State adviser selected for group to back Dublin as 2012 City of Science

THE STATE'S chief scientific adviser, Prof Patrick Cunningham, has been chosen to chair a steering group that will put Dublin forward for European City of Science in 2012.

A European City of Science is selected every two years by Euroscience, the international representative body for European scientists. Munich was designated in 2006 and Barcelona has the honour this year.

If Dublin is chosen in four years' time, the centrepiece would be a five-day festival of science in Dublin in July, involving both the general public and scientists.

This would be expected to attract more than 4,000 international delegates. The newly formed steering group has 45 members and met for the first time yesterday, with a submission due to be sent later this year.

It includes senior individuals from industry, third-level institutions, enterprise/research promotion agencies and senior civil servants.

Three vice-chairmen of the steering group were also chosen: Frank Gannon of Science Foundation Ireland, Brian Trench of Dublin City University and Liam Connellan of the Irish Academy of Engineering.

Prof Cunningham said he hoped a successful submission would increase the international reputation of Ireland as a centre for scientific and research excellence.

This would in turn support the activities of IDA Ireland in the marketing of Ireland as a location for foreign investment and R&D facilities in particular.

It would also support Enterprise Ireland in promoting indigenous Irish firms in the international marketplace.

Members of the group include: Tom Boland, chief executive of the Higher Education Authority; Senator Feargal Quinn; Martin Murphy, managing director of Hewlett-Packard Ireland; Prof David McConnell, head of the school of genetics and microbiology in Trinity College Dublin; Prof Brian Norton, president of Dublin Institute of Technology; and Dr Reg Shaw, chairman of the Health Research Board.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times