Research news July 2009

Minister of State launches NBIP IrelandStudy of genetic diversity to benefit agriculture Tourism researchers address the Scottish Parliament Historical study has lessons for today

Volume 3 | Issue 1 | July 2009

ResearchNewsDublin Institute of Technology

Research news June 2009 10/07/2009 16:02 Page ii

Editorial

Cities and their regions have become the focal points of a competitiveworld. In the Irish context, Dublin has always been the national gatewayfor investment and the flow of new technologies, but its strategic importance is heightened by the creation of knowledge societies in aglobal economy. DIT, in collaboration with other higher education and research institutions, the private sector and Dublin City Council, is making a vital contribution by carrying out research that is close to market and promotes and values entrepreneurship. DIT’s record in technology transfer has consistently exceeded the commercialization performance of most universities in Ireland and across Europe based on the figures of the Association of European Science and Technology Transfer Professionals.

Some of our recent successes include:

— DIT’s start-up company Radical was launched at the Enterprise Ireland Business Opportunities event on 18 June 2009;

— Dr Suresh Pillai and Dr Suzanne Martin were nominated for Enterprise Ireland’s One-To-Watch Awards;

— Companies participating in DIT’s Hothouse Venture Programme have successfully raised significant investment:* Equiendo, a leading innovator in the development of expert

software solutions for the global telecommunications industry, raised !1.5m;

* Muzu TV, with backing from Sony, EMI and Warner Music for its free content model, has attracted over !6m.

Despite the challenging economic environment, DIT continues to set thepace and direction for leading-edge R&D and enterprise. Do not hesitateto talk to us about research or commercialisation ideas or view our website: www.dit.ie/researchandenterprise.

Professor Ellen HazelkornDirector, Research and Enterprise and Dean of the Graduate Research School

July 2009 | Issue 1 | Volume 3 | ResearchNews Dublin Institute of Technology

Contents

01 Minister of State launches NBIP Ireland02 Study of genetic diversity to benefit agriculture03 DIT plans a new spin-out04 Historical study has lessons for today 06 Research findings show that Dublin is still a great place to visit! 07 Two destinations chosen for sustainable tourism project08 Module for research proposal writing for postgraduates09 Young apprentices under the microscope 10 CSER to evaluate early childhood care and education in Tallaght

Internship — a motivating factor or a negative experience?11 NITL receives EU funding for Logistics Network

DIT graduate wins prestigious Chinese award12 Could this archive system be ‘Google’ for music?13 News round-up14 PhD student visits NASA16 DIT and Purdue University forge links for the future17 Sustainable business — the only way forward?

Engineering doctoral student scoops top international award18 3S research to make Irish business more competitive19 Tourism researchers address the Scottish Parliament20 Interview with Professor Pamela Eddy22 Surface engineering — advanced engineering solutions25 A novel photo-assisted fuel cell27 Launch of age equality report

DIT researchers nominated for EI award28 DIT technologies among 90 selected for global showcase

DIT Inventor Competition 2009 winners announced29 Understanding the benefits of fruit and vegetables

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Research news June 2009 10/07/2009 16:02 Page iii

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Dublin Institute of Technology ResearchNews | Volume 3 | Issue 1 | July 2009 1

Food and Health

In March this year, Dr Jimmy Devins, Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation,officially launched the National Biophotonicsand Imaging Platform Ireland (NBIP Ireland) atits inaugural scientific conference in the RoyalCollege of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Fundedunder the Programme for Research in ThirdLevel Institutions, NBIP Ireland is a !30mcollaborative venture involving the Royal Collegeof Surgeons, Dublin City University, University of Limerick, NUI-Galway, NUI-Maynooth,University College Cork, CNRS Montpellier andthe Dublin Institute of Technology. During itsfirst year, the consortium expanded to includeCNR-IBB Naples, Norforsk, Trinity CollegeDublin and Dundalk IT. The conference openedwith representatives from all collaboratinginstitutions signing a memorandum ofunderstanding for scientific collaboration.

Professor Brian Harvey, Director of Research,Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and NBIPIreland Coordinator said “NBIP Ireland providesan integrated national access and traininginfrastructure in research, education, technologydevelopment and industry collaboration forIreland’s investment in Biophotonics andImaging. In addition to this, NBIP Ireland withour European partners will collaborate for FP7research programme funding. This scientificcooperation will enable the exchange ofscientists and PhD students, the promotion of industry partnerships, knowledge transferand technology development.”

Speaking at the launch, Dr Jimmy Devins,Minister of State for Science, Technology andInnovation said “The NBIP Ireland researchprogramme is an excellent example of theGovernment’s commitment to provide support to colleges and higher-level institutions todevelop their research facilities and foster linksbetween academia and with industry to createan innovative, knowledge-driven economy. In a more challenging global economicenvironment, it is imperative that Ireland

can compete internationally on the basis of our world class research and NBIP Ireland will enable Post-doctoral and Post-graduateresearchers to develop their career prospectsand become independent investigators andsenior scientists in academia or industry.” The conference was also employed to launch the !2.4 million FP7 Marie-Curie COFUNDprogramme of the NBIP Ireland. The post-doctoral Career Enhancement and MobilityProgramme (CEMP) will enable 15 post doctoral researchers to collaborate withresearch organisations in the public and private sectors throughout Europe.

For more information on the NBIP contact:Professor Hugh Byrne e: [email protected]

Minister of State launches NBIP Ireland

“The NBIP Ireland research programme is an excellent exampleof the Government’s commitment to provide support to collegesand higher-level institutions to develop their research facilitiesand foster links between academia and with industry…”

Pictured above at the NBIP launch were: Back Row (l to r) Prof. Eugene Kennedy, DCU; Prof. Hugh Byrne,DIT; Prof. Tim McCormac, DKIT; Prof. Patrice Mollard,CNRS Montpellier; Prof. Sergio Grinstein, Universityof Toronto; Prof. Brian Norton, President DIT; Prof.Carlo Pedone, CNR-IBB, Naples

Middle Row (l to r) Prof. Martin Leahy, UL; Dr. MicheleSaviano, CNR-IBB, Naples; Prof. Ellen Hazelkorn, DIT

Front Row (l to r) Dr. Jimmy Devins, Minister of Statefor Education and Science; Prof. Brian Harvey, RCSIand Prof. Peter Dockery, NUIG.

Research news June 2009 10/07/2009 16:02 Page 1


2 July 2009 | Issue 1 | Volume 3 | ResearchNews Dublin Institute of Technology

The Molecular Diagnostics Unit (MDU) locatedwithin the Food Science Department in theSchool of Food Science and EnvironmentalHealth has recently received funding from theDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food(DAFF) to examine the genetic diversity amongIrish Brassica species.

The group’s research interests relate to food andfood production, including food safety and novelfood processing technologies. In the 1980’s DAFFestablished a collection of Irish Brassica speciesfrom locations throughout Ireland and thecollection is maintained by the Irish Seed SaversAssociation in Scariff, Co Clare. The members of the genus Brassica are collectively knowneither as cabbages or as mustards. This genus is remarkable for containing more importantagricultural and horticultural crops than anyother genus. It includes a number of weeds, bothwild taxa and escapees from cultivation and over30 wild species and hybrids, as well as numerousadditional cultivars and hybrids of cultivated origin.

The funding in conjunction with the ABBEST PhD scholarship received by Mohamed AhmedEl-Esawi (pictured above) will support thecharacterisation of this important collection. Thiswork is essential to the continued maintenanceand improvement of agricultural production ofBrassica crops in Ireland. The goal of the DITresearch team is to evaluate the diversity andpotential use of the Irish collection of Brassica.The work will help to identify varieties that mayhave improved disease and pest resistance traits.

If identified, then the use of these varieties inagricultural practices could be increased, therebyreducing the need for the application of pesticideswhich are harmful to the environment. The keywork packages associated with the project arethe detailed recording of important morphologicaltraits of 30 accessions and a study on the geneticvariation between these accessions using DNAprofiling techniques such as amplified fragmentlength polymorphism (AFLP).

A key aspect of this project will be the skillstransfer through training of personnel from the Irish Seed Savers Association in order toallow them to carry out proper morphologicalcharacterisation of other important plantresources. The research team consists of threekey researchers — Dr Renee Malone, Dr PaulaBourke and Dr Kieran Germaine and PhDstudent, Mohamed Ahmed El-Esawi. The groupalso has links with the National Crop VarietyEvaluation Division (DAFF), Teagasc, Oakpark,Carlow and with members of the EuropeanBrassica working group.

For more information contact:Dr Paula Bourkee: [email protected]

Study of genetic diversity to benefit agriculture

Food and Health

The goal of the DIT researchteam is to evaluate the diversity and potential use of the Irish collection of Brassica.

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CREST, DIT’s Centre for Research in EngineeringSurface Technology, recently announced detailsof its intention to spin-out a business which ithas called RADICAL.

At Enterprise Ireland’s One to Watch awards,attended by an Tánaiste Mary Coughlan andMinister Conor Lenihan (Minister for Science,Technology and Innovation), CREST was one of 11 companies to make a 4-minute pitch to aselected audience of VC Companies and otherinvestment parties.

CREST has already been awardedcommercialisation plus (C+) funding byEnterprise Ireland to help deliver a soundinvestor-ready business plan, an IP-protectedtechnology package and details addressingmanagement needs for the new start-up.

RADICAL’s aim is to exploit 4 years of scientificresearch undertaken by Dr Suresh Pillai (SeniorResearch and Development Manager withCREST) and his team and to develop anenvironmentally friendly hygiene indoor coating

to reduce the spread of infections caused bybacteria such as MRSA in hospitals. The originalresearch was funded under the FP6 ERAnetMATERA programme, administered byEnterprise Ireland. The technology developed inDIT is based on a patented visible light activatedactive titanium dioxide. This releases a radicalthat can break down a broad spectrum ofbacteria including MRSA.

Current catalytic TiO2 technology requires UVlight (from the sun) to generate radicals for thecleaning process and is thus ineffective indoors.The novelty of the technology is that it isenvironmentally friendly (does not leach any chemicals) and converts all organiccontaminants to CO2 and H20. The CRESTcentre has been busy filing a number of patentsto protect the technology worldwide and toexplore the commercial options, through the C+ funded project.

The spin-out company will market the coatingwhich inhibits the growth and propagation ofantibiotic resistant bacteria (e.g. MRSA) and also

other bacteria that are proving very difficult toeradicate from hospitals such as ClostridiumDifficile (which currently is identified as causingtwice as many deaths as MRSA in hospitals in the UK).

The long term threat of hospital infections has been noted by the EU with the EuropeanAntimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System(EARSS) 2007 report, finding that “within thenext 10 years... widespread occurrence ofuntreatable (or next-to-untreatable) communityas well as institutionally-acquired infections willoccur unless novel solutions are quickly broughtto the market”.

The advantage of the technology is that it is amarket driven product, as the annual costs ofHospital-Acquired Infections, HAI, in the USalone is costing an extra $30 billion per year. As prevention of HAI is proven to be better thancure, costs associated with infections (moremedication, extended stay in hospitals) cost fourtimes more than control. Therefore the healthcare industry in Ireland and worldwide is lookingfor novel and radical solutions to reduce HAI.

For more information contact:Dr Suresh Pillaie: [email protected]

New Materials and Engineering

“ within the next 10 years...widespread occurrence ofuntreatable (or next-to-untreatable) community as well as institutionally-acquiredinfections will occur unlessnovel solutions are quicklybrought to the market”.

