UCD Societies Guide 2014

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over 70 active societies

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FÁILTE

Welcome to the UCD Student Societies Guide!

You’ll find all the information you need to know about each of the student societies that UCD has to offer.

A visit to our website www.ucdsocieties.com, which includes a dedicated events calendar, will keep you up to date with all of our society activities throughout the year.

Remember, with over 70 recognised student societies, UCD has something for everyone. Being involved in student life is a great way to make friends, develop your skills and help make the UCD community the welcoming, inclusive and supportive place it is. You can join any of our student societies throughout the year by attending their events and getting in touch.

UCD student societies are all student-centered: run by students for students, supported by values of democracy, inclusiveness, citizenship and social awareness.

The university experience is all about getting involved and getting active, trying something new, having fun and making some great friends and memories along the way.

We’re here to help you develop and apply the skills and knowledge you learn inside the classroom, and to help you realise your full potential.

For more information, and to keep up to date, be sure to check the www. ucdsocieties.com website, follow us on Twitter @UCDSocieties or visit us on Facebook.com/UCDSocieties.

Go n-éirí leat!

Web: www.ucdsocieties.com Facebook: UCDsocieties Twitter: @UCDSocieties 3

SOCIETY

GUIDE

Actuarial & Financial Society The aim of the A&F Society is to provide social, networking and career focused events for Actuarial and Financial students. The highlights of our social calendar include a back to college social outing (Semester 1), the Annual Mystery Tour (Semester 1) and also the much anticipated Annual Actuarial Ball (Semester 2).

Career talks and skills workshops are run with recruitment agencies and graduate firms. These develop members’ career skills and also allow them to develop professional relationships while they are still in UCD. The Society organises talks with former graduates and well-known business professionals who give members a first-hand insight into the opportunities available to them upon graduating. Trading competitions allow members the opportunity to experience trading themselves while competing for substantial prizes. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/actuarialfinancial

Agricultural Science Society AgSoc has been keeping it country in UCD for over 80 years. Between barn dances and county colours, it’s as close to the country as you can get in D4. With a large presence from the farming community (and the usual stragglers who just can’t get enough of the Ag craic!!) you never know what or who could come out of the rushes for the famous Ag nights!

AgSoc mystery tours are the highlight of many students social life in college; the buzz and excitement leading up to the most popular country tour around is just buck mad! As much as we all love AgSoc and our aul Ag nights, it’s all for a great cause. Last year AgSoc raised and donated €12,000 to the Cancer Clinical Research Trust charity, so join in for some serious banter and help us to keep her country! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/agriculture

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Amnesty International Society Amnesty International UCD takes great pride in being involved with the country’s largest human rights organisation comprised of over 15,000 members and supporters. Our society, however, does not only work with Amnesty Ireland, as we are part of a bigger global movement of more than 3.2 million people working in more than 150 countries around the globe.

Our sole concern is the protection of the fundamental human rights guaranteed to each one of us under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To ensure that human rights issues all over the world are addressed and overcome, we hold debates, generate discussions, run a variety of campaigns and hear from numerous acclaimed speakers.

We welcome any and all who are interested in making a difference, near and far. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/amnesty @Amnesty_UCD fb.com/AmnestyInternational.UCD

Archaeological Society The UCD Archaeology Society was founded in January of 1942 and was the first of its kind in Ireland. It was founded against the backdrop of a war torn Europe as a means to unite students from different disciplines but who shared a similar passion.

During the ‘Emergency’ of the 1940s, long hikes through the Dublin Mountains to Prehistoric or early Christian monuments were a common activity of college life. Through this, the society was founded as an outlet to combine both the academic and social sides of archaeology. The society’s aim was to allow its members to engage on a deeper level with the subject that they studied and to develop new relationships with likeminded people the essence of what college life is.

Today, the aim of the society hasn’t changed. The society is still dedicated to running numerous events throughout the year and is focused on promoting Archaeology as a subject, helping its members build networks both personally and professionally. Some of the events that the society organises range from day trips to guest seminars and many other extracurricular activities designed to inform and entertain.

The Archaeology Society is run by students for students. It offers a great support network and works closely with the UCD Department of Archaeology. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/ archaeological @UCDArchSoc

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Architectural Society Founded in 1927, the UCD Architecture Society, ArcSoc, is in charge of all things social in Richview. We may not be one of the college’s biggest societies but are most definitely one of the most active. After long hours of studio work, all nighters and pre-crit nerves, everyone needs to unwind and enjoy themselves. The ArcSoc team provides this relief and ensures that the social life of the students of Richview is not lost.

Throughout the year, the society organises various nights out and events such as the ArcSoc Olympics, Movember Fundraiser and other games nights. Each year there is a trip away to a European city to check out the architecture of the city and of course indulge in some local beverages. In the past these trips have been to Prague, Berlin and Budapest.

The main event on the ArcSoc calendar is the Ball, which happens towards the end of the year and has been hosted in venues such as The Guinness Storehouse, Meeting House Square and City Hall.

ArcSoc organises different extra-curricular activities for its members. These include classes such as life drawing and yoga. There is also the annual Richview Cup, where each year of architecture battles it out against each other to become the Champions of Richview. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/architectural

Arts Society Arts Soc is one of the largest societies on campus, renowned for being the most craic on campus and for its amazing sessions and events. Throughout the year we are at the heart of the social scene on campus: club nights, BBQs, table quizzes, sky-dives, charity and fundraising events, special guests and much more.

One of our biggest events of the whole year is Arts Day, a fundraising day for the Society’s chosen charity, Walk in My Shoes, a mental health awareness charity. Not only is it about raising funds for charity, it’s also about students, having fun throughout the day with events happening in and around the Newman building.

Ice-cream, candy-floss, sweets, soak the lecturer and other amazing events. As part of the Society’s attempt to move forward, there will be two Arts Days, one in each Semester - twice the fun, who doesn’t want that?

Semester Two is where the fun really happens - Arts Ball, one of the best Society Balls on campus. The essential black tie event of the year, generating more buzz and excitement than any other of the society’s events, bar none. Pound-for-pound the best value for money, we’ll give you a night you’ll never forget.

We also serve as the faculty society for Arts and Social Science. Having a thriving and active faculty society is crucial to getting straight into the action in UCD, both academically and socially. Arts Soc will be the ultimate wingman in helping you get your bit... of fun. We’re ready for another year of craziness, headline making and general greatness... are you? Come along for the Arts Soc ride, you won’t regret it. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/arts @UCDArtsSoc | fb.com/ArtsSoc

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Broadcasting Society Since 1990 Belfield FM has been the student radio station of University College Dublin. For over twenty years we have been committed to producing and broadcasting radio of the highest quality. We have a team of over one hundred regular contributors who are responsible for the research, production, and presentation of all of our programmes.

The station broadcasts from 12:00-22:00, Monday to Friday, every week during the UCD academic term. We aim to record, produce and broadcast a wide-ranging programming schedule, which will cater for all tastes on campus covering everything from News to Philosophy.

We often provide coverage of events around UCD, such as last year’s Hustings, as well as interviewing and engaging with various persons of interest in Ireland. We host several events throughout the year, and conclude our broadcasting period with the ‘FMies’, where we recognise and award the work of our members over the past year.

