Newsletter 2015 2014 – 2016 2015
Trinity Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity The Maths and Physics societies at Trinity recently welcomed Fellow Emeritus, Professor Petros Florides, to give a fascinating talk on the centenary of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, which has been lauded as “probably the greatest discovery ever made.” The lecture was conducted on the 100th anniversary of the amazing work. Sinéad Ryan, Professor in Pure & Applied Mathematics at Trinity’s School of Mathematics said: “Einstein’s general theory of relativity is a triumph of modern physics and a powerful example of the importance and impact that basic research can have. Today, general relativity is a key component in GPS systems, without which they would quickly fail. Petros is internationally recognised for his work in the field and his lecture was a fascinating explanation of the theory and the physicist behind it.”
Professor Petros Florides, Fellow Emeritus, School of Mathematics
40th Anniversary of the Irish Mathematical Society This year the Irish Mathematical Society (IMS) celebrated the 40th anniversary of their annual meeting which first took place on 14 April 1976. To mark the occasion a celebratory conference was organised by Dr Vladamir Dotsenko and Dr Richard Timoney. Each year IMS runs its annual conference in September, both devoted to mathematical topics from current research to educational issues. The 2016 programme included a series of nine talks by Irish and international academics who included Dr David Conlon (Oxford), Professor Graham Ellis (NUIG), Professor Stephen Gardiner (UCD), Dr Derek Kitson (Lancaster), Dr Anca Mustata (UCC), Professor Andreea Nicoara (TCD), Dr Ann O’Shea (NUIM), Dr Rachel Quinlan (NUIG), and Professor Stuart White (Glasgow).
Secondary Students Showcase their Love for STEM at Trinity Walton Club Seventy-one Irish secondary school students (aged 13-15) showcased their prototype solutions to societal problems at a special exhibition and graduation ceremony in May 2016. The event marked of their Trinity Walton Club 100-week STEM education journey. The Club is part of a broad programme of activities supported by Bank of Ireland. Commenting on the Trinity Walton Club, Liam McLoughlin, Chief Executive Retail Ireland, Bank of Ireland, said: “Bank of Ireland and Trinity College have a long legacy of working together and we are delighted to support the Trinity Walton Club, an initiative which succeeds through STEM projects graduation ceremony the talent and enthusiasm of students and staff. Ireland’s continued achievement across science and technology can only be assured through support for programmes such as this and I commend everybody involved for their commitment and effort.” Named after the Nobel Prize-winning physicist, Ernest Walton, the Trinity Walton Club provides a unique platform for students to connect with like-minded individuals and develop their passion for STEM. The overarching goal is to complement secondary level science and mathematics education, while supporting students to confidently take ownership of their learning and take it in new directions. Marian Woods, daughter of Ernest Walton, was also present on the day. www.tcd.ie/waltonclub/
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