Brian MacCraith
Professor Brian MacCraith | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1957 |
| Nationality |  Ireland |
| Alma mater | NUI Galway |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics Sensors |
| Institutions | NUI Galway, Dublin City University |
Professor Brian MacCraith (born 1957) is a physicist and the third president of Dublin City University (DCU) in Ireland. He joined DCU in 1986 and became president in July 2010, for a term of 10 years.
Early life and education
MacCraith was born in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland, the son of two teachers, Brian and Caitlin MacCraith. He attended Ballinaclosha Primary School in Co. Armagh, Scoil Eoin Baiste in Dundalk, and later CBS Dundalk (now Colaiste Rís), from where he took his Leaving Certificate. His mother taught him for three years, and his father for one. [1]
He graduated with an honours BSc in Physics from NUI Galway, where he also completed a M.Sc. and a Ph.D in Optical Spectroscopy of Laser Materials.
Career
MacCraith worked for a time at Dundalk Institute of Technology, then in 1986 he joined the staff of DCU, teaching physics, and researching in the areas of optical chemical sensors and biosensors, biomedical diagnostics, and nanobiophotonics. He has published and developed a range of intellectual property in his research areas.
MacCraith was, in 1999, the founding Director of the National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR) at DCU. He later proposed the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI), and in 2005, this was launched as a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centre, with MacCraith as its first Director. Some years later he proposed the Nano-bio-analytical Research Facility (NRF), and this was established at DCU in 2010.[2][3]
DCU Presidency
MacCraith was selected in the search process after Ferdinand von Prondzynski's 10-year term as DCU's second president ended, and inaugurated 13 July 2010. In his inauguration speech he commented on the fact that he and DCU's founding president, Danny O'Hare both came from Dundalk, had in fact attended the same school, and that O'Hare had been an inspiration for him.[4] He also emphasised the importance of Ireland's east-coast population corridior, and expressed hopes of building links between DCU and Dundalk IT, and Co. Louth in general, and in 2012, the two institutions concluded a cooperation agreement.[5]
Personal life
MacCraith is married to Catherine MacCraith, and they have a daughter, Aoife, and a son, Eoin.[1]
References
- ^ a b Roddy, Margaret. "Second Dundalk man as DCU President". The Argus. Independent News and Media. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
- ^ http://www.dcu.ie/president/biography.shtml
- ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/education/2011/0201/1224288679082.html
- ^ Roddy, Margaret (21 July 2010). "Second Dundalk man as DCU President". The Argus. Independent News and Media. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
...said that having grown up in Dundalk and attended the same school, he was aware of academic achievements of DCU's first President, Danny O'Hare from a very early age. 'For me, Danny was a pioneer, an ever-present symbol of commitment to higher education and the transformation of its landscape.'
- ^ Keogh, Elaine (23 July 2012). "Alliance between DCU and Dundalk Institute". Irish Software Innovation Network (quoting the Irish Times). Retrieved 16 November 2018.
...in the coming days DkIT and DCU will sign a memorandum setting out areas of co-operation, including academic programme development, research, enterprise support and sharing of services...
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