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<title><![CDATA[Irish mammals under serious threat from ‘invasional meltdown’]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Some of Ireland&rsquo;s oldest inhabitants are facing serious threat and possible extinction because of foreign species, according to researchers at Queen&rsquo;s University.
The red squirrel, Irish hare and red deer are just some of Ireland&rsquo;s indigenous species which are under threat as a result of the introduction of foreign species. A new study which took place over the last two years looked at the impact of two introduced species &ndash; the bank vole and greater white toothed shrew &ndash; on two native small mammals, the wood mouse and the pygmy shrew. If the rate of invasion continues as at present throughout the island of Ireland, its native small mammals will die out in at least 80 per cent of their available habitat.
The study, published in the international journal Biological Invasions, found that in the recent past the pygmy shrew has completely vanished in parts of Ireland where both invasive small mammals are found. Wood mouse numbers have decreased by more than 50 per cent in areas where the bank vole is longest established.
Small mammals occupy central positions in food webs, so major changes in species composition which are already occurring, will have both top-down and bottom-up effects in the ecosystem affecting bird and mammal predators as well as the invertebrates, seeds and seedling that small rodents and insectivores feed on.
Professor Ian Montgomery, lead researcher from the School of Biological Sciences at Queen&rsquo;s University, said: &ldquo;The introduction of alien mammals to Ireland over the last 100 years has had major detrimental effects, threatening our indigenous habitats and species. The American grey squirrel, for example, passes a deadly virus to native red squirrels, whilst European hares threaten the ecological and genetic integrity of the native Irish hare through competition and interbreeding.
&ldquo;Governments, both north and south of the border, are urged to work together to address the overall problem of invasive mammals throughout Ireland, and ensure that we understand both the mechanisms of invasion and the impacts of these aliens. It is no longer tenable to treat each invasive species as an isolated case. We should establish a realistic plan identifying the mammal species that are key to maintaining our unique biodiversity and ecology and those that we should eliminate or control.&rdquo;
The new study is the first of its kind to systematically analyse the cumulative effects of invasive mammal species on indigenous species. Such a process is known as &lsquo;invasional meltdown&rsquo;.
For media inquiries please contact Claire O&rsquo;Callaghan on 00 44 (0) 28 9097 5391 / 07814 415 451 or c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk]]></description>
<link>http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/TheUniversity/GeneralServices/News/PressReleases/Title,281980,en.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 4:53:01 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Irish mammals under serious threat from ‘invasional meltdown’]]></title>
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<title><![CDATA[Tomorrow's leaders given a head start at Queen's]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Students at Queen's University have been given a unique insight into life as 'tomorrow's leaders' thanks to a new programme run by leadership development organisation Common Purpose.
The four-day course, called Frontrunner, is aimed at enhancing student employability by letting students explore leadership outside of the lecture hall, and was available to undergraduates within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen&rsquo;s. Students were given the opportunity to visit organisations from every sector, meet leaders from a range of business backgrounds, consult on real life business challenges and try their hand at leading teams.
A survey, by Common Purpose, found that out of 100 people in leadership positions in Northern Ireland that were questioned, 90 per cent thought it was important for experienced leaders to help the leaders of tomorrow.