Since 2013 we have operated from the state-of-the-art broadcasting suite in the UCD Student Centre. The Big Yellow Pod is an imposing presence on campus, and the move has finally put Belfield FM at the heart of student life where it belongs. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/belfieldfm @BelfieldFM fb.com/BelfieldFM www.belfieldfm.ie

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Chemical Society The Chemical Society (ChemSoc) is one of the largest student societies in the Science sector of UCD. We welcome all students interested in chemistry, from first years to postgraduates, to meet and socialise at our many events throughout the year. We kick off the year with an introductory Welcome Ball, which is a brilliant night and a great chance to make new chemistry friends. Casino Night, Halloween Fancy Dress Ball, 5-A-Side Soccer Tournament and the hotly contested Table Quiz are just a few of the many fun events on our social calendar. Other off-campus events include the BBQ party and the renowned Christmas-themed night, which is not to be missed!

ChemSoc also holds a number of lectures for our members with academic speakers from both local and international institutions. Our Careers Night, featuring guest speakers, provides our members with an insight into the career opportunities available for Chemistry graduates. A highlight of our calendar is the Inaugural Lecture which is your chance to meet a celebrity! We invite a famous professor in the field of Chemistry to give an inspiring talk and join us for what has always been a great night out! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/chemical fb.com/ucdchemsoc ucd.ie/chemsoc

Chemical Engineering Society We are a small society for people interested in or studying Chemical and Bioprocessing Engineering. Throughout the year we plan to host many events like pub quizzes or nights out, but also guest lectures and subject grinds, and maybe the odd Breaking Bad Marathon.

Our biggest event of the year has to be the Frank Morton Sports Day. FM is an annual sports day for Chemical Engineering Students from all over the UK and Ireland and while it is a great networking event it is also lots of fun! This year Frank Morton is taking place in Birmingham on February 17th so expect to hear all about that soon. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/ chemicalengineering @UCDChemEng fb.com/ucdchemeng

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Chinese Students & Scholars Association UCDCSSA was founded in 2003. UCDCSSA is a society for Chinese students and scholars in UCD and also a part of the UCD social community. The mission of the Society is to serve Chinese students and scholars, defend their rights, help with their studies, enrich their lives, promote unity within communities, facilitate academic and international exchanges, promote Chinese culture and understanding, advance friendship, and endorse patriotism. We organise a lot of events every year, such as the annual Chinese Students Welcome Reception, BBQ event, basketball competition, badminton/table tennis championship, tourist trips, bilingual language studying, careers forum and so on.

We hope you can be involved in our family, UCDCSSA, one of the biggest Chinese communities in Ireland. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/cssa fb.com/ucdcssa

Christian Union Christian Union is a non-denominational body of students that meets to spend time together and with God. We aim to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere where all are welcome, Christian or not. Each week we spend some time in prayer, singing songs and listening to a guest speaker who speaks about the Bible. Join us for tea, coffee and chats before CU starts! CU is generally on at 6.30 pm, with optional prayer from 6. The venue changes, but is announced by email and on the Facebook page.

We also run small groups throughout the year, where we look deeper into the bible to see what we can learn about God and our lives. There are many other events on throughout the week and semester, some examples from last year include a céilí, a moviewith-a-message, as well as bring-and-share dinners. Each year we also run a CU weekend away, Christmas Carol Service and CU Ball!

We keep you updated on events via email and Facebook.

Whatever we’re doing we aim to explain Jesus clearly, excite people to know more about Him, and encourage fellowship. We hope to see you there! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/ christianunion fb.com/UCD-Christian-Union

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Classical Society Can you appreciate the subtle grammatical differences between present and aorist infinitive verbs in Ancient Greek? Does the mention of Demosthenes or Cicero get your heart racing? Do you like that cool scene in Gladiator where Russell Crowe kills that tiger? If one or more of these questions has caused you to even consider saying “yes”, then the UCD Classical Society is for you! Created to foster interest and appreciation for all things Hellenistic and Roman, membership of the Classical Society is diverse, with participants ranging from the casually interested undergrad to PhD students and faculty from the Department of Classical Studies. Throughout the year we have numerous events for our members, including weekly coffee mornings, holiday parties, and our notoriously awesome annual table quiz. At most events, complimentary refreshments will be provided (the Greeks and Romans loved wine, and so do we). Membership will also ensure you are aware (via weekly newsletter) of our excellent talks, which focus on pertinent issues of Classical scholarship in today’s academic world. Don’t be shy if you can’t remember all of Plato’s dialogues (he wrote a bunch), look for our stall at Freshers’ Week and join the Classical Society!

Comedy Society The UCD Comedy Society was set up in 1998. We hold events all over campus (and sometimes off-campus) at least every fortnight. Examples include the best stand-up comedians from Ireland and abroad, comedy writing workshops, hilarious films, comedy panel debates and general banter. We are the biggest college comedy society in Ireland and since our inception we have continued to bring the biggest names in comedy to UCD. Our mission statement is to make students laugh, miss their deadlines and entertain them during those dull periods of the day otherwise known as lectures. We can’t think of any better way of meeting new and interesting people than sharing humour. Comedy Soc not only provides entertainment but also gives the opportunity for any aspiring comedians to break onto the scene, as well as provide gigs for new and old comedians alike. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/comedy @UCDComedySoc

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Commerce & Economics Society The Commerce & Economics Society is Ireland’s largest and oldest business orientated university society.

Last year we celebrated our centenary year, and we’ve been getting bigger and better ever since! Our notable alumni include Brian Davy, Garrett Fitzgerald and the illustrious Charles Haughey.

C&E has evolved from being a society purely focused on debating to become UCD’s premier social events society, providing the cornerstone of any healthy college life. The society also embraces the academic side of college and provides support and training to ensure you get your degree and the grades you want!

We pride ourselves in being the most open and approachable society on campus, and are always on the lookout for new crew who are eager to get involved.

C&E routinely hold some of the most popular events in UCD, including the Iron Stomach competition (the biggest society event hosted during Freshers’ Week) and Dublin’s largest annual Superbowl party every February. One of C&E’s main events is UCD’s largest, most insane, black tie ball, the infamous Comm Ball, hosted every November, with 800 guests, an unbelievable music line-up and many more surprises on the night. When all that partying becomes too much and it’s time to get the head screwed on, the Commerce & Economics Society provide a range of careers events, ranging from mock interviews to networking events with some of Ireland’s leading business people, to ensure you land your dream summer internship or graduate job.

