degree in Science Education was conferred on
Sister M. Mercedes Desmond and Seán O Donnabháin who have a combined
contribution of over 100 years to science education in Ireland
(citations below).
The Conferring address was given by Professor Gerard Wrixon,
President, UCC (see below). The ceremonies continue tomorrow (14 December)
and conclude on Friday (15 December).
CONFERRING ADDRESS by Professor Gerard T. Wrixon, President, UCC
Welcome to University College Cork. It is
first of all my very pleasant duty to warmly congratulate our new
graduates. This is a very special day, a day of achievement, a day of
celebration and for many marks the culmination of their formal
education experience.
Even though I know you have all worked hard to reach this goal you have
been helped and encouraged along the way by the people seated behind
you in the hall, your parents, friends and relatives who made sure that
there was a helping hand, a meal on the table and a kind word when your
studies did not seem to be going that well. Today is as much their day
as it is yours so I think they too deserve our appreciation for their
contribution to your achievement.
On your behalf I would also like to congratulate and thank my
colleagues, the faculty seated here on the podium with me who have also
worked hard to make this day a reality and to ensure that while at UCC
you received the best possible university education available in
Ireland today. Let's please acknowledge them.
The high quality and the breadth of the education you have received at
UCC will stand you in good stead as you face the unfolding realities,
trends and challenges of the 21st century. Society in every age has
faced challenges but specifically to our time there are a number of
special issues which are rapidly growing in importance and which are in
actuality global trends with very definite local effects.
The first of these is globalisation with its attendant outsourcing of
manufacturing jobs to low wage countries and alarmingly, a rising trend
of outsourcing knowledge jobs such as accounting, engineering and
indeed research and development to the more advanced centres of
developing countries. As our current economic success is based on a
mixture of sophisticated manufacturing and a rapidly expanding service
sector, increased globalisation will present a major challenge to us
going forward.
Another challenge for this century is the rise in global warming caused
mainly by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas since
the start of the industrial revolution in the 19th century. It now
appears irrefutable that unless we moderate our consumption of fossil
fuels within the next few decades irreversible changes in weather
patterns will set in, leading to catastrophic situations over many
parts of the globe within the lifetime of most people in this hall.
This poses challenges not only for countries and societies but more
particularly for each of us as individuals to do what we can to reduce
our consumption of these fuels.
A third major challenge is that in our society, and indeed in other
western societies, despite our growing affluence the disparity in
wealth between the haves and the have nots is increasing. This indeed
is mirrored globally where the disparity between wealthy nations and
poverty stricken ones is also increasing. Apart from the obvious
potential for conflict and disruption which such a disparity gives rise
to, basic social justice demands that we work much harder and more
imaginatively to help the poor and disadvantaged not only in our own
country but also that Ireland as a nation does its fair share to combat
this problem globally.
Solving or indeed at least alleviating the consequences of the
challenges I have outlined is going to form part of your agenda
throughout your working life. However, I would be optimistic. The
human race has a wonderful ability to adapt to challenges and this
graduating class of 2006 will be no exception. You will bring to your
work and your professions new ideas, fresh insights and original ways
of looking at things which had not occurred to people before. That is
how real change and renewal happens. Indeed change and renewal is
intrinsic to all human societies and organisations. Universities for
instance are repositories of knowledge but over time that knowledge is
constantly being added to and refined. Students come to UCC these days
with a totally different educational background and educational
experiences from say even 20 years ago. That challenges us in the
university to change the way we do things, to investigate and promote
new forms of learning, for instance, which are effective in making the
ever expanding knowledge base more accessible. Universities renew and
restructure themselves in order to adapt to not only the changing
spectrum of the students who come here but also to the ever changing
world that they must enter upon graduating.
What happens in a university, however, is only a paradigm for what is
happening in all of society. The fact that change and adaptation is
now intrinsic to living underlines the increasing importance and indeed
centrality of education throughout our lives. Today may signal the end
of your formal education experience but informal education and
participation in lifelong learning will be very important for you
throughout your careers. It will enable you to critically understand
and consequently be able to make a continual contribution to, the
development of society as well as to your own continued intellectual
development as individuals.
It is my sincerest hope that the education you have received here at
UCC has prepared you well for the challenging world you are about to
enter and that whatever field you are in you will become creative,
innovative, productive and caring people. It is our graduates that say
the most about what a university is and I know that, like your
predecessors, this 2006 graduating class will be one of which we in UCC
can all be justly proud. Heartiest congratulations once again, have a
great day and may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy
Christmas.
