College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies National University of Ireland, Galway

Pre-University Tasters Event

Wednesday 4th & Thursday 5th December 2019 Wednesday Jan 8thuary 2020

Abstracts Programme

Venue : Arts Millennium Building /Concourse

Subject/Talk Presenter/Title Abstract

Why Study Arts at NUI Galway? O’Flaherty Theatre Anderson Theatre

Marie Mahon 10.00am - 10.45am 1.00pm – 1.45pm

This session introduces students to Arts at NUI Galway. During the course of the session we explore how the programme works, what subjects are offered, and the duration of programme study. In particular the session focuses on the flexibility afforded to graduates of the programme and points towards the multitude of careers made possible by studying an Arts Degree.

Applied Social Sciences

D’Arcy Thompson

Theatre

Dr Mike Hynes

“Fake news &

alternative

truths!” - In the

age of President

Trump who needs

science, evidence,

or even facts for

that matter?

11.30am -

12.15pm

We live in interesting but often turbulent times. Now, more than ever, we need individuals to stand out from the crowd and to envision and create brighter and more inclusive futures. Society yearns for more creativity, innovation, engagement and resilience, and people with a thoughtful and clear appreciation of how the world around us actually works. The social sciences are essential to understanding many key societal issues such as the balance between economic growth and its impacts on the environment and society. They allows us examine what it means to be a social being, ranging from the minutiae of human behavior and brain functions to large scale social movements, demographics, economics and politics. This lecture will focus on a number of important global issues and approach these from different social scientific viewpoints and angles. In seeking understanding and potential solutions we concentrate on what

we know and can prove. “Before the truth can set you free you need to know which lie is holding you hostage”. The BSc in Applied Social Sciences gives students the tools and opportunity to undertake social scientific research and truly imagine and strive for alternative futures. Are you up for the challenge?

Archaeology AC201, Concourse

Conor Newman Spears and Axes: Understanding Artefacts 10.00am -

10.45am

11.30am -

12.15pm

Using artefacts from the Teaching Collection, this talk offers a hands-on introduction to artefact examination, analysis and care. The discovery, conservation and analysis of ancient artefacts is central to archaeological practice the world over. In this talk students will learn how the work of archaeologists moves from technical analysis of objects to better understanding of the people who made and used them, their values and lifestyles.

Digital Arts with Technology Dillon Theatre

Dr Pádraic Killeen

So, We’re Studying Internet Memes? (Wow. Very Learning. Much Think. Amaze.) 12.15pm –

1.00pm

If the internet was a day at the beach, then

websites and apps would make up the ocean

and memes would be like all the billions of

grains of sand that gather on the seashore. Just

like grains of sand, memes get everywhere – in

your eyes, in between your toes, and especially

inside your brain. (Okay, so maybe memes

don’t get in between your toes, but you get the

general idea.) In this session, we’ll look at: the

history of internet memes, their significance as

a ‘viral’ media form, the way they inspire

community and creativity, their use in parody

and satire, and also the way they have been

politicised for good and for ill. The session will

also offer a brief overview of the B.A. in Digital

Arts and Technology, and the different strands

of the programme, from the analysis of digital

culture to practical instruction in programming

and digital media production.

Career Sessions AC202

4th and 5th Dec: Claire Murphy No talk Jan 8th Thinking Ahead: Your Career After University

What do Bradley Cooper, Maire Wheelan, Will Ferrell, Michael D Higgins and Grainne Seoige all have in common? They are Arts graduates! With over 154 subjects to choose from there really is something from everyone. Find out more about some of the subjects on offer in NUI Galway and the careers after university that lead on for

11.30am –

12.15pm

some of the more typical subject combinations. Talk to three current NUI Galway Arts students in person and learn how and why they choose their subjects and what is they like about their chosen Arts degree.

Career Sessions D’Arcy Thompson Theatre

4th and 5th Dec:

Emer Davitt

Jan 8th: Ian

Mundy

A Career in

Teaching

1.00pm – 1.45pm

Question: How can you play a part in creating the next generation of scientists, doctors, solicitors, managers, pharmacists, philosophers, pilots, engineers, astronauts, and teachers? Answer: Become a teacher!