Remember, whether you love to party, or prefer the books, C&E has something for everyone! Also remember that we are not just for Commerce and Economics students, our crew this year is compiled from a mixture of degree programmes, from Ag Science, to Medicine and Psychology students - you’ll fit right in! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/commerceeconomics @UCDCEsoc fb.com/ucdcesoc enjoygram.com/ucdcesoc

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An Cumann Gaelach Tá an Cumann Gaelach ar an gcumann mac léinn is gníomhaí sa Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath (UCD) le 2000 ball againn le trí bhliain anuas. Bunaithe i 1908 tá, i measc iar- reachtairí an chumainn, iar-Uachtarán de chuid na hÉireann (Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh), ArdAighne agus daoine clúiteacha ar nós Micheál Uí Mhuircheartaigh agus mórán eile nach iad. Eagraíonn an cumann réimse níos leithne d’ócáidí ná aon chumann mac léinn eile. Le blas a thabhairt ar an réimse ócáidí, le linn na mblianta díreach caite d’eagraíomar: Bál na Gaeilge, bailiúchán ar son carthanachta, oíche Rasaí na gCon, céilithe, ocáidí club oíche, comórtas peile, turais chuig Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Seó Faisin, rás bóthair, tráthanna na gceist, díospóireachtaí, ranganna amhráin ar an sean-nós… agus neart eile! Mar sin, tá an Cumann Gaelach mar chumann cultúrtha, díospóireachta, agus thar aon rud eile spraoimhar! Freastalaíonn an cumann orthu siúd a bhfuil líofacht na Gaeilge acu, mar aon le daoine atá as cleachta nó ag tosú glan amach. Cinníonn ár réimse leathan d’ócáidí, ó ócáidí inar féidir le daoine a gcuid Gaeilge a chleachtadh i suíomh gan bhrú, agus ócáidí dírithe ar an acadúlacht Ghaeilge agus ábhair eile chomh maith, go hoícheanta do dhaoine gan aon Ghaeilge, go bhfuil réimse leathan ball sásta againn.

The Cumann Gaelach (Irish Society) is one of the most active societies in UCD with around 2000 members for the past 3 years. The Cumann Gaelach organise a wide variety of events, including: Bál na Gaeilge, charity fundraisers, a night at the races, night-club events, football tournaments, a trip to Oireachtas na Gaeilge, a fashion show, a road race, table quizzes, debates, sean-nós singing classes and many more. The Cumann caters for those that are fluent in Irish, for those that want to improve their Irish and for those who want to learn! Our wide range of events enables people to practise their Irish in a situation without pressure, and with events based on the academic side of the language to nights for the people with little Irish, we ensure that we have a wide range of happy members. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/cumanngaelach @CumannG_UCD fb.com/CumannGaelachUCD

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Dance Society Welcome to UCD Dance Society! We are one of UCD’s largest and most active societies offering everything from weekly dance classes to our annual trip abroad. We’re like one big family in UCD Dance so if you’re looking for the best craic on campus, we’re the society you need to join.

We offer weekly dance classes in HipHop, Ballet, Jazz, Irish Dancing and Commercial dance, as well as weekly one-off workshops in all styles ranging from Bollywood to Breakdancing.

You have the chance to be a part of one of our 3 dance crews who compete at the national Dance Inter-Varsities (Auditions take place at the beginning of each semester!). We have tonnes of weekly events both on and off-campus like our Inter-Society showcase. If you like nights out, you’ll love us!

Never danced before? No problem! All of our classes are specifically taught at beginner level by super friendly choreographers! Its a great way to get fit while having fun and all classes are open to all members.

Classes cost just €2 (Workshops €4) and if you attend 4 classes, you get your 5th free! Grab your loyalty card at any class and get started. Weekly schedules are posted to www.ucdsocieties.com/events.

Have you danced before? Audition for one of our three crews! We compete at national level, perform at tonnes of gigs and events and train at least twice a week. We accept dancers of all levels, so even if you have never danced before, try the audition.

Dance first, think later! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/dance @ucddancesoc fb.com/ucddancesoc instagram.com/ucddancesoc youtube.com/ucddancesociety

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Dramsoc UCD Dramsoc is the student drama society of University College Dublin. The society was founded in 1927. UCD Dramsoc is the one of the nation’s most active societies, and one of Europe’s most active drama societies, as well as being the most active student drama society in Ireland. The purpose of Dramsoc has always been clear; to foster new and upcoming talent, to encourage a love of the performing arts in its members and to provide a social forum through which lasting friendships can be made.

Dramsoc is UCD’s most active society, with two performances a week, one workshop and at least one major event. Our members are involved in acting, directing, costumes & makeup, tech, construction and many other roles. The Society participates in the Irish Student Drama Association Festival which is held annually and has seen great success. In 2011, the society’s production of Tom Murphy’s ‘A Whistle In the Dark’ won five awards at the festival, including Best Overall Production; in total, UCD Dramsoc was nominated in ten out of twelve categories overall and in 2012, Dramsoc beat all past records by being nominated for ten awards out of twelve and winning six. In 2013, Dramsoc walked away with an award for Best Actress, alongside thirteen other nominations, and 2014 saw Dramsoc winning Best Comedy for their production of The 39 Steps, as well as thirteen other nominations, including nominations for Best Original Script, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, and many more.

Dramsoc was given a new home in 2012, in the Theatre in the Student Centre. Our state-of-the-art theatre boasts a 113 seater rig, two dressing rooms, a large scene dock for set construction, and professional lighting and sound systems.

UCD Dramsoc – Making scenes since 1927 www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/drama @dramsoc

Draw Society UCD Drawsoc is a Visual Arts society based on the idea of creation through any medium of art. We are a creative community that wants to change how students view UCD. We are here to bring art to the college, as well as making students more aware of art around the college and around Dublin.

Our activities include weekly classes exploring different aspects of art through various mediums. We also hold gallery trips, photography classes, film screenings, creative nights out and an end-of-year exhibition.

We encourage anyone and everyone to get involved, whatever your skill level, as there is something for everyone! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/draw @UCDDrawSoc | fb.com/ucddrawsoc instagram.com/ucddrawsoc | drawsoc.tumblr.com

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Economics Society UCD Economics Society is passionate about exploring both Irish and global economic issues of the day, and how these issues affect every one of us. Our main roles include hosting speakers from various economic and political backgrounds, the encouragement of discussion and debate and also highlighting economic trends that could give us a clue to where the world is heading in the future. In the past we have hosted such esteemed speakers as Prof. Morgan Kelly and Brian Hayes MEP. Never before has economics been so at the forefront of public debate and we aim to keep it there through the promotion and discussion of economic thought. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/economics @UCDEconSoc fb.com/ucdeconomicssociety economicssociety.ie linkedin.com/in/ucdeconomicssociety

Engineering Society

Ignore the stereotypes of an all male anti-social society, EngSoc couldn’t be further from it!

We are the craic on campus and the heart and soul of UCD. We are the first in and the last out on campus every day. We work hard and play harder. With a relatively small society, we are a family!

Predominately in-house members, we are always looking for new people to join our team. This can be seen from our growing support each year from the international student body.

Our two most popular events are the EngBall and EngDay. Last year the Willy Wonka-themed ball was a huge success and sold out in under a week! Picture chocolate fountains, champagne reception and spot prizes throughout the night before finishing with a silent disco!

For those unfamiliar with EngDay it is quite simply the best stretcher race of the year. I’d go as far to say the best in Dublin. Best of all... it’s all for charity! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/engineering

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Erasmus Student Network Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is a non-profit international student organisation. Our mission is to represent international students, thus provide opportunities for cultural understanding and self-development under the principle of students-helpingstudents. We are 12,000 members from 412 local sections in 36 countries working on a volunteer basis in Higher Education Institutions. We are offering services to 150,000 students across Europe.

We run trips, social events, language tandems and lots of other activities and we also provide support for international students studying in UCD. ESN is a great place to meet new friends both international and Irish and our aim is to ensure you get as much out of your exchange experience in every way possible. So get on board and exchange your life with ESN! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/erasmusstudent @ucdesn

French Society Welcome to the UCD French Society. Here, we celebrate French culture and everything in it. If you’re studying French it’s a great way to meet new people and to improve your skills. Even if you don’t speak the language, you’re still welcome!