DIT plans a new spin-out




Dr Mary Rogan, (pictured left) DIT law lecturer,carried out a historical study of Irish prison policy during the years 1922 — 1972 as part ofher doctoral studies at Trinity College, Dublin.Her research has cast light on an area of Irishhistory that has been largely hidden and her findings have important implications for thosestudying the prison system today.

Her research found that prison policy in Irelandin the first fifty years after Independence wascharacterised by three main themes: subversion,stagnation and social change. During the CivilWar, the Emergency and the ‘Troubles’ of the1970s, Irish prisons were affected by the violenceand tensions associated with those periods. Security was a key priority for the prison system and the prisoners involved resistedtheir confinement through a variety of means.

During the Civil War, for example, the authorErnie O’Malley reports that a carnival was held in Mountjoy by the prisoners to maintain morale;while later, Nobel Peace Prize winner, SeánMacBride, recalled incessant attempts to escape by any means possible. More seriously, a riot at Mountjoy in 1972 caused major damageand disruption.

Until the 1960s at least, it was only during suchperiods of upheaval that the prison system received much in the way of government attention. For example, the Prison Rules 1947,which laid down regulations for the running ofprisons was one of the few actions taken by Government in this regard for decades. The introduction of the Rules followed a public outcry in the aftermath of the death of Seán McCaughey, an IRA prisoner in Portlaoise whohad been on hunger and thirst strike. At his inquest during cross examination of the prisondoctor by Seán MacBride, it was discovered thatMcCaughey had spent several years in solitaryconfinement wearing only a blanket as herefused to wear the prison uniform.

“At his inquest during cross examination of the prison doctor by Seán MacBride, it was discoveredthat McCaughey had spent several years in solitary confinement wearing only a blanket as herefused to wear the prison uniform.”

Social, Business and Economic Development

Historical study has lessons for today



Apart from these times of disorder, prison policyin Ireland was largely stagnant and unchanging.Few innovations were apparent and the regimesremained largely as they had been at the turn of the century. Prison policy was essentially a marginal area of public policy and successiveMinisters and Departments of Justice exhibiteda cautious approach to their duties, preferring to pursue a conservative and somewhat insularline. They had the luxury of being able to do so. Crime rates in Ireland were low and prison numbers were extremely small, perhapsartificially so given the high rates of emigrationat the time. In the 1950s, the average dailyprison population was around 350 prisoners.It stands at around 3,500 today. Furthermore,Ireland was not in a position economically, politically or culturally to enact radical reform in its penal policy.

This stasis and lack of imagination is somewhatsurprising given that, until the early 1960s,every Minister for Justice in Ireland bar one had spent time in a prison.

In fact, it was Charles J. Haughey, the first Minister for Justice since the 1930s who had not been in jail, who instigated some significantchanges in Irish prison policy. A young, ambitiousand energetic Minister in his first Cabinet postand determined to make political waves, he, together with a number of similarly-minded civilservants, was keen to modernise the outdatedpenal system as it then stood. This took place ata time of rapid social change in Ireland, duringwhich many areas of social life were ‘defrosted’,accompanied by fresh thinking in politics moregenerally.

The results included a new Training Unit and the improvement of educational and health facilitiesat Mountjoy prison, as well as the expansion of the welfare service for prisoners. Later, ‘rehabilitation’ became the guiding aim forprison policy through the Prisons Act 1970.While ‘rehabilitation’ continued to be the officialobjective of the prison system, the period after1972 showed that its translation into practicewas less straightforward.

The numbers of prisoners began to rise significantly and rapidly from the early 1970s.Overcrowding took a serious toll on the penalestate and the accompanying deterioration ofconditions made life on the inside very difficult.Hasty expansion of prison places and a ‘crisismanagement’ ethos amongst policy-makersmilitated against the development of long-termstrategic planning.

The effects of this period are still being felt inthe Irish prison system. Overcrowding and poor conditions remain a problem, and it is easy todespair of the nature of policy-making in thisarea. Evidence-based practice and a longitudinalperspective for prison matters, which the thirdlevel sector in Ireland is only beginning to impact upon, are not the most obvious featuresof the contemporary Irish prison system.

One of the most interesting and hopeful findingsof the study, however, is one which transfersacross the decades. It is clear that courage is acentral element in the creation of penal change. The determination and purpose of Ministers,civil servants, academics, interest groups andthose working within the prison system is crucial to altering the nature of our prison policyfor the better. Through criminological researchand the MA in Criminology at Dublin Institute ofTechnology, it is hoped to create the conditionsin which that courage can be propagated.

For more information contact:Dr Mary Rogan e: [email protected]

If you are interested in undertaking doctoralstudies in criminology or for more information in another area of law contact:

Graduate Research School Officewww.dit.ie/graduateresearchschool

Department of Law t: 01 402 7181

Dr Mary Rogan wishes to acknowledge the support of a Trinity College Dublin PostgraduateStudentship in undertaking this research aswell as the very kind assistance received fromProfessor Ivana Bacik, Trinity College Dublin,Professor Ian O’Donnell, University CollegeDublin and Professor Mick Ryan, University of Greenwich.

“This stasis and lack of imagination is somewhat surprising given that, until the early 1960s, every Ministerfor Justice in Ireland bar onehad spent time in a prison. Infact, it was Charles J. Haughey,the first Minister for Justicesince the 1930s who had notbeen in jail, who instigatedsome significant changes inIrish prison policy.”




http://www.dit.ie/graduateresearchschool



The Dublin Visitor Survey (DVS) hasbeen conducted annually since1999, led by the Tourism ResearchCentre in collaboration with theSchool of Hospitality Managementand Tourism. The key objectives ofthe survey are to improve the qualityof urban tourism information withina Dublin city context and to providethose engaged in a wide range oftourism activities within Dublin citywith the necessary information tomake management decisions. Thesurvey has become an importantbarometer for tourism in the cityand has proved a valuable referencefor data to justify a number ofchanges for the benefit of both

tourists and tourism businesses in Dublin. For example, findings from the research have played animportant part in recommendingimprovements in litter managementin certain areas of the city.

Research findings have alsosupported numerous DublinInstitute of Technology studentswith assignments and thesisresearch over the years atundergraduate, postgraduate and even up to PhD level.

A number of locations across thecity are used as survey points forthe collection of the 1,000 overseasvisitor surveys. Surveying takesplace across 12 months of the year

and is seasonally adjusted to matchCSO/Fáilte Ireland visitor patterns.The face-to-face interviews exploresome 40 aspects of visitor attitudes,behaviour and perceptions ofDublin, its facilities and services,and their stay here.

The 2008 report was launched to agroup of representatives from thetourism industry at an event in theDublin Institute of Technology,Cathal Brugha Street in June.

The survey findings indicate that2008 was another great year fortourism in the city with 98% ofrespondents agreeing that ‘the

people are friendly and hospitable’and 75% indicating they are ‘likely toreturn again’. Over 90% of visitorsfelt the city was a safe place to visit, a level of agreement that was consistent across all markets.

Nonetheless, the 2008 report raiseda number of issues that will be of concern to Dublin’s tourismindustry. Market demographicsshowed that only 4% of thoseinterviewed were visiting in a familygroup with children aged 17 andunder in 2008, which raises thequestion: do we have a familyfriendly offer? In addition,agreement with the statement‘Dublin has a rich cultural life’showed a marked decline.

Frank Magee, Chief Executive ofDublin Tourism said of the findings:“I am delighted at all the positivefindings of the 2008 Dublin VisitorSurvey. Research is extremely important to us and the issuesraised by this survey presentDublin’s tourism industry with

great opportunities for development.We have a fantastic product mix in Dublin and have consistentlyperformed well but we cannot afford to be complacent.

Findings such as those presented in the 2008 Dublin Visitor Surveywill assist us in our approach todeveloping Dublin’s tourismindustry”.

We are eagerly anticipating thefindings of the 2009 report, whichwill be launched early in 2010,particularly to see how the industryhas been impacted by the globaleconomic slowdown and to see if there are any other trendsdeveloping in tourism in Dublin.

As it is the 10th year of the research,we will also be paying particularattention to developments over that period.

For further information contact:John Carty at the TourismResearch Centre. e: [email protected]

Research findings show that Dublin is still a great place to visit!

2008 was another great year for tourism in thecity with 98% of respondents agreeing that ‘the people are friendly and hospitable’ and 75% indicating they are ‘likely to return again’.

In addition, agreement with the statement‘Dublin has a rich cultural life’ showed a marked decline.

L-r David Owen, TRC, Frank Magee, Dublin Tourism, Dr Sheila Flanagan, DIT





The Tourism Research Centre (TRC) and Schoolof Hospitality Management and Tourism havebeen working, since October 2008, on the DIT-ACHIEV project which focuses on implementingtheir model of sustainable tourism indicators.This project is jointly funded by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) and Fáilte Ireland. Twonew members of the team have come on boardsince the project began — Maeve Morrissey as the dedicated project coordinator and LizKennedy-Burke (formerly manager of the TRC).

The ACHIEV project builds on research into thedevelopment of sustainable tourism indicatorswhich was started 3 years ago also with EPAsupport. The final output of the previous researchproject was the DIT-ACHIEV model of sustainabletourism management which focused on six‘fields of interests’. The new project will test the model in two destinations.

Killarney and Carlingford were selected as thetest destinations in December, following a highlycompetitive application process. They representa major and a minor tourist destination and willbe used to validate the model.

The project was officially launched in Killarney,with the five local partners, Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Killarney NationalPark, Killarney Town Council, Muckross HouseTrustees and the Carlingford and Cooley Peninsula Tourism Association, on the 20th March2009. The model will initially be tested in Killarneyand later applied to the Carlingford area.

Key to the success of this project will be the levelof local buy-in and ownership. Local co-ordinationin Killarney has been very positive and supportfor the project continues to grow. The researchhas received enthusiastic local media attentionincluding a two-hour programme on the “SaturdaySupplement” with Frank Lewis on Radio Kerry.

Very well attended public consultation meetingswith tourism representatives were held in Killarneyin April and June. They were very supportive ofthe project and they provided both written andverbal submissions to feed into the developmentof sustainable tourism indicators.

The research team is now finalizing its surveyquestionnaires which will be used in a series offocused discussions with key groups and individualsover the coming weeks and an international expert panel will be convened in September.After the consultation process is completed afinal list of appropriate sustainable tourism indicators will be chosen after which the datacollection can commence. Applying the modelwithin the test destinations will help to establishDIT-ACHIEV as a national benchmark tool for the mitigation of impacts and management oftourism in a sustainable manner.

For more information on this project contact:Maeve Morrisseye: [email protected]

Two destinations chosen for sustainable tourism project

Pictured above and below DIT research team and local stakeholders





Professor Brian Norton originally came up withthe idea of providing graduates with anopportunity to study Energy Management toMasters degree level. Kevin O’Connell, Faculty of Engineering, supported by his Head of Schooland Dean of Faculty took up the challenge. At thesame time Dr Steve Jerrams, Head of Researchin DIT, was keen to integrate research proposalwriting into DIT’s taught masters programmes.

As a result, Derek Kearney, Department ofElectrical Services Engineering, decided toincorporate research proposal writing into theEnergy Conversion and Use module on the new Masters Degree in Energy Management. For their assignment, students have to write a research proposal based on a Strand 1 typeresearch application. The proposals are markedseparately by Dr Tony Betts and Dr SteveJerrams, Directorate of Research and Enterprise,using Strand 1 marking criteria with the resultscollated to give a final result.

