Biological Sciences

School News

New Programme in Public Health Nutrition Starting September 2013.

For more information; DT225 Information

DIT student wins Academy of Medical Laboratory Sciences Presidents Prize.

DIT student Anne Marie McCarten with Marie Culliton (President AMLS). Anne Marie won the presidents prize for her project "Generation of a novel tool for the characterisation of the dynamics of HIV-1 protein subcellular localisation in vivo." at the recent Biomedica conference.

Retired DIT Staff recieve honorary life membership of the Academy of Medical Laboratory Sciences

(L-R) Joseph Vaughan, John Jackson, Marie Culliton, Tony Finch and Maggie Walsh.

Joe Vaughan and John Hackson, recently retired from the School of Biological Sciences, were awarded lifetime membership of the AMLS by Marie Culliton, President of AMLS, at the recent Biomedica conference.

Beatrice Orru Sucessfully defends her Ph.D. Thesis "Regulation of HPV16 Late Gene Expression"

Pictured above after her defense (L-R) Prof. Stephen Flint (Extern Examiner), Dr. Derek neylan (Internal Examiner), Dr. Beatrice Orru, Dr. Fergus Ryan and Prof. Stefan Schwartz.

Opening of a new biotechnology laboratory in the School of Biological Sciences

The School of Biological Sciences has recently opened a new laboratory with facilities for teaching and research in the Biotechnology area. The underlying ethos of the laboratory is that both research and undergraduate work can take place there. Equipment includes bioreactors, sterilisation equipment, spectroscopy and other equipment for Bioprocess teaching and research.

Hon K Sze (BSc Bio-molecular Sciences 2011-2012) undertaking his final year biotechnology research project in the newly developed G-029 laboratory in Kevin Street opened in November 2011.

Students from the BSc Biosciences (DT259) year 3 taking Biotechnology practicals in the new Biotechnology/Biochemistry laboratory recently opened in G-029 (Kevin Street), with lecturer Dr Gwilym Williams.

Achievement of excellence awards

The School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences recently awarded achievement of excellence awards to 10 of the first year class of 2010-2011. Three of the BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition and Dietetics students were among those who received awards. These were Cliona Godwin, Megan Merrick and Lorraine Spotten. Congratulations to all three.

For more information see

http://www.sparks.ie/news-a-events/21-dit-award-winners.html

Students Learning with Communities Project

Enhancing the Learning Experience: Learning for an Unknown Future

The Learning Innovation Network 4^th Annual Conference took place on 27^th October 2011.

Dr Catherine Bates, Project Co-ordinator, DIT Students Learning with Communities (SLWC), presented on an innovative collaboration between academic staff teaching on the BSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics programme and the SLWC team. A lot of interest was expressed in this project.

When the BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition & Dietetics programme underwent curriculum reform in 2009, emphasis was placed on the development of professional skills. A new module, ‘Professional Practice Studies’, was introduced into the second year curriculum. This module facilitated the development of student professional skills through a SLWC project with older persons living in Dublin. Students were required to interview, develop evidence-based nutrition related educational materials and provide dietary advice for older persons. Each student maintained a reflection log and formally presented their experiences to the class. Feedback from the older people was positive and included a request to formally meet the same students in Autumn 2011 for evaluation of their progress with the dietary advice provided. This successful evaluation meeting took place in October 2011.

Student feedback highlighted the value of the learning methods used and a high level of student engagement and motivation was observed by academic staff teaching the module. To develop the professional skills of students, working in a group of three was introduced; ‘Dietitian’ (student), ‘Client’ and ‘Observer’ (student). The role of the student Observer was to give constructive criticism to the student ‘Dietitian’. Students found this concept difficult initially but quickly recognised the value of receiving effective feedback from the Observer. This method of skills development has been very effective in preparing students for their mandatory HSE practice placement education which is undertaken in student pairs.

Speakers at the Transfusion and Transplantation Science Advisory Body meeting held at the recent AMLS annual conference on 23^rd to 24^th September in Athlone

[From L-R: MrJohn Sheehy, (Cork University Hospital) chair of meeting, Mr Joe Goulding, (Galway University Hospital), Ms Sheila Joyce, (Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick), Ms Margaret Layde (Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar), Mr Fabian McGrath (Dublin Institute of Technology) and Mr. Tony Finch (Irish Blood Transfusion Service and HSE); Mr. Tom Byrne, (Beaumont Hospital, Dublin) also spoke but not pictured]

Graduation of final year Biomedical Science Students. Saturday 15th October 2011

75 final year Biomedical Science students graduated from the School of Biological Sciences on saturday the 15th October.

The Biomedical science class with President Brian Norton and a selection of lecturers at the graduation ceremony.

The Haematology and Transfusion Science groups at graduation

DIT Students Present at International Papilloma Virus conference in Berlin

Students from the School of Biological Sciences and collaborators presented 3 posters and an oral presentation at the recent International Papilloma Virus conference in Berlin. The conference was attended by over 2000 participants and focused on the role of Human Papilloma Virus in the development of cervical cancer, a disease that kills 250,000 women worldwide each year.

Beatrive Orru presents on

Novel factors involved in regulation of HPV-16 late gene expression.

Beatrice Orru, Stefan Schwartz, Fergus Ryan.