Teaching is a challenging yet extremely rewarding career. Take advantage of the opportunity to make a real and measurable impact on young people’s lives. As a teacher you inspire, encourage, influence, shape, motivate, affect, mould and transform. This talk will provide you with key information in relation to becoming a teacher in Ireland and the different routes possible, while discussing the implications of subject choices made on entering third level education for future career opportunities.

Celtic Civilisation Dillon Theatre

Dec 4th: Dr Clodagh Downey Dec 5th: Dr Graham Isaac

Jan 8Th: Celtic Civilisation: Discovering our cultural past 11.30am -

12.15pm

Many in Ireland and elsewhere today might

consider themselves ‘Celts’, but would be hard-

pressed to explain what that is. And what is

‘Celtic Civilisation’? This session will introduce

students to aspects of the ancient and medieval

culture of Celtic-speaking regions, which are

explored in more detail in the BA course in Celtic

Civilisation, and will consider the place of this

culture in our sense of our past and of ourselves.

Students will come away with a better idea of

what ‘Celtic Civilisation’ means, and what can be

gained from studying it at university.

Child, Youth and Family Policy and Practice Larmor Theatre

Dr. Cormac Forkan & Dr. Danielle Kennan Supporting young people and

Have you ever thought about working directly with young people and their families? Do you feel like you could make a difference in people’s lives? The aim of this talk is to introduce you to our BA in Child, Youth and

their families to thrive 10.00am - 10.45am

Family: Policy and Practice, the only programme of its kind in Ireland.

We will explore how this programme is designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the key trends and changes in family life and child and youth development, with a specific focus on Irish society. The core strengths of this programme include: a nine-month work placement in year three; small group teaching delivered in the Institute for Life course and Society, the University’s flagship Institute for applied social science research that informs policy and practice (www.nuigalway.ie/ilas); and teaching that is led by professionals working in practice and staff from the internationally recognised UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre (www.nuigalway.ie/childandfamilyresearch).

Children’s Studies AC202

Dr Michal Molcho What is a child? 10.45am - 11.30am

This workshop will explore the various

definitions of children and childhood and will

explore the role of the child in society. The

workshop will provide an opportunity to

experience some of the content and teaching

practices that are utilized in the Children’s

Studies programmes.

Classics Dillon Theatre

4th & 5th Dec: Dr Edward Herring Jan 8th: Dr Pádraic Moran Learning from the ancient world 10.45am - 11.30am

What does it mean to be European? Where does

Western culture come from? Classics (or

Ancient Classics) is the study of the origins of

European civilisation, focusing particularly on

the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. The

study of authors such as Homer, Herodotus,

Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Virgil, Horace and Ovid

has been a central part of humanities education

and a shaping influence on Western culture for

around two millennia. Why do these authors

continue to speak to modern readers? This

lecture will introduce you to the vibrant

beginnings of European culture, creativity and

intellectual life, combining together the study of

literature, mythology, theatre, art and

archaeology, cultural history, philosophy, and

the history of language

Creative Writing Larmor Theatre

Dec 4th & 5th: Dr John Kenny Jan 8th: Mike McCormac Tips, Tricks and Temperament: An Introduction to the Writing Workshop 12 .15pm –

1.00pm

This class will introduce you to the range of possible approaches to the teaching and practice of creative writing at university level. You will see how our workshop learning environment encourages and facilitates a productive balance between broad knowledge of the creative arts, collective immersion in and constant practice of the particular arts of writing, and the discovery and development of the individual young writer’s singular voice and style.

Cumarsáid AM109

Dan Dwyer ‘War of the Worlds’: an bhfuil na meáin contúirteach? / ‘War of the Worlds’: are the media dangerous? Dé Máirt 1.30pm – 2.30pm

