Dr. Eilish McLoughlin – Director of CASTeL and Associate Professor in the School of Physical Sciences, has been honoured with a prestigious 2019 Science Foundation (SFI) award announced today at the annual SFI Science Summit in Athlone attended by over 300 leading members of Ireland’s research community who gathered to celebrate the significant contributions made over the past year to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in Ireland. Dr McLoughlin was presented with the SFI Outstanding Contribution to STEM Communication in recognition of her incredible contribution to the popularisation of science and her sterling efforts in raising public awareness of the value of science to human progress.  A firm believer in the mantra that “science is for all”, she has led several large-scale national initiatives to widen participation in STEM including Physics Busking, Science on Stage, Improving Gender Balance (all 3 have been funded by SFI) and the STEM Teacher Internship. Her significant contributions to STEM engagement have resulted in many awards, especially the prestigious Institute of Physics Lise Meitner Medal in 2018 and the DCU President’s Award for Engagement in 2017.

Acknowledging the award winners, Minister for Training, Skills, Innovation and Research and Development, John Halligan TD, said:

“The Science Foundation Ireland Awards recognise the breadth and depth that research encompasses from industry collaborations to public engagement and the innovative breakthroughs that are leading research globally in the areas of Immunology, Biomaterials, Cancer research and much more.

I would like to congratulate each awardee on their achievements, which illustrate the invaluable knowledge and resource that Ireland’s research community offers.

I am also pleased to see mentorship amongst the awards this year, highlighting the importance of supporting the next generation of researchers and enriching our growing research community.”

Professor Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland, also congratulated the award winners, saying:

“On behalf of Science Foundation Ireland, I would like to congratulate the award winners on their success and recognise their dedication in realising their ambitions and in doing so, building Ireland’s reputation as a global research leader.

We are very proud of the excellent quality of research that our funding enables, and the SFI Awards are an important acknowledgement of the collective achievements of the Irish research community, which continue to be impactful, inspirational and world-leading.”