3CS at TSSG secures a further €1.7m funding

As a researcher with the TSSG (the telecommunications research division of Waterford Institute of Technology), you learn very quickly that funding is everything. Without it, the place where I work each day could not, and would not exist and I would almost certainly be out of a job.

Obtaining this funding is incredibly difficult and requires an enormous amount of dedication, commitment, time and energy on the part of the teams of people who apply for it, and I stress the word team here because it is most certainly a team effort.

To this end, and to the credit of everyone at the TSSG, the Centre for Converged Communications Services (3CS) in the TSSG recently secured over €1.7m of funding in a single funding round. This is an incredible achievement in these challenging economic times, and an enormous amount of credit goes to everyone who contributed to this effort.

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Research FAME @ TSSG

The TSSG has scored yet another significant first and will lead a new €5.86m strategic research cluster in conjunction with Cisco Systems, Ericsson, IBM, Telefónica and Hewlett Packard. The research cluster is entitled “Federated Autonomic Management of End-to-end Communication Services” and will be funded by Science Foundation Ireland.

At a time where most discussions in Ireland involve the term recession and cutbacks, it is refreshing to some promising news for a change.

You can read more about this story on RTE News or via the Official Press Release

Ireland’s mini-Silicon Valley @ TSSG

Silicon Republic have published an extensive and very uplifting article today about the company where I work. It outlines how we at the TSSG have successfully turned public funding from a variety of national and international sources into real jobs for the region where we live, the South East of Ireland.

With all the talk of recession in the air, it is somewhat refreshing to stand back for a monent and take in the enormity of what has actually been achieved by the team at the TSSG since its creation in 1998.

Long may these successes continue…

TSSG is the Telecommunications Research division within Waterford Institute of Technology.

Blaas win European Bakery Award

As a long suffering purveyor of the merits and delights of Waterford’s most famous delicacy, the humble Blaa (a square-shaped yeast roll), it was with an enormous sense of pride, delight and downright, “I told ‘ya so”, that Waterford celebrated international recognition for the Blaa earlier this week in the form of a Euro-toques award.

In particular, four stalwort Waterford bakeries, Hickey’s and M&D of Waterford City, Harney’s of Kilmacow and Barron’s of Cappoquin were commended for their continued traditional production of the famous roll.

Related Articles: Irish Times, The Munster Express

Light on Leaf and Land

Light on Leaf and Land is the title of a new photography exhibition by John Mernin that will take place during November 2008. It will feature a collection of unique photographs from around County Waterford (Ireland) and beyond, each with the theme that inspired the title of the exhibition, Light.

The exhibition itself will be launched on Friday, 21st November at 9pm in Dowers Bar, Ballymacaw, Co. Waterford and will go on display at Fisherman’s Hall, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 22nd and 29th of November 2008. Several mounted prints are available for purchase and are priced at €30 (with a €5 donation to the Carbally Community Centre).

So, if you fancy doing something different for an hour or so over the coming weeks, why not drop by and lend your support.

Related Articles: Over the Edge

Science Week at WIT

I had the privilege of accompanying my daughter and a selection of her classmates earlier today to one of the events organised by Waterford Institute of Technology’s Centre for the Advancement of Learning of Maths, Science and Techology (CALMAST) as part of Science Week Ireland.

The event itself, entitled “Dave’s Jungle” featured a unique opportunity to meet exotic animals up close, such as snakes, spiders, scorpions, alligators and iguanas. It was so great to see the excitement and intrigue in the children’s faces and the wide variety in reactions to the different animals. However, the biggest thrill of all was the look of pride in my daughters eyes when I walked in the room. It was one of those days when I might have otherwise been too busy (or not bothered) to attend, but am now so glad that I did.

Well done CALMAST and thank you for a very special experience!

Waterford’s reaction to Newgate Shopping Centre objections

Wellboy at Up The Deise has truly outdone himself this time with this hilarious skit on the (likely) reaction of Waterford City Council to an objection submitted against the proposed new shopping centre on Newgate Street in Waterford City.

Some of you may have already seen a (cruder) variation of this same video based around Cristiano Ronaldo’s on/off move from Manchester United to Real Madrid (not for the faint hearted or easily offended though).

Waterford Univeristy Status – Media Coverage

Over the past few weeks, the long suffering case for University status for Waterford Institute of Technology has attracted a lot of attention, principally due to the publication of the long awaited report by the Government-appointed independent expert Dr. Jim Port.

Here are some of the more prominent articles and related discussions that I have encountered during this time (in reverse chronological order):

Date Article Source
1 October 2008 Decision on University for Waterford Life’s simple, why change it?
18 April 2008 Fruits of new New Labour? Life’s simple, why change it?
10 April 2008 Waterford University Request Considered RTE News
9 April 2008 Someone dusted off Danny Life’s simple, why change it?
8 April 2008 No More Universities! The Irish Times
9 April 2008 Someone dusted off Danny Life’s simple, why change it?
9 April 2008 Waterford’s case for a University The Irish Times
9 April 2008 Waterford’s case for a University The Irish Times
5 April 2008 Waterford University The Irish Times
25 March 2008 WIT is the only Contender The Irish Times
13 March 2008 Something is rotten in this state! Life’s simple, why change it?
1 March 2008 FUSE Campaign Launched FUSE
21 February 2008 Port Identites Star Board Life’s simple, why change it?
20 February 2008 Dr. Jim Port’s report finally published Department of Education
14 February 2008 What does Waterford University mean to me? Life’s simple, why change it?

This is not a comprehensive list of every article that has been published on the matter but rather the ones that have interested me, and that I feel might be of interest to others who also support the campaign like I do.

Nubiq nominated for Irish Times Innovation Award

Nubiq Ltd, a Waterford-based Mobile web services company has been nominated for an ITLG, Irish Times Innovation Award. This is an great honour for the Nubiq team and everyone here at the TSSG is very proud of their achievements to date. Best of luck guys!

You can read more about this nomination on Micheal O Foghlu’s blog and via the TSSG press release, both of which make impressive reading.