We have loads planned for the year, such as mystery tours, pub crawls, nights out, coffee mornings, French breakfasts, wine and cheese nights and much more. We will host French Week, which celebrates everything French. This annual event includes films, breakfasts, music, quizzes, debates and nights out. The highlight of the year is without doubt the annual trip to Paris. This normally takes place during the mid-term break in Semester 2! During this trip, we normally visit the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Disneyland, Notre Dame and loads more. It’s an amazing experience and a fantastic way to make new friends. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/french

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Games Society We are University College Dublin’s Games Society, which just about sums it up: we host, run, organise, encourage and/or assist in the practice of all types of games.

From tabletop roleplaying games and live action roleplaying games to card games, from video games to boardgames and wargames, GameSoc has something for you. In addition, we have run a number of special events, such as the Assassins campus-wide manhunt game, Paintball, Inter-Varsity competitions and last but by no means least UCD’s very own annual Gaming Convention, Vaticon!

You’ll find us generally hanging around and playing games during the day in the Newman building seating area (known as “the Blob”) by the BC staircase, if you ever want to come around and play a few games!

Whatever game you play, you’ll either find someone else that plays it, or a few that will want to try it out! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/games @UCDGameSoc fb.com/ucdgamesoc ucdgamesoc.com

German Society Hallo! Servus! We’re UCD German Society and welcome everyone who’s interested in learning more about German culture and language or in making new friends and having fun. We offer weekly ‘Kaffeeklatsch’ with free coffee, tea and biscuits, and other events such as ‘Filmabend’, ‘Speedfriending’, etc. This year’s plan is to have a trip abroad to either Germany or Austria, to go to the Oktoberfest in town, to host a ‘German for beginners’ course and a lot more. We’re a lovely society and look forward to welcoming new and old faces.

Feel free to join us and come to our events. Liebe Grüße. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/german

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History Society The UCD History Society may be ninety-nine years of age, but it is far from frail, still going strong. It is the members who make this society, and the committee are highly concerned with ensuring our activities work for the membership. To this end, we aim to simultaneously encourage social interaction and historical scholarship by organising a series of frequent events, including a term-time lecture series and seasonal social gatherings, which include amongst other things table quizzes and film screenings, in addition to an annual trip abroad to visit sites and locations that have played key roles in world history.

The society also publishes a journal showcasing new research, including that of postgraduate students from the UCD School of History and Archives. Furthermore, to support the scholarly and educational activities of its members, the society provides online resources and information for students of history, both undergraduate and postgraduate. To join the UCD History Society for the academic year only costs â‚Ź2, while the benefits are vast!

Should you wish to join, just attend one of our events and you will be accommodated and indoctrinated over a glass of wine! We look forward to meeting you! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/history

Horse Racing UCD Horse Racing Society is a fun and exciting society designed to bring students close to the action of horse racing. We plan many exciting events throughout the year, from stud farm and racecourse visits, to race nights and industry talks.

The Spin 1038 Student Race day at Leopardstown is a highlight in the College Calendar and each year our Cheltenham Preview Night attracts one of the largest crowds in Ireland due to our expert panel. If you like horse racing or want to get involved with a society that’s a little bit different in UCD, get in touch with us. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/horseracing @UCDHorseRacing

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Indian Society The Indian Society (INDsoc) strives to provide a stable support system and a rich Indian cultural experience for current and prospective students at the University. We will serve to represent and promote the common interests of the Indian students and all other students at UCD, create a spirit of togetherness, showcase India’s rich cultural heritage in a variety of events and help new students get oriented to UCD. To advance the understanding of, and interest in, Indian culture and related issues in the general UCD community will be the primary goal of INDsoc.

The society was set up in 2013. INDsoc regularly holds mega-events in UCD like the Diwali festival last November with over 400 people from around Ireland. Future events planned by the society include Holi, Indian Subcontinent Cultural Day, etc. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/indian @IND_soc

International Students Society Welcome to the International Students’ Society, one of the largest and most active societies in UCD! It is the role of the International Students’ Society to create the kind of good times and best of memories that will leave you longing for Ireland long after you have returned home. Some of the ways in which we will fulfill your expectations for a great time in Ireland are great events on campus such as quizzes and movie nights, a free weekly coffee afternoon for members to meet and relax, dinner nights, sporting events such as kayaking and surfing (experience Irish football and hurling!), nights out, music events, paintball, charity events, plus fantastic day and weekend trips to different locations around Ireland such as Wicklow, the Cliffs of Moher, Giant’s Causeway, Galway, Cork, Belfast and Kerry.

The International Students’ Society is your opportunity to meet new people from all over the globe. We welcome all students, both Irish and International. We wish you every success in the coming year! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/internationalstudents @ISSUCD

Internet Society [Netsoc] NetSoc was founded over seventeen years ago in order to provide internet access to the students of UCD, a service the college did not provide at the time. After internet access became fairly ubiquitous, the society’s focus shifted towards two main areas: Hosting and Education.

Netsoc provides its members with accounts on its servers, hosting space on UCD’s network for developing websites and personal projects as well as system administration training.

This year we hope to have many programming competitions with great prizes, along with coffee mornings, movie nights, guest talks, and much more! UCD NetSoc is also a great way to meet and talk to fellow students about any modules you are studying, as members are always happy to help fellow students. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/internet @NetSocUCD

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Investors & Entrepreneurs Society The UCD Investors & Entrepreneurs Society was set up with the purpose of guiding and advising students from all degree disciplines with a desire to work within the Banking, Consulting, Trading, Finance and Entrepreneurship sectors. Our mission is to increase our members’ knowledge of the various industries by providing practical experience through mock M&A deals, case studies, trading competitions, equity analysis pitches, interview and CV preparation workshops.

Members will have the opportunity to participate in our Intervarsity Trading Competition, our Society Startup Project, HNMUN, Texas Hold’em Tournaments, Hackathons, Dragon’s Den Competitions, as well as many other exclusive events.

Networking events will give members the chance to meet and speak with people working in the Banking, Consulting, Sales & Trading, Finance and Entrepreneurship sectors, to gain an insight into their future careers.

Joining the UCD I&E will be a step in the right direction for your career, so get involved. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/investorsentrepreneurs @UCDIE fb.com/ucdie ucdie.com

Islamic Society The Islamic Society was established in 1991, with the aim of serving and representing the Muslim students on campus. It provides a platform for students to develop themselves and work towards bringing a positive change in our society.

Islamic Society is dedicated to helping Muslims and non-Muslims on campus develop academically, spiritually, professionally and socially. It also aims to help clear any misconceptions of islam by engaging in dialogue with non-Muslim students on campus and developing unity and cohesion with other societies.

The ISOC is a very dynamic society, with a very wide range of projects conducted through out the year, ranging from charity, exhibitions, debates, talks, tournaments and even sky-diving! There is literally something for every one. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/islamic @UCDiSoc

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Japanese Society Japanese Society promotes interests in all areas of Japanese culture. We also have the special role of supporting the integration of Japanese students and staff and thus creating cross-continental friendship.

Every week we run three events: Tea Morning, Anime (or Film) Night and an exciting third event that changes weekly.

This year we will be running the following: English-Japanese language exchange classes, calligraphy, sushimaking, restaurant nights, origami, sake nights, guest speakers, trips away, film nights (both on and offcampus), karaoke and much more!

If that wasn’t enough, Japanese Society UCD has a special responsibility in the organisation of Experience Japan (Hanami festival) in the Phoenix Park each year. Members take part in a traditional dance, taiko drumming and dressing in wafuku (Japanese style clothing). This is organised in collaboration with the Japanese Embassy, Dublin City Council and the other Japanese Societies in DCU and Trinity.

If you would like a chance to improve your Japanese, meet people who enjoy Japanese culture or perhaps are feeling a bit homesick for Japan, look no further! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/japanese @UCDjSoc fb.com/UCD-Japanese-Society japanesesocietyucd.co.nr

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Jazz Society UCD Jazz Society is a vibrant and active student society that seeks to promote the appreciation and love of Jazz.

UCD Jazz Ensembles: These are open to all our members, to musicians of all levels and standards. We teach and encourage our members and show them some basics in playing Jazz in an ensemble format. The groups provide a great atmosphere for learning jazz, making friends and performing amongst others. We also give the UCD Jazz Ensembles performance opportunities throughout the year.

Cork Jazz Festival: Every year the Society takes a lucky few of its members down to the world famous Cork Jazz Festival in October. The festival is the biggest Jazz event in Ireland and has hosted some of the biggest jazz names from Ella Fitzgerald to Dizzy Gillespie.

UCD Jazz Festival: This exciting, vibrant, on-campus festival has featured some of the greatest Irish Jazz musicians, such as the Michael Buckley Quartet, Nigel Mooney Quartet and Tommy Halferty Trio. UCD Jazz Festival 2014 is set to be the best yet!

UCD Jazz Society is a vibrant and active student society that seeks to promote the appreciation and love of Jazz. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/jazz

Juggling Society UCD’s Juggling Society caters to those with an interest in learning and improving circus skills. Activities include juggling (balls, contact, clubs, and rings), diabolo, spinning plates, staff, hula hooping, poi, slacklining, ballooning, face painting, acrobalance and unicycling. Circus arts are a fun and mentally-stimulating way to exercise which can improve balance, coordination and dexterity.

People of all skill levels are welcome and encouraged to ask for advice. The society is based around skillsharing, meaning it is extremely social. Members are very welcoming, colleges and circus communities intermingle and it’s very easy to make lasting friends from a variety of backgrounds. The circus community in Ireland is very inclusive, with meets continuing into the summer months and weekendlong trips to circus conventions in Tralee, Belfast, Dublin and Galway, where you can immerse yourself in circus arts, see some of the world’s best performers, as well as take part in professional workshops. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/juggling

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Kevin Barry Cumann The Kevin Barry Cumann (a.k.a. The KBC) is UCD’s Ógra Fianna Fáil society. If you have a hankering to get your teeth into politics during your time at UCD, we’re the society for you. You’ll see the KBC all over campus this year - campaigning against Seanad abolition, canvassing for the local and European elections and fighting the good fight in student politics.

Our year kicks off with our infamous Hot Whiskey Night during Freshers’ Week and continues with tours of the Oireachtas, vicious (but fun) debates with our campus rivals and a few excellent nights out such as the Ógra Ball and the National Youth Conference.

If you like to argue, if you want to make a difference or simply think you could do a better job of running the nation, we’d love to have you involved. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/kevinbarrycumann @KBC_UCD

Labour Youth UCD Labour is the most progressive student oriented political society in UCD. We organize social events and seminars throughout the year.

Last year we had our new members evening in the Dáil, a large number of our members attended the Young European Socialist Congress in Sweden and we hosted our most celebrated event, our Mojito night!

We held many public meetings on a wide variety of topics with speakers including Michael Taft, Margaret E Ward and Jan O’Sullivan.

We have taken a very vocal role in campaigning for marriage equality and abortion rights. We also encourage all our members to become as involved as possible in student life through participation in the many other societies in UCD. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/labouryouth @UCDLabour

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Law Society LawSoc is one of the largest societies on campus. We’re one of the two debating societies, and every Tuesday evening we hold our House Debates in the FitzGerald Chamber. We like to tackle the bigger questions in life - Should we have gay marriage or is civil partnership enough?

Is assisted suicide a humane choice? Is Coke better than Pepsi? (obviously?) Not only do we hold house debates, but we also send student speakers to compete in intervarsity competitions all over the world. This year, we’re racking up serious air miles, visiting some of the most exotic places on the planet, from Chennai, India all the way to Manchester, England.

Aside from debating, we also specialise in bringing you the biggest and best guests we can (think along the lines of Judge Judy, the Weasley Twins, Sir Christopher Lee... you get the general idea?), as well as holding some of the best entertainment UCD has to offer (plan of action this year- international mystery tour, night out at the races and a campus-wide game of Assassins). We’ve got a massive line-up of events this year, and we can’t wait to see you at all of them. If you’d like to get involved, join the LawSoc crew! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/law @UCDLawSoc

LGBTQ+ The UCD LGBTQ+ Society is a social group that aims to provide a relaxed, fun environment for people, particularly those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and other gender and sexual minorities. Adjusting to college life can be difficult for any student, and when a student is also struggling with accepting or disclosing their sexual or gender identity, college can become more complicated and challenging. Many of us in the LGBTQ+ society know, and understand, how this can feel and are always there to offer help, advice, and support.

Our award-winning society welcomes everyone regardless of sexual orientation and straight members are just as welcome to join and become involved in the society as those who identify as LGBTQ+. In fact, they have been some of the best contributors and supporters of our society over the years.

UCD LGBTQ+ is one of the most active societies on campus and hold multiple day and evening events every week of the college year. With a wide variety of events - ranging from film clubs to nights out to coffee mornings to a drag show that will amaze and astound you - as well as our services and campaigns, there is something for every member of our society. We try to offer all our members the chance to learn and understand more about the LGBTQ+ community, and to be there to support anyone who may need it; but most importantly, we try to give our members the opportunity to have fun, new experiences and to meet great people. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/lgbtqplus @UCDLGBTQplus fb.com/UCD-LGBT ucd.ie/lgbt ucdlgbtq.tumblr.com

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The Literary & Historical Society [L&H] The L&H was founded in 1854 by Cardinal John Henry Newman, who believed that there was a lot more to university than just studying for your degree. He said that real growth came from a group of people coming together and challenging convention, discussing big ideas and stepping out of their comfort zones to confront life’s big questions. Now in its 160th Session, the L&H remains the definitive College Debating Union. Every Wednesday evening, students, lecturers and international experts are pitted against each other to debate the contentious issues of the day, in the purpose-built Garret FitzGerald Chamber.

As well as House Debates, the L&H also awards Honorary Fellowship, or the James Joyce Award of the Society, to outstanding individuals at the forefront of their fields. These people come to address members of the society, and past recipients include JK Rowling, Noam Chomsky, Emeli SandĂŠ, Will Ferrell, Armando Iannucci and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Of course for those of you with an interest in competitive debating, we take part in numerous intervarsity competitions across the UK and Ireland. We hold training for our members throughout the year. Over the past five years our members have travelled to Belgrade in Serbia, Manila in the Philippines and Chennai in India representing UCD. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/literaryhistorical @UCDLandH fb.com/UCDLiteraryandHistorical instagram.com/ucdlnh www.literaryandhistorical.com

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Livingstones Livingstones is a dynamic group of Bible-believing students coming from various denominations, cultures and backgrounds, who are crazily in love with Jesus. We believe that Christianity is a vibrant and personal encounter with the living God, making Him the source of our joy and passion!

We are involved in weekly interactive Bible-based meetings and worship sessions, as well as campus and community out-reach projects. We come together, encouraging and challenging one another to believe God for greater things on our campus. And food! Name it: dinners, international food nights, coffee, barbeque, ‘mock’tail parties. We major in fellowship! That being said, we also come alongside the other Christian groups on campus in organizing super exciting events, such as the Open Mic Night, Worship Night, Christmas Caroling and many more.

We invite and actively encourage students of all backgrounds to join us in seeking Our Lord in UCD! We would love for you to join us for any of our gatherings. So, if you’re looking for a place to explore your faith, or further develop your existing Christian faith, Livingstones is definitely the place to be! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/livingstones fb.com/livingstonesucd livingstonesoc.com Malaysian Society UCD Malaysian Society is a society whose ideal is to promote the Malaysian culture through various mediums to enrich the cultural experiences of students and staff in UCD, as well as to help them gain a broader perspective of Malaysian culture. It is a growing society with a strong and significant presence within the university. MSoc is an active participant in cultural and ethnic events such as the annual Malaysian Night, Malaysian Cultural Day and events that promote cultural awareness and diversity.

Events hosted by MSoc are held in conjunction with the myriad of festivals celebrated in the melting pot that is Malaysia. Each particular event serves to introduce a particular culture from the Malaysian cultural potpourri to foster good ties among our members.

We thank you for your support and look forward to welcoming all of you officially to our society in this new semester. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/malaysian

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Maths Society MathSoc is one of UCD’s most active academic societies. We are devoted to promoting mathematical interests in UCD as well establishing a healthy and thriving social network amongst people with similar interests. We accomplish these twin goals by hosting talks, competitions and social events. The talks are usually given by prominent mathematicians based in Ireland and are sure to enlighten and entertain everyone, regardless of their mathematical expertise.

Topics are diversely spread across the field of mathematics: music, network behaviour and cryptography are among the topics featured in recent years. Different talks require different levels of prior knowledge - we cater to people from advanced backgrounds as well as casual amateurs and everyone in between. We also strive to be a place for academic support, whether through our regular study group sessions or via topicspecific lectures.

At Mathsoc it’s easy to socialise with students across all years and courses in UCD. Film screenings, parties with other small societies, pizza nights and table quizzes are regular features!

There will be a plethora of competitions throughout the year, all with excellent prizes. Student lecture competitions, one-on-one cross-university competitions and the Mathematical Intervarsities are just a few examples of these.

All in all, Mathsoc is the place to be, both for people interested in any mathematical field - from physics to engineering to economics - as well as people interested in meeting those people! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/mathematical fb.com/UCDMathSoc

Mechanical Engineering The Mechanical Engineering Society is primarily a society for Engineering students in UCD, in which both social and academic events are organised. These events include talks from companies recruiting recent graduates, to general interest talks about the field and a staff-student dinner.

We provide a resource for mechanical engineering students to explore their future options in choosing subjects but also providing them with information on internships and career events. We try to bring speakers both from our university and also outside organisations to talk about their areas of expertise. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/mechanicalengineering

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Medical Society UCD Medical Society is one of the largest faculty societies in UCD and is open for membership to all UCD students. MedSoc hosts a variety of both academic and social events throughout the academic year. These events include careers evenings, USMLE advisory talks, debating tournaments, medical case competitions, guest speakers, night club events, scavenger hunts, sporting events (such as the annual soccer tournament - Med Cup), tag rugby intervarsities, the annual black-tie event (Med Ball), and our very own MedSoc ski trip. Charity fundraising forms a huge part of MedSoc’s activities during the year.

Each October, hundreds of medical students take to the streets of Dublin to participate in bucket collections for our chosen charities on Med Day. We also run a large charity event in the second semester, which has taken the form of White Collar Boxing and Strictly Come Dancing in past years. Many other smaller societies have come under the MedSoc umbrella in recent years, including the new Student Medical Journal, SurgSoc, Medical Student Overseas Relief (MSOR) and UCD Psyched, to help cater for the specific interests of our members. Academic or social, we are here to provide for all our members’ needs and to make their time in UCD as memorable as possible. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/medical @ucdmedsoc fb.com/ucdmedsoc instagram.com/ucdmedsoc ucdmedsoc.com

Music Society The Music Society caters for a very broad range of musical tastes. Our events cater for styles ranging from classical to rock, and everything in between. We run fortnightly lunchtime classical recitals in the Department of Music for students to take part in. These have been very popular in recent years - in the past we have had pianists, singers, cellists and many more.

We also hold regular open mic nights in the Global Lounge. Whatever your talent may be, singing, guitar, piano, percussion, come and showcase it at an open mic night. All standards are welcome. Or, if you don’t fancy performing at it, you can just sit back and enjoy the music in the very chilled easy-going setting. As well as that we organise regular gigs in Captain Americas in town. This is a great chance for new bands to get out there. We are also happy to put members who are looking to form bands in touch with each other.

This year we also plan to have karaoke nights, a choir, coffee mornings, more inter-society collaborative events, and much more!! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/music @UCDMusicSoc

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Musical Society UCD Musical Society is one of the most active societies on campus. Each year we produce two full scale musicals in UCD Astra Hall, one in November and the other in April. To date we have performed many well-known musicals including ‘The Producers’, ‘Into the Woods’, ‘Sweeney Todd’, ‘Grease’, ‘Cabaret’, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘The Wedding Singer’, each receiving outstanding reviews and attendance. Grease won ‘UCD Society Event of the Year 2012/13’. These shows are selected and run by our members making them unique to our society. Each semester applications open for positions on the production panel and students can apply with various ideas. The chosen production team then holds auditions for performers, and organises these full scale productions.

We also run a weekly Vocal Group from 8-10pm every Monday where members can come along, sing and perform. The Vocal Group performs throughout the year with UCD Musical Society, the highlight being the Vocal Group Showcase, and on behalf of our society at college events. We hold regular workshops in many different areas of theatre, be it the production side or performance side, to give our members a chance to improve their skills and share their talents.

The social side of UCD Musical Society is great fun and a fantastic way to make new friends. We hold regular, popular events throughout the year such as our open-mic nights, the Halloween party, cast parties, trips to the theatre, club nights out and much more. Renowned for our welcoming, inclusive and friendly reputation we are always eager for new members to become involved be it on the stage or behind the stage. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/musical | ucd.ie/musical @UCDMusical fb.com/ucdmusicalsoc instagram.com/ucdmusicalsociety

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Newman Society Newman UCD encourages and supports Catholic belief on campus, promoting fellowship & faith formation. The society holds a variety of events including talks, Youth 2000 meetings, retreats, interfaith gatherings, movie screenings, social evenings & excursions. Plenty of craic will be mixed in too!

