At the NUI Galway Alumni Awards 2012 were (l-r): Sandra Butler, Chair of the Alumni Association Board; Professor Fergal O'Gara, Aramark Alumni Award for Science; NUI Galway President, Dr Jim Browne; and Donal O’Brien, CEO Aramark Ireland.
Professor Fergal O’Gara, Director of the BIOMERIT Research Centre and Emeritus Professor of Microbiology at UCC, was awarded the Aramark Alumni Award for Science by Taoiseach Enda Kenny at a recent function to honour NUI Galway’s graduates.
Professor O’Gara graduated from UCG (now NUI Galway) with a PhD in Microbiology in 1974. He spent three years working as a research scientist at the University of California and joined UCC in 1977. He was appointed Professor and Chair of Microbiology at UCC in 2002 and served as Head of Department until 2009.
His research interests focus on the genetic and molecular biology of microbe-host interactions in medical and environmental biotechnology. His research programme is funded by national and international agencies and industry. He has published widely in international molecular biology and microbiology journals (230 major papers) and was awarded a Doctor of Science degree (DSc) in 1991 by the NUI in recognition of his published works. He is an elected member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and served as Vice-President from 2008-2011.
Professor O'Gara serves on a number of European Science bodies. He has participated as Biotechnology advisor to UNIDO and a number of other international government organisations. He has acted as chairperson of the EU Madame-Curie training programme and chair of the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) panel on GMOs. He is a member of the European Environmental Research Organisation (EERO). He also acts as Editor for a number of international scientific journals.
Professor O’Gara is also father of Ireland and Munster Rugby player, Ronan O’Gara.
Special guest on the night and former NUI Galway student, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, said: "The people we honour here this evening have made remarkable and diverse contributions to Irish life and, in honouring them, we also take the opportunity to recognise the contribution, and indeed the calibre, of Irish graduates generally."
Other awards went to: