Posted 21 January 2010
UCD Professor is first from Ireland or UK to be elected to German Academy of Science and Engineering
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of innovation in technology and engineering, Professor Gerry Byrne has been elected as an International Fellow of the German Academy of Science and Engineering (Deutsche Akademie fuer Technikwissenschaften, acatech). This is the first time an expert from Ireland or the United Kingdom has been elected to the Academy.
The German Academy of Science and Engineering represents the interests of science and technology in Germany and internationally. As a working Academy, it supports policy makers and society with technically qualified evaluations and far-sighted recommendations. It works to promote sustained growth through innovation and acts as an advisor to the German Government on innovation.
Gerry Byrne is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the UCD School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, University College Dublin. He is a graduate of the Technical University Berlin where he gained a summa cum lauda doctorate degree (Doktor-Ingenieur) in mechanical engineering in 1989. He also holds an honorary doctorate (Dr h.c.) from DIT, which he was awarded in 2006 for his international contribution to the engineering profession. Following 12 years as Head of the former Department of Engineering at UCD, Professor Byrne served as Dean of Engineering in UCD.
He is one of only a handful of Irish engineers who have been elected as International Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) in the UK. In 2000/2001 he served as President of the professional body for engineering in Ireland, Engineers Ireland. In 2002/2003 he was President of the Irish Academy of Engineering. He is currently President of the International Academy for Production Engineering (CIRP).
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