Professor Shane O&rsquo;Neill, Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen&rsquo;s, said: &ldquo;This experience was an invaluable one for students as it allowed them to explore issues of leadership beyond the classroom and to develop a practical understanding of some of the key challenges of modern working life.&rdquo;
Claudine Sutherland, Northern Ireland Director for Common Purpose, said: &ldquo;Tomorrow&rsquo;s leaders, more than any other generation will need the confidence and determination to be a different type of leader. Our Frontrunner course is aimed to help students be more aware of how Northern Ireland works and their own capacity to lead, not just manage. It brings together high potential individuals from a range of backgrounds and challenges them with different leadership perspectives.&rdquo;
Maria Lee, Head of Education and Skills Development at Queen&rsquo;s University, said: &ldquo;It is important that we provide opportunities for students to develop their employability skills. Leadership programmes like these enable our students to gain a competitive edge in the graduate market.&rdquo;
External contributors who got involved included senior managers from Invest NI, PSNI, Bryson Charitable Group, The MAC, PricewaterhouseCoopers, British Council, Ulster Bank and Lighthouse. For more information on Common Purpose visit www.commonpurpose.org
For media inquiries please contact Claire O&rsquo;Callaghan on 00 44 (0) 28 9097 5391 / 07814 415 451 or c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk]]></description>
<link>http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/TheUniversity/GeneralServices/News/PressReleases/Title,281840,en.html</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:50:44 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Tomorrow's leaders given a head start at Queen's]]></title>
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<title><![CDATA[Queen’s recognised for HR Excellence]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Queen&rsquo;s has been recognised by the European Commission for its commitment to supporting the personal, professional and career development of its researchers.
The University has been awarded the European Commission&rsquo;s HR Excellence in Research badge for its efforts in improving the working conditions and career development opportunities of its researchers. It was also commended for providing a clear plan of action for future developments.
Queen&rsquo;s is one of only 12 universities, on this occasion, to obtain the award which will help promote the University as an attractive destination for researchers from all over the world.
Sean McGuickin, Director of Human Resources, said: &ldquo;The HR Excellence in Research award demonstrates Queen&rsquo;s commitment to ensuring we provide a stimulating and favourable work environment for our researchers. It gives a clear message to our current and prospective researchers that Queen&rsquo;s is an employer that will invest time and resources to support them throughout their careers.&rdquo;
Director of Research and Enterprise Scott Rutherford said: &ldquo;This institutional award is important not only for staff development and Human Resources, but also for the overall research profile of the University in attracting staff and potentially securing funding from the EU.&rdquo;
To obtain the badge, Queen&rsquo;s had to follow a five-stage process. This included an internal analysis to compare current policy and practice against the &lsquo;Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers&rsquo;, which sets out seven principles for the future support and management of research careers. The University also had to develop an Action Plan to show how Queen&rsquo;s will implement the principles of the Concordat.
The Action Plan, which builds on an already extensive programme of development and support provided within Schools and from the Staff Training and Development Unit, contains a range of actions with associated commitments and responsibilities in relation to the management and development of research staff. The actions relate to the management of staff, recruitment, appraisal, progression, development, engagement and creating an effective research environment.
As part of the HR Excellence in Research badge Queen&rsquo;s will carry out a self-assessment every two years and an external evaluation every four years. For further information, visit www.qub.ac.uk/crs]]></description>
<link>http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/TheUniversity/GeneralServices/News/PressReleases/Title,281236,en.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:18:07 +0000</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Queen’s and BDO join forces to support family businesses]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[A major new initiative aimed at supporting Northern Ireland family businesses has been launched by Queen&rsquo;s University Management School and business advisory firm BDO.
This innovative partnership aims to provide business support to local family businesses and conduct research into issues which create or inhibit their success. The launch event in Riddel Hall, Queen&rsquo;s University, was attended by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Arlene Foster, and by family business owners from across Northern Ireland. BDO Managing Partner, Francis Martin, explained why his firm was keen to become involved: &ldquo;As in most countries, the Northern Ireland private sector is dominated by family owned businesses. The continued success of such firms is crucial to the overall success of our economy. Family businesses face quite specific issues and it is important that advisers, academia and government develop an ever greater understanding of what makes family businesses work.
