Posted 04 December 2009
Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Patrick Cunningham awarded honorary degree by UCD
Professor Patrick Cunningham, the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government has been awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by University College Dublin. His work has been published in some 100 papers in refereed journals, and has twice featured on the cover of Nature.
“Ireland’s commitment to Science began in 2000 and up to 2008, both business and Government have ramped up investment in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) faster than in most other countries,” said Professor Cunningham speaking at the award ceremony on 02 December 2009. “Our purpose is unapologetically aimed at ensuring future prosperity of the country.”
Pictured far right (l-r): Professor Maurice Boland, Principal of the UCD College of Life Sciences, Professor Patrick Cunningham, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Irish Government and Dr Hugh Brady, President of UCD at the conferring ceremony
According to Professor Cunningham, a recent World Bank study had estimated that over 80% of Ireland’s wealth was in its intellectual capital – that is in the skills and competence of its people. This model of knowledge-driven economic development has delivered enduring prosperity elsewhere, as in the Scandinavian countries, Switzerland and the US.
“In Ireland, we are half way to where we intend to be. If sustained, this growth phase will be largely complete in less than decade. By that time, we will have built an internationally competitive research community, linked to economic objectives, and partnering and anchoring high-tech industry here,” he said. “This is an essential part of the longer-term transformation of Ireland to a leading, smart economy.”
“The present crisis has forced a crash reduction in public spending across the board – including allocations for STI. The critical thing is to return to the vision of the National Development Plan in an ordered way.”
“The crisis should be used to reassess, retarget and reconstruct the current programmes to deliver more, for less.”
Patrick Cunningham, who took up the post as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government in January 2007, is Professor of Animal Genetics at Trinity College, Dublin.
Originally from Waterford, he graduated from UCD in 1956 with first class honours in Agricultural Science. He went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Animal Nutrition from UCD in 1957, and a PhD in Animal Genetics from Cornell University in the USA in 1962.
In 1962, he began a research career with An Foras Talúntais (now Teagasc), becoming Department Head in 1970 and Deputy Director of Research in 1980.
“Professor Cunningham’s work in An Foras Talúntais focused mainly on genetic improvement in the Irish cattle population. He pioneered methods of genetic evaluation, introduction and assessment of new breeds and strains, and the economic evaluation of breeding options and strategies,” said Professor Maurice Boland, Principal of the UCD College of Life Sciences who delivered the citation at the conferring ceremony. “The theoretical work which accompanied this research attracted considerable international attention.”
In 1964, Professor Cunningham began to contribute to the newly-established Department of Genetics in TCD, and in 1974, he was appointed Professor of Animal Genetics.
In 1988, he moved to the World Bank as visiting professor at the Economic Development Institute. From 1990 to 1993, he was appointed Director of Animal Production and Health at the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the UN in Rome. During this period also directed the Screwworm Eradication Programme for North Africa, the largest international campaign of biological control ever undertaken.
“Following the BSE crisis in 1996, Professor Cunningham and his colleagues developed a system of DNA traceability for the meat industry, which has been used successfully in Europe for some years,” said Professor Boland. “They went on to establish a biotechnology company IdentiGEN, which deploys these technologies in Europe and the USA. Professor Cunningham is the Chairman of IdentiGEN.”
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