We are a vibrant Catholic community on campus, which is also welcoming towards those of all faiths and none. At our events you can always expect to be greeted in a warm, friendly & inclusive atmosphere. “If we follow the voice of God, we shall be brought step by step into a new world, of which before we had no idea.� In the face of the many trials that student life can bring, we seek to live the quoted words of Blessed Newman, founder of UCD, in a spirit of trust & joy, as we make together our pilgrimage of faith. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/newman fb.com/UCDNewmanSociety One Health Society The mission of our society is to develop the interest of students and others in the integration of human, animal, and environmental health, to allow students to recognize career opportunities in the collaborative field of public health and to promote the wellbeing of all species through a better understanding of the link between veterinary medicine, human medicine, agriculture, and other related fields. To see our mission through, each year we hold a One Health Week where we host world-renowned speakers and have hands-on-learning opportunities, including comparative anatomy dissections and infection control lab sessions. Throughout the year we promote One Health by hosting seminars. This past year, the Society invited Temple Grandin to speak.

We hope to increase awareness among the student body that today’s global health issues are species-spanning and take a concerted, team-approach to find solutions to these complex challenges. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/onehealth @UCDOneHealth Pharmatox Society Pharmtox is a society designed to bring together not only biomolecular and biomedical students, but all students who share an interest in drug discovery, health, and their societal implications. Pharmtox offers a range of events including career evenings, get-togethers, debates, informal talks, and an annual ball, with an aim to raise money for charity. By joining Pharmtox, you will be gaining the advantage of meeting other undergraduates, postgraduates, and members of the general public while engaging in either social activities, or events related to the world of pharmaceuticals. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/pharmtox @pharmtoxucd

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Philosophy Society UCD Philosophy Society (Philsoc) always wants its members to get value from their membership and by bringing in world renowned thinkers, such as Noam Chomsky, this is always achieved. Our members can also look forward to much, much more throughout the year, such as weekly coffee mornings, film screenings, nights out in town and a whole host of other scheduled events. As a society we aim to promote interest in philosophy on campus so you do not have to be a philosophy student to join.

If you are a student it is a brilliant way to meet your classmates and if you are just someone who has an interest then it is a great way for you to discover more about philosophy. This year the society is delighted to announce a newly formed friendship with the MetaFizz of Trinity and there will be many joint events held along with a journal publishing undergraduate work. This year is going to be a busy one for PhilSoc so make sure to come down to get involved. We look forward to meeting you. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/philosophy | @philsocucd

Physics Society We’re a society dedicated to indulging an interest in science and physics, from the microscopic, to the astronomic, to the imagined world of the theoretical.

Getting involved in the society is as easy as showing up to events, understanding that science and fun can appear in the same sentence, and having an open mind about how physics-related our events have to be.

Events include hosting talks from lecturers, competitions between undergrads, staying in to watch movies and documentaries, going out to look at the stars, pizza, paintballing, and more.

For larger scale outings, in the past we have visited The Crawford Observatory in University College Cork and CERN in Geneva. Our trips aim to be educational and social, and always result in fun. We also get together with the Maths Society for our annual Maths and Physics Ball. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/physics fb.com/UCD-Physics-Society Physiotherarpy Society PhysioSoc has the aim of letting its members, from all different degrees in UCD, interact together through sporting events, nights out and guest speakers like Olympic athletes and other people relevant to physiotherapy. It’s a society which focuses on mixing the social side of physiotherapy with practical workshops and events. We’ve also developed links with major physiotherapy clinics and businesses around Dublin, to give our members access to high quality services, at a discounted price. With guest speakers regularly giving talks to PhysioSoc members, it’s safe to say we’re up for getting athletes and well-renowned physiotherapists in to give us a heads up on what’s in store for us all in the future! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/physiotherapy @physiosocucd

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Psychological Society If you’re a psychology student or just have a general interest in psychology this is the place for you! PsychSoc UCD is now in its 46th session and is open for membership to any student in UCD. PsychSoc will be running many academic and social events throughout the year. We will be organising pizza nights, going on our annual trip to Bundoran and co-hosting events with other societies in UCD. We’ll also be hosting guest lectures and a careers day for our members, as well as the Psychology Ball in Semester 2!

We’ll be running our first Sport Psychology Series this year too, where prominent sport psychologists and athletes will be talking about their experience in sport. If you have any interest in sport, you’ll have to come along! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/psychological | @UCDPsychSoc | fb.com/ucdpsychsoc Russian Society Russian Soc was set up with the sole aim of sharing some of the rich Russian culture which the Russian students have brought to Ireland. Our committee members work really hard to bring about events to suit all ages and tastes. In the few years that the society has existed, numerous trips were organized such as ‘The Sauna Trip’, which introduced many to our beloved Russian ‘banya’, and the yearly trip to see the famous ballet shows presented by ‘The Bolshoi’, the National Russian ballet crew. Our events are intended for students who have an interest in our culture and do not necessarily speak Russian or have any linkages to Russia. We show popular Russian films with subtitles, however, we do hold classes for those of you who want to learn a bit of the Slavic language. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/russian Science Society The Science Society is made up of a bunch of fun loving, hard working and slightly insane science students who spend most of the day thinking about how to make your college life more entertaining, and coming up with even crazier ways of raising money for Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.

The Science Society grew from the Science Day Committee, which was the most successful student run charity event in Ireland! We are responsible for Science Day, the famous Cycle to Galway and the infamous Jock Walk (think lab coats, underwear, a big smile and not much else!) to name but a few. Every year we bring great nights out, even better nights in, and loads more throughout. All proceeds from the events go DIRECTLY to charity, so there’s no feeling guilty after the night out! Interested? Get involved in one of UCD’s best societies! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/science @UCDScienceSoc | fb.com/sciencesocietyucd

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Science Fiction & Fantasy Society The UCD Science Fiction and Fantasy society was formed in 1992 with the aim of providing a place for those with a love of the weird and wonderful. Since then it has developed into one of UCD’s most active societies, offering around five events a week accommodating all walks of life, from die hard science fiction and fantasy fans to those who have not yet realised that Picard is way better than Kirk!

Our coffee mornings, held twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, provide a nice relaxed atmosphere where members can meet and socialise. Our weekly movie showings range from cult classics to the latest blockbusters.

The society also offers a wide range of large events from our extremely successful Burlesque Ball to Spocktoberfest. Our events this year kick off with our ever so popular Absinthe table quiz so why not join in? And don’t worry if your knowledge of the world of Sci-Fi and Fantasy is a bit rusty, questions range from general knowledge to our infamous “WTF” round.