Chuala go leor daoine faoin scaoll a tharla i measc an phobail éisteachta nuair a chuir an drámadóir óg Orson Welles leagan raidió an úrscéil fhicsean eolaíochta de chuid HG Wells War of the Worlds amach ar aerthonnta Mheiriceá in 1938. De bharr cúpla glaoch neirbhíseach ar na póilíní agus ar na meáin, shocraigh iriseoirí go raibh scaoll náisiúnta ag tarlú agus sin an scéal a bhí chun tosaigh ar nuachtáin Mheiriceá an mhaidin dár gcionn. Fiú anois, ní gá ach cuardach sciobtha idirlín a dhéanamh agus feictear scéalta faoi chumhacht agus faoi chontúirt na meán ina n-úsáidtear scéal an dráma raidió seo mar an sampla clasaiceach. In ainneoin gur foilsíodh taighde acadúil ar an eachtra go gairid i ndiaidh an chraolacháin (agus tuilleadh in imeacht na mblianta) a bhréagnaigh an scéal sin, tá creideamh forleathan fós ann go raibh mór-histéire ar phobal éisteachta Meiriceá. Taispeántar sa léacht seo gur féidir leis na meáin a bheith míchruinn ina léamh ar fhíricí, gur féidir leo miotas a chothú agus a bhuanú agus go mbíonn an taighde acadúil féin á lúbadh de bharr leasanna dílsithe. Tá miotas an lucht éisteachta agus féachana atá dúr agus aineolach fós linn, in ainneoin go raibh a mhalairt fhianaise ann ó thús ré na mórmheán cumarsáide. Many people have heard tell of a great panic that overtook the American public in 1938 as a

result of a radio adaptation by young dramatist Orson Welles of HG Wells’ science fiction novel War of the Worlds. A few anxious telephone calls to police and the media convinced journalists that a national panic had taken place and stories of mass hysteria were front-page news across the continent the following morning. Even today, a quick internet search will confirm the power and potential dangers of the mass media, citing this classic example. Despite academic research conducted in the immediate aftermath and in the years since the broadcast, which show this reading of the event as a myth, the idea of a nation gripped with hysteria continues to dominate contemporary retellings. This lecture will show how the media can often misinterpret the facts, create and perpetrate myths and how academic research itself can be skewed by vested interests. The myth of the easily-duped and ill-informed media audience is still with us although evidence to the contrary was there from the very beginnings of mass communication.

Cumarsáid AM109

An Dr. Uinsionn Mac Dubhghaill Ar mhaith leat a bheith i d’Iriseoir: Na tréithe agus na scileanna a theastaíonn uait /Would you like to be a Journalist? The attributes and skills you need. Dé Céadaoin 1.30pm – 2:30pm

Cia do cheinneóchadh dán?’ a d’fhiafraigh an file Mathghamhain Ó hIfearnáin sa 16ú haois. Dá mbeadh sé beo sa lá atá inniu ann seans go gcuirfeadh sé an cheist, ‘Cé a cheannódh nuachtán?’ Tá an comhthéacs ina mbíonn na meáin ag feidhmiú sa tsochaí chomhaimseartha ag athrú ar luas lasrach, le teicneolaíochtaí úra, le hardáin nua, agus le cur chuigí éagsúla. Mar sin, céard iad na tréithe, na scileanna agus go mór mór na luachanna nach n-imíonn ‘as faisean’, agus ar cheart a bheith agat má tá tú le dul chun cinn gairmiúil a dhéanamh mar iriseoir? Pléifear an méid sin sa léacht idirghníomhach seo. ‘Who would buy a poem?’ asked the 16th-century poet, Mathghamhain Ó hIfearnáin. If he was alive today he would probably ask, ‘Who would buy a newspaper?’ The context in which the media operate in contemporary society is changing at a lightening pace, with new technologies and platforms and different approaches. If so, what are the attributes, the skills and especially the values that do not go

‘out of fashion’, and that you need in order to progress in the profession as a journalist? These questions will be discussed in this interactive lecture.

Cumarsáid AM109

Norita Ní Chartúir Gnéithe den chraoltóireacht raidió trí Ghaeilge/ Aspects of radio broadcasting through Irish Déardaoin 1.30pm – 2.30pm

Drama O’Donoghue Theatre

4th Dec: Charlotte Mc Ivor 1.00 – 1.45pm How Theatre Can Save The World 5th Dec: Patrick

Lonergan

Jan 8th: Ian Walsh

11.30am -

12.15pm

We’re used to thinking of theatre as a form of entertainment – a way to explore the great themes of how to live or how to love, whether in Shakespeare’s _Hamlet_ or Lin-Manuel Miranda’s_ Hamilton_. But the theatre has also played a major role in changing the world for the better, whether by transforming individual lives or revolutionizing whole societies. In this lecture, we draw on examples from history and from theatre that is being made right now to consider the revolutionary power of theatre. We’ll show how you, as a theatre-maker, can begin to think about using drama to make a difference in the world we live in - for our countries, our communities, our families - and ourselves.

Economics Anderson Theatre

Professor Paddy Gillespie What is Economics and What Do Economists Do? 10.45am – 11.30am

Economics is a social science which seeks to help us understand how the world around us works. The subject of economics is the study of how markets work, how economies work, and how governments, through their policy tools, may impact upon markets and economies. The discipline of economics is somewhat different in that it focuses on the work of economists, and the theoretical and practical tools and methods they use to explore important economic, business, social and public policy questions. These tools and methods are applied by economists at NUI Galway to help solve a wide

range of problems in areas as diverse as finance, the public sector, agriculture, health and healthcare, climate change, the environment, the marine sector, ageing, disability and dementia. To study economics at NUI Galway is to learn about both the subject and discipline of economics and to critically appraise their role in helping us to better understand how the world around us works.

English O’Flaherty Theatre

Dr Dermot Burns Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 Remixed: Rap, Hip Hop, and Ballad 10.45am - 11.30am

“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Probably one of the most famous questions ever posed by a poet, but what makes these lines so memorable? It’s all in the beat – that’s one explanation. It’s in the imagery – that’s another. It’s in the structure – that could be the answer. Or is it just that Shakespeare’s famous Sonnet 18 speaks to its audiences (both modern and Renaissance) in a way which powerfully expresses the perpetually vital question: how can I explain to someone how much I love them? The “eternal lines to time” Shakespeare gives us have inspired modern music artists to put this poem to music. This lecture will look at the musicality of the sonnet, the vivid imagery of the poet, and the lasting influence of, what may be argued, are the most famous 14 lines in English literature.

English and Media Studies Larmor Theatre

Andrew Ó Baoill Title TBC 11.30am – 12.15pm

Film Studies and Digital Media Kirwin Theatre

Dec 4th: Dr Conn Holohan

Film Language and mise-en-scène

10.30am – 11.30am

How do we understand film? What decisions are made in producing a film and how do these decisions affect our understanding of it? What are the elements of film ‘language’? In response to these questions this lecture will consider the key critical concept of 'mise-en-scene’ using a single film as a case study. It will be of interest not only to those considering pursuing a course in film and digital media at NUI Galway but will also be of use to the study of film at Leaving Cert English.

Dec 5th: Dr Sean Crosson Ireland on Screen 10.45m – 11.30am

This talk will introduce the key themes in the

representation of Ireland in film. It will also

give students an overview to both the BA (Film

& Digital Media) and the BA with Film Studies

programmes.

Jan 8th: Dr Tony Tracy

Analysing Film:

Alfred

Hitchcock's Rear

Window

10.45am – 11.30am

This class offers an insight into film studies at NUI Galway. Tony Tracy will offer an introduction to one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most famous films, dealing with themes of surveillance and the masculine gaze as well as the "master of suspense"’ sophisticated use of camera, editing and sound in visual storytelling. The class should also be useful for Leaving Cert English students as Rear Window is one of the current prescribed texts for comparative analysis

French AC214

Professor Philip Dine French from A (for Amélie) to Z (for Zidane) 11.30pm - 12.15pm

In this session, we will work with short extracts from two films: Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain (2001) and Zidane, un portrait du XXIème siècle (2006). The first of these films is one of France’s most successful ever movie exports. It stars Audrey Tautou as an endearing young waitress who secretly works to make the dreams of other people come true in a charming, but also rather strange, Paris that is simultaneously both very traditional and thoroughly modern. In contrast, the second film is a critically acclaimed documentary filmed in “real-time” and following legendary Franco-Algerian football star Zinedine Zidane through the whole of one important Spanish club match for Real Madrid. The focus of this workshop will be on making sense of both spoken and written French in the two films, through comprehension exercises and vocabulary work. The two films highlighted will additionally encourage reflection on iconic figures from contemporary French and Francophone culture, as an introduction to Third-Level studies in the discipline. We will also examine the different ways in which students use French at university and beyond and we will see where a degree in French can take you.

Gaeilge

AM215

4th Dec: An Dr Jeannine Woods 'Ni thuigimse filíocht! Filíocht na Gaeilge mar ealaíon bhéil' 11.30am -

12.15pm

Tabharfaidh an léacht seo sracfhéachaint ar fhilíocht na Gaeilge mar ealaíon bhéil. Féachfaidh sé ar cad is ealaíon bhéil ann, agus ar na cosúlachtaí idir filíocht na Gaeilge mar ealaíon bhéil agus ar shaothair roinnt ealaíontóirí béil na linne seo, rap an Bhéarla agus na Gaeilge ach go háirithe.

5th Dec: An Dr Lillis Ó Laoire An Béaloideas

11.30am -

12.15pm

Sa chaint ghearr seó tabharfar léargas ar chuid de scéalta na Gaeilge. Beidh deis agat scéal gearr a léamh agus plé a dhéanamh ar ná bríonna éagsúla atá i gceist leis.

Jan 8th: TBC

Geography

D’Arcy Thompson

Theatre

Dec 4th: Dr Therese Conway Tourism Planning

and Development

10.00am –

10.45am

Understanding settlement patterns is a central concern for geographers worldwide. However, it is also important to comprehend temporary settlement habits that are associated with tourism and leisure. Understanding why people travel, and how they like to ‘be a tourist’ allows us to consider the planning and development implications for these transient populations. This lecture will explore the planning and development implications related to tourism.

Dec 4th: Dr Patrick Collins Galway:

European Capital

of Culture

10.00am –

10.45am

Dec 4th: Dr Maura Farrell

Rural Change

10.00am –

10.45am

Geography &

Geosystems

Larmor Theatre

Dec 4th and 5th: Dr Eugene Farrell Making coastal communities climate and human resilient”

10.45 – 11.30

Jan 8th: Gordon

Bromley

'Climate

change: Past,

present, and

future'

10.45 – 11.30

Earth’s climate is inherently dynamic. Over the

course of countless millennia, small changes in

atmospheric chemistry, ocean circulation,

continental configuration, and our orbit around

the sun drive considerable climatic changes

that, in turn, shape Earth’s landscapes and

dominate life on this planet. Today, human

activity is adding an additional layer of

complexity to the climate system via the

massive and accelerating accumulation of

greenhouse gases into the atmosphere:

currently ~40 billion tons of carbon dioxide are

dumped into the air each year. While the

physics of greenhouse gases have been known

for over a century, exactly what our Grand

Human Experiment means for the future

climate – locally, regionally, and globally –

remains uncertain. We will explore the

challenges of modern ‘anthropogenic climate

change’, and its implications for the future, in

the context of natural climate variability, which

can be reconstructed in detail from a wealth of

climate proxies to better understand what

makes Earth’s climate system tick – and where

its tipping points may lie

German

4th Dec: Michael Shields

This talk is suitable for complete beginners as well as more advanced learners of German. We

Kirwan Theatre

5th Dec: Dr Aine Ryan Jan 8th: Dr Tina-Karen Pusse “Der Apfel ist rot”: Discovering similarities and differences between German and English 12.15pm -

1.00pm

will discuss different methods of language learning and explore strategies to either start or improve your learning journey.

History Anderson Theatre O’Flaherty Theatre

Professor Enrico Dal Lago How the President of the United States Became the Most Powerful Man in the World: A Brief History 10.00am – 10.45am 11.30pm - 12.15pm

The office of President of the United States is considered the job with the largest amount of power and influence in the world. Consequently, the personality and character of U.S. Presidents are major factors in current international relations, as Donald Trump’s case shows clearly. But how did the U.S. President become so powerful? In the 1787 U.S. Constitution, the office of President was part of a system of “checks and balances”, which limited its powers. When the first U.S. President, George Washington (1789-97), attempted to increase those powers to deal with a series of rebellions, he was accused of wanting to replace the American Republic with a monarchy. Yet, many subsequent U.S. Presidents – beginning with Abraham Lincoln (1861-65), and continuing with every President from Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45) to George W. Bush, Jr. (2001-09) – have used repeatedly the excuse of a particular state of emergency to progressively expand the authority of the President’s office and of his cabinet. The result is that, now, in Donald Trump’s time, the U.S. President is immensely more powerful than at the time of George Washington, and also much more liable to weigh decisively, for good or bad, on the course of world affairs.

Human Rights Anderson Theatre

Dec 5th: Professor Siobhán Mullally

The talk will discuss some of the contemporary challenges within International human rights law, such as

No Talk on Dec 4th or Jan 8th Current issues in International Human Rights law

12.15pm – 1pm

migration, human trafficking, conflicts, discrimination and poverty.

Information Technology

Kirwan Theatre

Dr Finlay Smith Information Technology: Logic & Creativity 11.30am –

12.15pm

In this session we will review the development and evolution of one of the most remarkable tools we have ever invented: the computer. Computers are everywhere: we use them for communication, banking, entertainment, sport, education, health, medical diagnosis and more. Computers are used in every area of human endeavour, yet we are not computer literate: we do not know how to read and write code. This talk will highlight the critical importance of computer literacy: computer programming, while initially intimidating, is an incredibly empowering skill to learn. This logical decomposition of a problem into its component parts and its translation into computer code, coupled with the creative energies and insights regarding its potential application to support human purpose form the core of the study of information technology at university.

Modern Irish Culture Studies (Literature and Music): Irish Studies AC215

Dec 4th & 5th: Eoin

Byrne

Jan 8th: Michael

Lydon

This is #Ireland: Irish Identity in the Digital Age 12.15am - 1.00pm

Modern Irish Culture Studies at NUI Galway examines the lived experience of Irish identities in Ireland and internationally. In particular, students will explore the representation of identity in a number of cultural areas including literature, music and dance, amongst others. This lecture invites students to look at media platforms, literature and performance as ways in which Irishness and Ireland is represented. This talk introduces students to the ways in which Irish identities are represented in contemporary and historical contexts, how these may change over time, and importantly how we might draw connections between these.

Italian AC216

Dec 4th & 5th:

Oriana Bologna

Jan 8th: Lindsay

Myers

Everybody wants to be Italiano! 12.15pm - 1.00pm

Ciao! Did you know that Italian is the fourth most studied language in the world? An impressive feat, considering Italy's relatively small size. In this workshop we will do our best to explain why Italian is such a beautiful language. You will first learn how to introduce yourself in Italian, greet people and speak without words – we love our gestures. We will talk about different aspects of Italian culture, including food – of course – and traditions. There will be quizzes where you will learn some fun facts about Italy and Italian people, and you will learn some basic Italian vocabulary that will help you thrive in Italy (for a few days at least). By the end of this session you will realise that you already knew some Italian… and that you will want to learn more

Journalism AM127

Dec 4th: Dr Tom Felle What is fake news and why we need to verify our sources 10.45am –

11.30am

11.30am –

12.15pm

12.15pm –

1.00pm

We are all familiar with the “fake news” phrase but what does it mean? Verification is a key element of the news gathering process. How do you know if something is true, how can you check your sources, and how can you be sure before you publish? This lecture is an extract from a typical class on our journalism BA programme. The session will be quite interactive and will feature the student’s participation. There will also be an opportunity to see our facilities and practice news reading in our digital broadcast facilities.

Dec 5th: Dr Uinsionn Mac Dubhghaill Finding your MoJo: Mobile journalism and the new media landscape 10.45am – 11.30am 11.30am – 12.15pm

The smartphone and new technology are changing the media landscape in new and unforeseen ways. During this lively and interactive lecture, we examine how RTÉ and TG4 journalists are using smartphones to make television news reports in exciting new ways. There will also be an opportunity

12.15pm – 1.00pm

Jan 8th: Fiona McGarry

Introduction to radio broadcasting

10.45am – 11.30am 11.30am – 12.15pm 12.15pm – 1.00pm

During this lively and interactive lecture you will learn some of the fundamental principles of radio broadcasting. You’ll find out about recording, editing and compiling engaging radio content; look at some typical radio newsroom assignments, brainstorm ideas for your own radio show and read a bulletin in a ‘live’ studio setting.

Law Anderson Theatre

Dec 4th: Title TBC

11.30am – 12.15pm

Dec 5th: Title TBC

11.30am – 12.15pm

Jan 8th: Title TBC

11.30am – 12.15pm

Global Languages Dillon Theatre

Dec 4th: Dec 5th: Dr Kate Quinn Jan 8th: Studying Languages at Third Level 10.00am – 10.45am

Léann an Aistriúcháin AM109

Rose Ní Dhubhda & Séamus Ó Coileáin

Is cineál aistriúcháin é an fotheidealú a bhaineann le réimse an chlosamhairc agus baineann sonraíochtaí, rialacha agus critéir dá

(Pointe Teagmhála: Bloc S)

Ní foirmliú focal go fotheidil 10.30am – 11.30am

chuid féin leis. Is aistriúchán é lena mbaineann srianta ama agus spáis a théann i bhfeidhm go díreach ar an toradh deiridh. Sa cheardlann idirghníomhach seo, tabharfar spléachadh ar an bhfotheidealú mar ghné d’obair an aistritheora agus gheofar blaiseadh den oiliúint a chuirtear ar mhic léinn a thugann faoi Léann an Aistriúcháin mar ábhar fochéime in OÉ Gaillimh. Tabharfar léargas do na rannpháirtithe ar an gcaoi a dtugtar faoi fhotheidil a ullmhú agus a chur i bhfeidhm, agus tabharfar an deis dóibh fotheidil dá gcuid féin a chur le físeán gearr.

Mathematics AC216

Dr John Burns Distinguishing Geometric Shapes 11.30 –12.15pm

In this session we will consider some numbers (invariants) that we can assign to geometric objects in order to distinguish them from each other or to discover hidden properties that they have in common. We will introduce some recent applications of such invariants of geometric objects. We will also see how such considerations help us think in higher dimensions (e.g. four) and point out some examples of these ideas in Art.

Mathematics and Education Rooms D202 AND D102, Education Building

Dr Ian Munday & Dr Kirsten Pfeiffer

Workshop: Thinking and Teaching Mathematically

10.45am - 11.30am

If you like mathematics and consider a career as a Maths and Applied Maths teacher or as a mathematician, this programme may be of interest to you. In this session we will give a short introduction to the programme and two taster workshops which will give you a flavour of what to expect as a Maths & Education student at NUI Galway.

During the first session you will have the opportunity to engage in mathematical activities requiring problem solving skills, critical thinking, and collaboration with peers, while revising key concepts related to the post-primary curriculum. The workshop is designed and led by our students, and you will have an opportunity to chat about their experiences of learning to be a Mathematics Teacher in NUI Galway.

In the second session we will play games around Applied Maths. The workshop is designed and led by maths lecturers for students who have not yet done any

Applied Maths courses in school. The activities will give you an idea of what it’s like to study Maths and Applied Maths at University.

We are looking forward to meeting you and chatting about the course and the wide range of career opportunities this programme has to offer.

Education (Computer Studies and mathematical Education) Rooms D202 AND D102, Education Building

Dr Ian Munday, Dr Finlay Smith & Dr Kirsten Pfeiffer

Let’s teach – Computer Science and Maths!

11.30am - 12.15pm

If you are interested in becoming a Computer Science and Mathematics teacher at secondary level then this workshop is for you! NUI Galway have a newly Teaching Council accredited four degree programme to qualify students as teachers of Mathematics and Computer Science at post-primary level. This workshop will give you an insight into the link between the two subjects. Hosted by staff the workshops will show practically the integration between mathematics and computer programming and teaching of STEM related activities!