_______________
TEXT OF THE INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS DELIVERED BY:
Dr Declan Kennedy, in University College Cork on 13 December, 2006, on
the occasion of the conferring of the Degree of Master of Science
Education, honoris causa, on SR MERCEDES DESMOND
Sr M. Mercedes Desmond was born in Donoughmore, Co. Cork. She attended
the local primary school and went as a boarder to the Presentation
Secondary School, Thurles. She completed her Leaving Certificate
examination in 1941 and entered the Mercy Convent in St. Maries of the
Isle, Cork in 1942. She was professed as a Sister of Mercy in 1944 and
took her Final Vows in 1947.
In 1945 Sr. Mercedes, having never studied science at secondary school,
enrolled as a student in UCC to study physics under Professor J. J.
McHenry. In addition, she studied astronomy under Dr John Kelly who
later became director of the School of Cosmic Physics and this
enkindled in her a lifelong interest in this subject. The external
examiner for the course was Professor ETS Walton who won the Nobel
prize for physics for his work on splitting the atom. Sr Mercedes and
he kept in touch with each other down through the years and became
lifelong friends. Sr Mercedes also studied chemistry and, due to the
daytime rationing of gas during the Second World War, carried out
practical work in Chemistry at night time in the old science building
(now Civil Engineering) in UCC. In 1948 Sr Mercedes graduated with a
B.Sc. in Physics and Chemistry and then studied for the Higher Diploma
in Education in the Department of Education UCC.
In 1949 she was assigned to St. Aloysius School, Sharman Crawford
Street, where she taught Physics, Chemistry and Maths. In her early
years as a teacher, she undertook numerous courses in physiology and
taught that subject also until the introduction of biology as a subject
on the curriculum. In 1962 she, along with a small group of other
science teacher founded the Irish Science Teachers' Association. Since
that time, this organisation with a current membership of 1100, has had
a profound effect in helping to ensure the highest possible standards
of science education in Ireland.
Sr Mercedes immersed herself in science education both at local and
national level. She participated in and organised numerous inservice
courses for science teachers ranging from glass blowing to electronics
to ecology field trips to astronomy. These courses were organised by
the ISTA within the network of universities and Institute of Technology
throughout the country. Since the founding of the ISTA she
has served at all levels of the ISTA, has represented the Cork branch
on the Council of the ISTA and has represented the ISTA at
international conferences at home and abroad. Since 1962 St Aloysius
School has been the home of the Cork branch of the ISTA and each month
since that time Sr Mercedes has diligently opened the school for the
monthly ISTA branch meetings.
The Annual Conference of the Irish Science Teachers' Association has
been hosted by the Cork branch in 1968, 1973, 1977, 1982 and 1997. Sr
Mercedes is the only person to have served on every committee set up to
organise the Annual Conference of the ISTA including the present
organising committee working to bring the 45th ISTA Annual Conference
to UCC from 23 - 25 March 2007. In the years prior to Vatican II, Sr
Mercedes was unable to attend the ISTA Annual Dinner on the Saturday
night of the Annual Conference or even to stay overnight in a hotel!
Once these restrictions were lifted, Sr Mercedes embraced the late
nights with great gusto and, on several occasions, found herself locked
out of the convent!
She was appointed principal of St Aloysius school in 1978 and during
her term as principal enrolment in the school rose to 1200
students making it the largest girls secondary school in Ireland.
During her years as Principal she served as a member of the Executive
Council of Voluntary Secondary Schools in Ireland. She retired as
principal in 1985. In fact, her retirement had the effect of giving her
increased enthusiasm for education and, as well as serving as Manager
of St. Aloysius School up to 1992, she continues to serve as a member
of the Board of Management of the school up to the present time and is
also a member of the Board of Management of St Aidan's Community
College. In 1995 she was the recipient of the Science Educator of the
Year Award from the Irish Science Teachers Association. This is the
highest award made by the ISTA and is awarded "for outstanding
contribution to science education in Ireland".
In 1985 she was nominated by the Minister of Education and Science to
serve on the College Council of Cork Institute of Technology and served
for two terms in this capacity.
Among the most endearing qualities of Sr Mercedes are her humility,
gentleness and total dedication to science education. She has been
involved in science education for the past 60 years and her enormous
contribution is impossible to measure.