We welcome all new members whether they favour Picard or Kirk, Gandalf or Dumbledore, or even if you preferred Star Wars Episode I-III over the original trilogy! (Disclaimer: Exclaiming a fondness for Jar Jar Binks may result in an extremely awkward silence!) www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/scifi Spanish Society ¡HOLA! If you like diversity, if you have an interest in learning Spanish or experiencing Hispanic Culture, if you want to make friends from all over the world, then joining SpanSoc is going to be a decision you won’t regret. We have a number of activities throughout the year such as Salsa classes (taught by a professional instructor), Tapas & Sangria nights, Futbolito (with a chance to represent the society’s football team in the UCD Super League) and the Yearly Trip to Spain (Madrid)! We also help students to improve their Spanish with bi-weekly intercambios where they can get to practice their language skills with native Spanish speakers. For those who prefer a laidback event, we also have Siesta Afternoons with tea, juices and cakes where members can socialise with other students. So whether you’re a laidback person, an outgoing one or a sports-focused individual SpanSoc will suit you! We have something for everybody. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/spanish

Structural Engineering Society StructSoc is a society for anyone with an interest in the design of buildings, bridges and structures in general! We have close ties to professional bodies including the Institute of Structural Engineers and Engineers Ireland. We run a year long calendar of events including careers talks, I.Struct.E evenings, games nights, safe pass courses and educational field trips. We also run many successful cross collaboration events with the other engineering societies like CivilSoc and EngSoc. StructSoc provides a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who can offer advice on subject choices, and to learn more about the art of structural engineering. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/structuralengineering

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Saint Vincent de Paul UCD St. Vincent de Paul is one of the largest and most active student societies in UCD. With voluntary, fundraising and social activities, joining UCDSVP is a great way to have fun, get to know people on campus and develop new skills, while also making a very real difference to society.

The general aim of SVP is to help those who are marginalised, while promoting self-sufficiency. As a college society we act on this general aim by volunteering in community projects around Dublin, as well as providing assistance to students in UCD who find themselves in difficulty.

Our members can volunteer in over sixteen activities around the Dublin area including soup runs, homework clubs, youth clubs and homeless shelters. There are activities to suit everyone from organising football tournaments to having a chat and a cup of tea.

Fundraising is another central part of the society throughout the year.

Members can get involved in organising social and fundraising events like Homeless Week by getting involved with the fundraising committee. We also run trips away, coffee mornings, parties, debates, movie marathons, table quizzes... and much more! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/svp @ucd_svp fb.com/ucdsvp ucdsvp.ie Student Legal Services Founded in 2006, the UCD Student Legal Service is one of the most active and dynamic societies on campus. We’re a voluntary society, established with the aim of providing free legal information to all students in UCD. If you are a law student and want to gain practical experience while enhancing your legal skills, look no further than the SLS. All SLS volunteers receive training from practicing legal professionals as well as academics in the Law School. We place a keen focus on law in practice and making law more accessible. During our trips to the Courts, members are given the opportunity to meet with Judges and discuss developments within law.

Our research has been widely recognised from within and outside UCD. In 2012, the SLS published our ‘Manual on Students Rights’ which won UCD Publication of the Year. In 2013, the society made history when it published Ireland’s first Civic Guide to the Constitution. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/studentlegalservice @UCDSLS

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Traditional Music Society The Traditional Music Society is one of the most active and vibrant societies on campus in University College Dublin. We established ourselves years ago to enhance the student experience of Irish musicians, no matter what music they played. TradSoc has since grown to something else – a diverse society which can be seen at every aspect of a modern student culture. The TradSoc committee is dedicated to contributing to the modern student culture in UCD. The society is active both on and off-campus, holding large events on a regular basis. The year’s line-up is packed with live concerts, festival trips, charity events and class parties.

TradSoc welcomes and encourages any student to join, from musicians of any genre to those curious about Irish traditional music and wanting to learn more. TradSoc welcomes students who can play an instrument and those who just like to listen to the lively music being played. We strive to have a comfortable and friendly atmosphere for our members with refreshments served at our meetings and lively and enjoyable music sessions weekly. We often have various different events and trips during the year with last year’s events including the Traditional Music Intervarsities in Ennis, Trad for Trocaire, recitals of famous musicians such as Declan Gannon and Sean Keane, the launch of our first TradSoc CD in aid of UCDVO and many other enjoyable and action-packed events. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/traditionalmusic @TradSocUCD TV Society Ever wanted to interview one of the major stars that come to UCD every year? What about wanting to get involved in video production? Or just looking to try something completely out of the ordinary when coming to college? As one of the media outlets available on campus for UCD students, UCDTV prides itself with giving everyone involved a unique college experience.

Since its introduction in September 2006, the society has been entertaining the students of UCD with a wide range of video productions, whether we are producing dramas, news programming, comedy, debate or simply going out on campus and gathering students’ views on the current topics of the day.

Because of the nature of the society and our relatively small size, we strive to ensure that you’re not just a number, but are an integral part of the society. We are always looking for people who can edit, film, present or want to learn how to do all these things and more. Even if you don’t feel comfortable in front of camera, the various “behind the scenes” roles like camera work, photography, editing, script-writing and administration will ensure that your interests and talents can always be catered for. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/tv @UCDTV | fb.com/UCDTV | http://www.ucdtv.ie YouTube.com/UCDTVie

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Veterinary Society UCD VetSoc is an active student society based in the Veterinary faculty here in UCD. We run many social and academic activities throughout the year. Tuesday and Thursday night talks cater for students with an interest in veterinary medicine or agricultural science and past speakers have included Noel Fitrzpatrick (Bionic Vet BBC) and John Oxx (Trainer of ‘Sea The Stars’). VetSoc focuses on harbouring a social atmosphere within UCD, with many events becoming tradition for the students in veterinary medicine.

Examples include The Annual Carol Service in aid of Irish Guide Dogs, the Veterinary Ball and the end of year BBQ. Over the past two years the university has awarded our success as we were named ‘Best Small Society 2011/2012’ and ‘Best Medium Society 2012/2013’. www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/veterinary @ucdvetsoc fb.com/ucd.vetsoc UCD Volunteers Overseas Society The main aim of the UCDVO Student Society is to raise awareness on campus of the issues that UCD students face when they have volunteered with UCD Volunteers Overseas during the summer. We do this by organizing various events throughout the year ranging from film showings to inviting guest speakers who have a background in development or social justice, to campus. We also host the odd night out and of course our annual UCDVO ball. Because we are lucky to have so many passionate volunteers who have just returned from any one of the countries we work in – India, Haiti, Nicaragua, Tanzania or Uganda – there is always a friendly face to talk to about the potential of volunteering at all of our events. Even if you aren’t interested in volunteering with UCDVO during the summer there is still so much to get involved in during the year. VO is a great way to get to know people in the maze that is UCD, outside of your class in a really easy going environment, whilst also doing your bit for the greater good! www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/volunteersoverseas @UCDVO fb.com/UCDVO ucdvo.org ucdvo.tumblr.com youtube.com/UCDVO

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World Aid Society The World Aid Society is a charitable society that focuses on fundraising through enthusiastic and ridiculously fun events. World Aid is not tied to a single charity, but rather changes its main charitable cause annually. During the 2012/2013 academic year for example, we supported Camfed, which focused on education for women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. It’s easy to have great amounts of craic with such an excellent community, and the best part is, it’s always for a good cause! http://www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/worldaid Young Fine Gael As the largest and most active student political society in UCD, Young Fine Gael is the only vehicle for young people to seek political change in this country. As an autonomous youth organisation, it has the advantage of embodying the values of the Senior Party, while maintaining the independence to express views of young people.

We hold weekly branch meetings with policy discussions, as well as guest speakers, social events (such as Dáil bar trips) and participating in national and local campaigns. Our activities in the past year have included a visit by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD and other speakers such as Brian Hayes MEP. We were also a leading force in the recent USI disaffiliation campaign on campus in UCD and hosted a Mock Dáil last March with the other student political parties in the University. We go on an international trip every year in January, such as our Berlin trip last year. http://www.ucdsocieties.com/societies/youngfinegael @UCD_YFG

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