The top three proposals received a prizesponsored by the Directorate of Research andEnterprise. The prizes were presented to thewinners by Professor Brian Norton at the annualChartered Institution of Building ServicesEngineers (CIBSE) awards night, organised bythe Department of Electrical ServicesEngineering.

For more information contact:Derek Kearneye: [email protected]

Modules for research proposal writing for postgraduates

First Prize

Robert Lynch Demand side energy management

Joint Second Prize

Ruth Buggie

Brian O’Rourke

To Assess the Market for Biodiesel for Domestic Oil Heating Systems

Boiler combustion monitoring system powered by exhaust gases

Third Prize

Bernard Lynch Improving the energy efficiency of a passivehouse by integrating a solar thermal collector into the design envelope

(L-R) Dr Steve Jerrams, Head of Research, Bernard Lynch, Professor Brian Norton, Robert Lynch, Brian O’Rourke, Ruth Buggie and Dr. Marek Rebow, Head of Research in the Faculty of Engineering.




Food and Health

In the past, according to the Construction WorkersHealth Trust (CWHT), construction workers inIreland have had a life expectancy estimated tobe 10 years below that of the national averagefor an Irish male. A combination of poor lifestyleand an unhealthy working environment hascontributed to this grim statistic. The formerincludes heavy drinking patterns, consistentlypoor diet, high rates of cigarette smoking and ageneral culture of not going to the doctor untilunfortunately, in many cases, it was too late.Their unhealthy working environment hasincluded being exposed to harmful substancesand known carcinogens found on building sites.

Dermot McGarthy, a lecturer in DIT’s School ofConstruction has been teaching communicationskills since 1996 to construction apprentices inLinenhall and he was motivated to investigatethis phenomenon further.

“I wanted to try to do something about this veryserious situation and to help young constructionworkers starting out in the industry” saysDermot. “I wanted to see if early interventioncould help reduce their risk of disease and givethem an opportunity to make a lifestyle choice”.

He contacted Dr John Kearney, Lecturer inNutrition and Epidemiology, in the School ofBiological Sciences, DIT Kevin Street, anddiscussed with him his proposal for conductingmedical research among young constructionworkers attending classes in DIT Bolton St.

They made a successful cross-disciplinary jointapplication for funding and recruited PhDstudent Xiao Meng to conduct the research. Xiaowas awarded her primary degree in 2002 fromthe China Medical University. She was awardedher Masters degree from Kings College Londonin 2006 and is currently researching her doctoraldegree under the supervision of Dr Kearney.

For their research they designed a health andlifestyle questionnaire which was completed by a sample group of apprentices completingPhase 4 of their FÁS training in DIT BoltonStreet. Then with the co-operation of CWHT,they conducted a series of medical tests,including blood tests, focusing on lung function;blood sugar; cholesterol; blood pressure; andbody mass index (BMI).

The research team will track a number of thesestudents and ask them to undergo tests againon their return to Bolton Street in the next phase of their training in 2010. Intervention, in the form of dietary and lifestyle advice will be offered to individuals depending on theirrespective test results.

“The endgame, as far as I am concerned,” says Dermot, “is to improve the long termhealth of these young construction workers by encouraging them to make positive changesin attitudes and behaviour”.

For more information contact: e: [email protected]

Young apprentices under the microscope

“I wanted to see if early intervention could help reducetheir risk of disease and givethem an opportunity to make a lifestyle choice”.

Carpentry and joinery apprentices in DIT Linenhall





DIT’s Tourism Research Centre (TRC) has beenfunded by the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) to investigate the benefits of internship in thetourism and hospitality sector. The research willexamine the impact of internships on the studentexperience in general and whether it influencestheir decision to work in the sector after theygraduate. The TRC will also consider professionaldevelopment issues within the tourism andhospitality sector.

The project builds on the findings of an Anglo-Dutch student study (Jenkins 2001) whichshowed that as they progressed through theirstudies the students desire to work in theindustry deteriorated considerably as theirperception of the industry worsened. As few as 50% of students intended working in theparticular sector after they had completed their placement and Jenkins critically identified their internship as the key source of thisdisenchantment. If the same situation is

occurring in the Irish hospitality industry, up to 10,000 potential managers could be lost to it over a period of 10 years. The research isparticularly relevant in the light of industrygrowth targets for 2012 predicting a requirementfor an additional 6,000 staff per annum. Theemployment of graduates from tourism andhospitality courses will be a key factor in meetingthese ambitious targets. Each year more than2,000 students are placed in the hospitality andtourism sector in Ireland. If poor internshipexperiences are causing graduates to lookelsewhere for employment then these industrytargets will be hard to meet.

The TRC’s in-depth study will explore the student’sperceptions of the Irish tourism industry basedon their internship experience and will alsoexamine the attitudes of the industry towardsinternship as a concept. Finally the research will aim to develop a model of best practice toencourage students to remain within in the

industry once they have completed their studies. Researchers will assess the current situation in Ireland using quantitative attitudinal onlinestudent surveys (pre- and post-internship) andstrategic conversations with placement officers,industry representatives and internationalexperts. They will also consult with internationalcolleagues to determine what their internshipexperience has been to date. The key output of the research will be the development anddelivery of a best practice internship model thatwill incorporate the establishment of a nationaltourism and hospitality placement officer network.In addition, the researchers will aim to identifyany gaps in continuing professional developmentand assess opportunities for partnershipapproaches to meet future training needs.

For more information contact:Jane Staceye: [email protected]

Internship — a motivating factor or a negative experience?

The Centre for Social and Educational Research(CSER) has recently been awarded a significantgrant, funded by the Office of the Minister forChildren and Atlantic Philanthropies. Part of anoverall 15 million euro investment in TallaghtWest, the funding was awarded for the evaluation of an Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)programme that is being implemented byTallaght West Child Development Initiative. The ECCE programme is part of a suite ofinterventions that is being rolled out in TallaghtWest to improve the lives of children, familiesand young people. The initial funding for theinterventions and evaluations was offered byAtlantic Philanthropies, which was then matchedby the Office of the Minister for Children.

The stellar work of Atlantic Philanthropies andthe extraordinary life of its founder, the Irish-American billionaire Chuck Feeney, was recentlychronicled in the RTE documentary ‘SecretBillionaire: The Chuck Feeney Story’. Thereclusive seventy-eight year old recounts his progression from modest beginnings inElizabeth, New Jersey to eventual billionaire,with a fortune amassed from the foundation of Duty Free Shops (DFS) worldwide. Stirred by a conviction that the vast wealth he hadaccumulated should be given away during hislifetime, Feeney founded Atlantic Philanthropiesin 1982 and has been donating to worthy causesever since, declining even to take tax deductionson his donations.

Funded for three and a half years, the evaluationof the ECCE programme is central to Atlantic’sphilosophy that all funding ventures be monitoredand evaluated in order to provide key lessons forgrantees, policy makers and future funders. Theresearch team is headed by Principal InvestigatorsProfessor Nóirín Hayes, Dublin Institute ofTechnology and Professor Iram Siraj-Blatchfordfrom the Institute of Education, University ofLondon. Siobhán Keegan is the lead researcheron the project, which is based in the CSER, DIT,Mountjoy Square.

For more information contact:Siobhán Keegan e: [email protected]

CSER to evaluate early childhood care and education in Tallaght






DIT’s National Institute for Transport andLogistics (NITL), as part of a European researchconsortium focussed on promoting co-modalityand logistics, has been awarded funding underthe DG TREN/SUB/01-2008 scheme. The LOGIN-NET project will consolidate a Europeannetwork of logistics institutes and support theEuropean Commission by reinforcing anddeveloping its policies in the field of transportand logistics. The Network will be formed bydifferent EU “excellence agents” in research,technology and knowledge transfer, educationand innovation management.

The overall objective is to implement a structureof cooperation between these agents aroundEurope to facilitate the exchange of experience,knowledge-sharing and technology transfer inthe field of co-modality and logistics. This willbe achieved by:

- Identifying and evaluating needs and prioritiesin the market (private and public sector)related to co-modality and logistics;

— Identifying gaps and scope for improvementin research, training and businessimplementation;

Implementing the following activities:

— Exchange of practical logistics and transportknowledge among a wide group ofstakeholders and presentation of bestpractice solutions in different fields oflogistics (e.g. co-modal transport, strategicsourcing, outsourcing logistics, packagingengineering, reverse logistics and e-logistics);

— Exchange of best practices and policiesbetween EU regions in order to fostereconomic and social cohesion through theoptimisation of logistics performance;

— Dissemination and exploitation of the resultsof research and technology development(RTD) projects among enterprises operatingin the logistics and transport sector inEurope;

— Provision of support to the Commission inthe implementation of its transport policy,by providing stakeholders with informationon issues concerning sustainable logisticsand the re-balancing and integration ofdifferent transport modes;

— Provision of information to the Commission,aimed at fostering the development of aEuropean transport system capable ofoptimising each mode’s own potential inorder to meet the objectives of a clean andefficient transport system.

The Network will be a tool to renew EU transportpolicies on the basis of current economic, socialand technological trends within the EuropeanUnion and globally, as well as on the basis of theneeds and challenges of the European logisticsmarket. As it is a Network focused on promotion and dissemination activities, the project involvespartners from several EU countries (Austria,Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy,Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sweden) as well as Ireland. LOGIN-NET will also be extended to associated partners in all EU member countries and in other Europeancountries.

For more information contact:Dr Claudia-Maria Wagnere: [email protected]

NITL receives EU funding for Logistics Network DIT graduate wins prestigious Chinese award

Dr Pengfei Wang (pictured above centre, with Dr Gerry Farrell, Dr Pengfei Wang, Dr YuliyaSemenova) who recently graduated from DITwith his PhD has been awarded the “ChineseGovernment Award for Outstanding Self-FinancedStudents Abroad”. Pengfei carried out his PhDunder the supervision of Dr Yuliya Semenovaand Dr Gerry Farrell in the Photonics ResearchCentre. Dr Wang is continuing his research inthe Photonics Research Centre with an IRCSETpostdoctoral fellowship.

This award is made to outstanding studentsbased on the quality of their research andresearch outcomes. It is awarded to 300 studentsworldwide each year. Dr Wang who received acash prize of $5,000, was ranked first in Ireland.Three other awards were made to students inIreland — two in University College Cork andone in DCU.





Could this archive system be ‘Google’ for music?

Researchers at the Audio Research Group (ARG)in Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) think so.Collaborative research between DIT and CorkInstitute of Technology (CIT) has led to thedevelopment of a music archive system (IMAAS)with advanced search engine capabilities.

Dan Barry, manager and lead researcher at theARG says that, “the superior features of IMAASimprove searching using ‘musical’ queries suchas tempo, instrument type, key signature andtime signature. This allows users to search formusic in a ‘musical way’ that has not beencommercially available before.”

Interactive Music Archive Access System

IMMAS is an online music system that can be used for personal music entertainment and management, as a research and musiceducation tool and to preserve/restore audiofiles. The patented Sound Source Separationtechnology within the system allows users tointeract with the audio content and separate out individual sounds, for example separate the piano sound out of a piece of Mozart.

Advantages

— Advanced information retrieval capabilities.This allows users to search the archiveusing a number of search terms whichprovides more refined results.