&ldquo;The study with Queen&rsquo;s University recognises the unique and complex environment within which family businesses operate. At BDO we have a long track record of working with family firms. Our partnership with Queen&rsquo;s will help us to build upon our knowledge base and provide leading edge best practice advice in the areas of family business relationships, governance and people, financing and succession management.&rdquo;
Professor Richard Harrison, Director of the Leadership Institute at Queen&rsquo;s, said: &ldquo;This partnership &ldquo;represents a unique opportunity to leverage the synergies between the research and programme development capabilities of the University and the extensive practical experience of Northern Ireland&rsquo;s leading family business advisors to identify and address the major leadership challenges facing family business in Northern Ireland. A strong and competitive family business sector is important for the performance of the regional economy and we look forward to making a contribution through this partnership to that challenge.&rdquo;
Speaking at the event Arlene Foster said: &ldquo;The family business sector plays a vital role in the success of our local economy, as it is estimated that approximately 75 per cent of all businesses in Northern Ireland are family run. That is why Invest Northern Ireland&rsquo;s current &lsquo;Boosting Business&rsquo; initiative aims to enhance the capability of, and improve the performance of, individual businesses, including those within this sector. &ldquo;To help family businesses succeed they can access a range of support to build workforce skills, use new technology to improve competitiveness, take existing products to new markets, develop new ones, or create and protect jobs in these difficult economic times.&rdquo;
As part of the launch, BDO and Queen&rsquo;s issued the results of stage one of the first major research project into family businesses in Northern Ireland in almost 20 years. Dr Claire Leitch from Queen&rsquo;s University Management School presented an overview of the initial study before a panel discussion involving well known owners of family businesses including Catherine McKeever, McKeever Hotels Group; Damian Heron, Heron Bros and Bill Wolsey from the Beannchor Group which owns the Merchant Hotel.
Media inquiries to: Brendan Mulgrew, Stakeholder Communications - 028 9033 9949]]></description>
<link>http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/TheUniversity/GeneralServices/News/PressReleases/Title,281077,en.html</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 2:57:14 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Queen’s and BDO join forces to support family businesses]]></title>
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<title><![CDATA[Belfast’s very own Wall Street Trading Room to open at Queen’s]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Northern Ireland&rsquo;s first ever financial trading room is set to open at Queen&rsquo;s University Belfast. The First Derivatives Trading Room, supported by Invest NI, will provide a dynamic learning environment for students hoping to embark in a career in financial services or technology.
Based at Queen&rsquo;s University Management School, Riddel Hall, Stranmillis, the facility, which will replicate New York and London trading rooms, will give students a real-life experience of a busy stock exchange with the capacity to deal in equities, bonds, foreign exchange and derivative instruments. It will transform a corner of the Management School into a financial hub reminiscent of Wall Street or Canary Wharf, and prepare future graduates to make their mark in the world.
Funded by First Derivatives, a leading provider of products and consulting services to the capital markets industry, the trading room is also backed by Invest NI.
First Derivatives offers one of the largest graduate training programmes in Northern Ireland with up to 30 Queen&rsquo;s graduates employed annually by the company.
And Chief Executive, Brian Conlon, sees the trading room as a platform for closer engagement between the company and Queen&rsquo;s students and staff.
He said: &ldquo;As one of Northern Ireland&rsquo;s key graduate recruiters we recognise the value of working closely with Universities. From our perspective this is an opportunity to collaborate with Queen&rsquo;s on projects and develop courses in Computational Finance which align more closely with our company&rsquo;s requirements.
&ldquo;At First Derivatives we are recognised in global financial centres for the quality of our people. Taking in graduates who have practical experience of the trading floor as well accessing the facility will allow our in-house training to build upon this knowledge and provide more rounded consultants to market.
&ldquo;Partnerships like First Derivatives, Queen&rsquo;s and Invest NI create synergies between the world of business, government and academia and drive the development of Northern Ireland&rsquo;s knowledge economy.&rdquo;
The trading room has the potential to make Northern Ireland a more interesting proposition to international companies and investors keen to set up where there is a pool of highly skilled graduates who blend theory with practice. And it should also make the Queen&rsquo;s University Management School more attractive to international students.
