At the Foundation website
www.irishstemcellfoundation.org
LIVE LINK
The Irish Stem Cell Foundation is Ireland’s National Stem Cell Research Organisation. A Member of the International Consortium of Stem Cell Networks, the Foundation is committed to the pursuit of International cooperation, collaboration and excellence in the stem cell field.
learn more about: l basics of stem cell biology l latest stem cell research and therapies l common misconceptions about stem cells and the realities l how stem cell research is changing the way we think about and learn about a range of human conditions like spinal injury, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, and Cancer l Ireland’s role in the International struggle against ‘stem cell tourism’ where patients are scammed by the modern day equivalent of ‘snake oil salesmen’
Spelling game
ClaIrE McNelis from Buncrana, Co Donegal, has developed a computer game that makes it easier for people with dyslexia to learn how to spell. Many students find it difficult to make the connection between spelling and reading, but the game, Spelling Rules, provides an alternative pathway, linking audio directly to written words. Claire is a final year student at the Huston School of Film and Digital Media at NUI Galway. Her aim was to develop an affordable solution that would enable young students between the ages 8 to 14 years to teach themselves. the application is freely available on the Internet at http://spellingrules.ie/
Irish Mammals
Limerick’s learning hub
Pat Smiddy and Paddy Sleeman have compiled a guide to books and papers relating to Irish wild mammals. a limited number of copies, costing €25 are available, and at a later date there are plans to include the details on the Irish National Biodiversity Data Centre website. the previous edition had 1,389 entries, and this new edition has 2,663. the guide can be ordered from Paddy Sleeman, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, North Mall Campus, Distillery Fields, Cork.
third level colleges, schools, local communities and companies have collaborated in establishing a learning hub to encourage greater participation in science and engineering. Young people are being partnered by undergraduate mentors so that they can get to grips with subjects that might otherwise be out of reach to them. among the supporting partners are the University of limerick, limerick Institute of Technology and NUI Galway. http://www.learninghub.ie/science-at-the-hub
Boole papers
at UCC thousands of items from the George Boole collection are being digitised to make them available to the public. Boole, whose work laid the foundations for modern searchable computer programs, was the first Professor of Matematics at UCC. The project has been supported by the company, EMC, which has a significant presence in Cork. the Boole library is just one of eight organisations around the world chosen to receive funding from the EMC Heritage Trust because of its importance.
SCIENCE SPIN Issue 48 Page 7