Music Siobhán McKenna Theatre

Mark Duley Building a Choir: Words and Music in Theory and Practice 10.45am - 11.30am

Singing in a choir is among the most enjoyable of all musical activities. As TV programmes like Choir of Ages and The High Hopes Choir have shown, choral singing has an important social role, bringing different generations together and bridging social divisions. It also develops teamwork, initiative, time-management and self-confidence. But for a choir to be effective artistically, as well as socially, requires the development of key musicianship skills: careful listening, balance, sight-singing and a responsiveness to the words, among others. At NUI Galway, all students take part in a choral module in the first year of their degree, where they learn to master these skills, while at the same time learning core pieces of choral repertoire and working with each other in smaller groups. In today’s session, you will experience what this is like. You will be working with Mr Mark Duley, who takes the first-year choral module. A former chorus-master of the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and founder of the professional chamber choir, Resurgam, Mr Duley is one of Ireland’s top choral directors.

Philosophy O’Flaherty

Dec 4th: Dr Nora Ward Title TBC 12.15pm –

1.00pm

Dec 5th: Dr Heike Felzmann Is it ethical to use robots to care for human beings? 12.15pm –

1.00pm

Bioethics is an area of philosophical enquiry that engages with the impact of biomedical and technological developments on human life and explores the ethical significance of such developments, often in close collaboration with scientific researchers in those fields. In this lecture the use of robots in health care is being considered from an ethical perspective. There is currently substantial research underway with regard to the use of robots in health care settings, supported by governments and research agencies across the world. The inclusion of robots in health care is not restricted to robots that perform technical tasks, such as robotic surgery, but also includes robots that are involved in the care of patients, for example persons with dementia or autism. This lecture will first outline what the current state of such developments in care robotics is and will then explore the question what ethical considerations need to be taken into account when robots become part of healthcare provision. It will draw on core ethical principles and concepts to analyse what is ethically at stake in this situation. This includes an exploration of benefits and harms, patient autonomy and vulnerability, and the nature of care and caring relationships.

Dec 8th: Ms Lucy Evans Title TBC 12.15pm –

1.00pm

Psychology

Dr Sinéad Conneely

'Psychology is the science of human behavior, thought, and emotion, and seeks to understand many key questions in

Kirwan Theatre From tooth flossing to terrorism: how psychology helps us understand (and sometimes change) human behavior 10am – 10.45am

1.00pm – 1.45pm

everyday life, such as: Why do people carry out atrocities and hurt others? Why do people do extraordinarily positive and heroic things? What motivates us?

Psychologists are also interested in looking at and attempting to understand very varied individual behaviors - minor and major - from tooth-flossing, to committing terrorist acts. As well as trying to understand human beings, psychologists frequently try to find solutions to help people, from designing therapy interventions to treat clinical depression, anxiety, and many psychological problems, to working in human resources, healthcare settings, and schools, to help understand and change behavior and the social environment in a positive way. This talk will give an overview of the kind of activities different types of psychologists are engaged in every day.'

BA: Government (Politics, Economics and Law) D’Arcy Thompson

Theatre

Professor Kevin Leyden How Government can improve the quality of life in our Cities and Towns 12.15pm –

1.00pm

Sociology and Political Science D’Arcy Thompson

Theatre

4th Dec: Dr

Brendan Flynn

5th Dec: Dr Judith O’Connell Jan 8th: Ms. Jackie Murphy

What is Sociology? Why study Politics? This subject is concerned with understanding society, everything from the role of the State, to the family, citizenship, social movements, and the sources of social power. We cover all the great political ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, socialism and nationalism. We ask questions such as "Why do so few American or European citizens choose to vote?" or even "What difference does it make if women get

What is Political Science and Sociology?

10.45am –

11.30am

elected?", or "Why are some people homeless". Studying this subject enables you to better understand how the world works and why society functions the way it does.

Spanish AC214

Ivan Kenny ‘Sugar Skulls and

Dead Bread’: The

Days of the Dead

Festival in Mexico

10.45am - 11.30am

The Mexican national festival, the Days of the Dead takes place on the 31st of October, and the 1st and 2nd of November. During these annual celebrations, the transitory nature of our human existence is underlined, while ‘serious’ attempts to comprehend mankind’s common fate are mocked in an irreverent fashion, using brightly coloured imagery such as sugar skulls, aristocratic skeletons and bread in the shape of bones. The festival is a captivating fusion of pre-Hispanic and Catholic traditions. In this introductory lecture, we will explore the symbols and traditions surrounding the Days of the Dead.