Alastair Hamilton, CEO, Invest Northern Ireland believes the facility can help leverage significant investment into Northern Ireland. &ldquo;Northern Ireland is already among the top global destinations for financial technology investments and Belfast is the number one city for attracting research and development in financial services software. Our impressive track record is based on the quality of talent we have in the region and on the fact th
at our world-class universities continue to mould programmes to meet the needs of industry. &ldquo;We know the financial services sector offers further opportunity to create high value employment in Northern Ireland. Developing the skills to make this happen is crucial to growing the sector so we are delighted to support the First Derivatives Trading Room.&rdquo;
And Professor Donal McKillop from Queen&rsquo;s University Management School is looking forward to providing a more sophisticated package to students.
He said: &ldquo;The First Derivatives Trading Room, supported by Invest NI, is an interactive virtual environment where students learn to trade financial instruments and manage financial portfolios using live prices and the latest investment and trading technology. They will have the opportunity to think and learn on their feet, building up the skills needed in the high-pressure world of the trading room.
&ldquo;Having these practical skills in today&rsquo;s competitive and uncertain environment will undoubtedly give Queen&rsquo;s finance students a competitive edge in the jobs market. The trading room will also enable the Management School to provide new bespoke postgraduate programs in Computational Finance. There is no doubt that Queen&rsquo;s is taking teaching to the next level and enhancing the University&rsquo;s reputation as a global leader in financial education.&rdquo;
For media inquiries please contact Queen&rsquo;s Communications Office. Tel: 028 9097 3087 or email comms.office@qub.ac.uk
For more information on the New Trading Room contact Donal McKillop, QUMS, Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 4852.]]></description>
<link>http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/TheUniversity/GeneralServices/News/PressReleases/Title,279786,en.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 6 Feb 2012 12:07:55 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Belfast’s very own Wall Street Trading Room to open at Queen’s]]></title>
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<title><![CDATA[Foster and Cable officially open £6million research centre for Northern Ireland]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and UK Business Secretary Vince Cable today officially opened The Northern Ireland Advanced Composites &amp; Engineering Centre (NIACE) on Airport Road, Belfast. Funding to build the &pound;6million centre was announced in February last year and included financing from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) through the Strategic Investment Fund, Invest Northern Ireland and Bombardier Aerospace. Queen&rsquo;s University and the University of Ulster co-own and operate the 3,700 sq m facility which was inspired by the work of MATRIX, in particular from its Advanced Materials and Advanced Engineering sub-panels. Arlene Foster said: "This new industry-led centre is about maximising the benefits of the knowledge and skills that already exist in advanced material and composite technologies in Northern Ireland, and enhancing those capabilities to ensure that we stay at the forefront of the global advanced engineering sector. Today&rsquo;s official opening marks an important step in promoting the concept of collaboration that will help shape advanced materials engineering research in the coming years, and I am confident that this is the beginning of a very fruitful venture for all involved.&rdquo;Vince Cable said: &ldquo;The Northern Ireland Advanced Composites &amp; Engineering Centre is the latest addition to a valuable network of composites research facilities throughout the UK. Each of these centres has its own area of expertise but a common objective to bring together leading academics with dynamic companies and help them with the design and rapid manufacture of high-quality composite products.&rdquo; Employment and Learning Minister, Dr. Stephen Farry who attended the event, commented: &ldquo;The new research centre highlights the strong collaboration between our universities and industry. Both Queen's University and the University of Ulster are demonstrating research excellence in a range of engineering, scientific and business disciplines. By working collectively with industry I believe this new centre will provide a strong foundation for sustained growth in the engineering and composites sectors.&rdquo; Professor Sir Peter Gregson, President and Vice-Chancellor, Queen&rsquo;s University Belfast, said: &ldquo;As an aerospace engineer by background, I am especially pleased to see the vision for this advanced composites and advanced materials manufacturing centre become a reality. It will enable leading academics to work alongside colleagues from Bombardier and other Northern Ireland manufacturers interested in the development and application of advanced composites. &ldquo;As part of the UK network of advanced manufacturing centres, Queen&rsquo;s and its partners in NIACE will ensure Northern Ireland remains at the vanguard of advanced engineering and composites research &ndash; a further and very direct means of supporting economic growth in Northern Ireland. I congratulate all involved.