— Automatic generation of metadata (searchterms) leads to time and cost savings.

Enhanced performance using real-time tools including:

— Sound Source Separation, this refers to thetask of separating out individual soundsources from some signal containing amixture of sounds.

— Pitch and Time Scale Modification allowstempo and key changes along with fine pitch control.

— Noise Reduction of hiss, crackle and popfrom audio recordings.

— Sound enhancement and equalisation using high quality graphical filters.

— Analysis tools for beat tracking, musicalstructure segmentation and melodictranscription.

— Cross platform support for Windows,Linux and Mac OS.

— User-friendly interface with visualisations of the content including Common MusicNotation (CMN).

Technology Description

The interactive system has been developedusing advanced algorithms that automaticallyanalyse audio and generate metadata. State ofthe art digital signal processing technologieswithin the system allow for improvedinteractivity with the audio content in a numberof ways including: sound source separation,pitch-scale and time-scale adjustments andnoise reduction. These real-time features allowusers to improve the quality of the music andpersonalise their listening experience. IMMAShas multiple applications including thepreservation and conservation of music thatwould otherwise be degraded or lost forever.

Protecting Traditional Irish Music

IMMAS is currently being piloted by the IrishTraditional Music Archive (ITMA) to put their 50 year old collection of 78s music online. Thismassive undertaking will mean that one ofIreland’s oldest collections will be a click awayfor fans worldwide. There are exciting timesahead for traditional music and when the projectfinishes in late 2009, there will be great causefor celebration. Nicholas Carolan, Director of theIrish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA), adds that'traditional music is providing a seedbed for thedevelopment of technology and there is greatopportunity for dealing with the manipulation of sound and the improvement of sound.

DIT and CIT are playing a significant role in thepreservation and conservation of Irish culture,making our unique collection available to theworld’. The success of this pilot project will helpdetermine the feasibility and commercialisationopportunities available.

Moving forward — Commercialisation

Applications for this system are not limited tomusic, it can also be used: to index and searchthe audio content of news broadcasts moreefficiently; and for forensic audio and videosurveillance analysis of archives.

Stage of Development

Hothouse is currently looking for companies tolicense this advanced music archive system andcontinue research in the audio engineering field.

(This article also appeared in TechnologyIreland, Issue 4, Vol 39. Mar/Apr 09)

For more information contact:Tom Flanagan, Head of Commercialisatione: [email protected]




News Round-up

News round-up

Changes to the commercialisation fund

Enterprise Ireland (EI), has introduced a pre-submission stage to the TechnologyDevelopment phase of the CommercialisationFund. This new stage will formalise theinteraction between the Enterprise IrelandCommercialisation Specialist, the TechnologyTransfer Office in the college and the applicant.EI has found that early interactions improve the quality of proposals and leads to welldeveloped projects. Full details are available at:http://researchcommercialisation.ie/funding-2/

New blog on the subject of research commercialisation

Enterprise Ireland is providing a blog anddiscussion forum for researchers to share viewsand experiences on the subject of researchcommercialisation — join the debate nowhttp://researchcommercialisation.ie/

Pictured at the Annual Graduation ceremony for the DIT accredited CPD Programme in High TechAssistive Technology: Dr Mike Murphy and Dr Barry Duignan, DIT, James Brosnan, CPD Gradute, Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times, Siobhan Long, Enable Ireland and Tom Murphy, Microsoft.

City council and colleges score Irish first with international scholarships

Dublin City Council is setting up a Lord Mayor of Dublin International Scholarship to helpDublin’s third level colleges attract students.The idea of strengthening the internationalbranding of Dublin as a centre for education and research came from the recently launchedDublin Region Higher Education Alliance.At the request of the Dublin universities andInstitutes of Technology, the Lord Mayor, Eibhlin Byrne, has achieved City Councilagreement to permit the colleges to rebrandtheir international scholarships as the LordMayor of Dublin International Scholarships, to create closer links with the city and attract top international students to come and study in Dublin. The Lord Mayor will welcome thestudents to the city and the City Council willinteract with them to help make their stay inDublin a productive, happy and memorable one.

Irish Marketing Review

The latest issue of Irish Marketing Review hasjust been published. A cooperative venturebetween DIT and the Marketing Institute ofIreland, the journal is now in its 20th volume,and was recently ranked by the Association ofBusiness Schools (ABS) in the UK among 75marketing journals published world-wide. Some of the interesting topics addressed in thisedition include how Irish children use televisionadvertising for their own enjoyment; a fresh lookat how women are represented in advertisingand how using the Irish language can promotecustomer loyalty. In the editorial, Dr AidanO’Driscoll explores how the Irish ability totolerate contradiction and ambiguity results in a degree of pragmatism, including in thepractice of marketing. A hard copy is availableon request from editor Dr Aidan O’Driscoll e: [email protected]

Audio research group

The Audio Research Group in DIT is basedin the School of Electrical EngineeringSystems. Currently, the group is headed byDr Eugene Coyle and is under the technicaldirection of Dan Barry, Dr Mikel Gainzaand Dr David Dorran. Recently, the grouphas also seen the addition of ProfessorJonathan Blackledge and Dr DerryFitzgerald funded by the Science FoundationIreland Stokes programme. There arecurrently 12 researchers in total.

Along with applied and academic research,the Audio Research Group also engages inconsultancy and industry collaboration aswell as national and internationally fundedresearch projects. The group has expertisein a number of audio processing areas:

— Sound Source Separation — Time Scale Modification — Automatic Transcription — Rhythm Description Systems — Feature Detection and Extraction — Speech Synthesis — Voice Modifications — Forensic Audio Applications — Noise Reduction Algorithms — General Audio Processing for

professional and consumer audio applications


http://researchcommercialisation.ie/funding-2/

http://researchcommercialisation.ie/




Mark Wylie is a biomedical engineering PhDresearcher based in the School of Manufacturingand Design Engineering, DIT Bolton Street. He is currently working on a collaborative researchproject with DCU under the supervision of Dr Graham Gavin, developing and testing adevice that could potentially clear totally blocked (chronic total occlusion) arteries using ultrasound as opposed to typical balloon and stent or by-pass surgery.

Mark also has a passion for space engineeringand design and last summer was lucky enoughto be chosen to attend the Space StudiesProgram (SSP) at the International SpaceUniversity (ISU) in Barcelona. The program is an intensive mix of lectures, hands-on activities,professional visits and team projects. Studentsare trained in various space-related disciplinesand interact using their personal skills andbackground. Mark was funded by DIT, European

Space Agency (ESA), ISU and the GogartyScholarship and has since been invited by NASA to present his research findings to itsEnvironmental Controls and Life Support (ECLS) team in Houston.

“I met over 100 people with established careersin the space industry so it was an excellentopportunity to make valuable contacts at NASA,ESA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA) and other space agencies and companies.There were people from many differentprofessional backgrounds in the class such asengineers, doctors, lawyers, astrophysicists,pilots and soldiers,” says Mark.

The course consisted of core lectures,departmental workshops, an individual projectand finally, a group project. I was responsible for presenting our group project “VolcanicMonitoring and Hazard Tracking from Space”

to interested parties from NASA, ESA and otheragencies. I also attended advanced electivesworkshops in cardiac anatomy and satellitesystems where we learned how to use satellitetracking software (STK) for modelling satelliteorbits.”

Mark is currently investigating the potential useof ultrasound as an alternative treatment forblocked arteries. The ultrasound in this case,manifests itself as longitudinal compressionwaves which are transmitted via super elasticNiTi wire waveguides which can ablate anddisrupt rigid calcified material, leaving thehealthy elastic tissue largely unaffected. He hasalready developed numerical solutions and alsoperformed tests on porcine arterial tissue andas a result of attending the SSP he received aninvitation to present his research to NASA’sEnvironmental Controls and Life Support (ECLS) team in Houston.

Funded by DIT’s Faculty of Engineering Marktravelled to Johnson Space Centre in Houston in April of this year. The ECLS team arecurrently working on the Crew ExplorationVehicle (CEV) to bring man back to the moon —part of the Constellation program which alsoincludes the new rocket, the Ares launchvehicle. This team has people from manydifferent backgrounds mainly engineers ofvarious disciplines and flight surgeons.

“I delivered my research presentation to theECLS team and discussed other possibleapplications for this type of energy delivery in medicine and in other space applications,”said Mark. “Examples include the treatment of nephrolithiasis using High Intensity FocusedUltrasound (HIFU) which may be administered to astronauts in space and also adopting thistype of energy transmission for sub-surfaceultrasonic drilling/coring (USDC) used inplanetary exploration.

PhD student visits NASA

Mark Wylie at the Saturn 5 rocket




As a mechanical engineer, it was very helpful to get a surgeon’s perspective on my researchand I am now very interested in pursuing acollaborative research project with NASA orNASA contractors on these topics”.

After the presentation, he was given a tour ofthe Johnson Space Facility where he saw theastronauts for the STS125 mission - the lastHubble repair mission which launched on 11th May 2009. He was also introduced to thetrajectory manager and thermal controls stafffor the International Space Station, the principleengineer for the hatches on the CEV and themanager from Boeing for the shuttle-solidrockets booster’s pyro-bolts.

“Today in DIT, I am promoting the program andencouraging our students to get involved withstudying and working in the space industry,”says Mark. “This year, two students from DIT’sengineering faculty will attend the SummerSpace Program being held in NASA Ames andwe hope that DIT students will attend thesummer program every year from now on.”

As well as this, a new space research group isbeing established in DIT to allow students andresearchers to get involved in research in thisfield and to explore the possibility of formingcooperative work placements with spaceagencies such as European space agency (ESA)and other private companies in Europe andaround the world.

For more information contact:Mark Wyliee: [email protected]

“I met over 100 people with established careers in the space industry so it was an excellent opportunity to make valuable contacts at NASA, ESA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA) and other space agencies and companies”.

Astonaut Suni Williams





The collaboration between Dublin Institute ofTechnology and Purdue University began officiallyin February 2005 when Professor Brian Norton,President of DIT and Dr Sally Mason, Provost of Purdue University signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two Institutes. At the same time Dr Mike Murphy, Dean andDirector of DIT’s Faculty of Engineering alsosigned a Student Exchange Agreement. Theseagreements laid the foundation for futurecollaboration and have led to valuable initiativesand successful partnerships.

In 2007, they made a successful applicationunder the EU — US ATLANTIS programme(Actions for Transatlantic Links and AcademicNetworks for Training and Integrated Studies).They were awarded funding for the ExcellenceMobility Project DETECT: Design EntrepreneurshipTechnology Engineering CollaborationTransatlantic Project in collaboration with PennState University and Darmstadt University ofApplied Sciences. The project addresses aglobal imperative — that innovative engineeringand technology will be done by multidisciplinaryknowledge integration in a collaborative, cross-cultural, global and digital environment.

In June 2008, a joint health research seminarwas organised to explore translational researchin genomics and healthcare delivery solutions,including health informatics. Professor BillOakes, Purdue University, came to DIT later thatyear to facilitate a series of workshops andround-table discussions on community-basedlearning (service learning). Professor Oakes isthe founder and a director of EngineeringProjects in Community Service (EPICS). This is an award winning program in Purdue in which teams of undergraduates are designing,building, and deploying real systems to solveengineering-based problems for local communityservice and education organisations.

