Dublin universities take awards at ISDA festival

“Dublin universities swept the boards at The Irish Student Drama Association Awards which took place last Saturday in The Ardilaun on Taylor’s Hill …” (more)

[Kernan Andrews, Galway Advertiser, 24 March]

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Academic Novels – latest

“Two books that I read recently are not academic novels sensu stricto, but contain academic characters: one whose academic career is central to the novel (Pym, by Mat Johnson) and one whose academic career is peripheral (The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears, by Dinaw Mengestu). I liked both books a lot, especially the first 43% of Pym, but there are some odd things about the depiction of academics and academia in these books …” (more)

[FemaleScienceProfessor, 24 March]

Students prepare to flock to Limerick races

“After the hype of Cheltenham last week, all eyes now turn closer to home as preparations continue for one of the most hotly anticipated meetings of the year – the student race day at Limerick Racecourse …” (more)

[Áine Fitzgerald, Limerick Leader, 22 March]

Students test the medicinal powers of music

“More than 200 years after John A Logan, the US political leader, said that ‘music is the medicine of the mind’, medical students at NUI Galway are putting that theory to the test …” (more)

[Lorna Siggins, Irish Times, 22 March]

What is the point?

“… The process of composing cover letters that summarize years of one’s life in 500 words or less can be soul destroying. The type of self-representation which is required by those engaged in the academic job hunt tends to reinforce the distance between ‘professional’ historians and everyone else with an interest in history …” (more)

[Juliana Adelman, Pue’s Occurrences, 21 March]

GAA – DCU claim O’Connor Cup again

“Dublin City University won the prestigious O’Connor Cup for a third successive year in dramatic fashion at blustery University of Limerick on Sunday. DCU scored a 3-08 to 1-11 victory against University of Ulster, Jordanstown in an entertaining final …” (more)

[RTÉ Sport, 20 March]

That Old “Two Cultures” Thing …

“… Anti-science attitudes are far from unusual amongst the Arts & Humanities fraternity, which I think is a real shame. After all, you’ll have to work very hard to find a scientist who would be prepared to stand up in front of audience and proudly announce ‘I hate art’ …” (more)

[In the Dark, 20 March]

How To Keep Reading the NY Times For Free

“The NY Times will flip the switch on its digital paywall next Monday, and the Grey Lady don’t come cheap: $15/month for the website and the phone app, $20/month for the website and the iPad app, or a wallet-singeing $35 for web, phone, and iPad. But there are loopholes! And they are generous. Here’s your game plan …” (more)

[Brian Barrett, Gizmodo, 17 March]

Did you get the ride … into college?

“The ecstatic rush and the pumping of blood, griping to your lean and strong frame, the involuntary flushes from the graceful entanglement. One last push and we’re there together. Dismounting, I relish the satisfied feeling while now lingering in that blissfully exhausted limbo …” (more)

[Aisling Esmonde, University Times, 18 March]

UCD retains Gannon Cup for fourth year as College secures clean sweep in rowing colours

“The men’s senior VIII rowing crew recorded an impressive four length lead to beat Trinity in the 64th Gannon Cup race on St Patrick’s Day …” (more)

[UCD News, 18 March]

My enthusiasm for a career in science is slowly ebbing away

“Nathan Ley describes what it’s like to apply for a studentship in the UK just as the government’s austerity measures start to bite …” (more)

[Guardian, 18 March]

UCD complete clean sweep

“Four colours races and four wins for UCD – the sweetest of all a victory in the Corcoran Cup for senior women which was made special by a tale of redemption …” (more)

[Liam Gorman, Irish Times, 18 March]

Recruitment firm to hire 40 graduates to cope with surge

“Recruitment firm Hays said it is hiring 40 graduates to manage an Irish jobs growth surge in the largest recruitment campaign they have undertaken here …” (more)

[Niamh Hennessy, Irish Examiner, 18 March]

Changing places

“Today, Friday March 18, is my last full day in Ireland before I travel to Scotland where, on Monday, I shall be taking up my post as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. I am leaving the Irish higher education system just as it is going through some rather serious convulsions …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 18 March]

The New Golden Age of Web Browsers: Both Wonderful and Boring

“… I don’t mean to come off as an ungrateful wretch. Anyone who lived through the period when Internet Explorer was both mediocre and monopolistic, with more than 90 percent market share, knows that today’s vibrant competition is a beautiful thing. But I can’t help but think that the category could use a little discord …” (more)

[Harry McCracken, Time, 17 March]

‘Life depends on science but the arts make it worth living’

“Scientist claims true fulfilment is achievable only through the humanities. the arts and humanities are ‘superior’ to science, a top cardiologist has argued. John Martin, director of University College London’s Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, has 53 patents, 20 staff and has founded a biotechnology company …” (more)

[Rebecca Attwood, Times Higher Education, 17 March]

Student Perspectives on How Higher Education in Ireland Can Help Meet the Needs of the Irish Economy

“Abstract: This paper will be in three parts; the first section will examine the current tertiary education situation in Ireland amid the global economic crisis and will review what higher education’s contribution be to help alleviate the crisis …” (more)

[Ann Conway and Noelle O’Connor, Conference Paper, 7 March]

Should lecturers monitor students for radicalisation?

“A major review of the government’s counter-terrorism policy on radicalisation is expected to call for an increase in monitoring of students by university and college lecturers …” (more, video)

[BBC News, 16 March]

The ‘substanceless blue’ time of day

“It’s safe to say I have definitely entered another level of commitment to my PhD. It’s becoming an obsession. I find myself getting up early, not exactly the very early ‘substanceless blue’ pre-dawn in which Plath wrote many of her ‘Ariel’ poems, but around 7 / 8am I will pour my first cup of tea and settle down to my humming laptop in the early morning silence …” (more)

[The Plath Diaries, 16 March]

Students told they will have to emigrate

“Many students will have to emigrate because of the bleak employment situation in Ireland, the chairman of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) admitted yesterday …” (more)

[Independent, 16 March]