&rdquo;Michael Ryan, Vice-President and General Manager, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast, said: &ldquo;The NIACE centre is building on a legacy of engineering innovation in Northern Ireland, and we are looking forward to seeing our investment support pioneering collaborative research and development projects, which are vital if we are to develop new technologies and skills in our high value engineering and advanced manufacturing sector. This, in turn, will help Northern Ireland, and in particular our small and medium-sized companies, to move up the value chain, take advantage of new opportunities and compete on a global platform.&rdquo;Dr Scott King, NIACE Centre Manager, said: &ldquo;This facility will provide the opportunity for different companies involved in advanced composites, materials and engineering within Northern Ireland to co-locate research activities and to engage in research that will bring about benefits to the sectors. There will be significant interaction between industrial and academic staff resulting in the rapid transfer of knowledge and skills and advancement of innovative technologies across a range of industries.&rdquo;Professor Richard Barnett, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ulster added: &ldquo;This centre is a further example of how university research and business development can go hand-in-hand. New advanced engineering concepts are leading to local and international composite-based applications and product development across a wide range of company sectors, from transport to energy. This in turn is providing new opportunities for our STEM and business based undergraduate and postgraduate students. The centre is very much welcomed by the University of Ulster and reflects our vision to be an economic driver for the region.&rdquo;For media enquiries contact DETI Press Office on 028 9052 9604. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.]]></description>
<link>http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/TheUniversity/GeneralServices/News/PressReleases/Title,276700,en.html</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 1 Feb 2012 8:58:30 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Foster and Cable officially open £6million research centre for Northern Ireland]]></title>
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<title><![CDATA[Barrett’s patients who smoke twice as likely to develop oesophageal cancer]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Smoking doubles the risk of developing oesophageal cancer in people with Barrett&rsquo;s Oesophagus, according to scientists at Queen&rsquo;s University Belfast and the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry.
Affecting one in every 100 people in the UK, Barrett&rsquo;s Oesophagus is a disorder in which the lining of the oesophagus is damaged by stomach acid and is changed to a lining similar to that of the stomach.
The research, published in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, was carried out over 13 years and involved over 3000 Barrett&rsquo;s patients. It found that those who smoked tobacco were twice as likely to develop cancer of the oesophagus, than those who did not.
Dr Helen Coleman from the Centre for Public Health in Queen&rsquo;s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences led the study. She said: &ldquo;We found that tobacco smoking emerged as the strongest lifestyle risk factor for cancer progression for patients with Barrett&rsquo;s Oesophagus. The risk of developing this cancer doubled for those who were smoking tobacco. One of the most interesting observations was that someone who smoked less than one pack a day was still as likely to develop cancer as those who smoked many more.&rdquo;
The study was the first of its kind worldwide in terms of size by taking a sample of over 3000 patients. Researchers were able to get information about smoking at the time a person was first diagnosed with Barrett&rsquo;s Oesophagus to see how this influenced cancer risk years later. This is important for reducing bias known to be associated with asking patients about their smoking habits in the past.
Although these findings need to be confirmed in future studies, the study&rsquo;s researchers suggest that tobacco smoking should be discouraged and smoking-cessation strategies considered in Barrett&rsquo;s Oesophagus patients in order to reduce future cancer risk.&nbsp;
For media inquiries please contact Claire O&rsquo;Callaghan on 00 44 (0) 28 9097 5391 / 07814 415 451 or c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk ]]></description>
<link>http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/TheUniversity/GeneralServices/News/PressReleases/Title,276479,en.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:03:21 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Barrett’s patients who smoke twice as likely to develop oesophageal cancer]]></title>
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