The workshops were organised jointly by theFaculty of Engineering, DIT’s Students Learningwith Communities programme and CampusEngage. The Students Learning withCommunities programme was established toencourage students to practise the skills theyhave developed in DIT to help community groups and organisations. Campus Engage is anetwork for the promotion of civic engagementactivities in Irish higher education based in NUIG.

A research delegation from DIT visited Purdue inNovember 2008 to meet colleagues. ProfessorCoyle delivered a guest lecture describinginteresting innovations in signal processingembracing assistive technologies, audioengineering and power electronics with bothconsiderations in technical and physiologicaldomains. Dr Marek Rebow, Head of Research inthe Faculty of Engineering made a presentationto the Deans and Heads of Department on the Faculty’s research strategy and currentresearch activities which led to discussions onpotential research collaboration on a number of fronts. The main objective of the visit was toexplore the basis for a research collaborativeframework — a model for which was presentedby Dr Rebow.

In March a large delegation travelled fromPurdue for a research workshop which morethan 50 DIT researchers attended. The workshopincluded a poster session, two parallel sessionswith 25 presentations and 5 round-table commoninterest group discussions. To date, thecollaboration has realised a number of jointpublications in the area of engineering educationand international collaboration, including achapter in a book titled ‘Engineering in Context’and there are plans to exchange postgraduatestudents and write joint research proposals inthe future.

For more information contact:Dr Marek Rebowe: [email protected]

DIT and Purdue University forge links for the future

l-r; Professor Eugene Coyle DIT, Donal Mc Hale, Professor Larry Bucciarelli and Professor Robert HerrickPurdue, at the round-table discussion about engineering education




Environmental Sustainability

Sustainable business —the only way forward?

The Faculty of Business recently hosted twointernational visiting speakers, Professor JonVan Til of Rutgers University, NJ, and Dr TrudyHeller, a US-based international consultant,who both addressed issues on sustainability and business. These public lectures are part of a series designed to raise awareness andencourage research in sustainability from the perspective of business. The EuropeanCommission has been calling for a greatercontribution from the humanities, socialsciences and business towards sustainabilityresearch and thinking (e.g. ‘Towards a “post-carbon society.” European research on economicincentives and social behaviour’, EU, 2007).

In November 2008, Dr Trudy Heller, consultantand author on sustainable business management,and adjunct professor at the Wharton BusinessSchool, at the University of Pennsylvania, spoke of the business prospects presented by sustainable approaches. Companies areincreasingly integrating environmentalstewardship into their business, strategy,operations and innovation designs. Cleanertechnologies, so called disruptive technologiesand green initiatives are offering profitableopportunities to firms. She reminded heraudience that the fastest growing venture capital sector in the US is investment in cleaner technology and renewable energies.

In February 2009, Professor Jon Van Til ofRutgers University, New Jersey, a distinguishedsociologist, author and Fulbright Senior Specialist,spoke about issues of business and citizenship.Professor Van Til examined, in particular, thechallenges and choices facing the Obamaadministration in the area of civil society, thatvast but amorphous set of individual and groupactions that lie outside the formal boundaries of government, business, and family/kin incontemporary society. Such choices are beingshaped by a global transformation in civilsociety that President Obama himself has donemuch to engender. Professor Van Til consideredthe implications for business, non-profit

management and NGOs. Both of these speakersalso met with students and lecturers in seminarsand workshops and they will continue to be partof a supportive network as DIT researchersgrapple with the challenges of sustainability and business.

For more information contact:Dr Aidan O’Driscolle: [email protected]

Engineering doctoralstudent scoops top international award

In November, Stephen Ronan, (Pictured above being congratulated on his award byProfessor Robert H Schuster, ManagingDirector of DIK) a PhD researcher from the School of Manufacturing and DesignEngineering, won the prestigious poster prizesponsored by Lanxess at the 8th Rubber FallColloquium in Hanover. Stephen won the awardagainst competition from fifty other high qualityentrants and received a certificate and !300 forthe poster titled ‘The Effect of Thermal Oxidationon the Stress Relaxation of Natural Rubber andLife Time Prediction’.

LANXESS (www.lanxess.com) is a world leader in chemical engineering, based in Germany, but with branches on every continent, 44international production locations and over

15,000 employees worldwide. Stephen emergedthe winner because of the interdisciplinarycrossover of chemistry and engineering in hisresearch, which points to the ever increasingmerging of science and technology at theborders of cutting-edge research. He is co-supervised by Dr Steve Jerrams from DIT’s Centre for Elastomer Research(www.dit.ie/researchandenterprise) and Dr Thomas Alshuth, Deputy Director and Headof Elastomer Physics, DIK (www.dikautschuk.de)— the German Institute for Rubber Researchand Technology. DIK is the world’s top rubberresearch institute where for three years Stephenand his friend, John McNamara, carried out the bulk of their research. Both are formergraduates of DIT’s Faculty of Engineering and are busily writing up their PhDs. John’sdissertation is about localised dynamicbehaviour of rubber.

The enduring partnership between DIK and DITbegan in 2000 and is testimony to the value ofbuilding strong international collaborations toachieve ground-breaking research. Stephen has already been rewarded for his work with achallenging position in German industry as aProcess Engineer for Motor Coring TechnologyMCT, Baker Hughes INTEQ GmbH, while John isconducting research into soft tissue mimics inDIT Kevin Street’s School of Chemistry.

For more information contact:Dr Steve Jerramse: [email protected]



http://www.lanxess.com

http://www.dit.ie/researchandenterprise

http://www.dikautschuk.de



Innovation continues to grow even in hard times.In this tough economic climate, most of thecompanies and managers across the globe arejust looking to get by. Find a way. Do. Survive.The main focus right now is on cutting cost,reducing business scale and minimisingchallenges with survival uppermost on theirminds. Look ahead; ascertain the future, thinklean and innovate are the most likely solutionsfor survival rather than waiting for the inevitabledeath. Looking back at history tells us thatinnovative companies are the only survivors inhard times.

Established in 2008 by Dr Amr Arisha, Simulation-based Solutions for complex Systems (3SGroup) is a new research group based in andsponsored by DIT’s Faculty of Business. It is amultidisciplinary group with 5 full-time and 3part-time PhD researchers and expertise inmanagement sciences, statistics, softwareengineering and supply chain management.3S Group aims to become recognised as aninternational leading research centre ofexcellence for finding innovative solutions for complex business processes. The groupconducts research across a range of industrieswith key efforts organised into three themes:

— Healthcare (Irish Hospitals) — Maritime Transport (Dublin Ports)— Global Supply Chain Management

Irish Hospitals

Research within the healthcare industry is beingcarried out in two university hospitals in thegreater Dublin area this summer. The projectsfocus on accident and emergency departmentswhere innovative solutions to overcrowding arebeing investigated. Technology and simulation-based models will be used to support decisionmakers in the hospitals and data mining. Theapplication of lean initiatives and optimisation willbe integrated into the final proposed solution.

The project also addresses the implementationchallenges associated with resource allocation.

Healthcare Process Optimization which helps to monitor variability and manage operationalprocesses is one of the core activities of the 3SGroup. The research team will work closely withhospital staff to model and evaluate existingprocesses — hospital planners find it useful torun a series of ‘what-if’ scenarios to ensure thatthe virtual model mimics the real processes.The research team will help the decisionmakers to evaluate the processes so they candevelop the optimum solution for the agreedoperational and performance objectives.

Port Management

Confronted with globalisation challenges andthe reinforcement of the world economy,maritime transport and port managers mustemploy effective strategies in order to staycompetitive and win more market share. Theinternal dynamics of Irish seaports representcomplex stochastic systems with anenvironment of uncertainty, variability andlimited resources. Planning and management of these systems are virtually overwhelming. A robust framework based on lean thinking is necessary to improve service, resourceplanning, operations management and real-time reaction to unexpected events. Thisresearch theme aims to investigate the currentstatus (ie geographical impact, current players,pattern of port dynamics) of the Irish maritimesystem and the major challenges facingthe industry as a result of internationaldevelopments. The team will research strategy,evaluate performance and analyse internationalbest practice to develop an Irish frameworkbased on lean concepts to improve portmanagement performance in the Irish seaport network.

Supply Chain Management

Given that the competitive strength of anyenterprise is the sum of its strength and thoseof its suppliers, partners and strategic allies,the traditional competitive lens of firm versusfirm has long since been revised to supply chainnetwork versus supply chain network. Lean andagile supply chain networks are characterisedby the ability to respond dynamically to changesin demand patterns as well as the efficientutilisation of assets and resources by reducingsources of waste. These characteristics lead tocost reductions, higher profit, increased servicelevel and more competitive supply chainnetworks.

The 3S Group is currently running two supplychain research projects — the development of a lean index for evaluating leanness and the development of a better measurement of risk exposure through global supply chains.Simulation-based virtual models of the supplychain are being used to test the impact ofvarious strategies on supply chain performance.

For more information please contact:Dr Amr Arishae: [email protected]

3S research to make Irish business more competitive






In March 2009, researchers from DIT were invitedto address a Social Tourism Forum at theScottishParliament. Jointly organised by the FamilyHoliday Association and UNISON Welfare, thepurpose of the forum was both to raise the issueof social tourism at the heart of government andto explore the various ways in which low-earningfamilies might be helped to access the benefits abreak away from home can deliver.

Jane Stacey from DIT’s Tourism Research Centreprovided an Irish perspective on social tourism,which ‘involves the extension of the benefits ofholidays to economically marginal groups, suchas the unemployed, single-parent families,pensioners and the handicapped’. She informedthe Forum about DIT’s research into poverty,social exclusion and holidaying in an Irishcontext, funded by the Combat Poverty Agency,and conducted with colleagues Dr BernadetteQuinn and Dr Kevin Griffin, both from DIT’sSchool of Hospitality Management and Tourism.(For more information on this project seeResearch News, January 2009, p6).

The key contribution of the research is todemonstrate the value of holidaying for thoseexperiencing disadvantage, contributingsignificantly to quality of life for peopleexperiencing poverty. The research argues thatpromoting participation in annual holidayingconstitutes an innovative response that cancomplement a broader range of interventionsdesigned to address the complex realities of poverty and social exclusion.

The Forum was chaired by Alison Rice, well known travel journalist and trustee of the FamilyHoliday Association, a registered UK charitywhich has been supporting disadvantagedfamilies by helping them gain access to holidaysfor more than 30 years. Also addressing theForum were Michael Matheson MSP, ChrisMaguire Visit Scotland, Luc Gobin TourismFlanders and Dave Watson UNISON Scotland.

In addition to representatives of the ScottishParliament, welfare agents working withdisadvantaged families and those with aprofessional interest in family and social welfare attended the forum.

For more information contact:Jane Staceye: [email protected]

Tourism researchers address the Scottish Parliament

“The key contribution of the research is to demonstrate the value of holidaying for those experiencing disadvantage, contributing significantly to quality of life for people experiencing poverty.”

Pictured outside the Scottish Parliament are: L-R: John McDonald FHA, Julie Grant UNISON Welfare, Dave Watson UNISON Welfare, Alison Rice Freelance Journalist, Jane Stacey DIT, Luc Gobin Tourism Flanders, Thea Joldersma FHA, Chris Maguire VisitScotland.




Paul Kilkenny, Directorate of Research and Enterprise spoke to Professor Eddy recently about her research and how she spent her time in DIT.

Working alongside colleagues in the Centre for Social and Educational Research, ProfessorPamela Eddy is focusing on Higher EducationPolicy Research and developing case studies onthe impact of higher educational partnership inthe HEA Programme for Research in Third LevelInstitutions (PRTLI).