_________
TEXT OF THE INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS DELIVERED BY:
Dr Declan Kennedy, in University College Cork on 13 December, 2006, on
the occasion of the conferring of the Degree of Master of Science
Education, honoris causa, on Seán Ó Donnabháin
Mr Sean O Donnabhain was born in Cork and received his early education
in Presentation College Cork. From a young age he was very interested
in sport and played hurling with St Vincent's and rugby with PBC. As a
student of science in UCC he had a brilliant academic career and in
1957 he graduated in joint first place in his class with a first class
honours degree in chemistry. During his time at university he founded
the Leeside Theatre group. After completing his Higher Diploma in
Education in the Education Department UCC, he taught for a number of
years in the Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street , Crawford
Institute of Technology and Oatlands College CBS.
He was appointed to the Science Inspectorate of the Department of
Education in 1962 and promoted to Senior Science Inspector in October
1973.
During his time in the inspectorate he had responsibility for the
physical sciences and was Chief Examiner for Leaving Certificate
physics and chemistry during these years.
Over a period of 38 years as a science inspector, Sean gave outstanding
support to the Irish Science Teachers' Association. He was involved in
several projects aimed at improving science teaching in Ireland. He was
particularly involved in curriculum development and chaired the
syllabus committees that developed the first modern syllabus in physics
in the early 1980s. As well as modern content and a greatly increased
emphasis on student practical work, these syllabi included for the
first time explicit reference to the applications of these subjects in
everyday life - what is now known as Science, Technology and Society
(STS). It was Sean who introduced STS into the curriculum in Ireland
and promoted this concept with great enthusiasm.
In the summer of 1966 Sean led a group of science teachers from Ireland
to the USA and spent 4 months at the Oakridge Institute of Nuclear
Studies in Tennessee where they received the most up-to-date
information on nuclear physics. An exhibition called "Atoms In Action"
was established in the RDS for a six week period in 1966. The purpose
of this exhibition was to develop an interest in science and its
relevance to modern society. Hundreds of industrialists and thousands
of students and their teachers attended this exhibition. Amongst those
who visited the exhibition were the then Taoiseach Sean Lemass, and the
Uachtarán of Ireland Eamon deValera.
In 1985 he initiated, and subsequently developed, the Intervention
Projects in Physics and Chemistry, a programme designed to increase the
participation rates of girls in the physical sciences at Leaving Cert
and hence into third level. Under Sean's direction, physics or
chemistry was introduced to the curriculum of over thirty schools which
did not have the subject and, as a result, a large number girls (and a
number of boys in co-educational schools) have had an opportunity to
study one or more of the physical sciences for their Leaving
Certificate. As well as introducing these subjects into schools which
did not offer these subjects, the programme also provided support to
physics and/or chemistry teachers in over seventy other schools which
did have the subjects. This support assisted the teachers to develop
their expertise in their subjects and also helped to promote the
subjects in the schools through presentations to the students and to
their parents. The programme also set up a number of Science Resource
Centres around the country to provide laboratory-based in-service for
teachers.
.
Seán represented the DES on many committees, both national and
international. Of particular note in this regard was his work with the
OECD's Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI). In 1989
CERI established its Science Maths and Technology in Education project.
Seán was ultimately responsible for having the Irish programme of
Intervention Projects in Physics and Chemistry accepted as one of the
23 cases studies from 13 OECD countries included in the CERI project.
As a result, the Irish programme was presented at a number of
dissemination conferences in OECD member countries. It was also
included in a book based on the CERI project - Changing the Subject -
Innovations in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, edited by
Paul Black and J. Myron Atkin (published by Routledge in 1996).
Seán believed strongly in the value of incareer professional
development for teachers. He facilitated the organisation of numerous
weekend courses for science teachers at venues throughout the country.
Not only did he support the organisation of these courses but he also
attended and presented at many of them. He also initiated summer
courses for science teachers in DIT Kevin Street. These courses were
held almost every year over a period of a decade and a half starting in
the late 1970s.
He was responsible for the production of two very comprehensive
handbooks, circulated to every second level school in the country in
both paper and electronic formats, for teachers of physics and
chemistry. These handbooks were published shortly before Seán retired
and marked a fitting climax a career dedicated to the development of
science education in this country. Sean retired from the Inspectorate
in 2000 having being involved in science education for a total of 43
years.
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