So, Pamela, why did you choose to do this research with the Dublin Institute of Technology?

It all started with an international conference in 2007 that was looking at the shifting highereducation mission in particular in the Europeancontext. At that time I knew I wanted to takesabbatical leave but hadn’t decided where Iwanted to go. I had an email exchange with Ellen Hazelkorn, (DIT’s Director of Research andEnterprise) at the time regarding the conferencebecause I couldn’t attend and after a longconversation it transpired that her highereducation research interests aligned with mine. So we honed in on this idea of looking at partnerships because I had been doing a fair amount of work on this in the States.

If you look at the 2004 OECD report into IrishHigher Education there was a recommendationto look at increasing research and the numberof PhD students and specifically looking atpartnership as a way of doing this.

When I got here I talked to Ellen about doing anational survey which would have been similarto what I had done in the States. I planned toquery higher education administrators on thepartnerships they had so that I could create atopology of various ones and then do some case studies. However, because of the shorttimeframe of the Fulbright scholarship and theneed to have pre-existing insight or status to do that we decided to look at what was alreadyin existence to encourage collaboration andpartnership and that’s how the PRTLI-basedproject Transforming a System: Shifting Facultyand Institutional Roles in Partnership came about.

Can you tell me more about the actual project?

The intention of the research was to determinehow the partnership process operated, inparticular to understand how institutionalpolicies were altered or new policies created.Additionally, I sought to understand how facultyroles shifted as a result of the partnerships.Each of the four HEA funding cycles had aspecific intention for the partnerships and each subsequent funding cycle reinforced the role of collaborations and efficiencies.

Two basic goals were to increase researchactivities at universities and colleges in Irelandand to increase the number of PhD students in the country. Case sites were selected toillustrate both of these goals.

The preliminary results of this research werepresented at a seminar in DIT. Initial analysisunderscores the role of a champion of thepartnership. Individuals were often pivotal innegotiating partnership agreements and inresolving conflicts. Motivations for participationmade a difference in how each of the partnersapproached the collaboration — those withsimilar visions and goals operating the best. On the other hand, those partnering with anoverarching goal of obtaining funding alonewere more fraught with dissension and conflict.

Clearly articulated partnership goals based onlike interests resulted in a more cohesive group.The social capital of the champion and thepartnership representatives made a differencein negotiations of activities. In particular, accessto institutional resources and the support ofcollege leaders resulted in stronger partnerships.Context mattered with difficulties occurringwhen external pressures mounted. Dividedloyalties among the partners, the institutions,and the discipline created tensions. Theresearch pointed to actions for policy makers,institutional leaders, and faculty partners to better sustain partnerships.

Interview

Professor Pamela L Eddy, Associate Professor inEducational Policy, Planning and Leadership inthe College of William and Mary, Williamsburg,Virginia recently spent a six month sabbaticalas a Fulbright Scholar in DIT.



So what has your overall experience of studying and living in Ireland been like?

The time in Ireland afforded me a chance to dosome scholarly writing and to complete a bookmanuscript on community college leadership. I was able to attend the Educational ResearchAssociation of Ireland’s annual conference andmake some further connections with facultyresearchers throughout Ireland. I will be able to take back to my classroom teaching anexpanded way of thinking of policy and finance in higher education. My site visits in Irelandincluded visits to a number of Institutes ofTechnology and universities. These connectionswill aid not only my future research interests,but those of my students. I will be able to drawon my network in Ireland to help my US studentswork on their own research in Ireland.Additionally, I will be able to conduct facultyworkshops about how to improve teaching andlearning based on the findings of my work here.I will advocate for other faculty to participate ina Fulbright exchange and will work to bring Irishscholars to conferences and workshops in theUnited States to exchange ideas.

Another benefit of my Fulbright at DIT was thefact that my 17 year-old daughter was able tojoin me in Dublin. She attended Wesley Collegeas a fifth year student and was able to make anumber of new friends here, explore new areasof interest, and to learn about another country. Ahighlight for her was a biology trip to the Burren

to conduct field research. Her English teachertook a great interest in her writing andencouraged her to submit a short story to awriting contest. She was also able to participatein Model United Nations and perhaps her most unique experience resulted from her team membership on the cricket team! Clearly, this was a learning experience for her.

A major emphasis of the Fulbright Scholarshipprogramme is on cultural exchange, how hasyour time here supported that objective?

In addition to my policy research, I conducted a study on faculty from the United States whotaught in Irish universities and Irish scholarswho taught in US colleges. The goal of thisresearch was to understand how teaching andlearning practices were challenged and alteredbased on the educational system of the twocountries. Findings highlight how the faculty had transformational learning occur as theychallenged their initial assumptions of how toteach. Faculty members came away from theirinternational teaching exchanges with newpractices for their classrooms, increasednetworks with other faculty, and a newperspective on what it means to be a classroomteacher. Instead of being an expert in theclassroom, they again became novice teachersas they had to understand a new system ofhigher education and student expectations.Their experiences resulted in them taking awaya new appreciation for the craft of teaching and

becoming more reflective of their teaching. The call for faculty to help college studentsobtain global competencies was aided by these international teaching exchanges.

“These faculty members werenow providing internationalperspectives in theirclassrooms, questioningassumptions on what wasconsidered core knowledge,and pushing students toconsider other contexts for their own learning”.

The Fulbright office also arranged for a trip toNorthern Ireland that was personally beneficial.We were able to meet with members of thepolice force, members of the Patton commissionand individuals involved in the peace movement.The insights from this trip illustrated morepowerfully the Troubles than any amount ofreading could. We were also able to visitdifferent groups engaged in the Irish languagerevival and to see this aspect of the culture. My time in Ireland has been transformationaland life changing. I am already looking forwardto my next visit to the country and to hostingsome of my Irish colleagues in America.

“The intention of the research was to determine how thepartnership process operated, in particular to understand

how institutional policies were altered or new policies created.Additionally, I sought to understand how faculty roles shifted

as a result of the partnerships”.




Keywords: Thick & Thin Films, Tribochemistry,Surface Shape Design, “Green” Solutions

Surface Engineering refers to a wide range oftechnologies that design and modify the surfaceproperties and characteristics of components.The applications are very broad; from macro —to nano-engineering and from extremely hardmaterials to polymeric coatings. Its technologiesare employed by many industries, includingengineering, energy, gas and oil, transport,medical, cosmetic, optical, chemical and sports.Research in this technology is ongoing and thebenefits that can be derived are prodigious. The design, wear and tribological properties of components, for instance, have been greatlyenhanced by surface engineering and theeconomic benefits, to industries, far outweighthe cost, when compared to traditionalapproaches. This paper discusses theapplication of these technologies and thepotential benefits to be derived from currentresearch and innovation in this discipline.

Introduction

Considerable progress has been made over thelast few decades in the development, testing andcharacteristics of advanced Surface Engineering.Historically, materials were subjected toprocesses such as heat treatments, paint,galvanising, alloying, anodising, carburising, and shot blasting, which had limited effects onmaterial properties and component enhancement.However, the development and ongoingenhancement of Surface Engineeringtechniques has led industrialised countries to develop and exploit these technologies. A current report in Britain produced by theNational Surface Engineering Centre (NASURF)estimates that Surface Engineering processescould affect manufactured products worth £120Billion and Surface Engineering is currentlyworth over £20 Billion to the U.K. economy. It has been estimated that the cost of wear,fatigue and corrosion amount to 7 % of GDP, the value of the UK coating market in 2008 is

estimated to be in the region of UK£21.3bn and the value of products critically affected bycoatings for the UK is in the order of £143bn [1].Surface Engineering is continually evolving;researchers are continuously exploiting newdiscoveries and applications for coatings, bothfrom nature, replacing older methods, and fromexperimentation. In practice, coatings are usedto improve the following surface properties for:

(i) Corrosion protection.(ii) Decorative purposes.(iii) Hardness. (iv) Electrical conductivity.(v) Solderability. (vi) Build up of material for restoration.(vii) Wear resistance. (vii) Optical or thermal reflectivity. (ix) Oil retention. (x) Thermal conductivity.

Some requirements of coatings at hightemperatures may include low diffusion, toprevent internal substrate corrosion, highdensity, to avoid gas flux through pores to the substrate and stress-free, or in a state ofcompressive stress, at working temperature.The lists are extensive but not exhaustive, asSurface Engineering has an impact on moststandard and innovative products used today.

Current and Future Applications

In the cutting tool industry, modern cuttingapplications cannot be accomplished withoutprotecting the tools with a thin, wear-resistant,diffusion barrier coating. These applicationsinclude high speed cutting, hard machining ofhigh hardness (Rockwell>60C) materials, dry cutting and cutting of materials such asTitanium, AlSi alloys or other non-ferrousmaterials. They enhance wear resistance and hardness at the cutting edge and reducediffusion and friction. Other applications include high toughness, as in punching andpiercing operations. In the transport industry,approximately 6% of the costs of manufacturing

engines and transmissions involve coatingtechnologies [2]. Surface coatings in thetransport industry can be broken into powerunits, vehicle components and fixed permanentstructures. Other, more advanced, applicationsinclude Tribochemistry, Transmission Systemsand Engine Systems [3]. Coatings used in powergeneration units, such as diesel engines andpower transmission, are well advanced today.They protect the power units from erosion andwear. Suspension components and brakes arecoated with thermally sprayed coatings toimprove wear resistance, extending service life.Polymer coatings are applied to exposed areasof vehicles and they act as a body coat, on somevehicles, to improve aesthetics, abrasion andcorrosion resistance. Polymer coatings are alsoincorporated in some instances as low noisesolutions. Marine applications, such as onbridges and oil rigs, combat saltwater corrosionand sand abrasion problems.

In the aerospace industry, coating of certainengine parts has been practised for over 50years. In gas turbine engines, surface coatingsprovide high-temperature strength, corrosionresistance, abradable seals and bearingproperties. Spacecraft components, such asgears and ball bearings, coated with MoS2,applied by PVD magnetron sputtering, helpslower the heat generated within the transmissionsystem.

Surface modifications vastly improve theperformance of many components. Some of the future applications that will require research and development include engine andtransmission design, especially for enginesusing hydrogen storage tanks and fuels.

Surface engineering — advanced engineering solutionsDavid M Kennedy, Anthony Betts and David Culliton, Surface Engineering Research Group, Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street.




Sports Industry Applications

Surface engineering of titanium oxide for motorsports has proved to be an effective method ofoptimising engine parts and enhancing racingcar performance. A reduction of inertial masshas lead to increased speed, greateracceleration, better fuel efficiency and higherperformance. Titanium alloys have an excellentcombination of properties, in terms of highstrength/weight ratio, resistance to corrosionand bio-compatibility. As described by Bell andDong [4], surface engineered titanium will bethe material of the 21st century. Engines shouldhave low friction and low wear contacts at high temperatures in chemically reactiveenvironments. Cam followers, coated withDLC(Diamond-Like Carbon), possess very lowfriction coefficients, reducing sliding friction byup to 80%. Applying surface coatings to golfclubs is a novel approach to improving contactand/or frictional effects, resulting in frictioncontrol of golf clubs, thus effecting ball spin.This will help determine the distance, spin anddirection of flow of the ball. Typical surfacemodifications to golf clubs include TiN andCarbide coatings, shot peening and surfaceshape design. Other applications in the sportindustry include snow ski designs, curling,cycling, soccer boots and protective clothing.Reducing or increasing friction in thecompetitive sports can be the differencebetween winning and losing.

Research and Development

Surface engineering offers materials savingsand environmental benefits in numerousapplications, e.g. through increased service life,reduced emissions, reduced energy consumptionand improved recyclability. Many modern surfaceengineering processes have low environmentalimpact, in contrast to older heat-and chemical-treatment processes. Coatings for wind, wave,solar and PV systems will be required toenhance their environmental uses and makethem more efficient.

Reduction in weight, particularly for motorvehicles by using aluminium, magnesium andtitanium alloys require surface engineering toimprove corrosion and tribological properties.Deposition of titanium alloys has increased wearresistance substantially, permitting their use for lightweight components in Formula Onevehicles and in other advanced applications inthe offshore, biomedical, and sports sectors. Polymer coatings for structural applications givestrong potential for growth as well as being acost effective and rapid method of depositingcoatings on a wide range of materials withoutaffecting their mechanical or physical properties.This is a fast and flexible deposition process.

Applications of functionally graded structures,capable of a response to their environment, willincrease. This will involve further growth in theuse of sensor technology, increasingly combinedwith applications such as smart oxidationresistant layers for gas turbines, and foodpackaging. Some 80% of aircraft vehicles and components are dependent on surfaceengineered components. Examples includecoatings for gas turbines for power generation.Packaging, such as beverage cans, rely oncoated tools and dies. Coatings have improvedthe quality of packaging through water and gasbarriers on food products. Punch tools usingTitanium Nitride, Diamond Like Carbon orCarbon Boro Nitrides have extended their use and life.

Since 2005 some 50% of all architectural glassis coated with materials to reduce glare, heatloss and improve aesthetics. Glass products canbe coated to prevent breakage by using tin oxidefilms. Further development of such coatings,will reduce glass weight and deliver thinnerthicknesses. Currently surface engineeringmakes a significant impact on architectural andautomotive glass, display panels, mirrors andspectacles. Developments in coating technologynow permit multi-layer structures with specificproperties to be deposited on glass.

Applications Include

— Low-emissivity (Low-E) and solar controlcoatings on architectural glass

— Solar control and electrically conductivecoatings on automotive glass

— High reflectance coatings for solarcollectors and telescope mirrors

— Moderate reflectance coatings for headlampreflectors and rear view mirrors

— Photovoltaic coatings for solar cells; anti-scratch coatings on opthalmic lenses

— Conductive anti-reflective coatings forcomputer monitors and television screens

— Scratch-and corrosion-resistant coatings.

The films are typically less than 1!m thick andare deposited using PVD and CVD. Biomedicaldevices, from prosthetic joints to substrates for tissue regeneration to advanced biosensors,rely on engineered surfaces to provide bothfunctionality and biocompatibility. Porouscoatings, such as Hydroxyapatite, are traditionallyapplied to surgical implants using ThermalSpray processes but more recent developmentshave produced compatible coatings using sol-gel assisted Electrostatic Spray Deposition [5].

Coating Techniques and Processes

Surface Engineering and Surface Modificationcover a wide range of processes and techniques.Some examples of coating process and theirassociated costs and functions are highlightedin Table 1 overleaf.




Thermally Sprayed Coatings

Thermal Spraying is now regarded as one of thekey enabling surface engineering technologies.Applications include automobiles, aerospace,medical, marine and sports etc. Material thathave a well defined melting point and does notdecompose when heated can be thermallysprayed and over 500 materials are nowavailable for coating selection.

Aerospace engineers apply these coatings at the manufacturing stage and during repair.Thermal barrier coatings are used to protectagainst extreme heat. Abradable coatings allowthe rotating blade tip to machine its own seal. Invehicle design, cast iron liners have been replacedwith a thin plasma coating and lightweight brakediscs can be coated with a ceramic. Rolls usedin the paper, printing and steel industries areprotected against wear and corrosion. Water andchemical pump impellors and housings mayalso be coated to prevent corrosion and wear.Water and chemical pump impellors and

housings may also be now coated to preventcorrosion and wear. This work is part of anEnterprise Ireland funded research project atthe Mechanical Engineering Department, in DIT, under the general title of the Development of‘Green’ (Environmentally Friendly) Coatings.

General Discussion and Conclusions

Surface Engineering technologies supply added value and thus profit. Acting as a bridge,this discipline provides a conduit for thetransference of technology and expertisebetween end-user sectors, which would notnormally benefit from it. Through its continuedimpetus to evolve and diversify, it offers newopportunities for those involved in the research,development and application of these advancedcoatings. Developing new coating methods, toreplace technologically superseded techniquesand applications, will generate wealth andcreate new products for a wide range ofindustries. Surface engineering also representsa very efficient use of specialist materials.

With a reduction in equipment costs, andimprovement in knowledge and technical skills,the future research and development of SurfaceEngineering is promising. It is one key areawhere chemists, physicists, biologists andengineers have integrated knowledge andexpertise to develop and apply successfulsolutions to dated technology. These advances,supported by environmental, health & safety,nanotechnology and design, will lead to greater,and more diverse, applications over the next 30 years.

References

(1) A. Matthews, R. Artley, and P. Holiday: ‘2005 revisited: the UK Surface Engineering Industry to 2010, 1998, Farnborough, NASURF

(2) www.iom3.org/divisions/surface/secforesight.pdf

(3) COST Action 532, Triboscience and Tribotechnology, Superior friction andwear control in engines and transmissions,European Commission, SDME, B-1049Brussels, 2007

(4) H. Dong, T. Bell: Final report on LinkSurface Engineering Programme:‘Advanced surface engineering of titaniumalloys (AdSurfEngTi)’, EPSRC/DTI, ‘95 –’98.

(5) Byung-Hoon Kim, Ju-Hyun Jeong, Young-Sun Jeon, Kyung-Ok Jeon, Kyu-SeogHwang; Ceramics International; Vol 33,Issue 1, Jan 2007, Pages 119-122

See also http://arrow.dit.ie/engschmeccon/3/

PROCESSES TYPES PROPERTIES APPLICATIONS

Chemical Vapour Diamond Film Hardness Cutting tools and Dies, Deposition (CVD) Wear resistance Drills, Mills, PunchesPhysical Vapour Diamond like Shock resistance Tapping, Reaming, ExtrudersDeposition (PVD) Carbon (DLC) Chemical resistanceIon-plating Titanium Nitride High Temperature Injection moulding,

Resistance Ball BearingsIon Implantation Titanium Carbide Low friction Rolling millsWeld facing Silicon Nitride Toughness Mining equipmentCladding BroachingHVOF WC-Co Forging, QuarryingPlasma Spray Aluminium Oxide Diffusion barrier Pump housings,

Silicon Carbide Impact resistance Aircraft componentsChromium Carbide Fatigue resistance

Laser Surfacing Chromium Oxide Corrosion resistance Agricultural partsDipping Surface finish Electrical contactorsElectroplating Electrical insulation Engine parts

Table 1: Traditional and Advanced Applications of Surface Engineering


http://www.iom3.org/divisions/surface/

http://arrow.dit.ie/engschmeccon/3/



The transformation and depletion of organicsubstances in water (many of which are harmfulto the environment) was recently studied in aproject conducted by members of the AppliedElectrochemistry Group based in Focas. Bycombining the degradation process, with a novelfuel cell technology, electrical current can becreated. This system provides an environmentally-friendly mechanism for degrading organicmatter in waste water. At the same time energyfrom the fuel cell can also be used to provideelectrical power for various applications.

When light strikes the surface of a semi-conductor material, such as titanium dioxide,electrochemical reactions can occur. These caninvolve the movement of charged species suchas electrons (which are responsible for carryingelectrical current in wires). This process iscalled photocatalysis. One of the best knownapplications of this type of reaction is the light-activated photolysis (splitting) of water,resulting in the formation of hydrogen andoxygen [1]. Another well-known process, alsobased on photocatalysis, is the degradation ofsome chemicals, many of which are found inwaste waters, such as slurries and sewage.

Laboratory studies have shown that a widerange of chemicals can indeed be broken downinto smaller less-polluting species in thisfashion, especially carbon-based chemicals(organic compounds). Examples of these includeformic and ascorbic acids, alcohols includingmethanol, ethanol, isopropanol and evencomplex carbohydrate species such as starch.Many other chemical species can also react in a similar manner and can be degradedforming smaller, chemical species.

In addition to the mineralisation (breakdown) of a wide variety of chemical species, a smallelectrical current can be created through the operation of the photocatalytic reaction. Figure 1 shows an example of the currentobtained when light from a normal householdtungsten lamp, (a sample model for daylight) is shone on a reactive electrode surface coatedwith a titanium dioxide powder. The titaniumdioxide powder is extremely fine and consists of nanosized particles with a very high surfacearea. Such reactions occur when the reactivetitanium dioxide-containing surfaces areimmersed in solutions containing a smallamount of a chemical fuel, such as formic acid or other organic compounds.

Electrical current flows through wires linkingthe photocatalysis reaction occurring on the fineparticles of titanium dioxide on one surface witha separate reactive surface. Generally the othersurface involves a reaction known as the oxygenreduction reaction, which forces the overallprocess to occur at a faster rate. Consequently a higher electrical current results from thiscombination of the photocatalytic process andthe oxygen reduction reaction; and the feedstockor fuel is degraded at a significantly higher rate.

Results presented in Figure 2 show a graphdisplaying the increased rate of degradation of a typical complex organic compound namelyascorbic acid (Vitamin C) by linking the twoseparate processes in an electrochemical cell.In contrast the rate of degradation of the blank(unconnected) sample is significantly slower,due to the lack of driving force from the other(oxygen reduction) reaction even though a smallamount of oxygen reduction can also occur on atitanium dioxide particle.

In practice linking two reactive surfaces usingthis approach is rather like the operation of afuel cell. A fuel cell is a device which produceselectrical current when two chemical reactionsoccur simultaneously at the surfaces of twoseparate materials termed electrodes, whichare electrically connected and placed in aconductive medium.

“Laboratory studies haveshown that a wide range ofchemicals can indeed bebroken down into smallerless-polluting species in thisfashion, especially carbon-based chemicals (organiccompounds)”.

A novel photo-assisted fuel cellPatrick Enright, John Cassidy and Anthony Betts, Applied Electrochemistry Group, Focas.

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It is similar in concept to a battery. Howeverunlike a battery, which is restricted to only afinite amount of a chemical feedstock, a fuel cellcan operate as long as a steady stream of fuel issupplied to the reactive electrode surfaces. Thisis termed a “Photo-assisted Fuel Cell” combininga fuel cell with a photocatalytic reaction.

A photo-assisted fuel cell (PAFC) was developedby the applied electrochemistry group in FOCAS.Novel aspects in this project, which served asthe basis for the PhD project of Patrick Enright[2], included the use of inexpensive materials to replace expensive platinum-based catalysts,which traditionally have been used for theoxygen reduction reaction. Several alternativeswere employed in this work. One, based on theuse of cobalt phthalocyanine [3], is similar inchemical structure to the iron-haemoglobinsystem which transports oxygen in blood.However in this investigation it was found that arelatively inexpensive manganese dioxide-basedelectrode material worked best. Termed an “airelectrode” this enables gaseous oxygen to bereduced directly from the air; the resultingelectrical current then driving the photocatalyticdestruction of the organic (waste) compounds in contact with the titanium dioxide coated electrode.

Different configurations of the PAFC were triedand it was found that in general surface coatingson the carbon-ink/titanium dioxide electrodewhich were thinner worked best, when used in conjunction with larger air electrodes. Scaleup of the cells and their use in an outdoorenvironment would be of benefit. In addition it was found that cell design was important inorder to improve both the degradation efficiencyand current output.

Figure 3 shows that the current increases with anincrease in model fuel (formic acid) concentration.This indicates that the performance of the PAFCis dependent upon the concentration of the fuelsupplied to the cell amongst other factors [4].

For more information contact:Dr Anthony Bettse: [email protected]

References

(1) A. Fujishima, K. Honda, Nature, 238 (1972) 37 — 38

(2) Patrick Enright, PhD thesis, Dublin Institute of Technology (2009)

(3) F. Van den Brink, W. Visscher, E. Barendrecht, Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 157 (1983) 283 — 304

(4) M. Kaneko, J. Nemoto, H. Ueno, N. Gokan, K. Ohnuki, M. Horikawa, R. Saito, T. Shibata, Electrochemistry Communications, 8 (2006) 336 – 340 0

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As part of ‘Say No to Ageism Week 2009’, apublication prepared by the Tourism ResearchCentre at DIT on behalf of the Irish HospitalityInstitute (IHI) and the Equality Authority was

launched at the IHI National United Hospitality Managers’ Conference and AGM in May. Titled‘Age Equality — Untapped Potential: EnhancingAge Friendly Service Provision in the Irish

Hospitality Sector’, the publication waslaunched by Ewan Plenderleith FIHI and outgoing President IHI and Brian Merriman,Head of Communications at the Equality Authority. The publication is the culmination of steps takenover the preceding 12 months aimed at raisingawareness and understanding of ageism issuesfrom both a customer service and employmentperspective and promoting age equality withinthe hospitality sector.

A further report, outlining principles andguidelines for promoting equality in the Irishhospitality sector and providing a framework for action, is due to be launched later in thesummer. This broader sectoral initiative whichseeks to set a road map for a sectoral approachto equality and diversity within the sector isfunded by the Equality Mainstreaming Unit andwas jointly funded by the European Social Fund2007-2013 and the Equality Authority.

For futher information contact:Jane Staceye: [email protected]

Two DIT researchers were nominated forEnterprise Ireland’s ‘One to Watch’ Award 2009.Enterprise Ireland awards researchers whosecommercialisation efforts are deemed to havethe most business potential.

Over the last 12 months Enterprise Irelandcommercialisation specialists have beenobserving a number of researchers who havedemonstrated commercial acumen. The ‘One to Watch’ award is designed to recognisethe researchers who are actively working onbringing their technology to the market and

have demonstrated a commercial approach totheir research. Dr Suzanne Martin, IEO, wasnominated for her work developing a printablehologram that can be used as a unique identifieron the packaging of high-value products likepharmaceuticals and electronics.

Dr Suresh Pillai, CREST, was nominated fordeveloping a surface coating that kills MRSAonce exposed to any type of light. This is animprovement on previous technologies that only worked with UV rays from natural daylight. As well as having applications in hospitals, the

technology could be used in other sterileenvironments like clean-rooms or watertreatment facilities. CREST treatment facilities.The winning researcher was the inventor of atiny device containing micro-blades and aballoon that can cut though blockages in humanarteries. Dr Bruce Murphy, a mechanicalengineer with expertise in vascular diseaseresearch, was presented with his award June18th. The device was invented during researchDr Murphy carried out while at the NationalCentre for Biomedical Engineering Science, NUI Galway.

Launch of age equality report


DIT researchers nominated for EI award

Pictured at the launch were from l-r: Jane Stacey DIT, Shane Cookman, incoming President IHI, John CartyDIT, Natasha Kinsella IHI




Commercialisation

Dublin Institute of Technology was among 90 toptechnology innovators from across the US andaround the world competing for top honours inthe World Best Technologies (WBT) Showcase in Arlington-DFW, Texas in March 2009. TheWBT showcase is the nation's premier eventshowcasing the largest collection of undiscoveredtechnologies emanating from the world’s leadinguniversities, labs and research institutions.

DIT was the first Irish institution chosen to present technologies side by side with cuttingedge developments from top US institutions,start-ups and Government laboratories. The twochosen technologies — UWB (Ultra Wide Band)Antenna and Fibre Temperature Sensor — wererigorously screened by WBT commercialisationexperts and presented to an audience of over500 participants including venture capitalistsand Fortune 1000 licensees.

UWB Antenna is a low cost, high performanceantenna design that provides improved antennaefficiencies across wider bandwidths. The FibreTemperature Sensor is a low cost sensor that issuited to harsh environments given immunity to RF radiation, magnetic fields and high temperatures. Dr Andy Gray, Senior LicensingExecutive at Hothouse, DIT’s Technology TransferOffice, who presented the technologies said thatthe “WBT showcase was an excellent forum topitch new technologies to a wide internationalaudience”.

Paul Huleatt, WBT Showcase CEO, explained that “the commercialisation of innovative technologies like those at the event is a keydriver of economic growth and approximately1/3 of past presenters have gone on to secureventure capital or a licensing/strategic partneringagreement. To date, past presenters have raisedover $425 million in first (or next) round venturecapital”.

DIT participation at the event has led to the development of important industry contacts and knowledge which will help to take the technologies to market and beyond. “Contactsgenerated at the event have already proven useful and valuable at generating interest and we are currently engaging with a number of attendees at the event on licensing and strategic partnership” confirmed Dr Gray.

DIT Hothouse

Hothouse is the award winning Innovation andTechnology Transfer Centre at Dublin Institute of Technology. A magnetic energy hub, Hothousedraws in entrepreneurial and academic talent,ignites creativity and provides a dynamic environment to fast-track businesses and technologies to commercial success.

For more information contact:Dr Andy Graye: [email protected]

Dublin Institute of Technology announced thewinners of its 2009 Inventor Competition inJune. This competition is open to all staff andstudents in DIT. The event was sponsored byleading Dublin-based patent attorneys Hanna,Moore & Curley. The President of DIT, ProfessorBrian Norton, together with Donnacha Curley, a partner in the firm and graduate of DIT,presented the awards to:

Overall Best Invention — Dr Suzanne Martin, Dr Izabela Naydenova, Professor Vincent Toaland Dennis Bade. The group invented a vibrationinsensitive holography technique that allowsthe production of holograms without expensiveoptical benches and high coherence lasers. “It is equivalent to inventing the Polaroid forHolography” said Tom Flanagan, Head ofCommercialisation, DIT who chaired the judgingpanel. The panel included Donnacha Curley ofHanna Moore and Curley and Dr Andy Gray,Senior Licensing Executive, Hothouse.

Best staff/postgraduate category — Dr MikelGainza. The invention of an audio thumbnailgenerator that uses algorithms to extract thechorus or catchy bit of a piece of music. Specificpieces of music tracks can then easily beidentified and/or found using this “thumbnail”.

Best undergraduate category — Pearl O’Rourke.As part of her final year of an undergraduatedegree in product design, Pearl invented thePhlebotomy Aid, which allows the easy extractionof blood samples. The device facilitates thelocation of veins and makes them easy to target.It also aids the manual insertion of a needle, thecollection of samples and the disposal of usedneedles. Pearl and her invention were recentlyfeatured on TV3’s Morning AM.

DIT technologies among 90 selected for global showcase

DIT Inventor Competition 2009 winners announced

“WBT showcase was an excellent forum to pitch new technologiesto a wide international audience”.



Dublin Institute of Technology ResearchNews | Volume 3 | Issue 1 | July 2009

Understanding the benefits of fruit and vegetables

In March 2008, a phytochemical researchnetwork of Irish experts was funded by theDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foodto collate scientific expertise on phytochemicalsfound in Irish grown fruits and vegetables. Ledby Ashtown Food Research Centre, the Networkis pulling together existing knowledge andgenerating new information in this field andincludes two researchers from DIT’s School of Food Science and Environmental Health.

What is the Integrated Irish PhytochemicalFood Network?

The Irish Phytochemical Food Network (IPN) is an alliance of scientists from various foodrelated research fields (horticulturists,agronomists, food engineers, food chemists,nutritionists, consumer behaviour andmarketing experts, economists) that gathersand exchanges knowledge on naturallyoccurring nutrients and bioactive compounds(phytochemicals) in Irish fruits and vegetables.

Phytochemicals are chemicalcompounds that are foundnaturally in plants (the ancientGreek word phyton meansplant). Phytochemicals canoccur in many sorts of plants,and therefore some of themoccur in fruits and vegetablesthat are part of human diet.

And...why phytochemicals in food?

Numerous studies suggest that phytochemicalscan be responsible for considerable healthbenefits to humans such as reduction of the risk of developing many forms of cancer (lung,prostate, pancreas, bladder and breast), thereduction of the risk of cardiovascular diseasesand/or other benefits such as anti-inflammatoryproperties.

Why a Network?

By working together, Network members areable to draw on their collective experiences,knowledge, resources and efforts. A Networkpromotes more effective deployment of availableresources through a reduction in unnecessaryduplication, identification of knowledge gaps and fragmentation of activities and greatercooperation and collaboration.

Why in Ireland?

The study of phytochemicals in Irish grown and consumed fruits and vegetables (from theseedling to their consumption, passing thoughthe harvesting, storage and processing) candevelop a better understanding of theirmechanisms in human health. The expectedimpact of this Network is to gain a betterunderstanding of the role and biological modesof action of phytochemicals at molecular,cellular and whole-organism levels. A greaterunderstanding of the roles of phytochemicals in promoting health will lead to improvedformulation of foods and recommendations forconsumers concerning the specific contributionmade by individual phytochemicals in foods. The new food formulations, accompanied withnutrition and health claims, will increasecompetition and trade opportunities in Europe. Recommendations to promote health will bedeveloped, taking into account the diverse eating patterns in Ireland.

How is DIT participating in the PhytochemicalFood Network?

The IPN research has been divided into 7 workpackages. Five of the work packages address astep in the fruit and vegetable food chain fromfarm to fork (agronomic, post-harvesting andstorage, food processing and new productdevelopment) and two work packages addressnetwork coordination and dissemination ofoutcomes. Two researchers from DIT’s School of Food Science and Environmental Health —Dr Catherine Barry-Ryan and Dr Ana BelenMartin-Diana are partners in the project.

Dr Martin-Diana is involved in the developmentof efficient methods for recovering phytochemicalsfrom fruits and vegetables and the analysis ofbioactivity. She is also studying functionality and new product development. Dr Barry-Ryanis working on formulation and sensorycharacterisation of foods enhanced withphytochemical compounds.

For more information on IPN contact the co-ordinator Dr Nigel Brunton or the DIT partners:e: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]

Food and Health

Research news June 2009 10/07/2009 16:02 Page iv




Food Product Development CentreDublin Institute of Technology

With its unique combination of technical and culinary expertise the Food Product Development Centre is dedicated to developing innovative food concepts for the Irish food industry.

Through its links with the Dublin Institute of Technology, the Centre provides a comprehensive range of confidential, professional and innovative services including market research, sensory analysis, product development and customised training opportunities.

For more details contact:

email: [email protected] web: www.fpdc.dit.ietel: +353 1 814 6080

Research news June 2009 10/07/2009 16:02 Page i


http://www.fpdc.dit.ie

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