Translating science to build the knowledge economy – lessons from Europe Event as iCalendar

Public lecture

Professor Patrick Cunningham's New Zealand visit is supported by the National Research Centre for Growth & Development. He is one of Ireland’s top scientists, has a background in agriculture, and has strong views about small countries and their need to commit to science and research. This is your chance to hear him live.

Ireland and New Zealand are both small economies, committed to science-based development.
Professor Cunningham will

• outline the rationale for the Irish initiatives over the past decade
• explain the results
• make comparison with other countries in the 27 nation European Union, and with New Zealand
• address the priorities for investing in national science, in times of recession.

About Patrick Cunningham
Patrick Cunningham is Professor of Animal Genetics at Trinity College, Dublin. Originally from Waterford, he graduated from University College Dublin in 1956 with first-class honours in Agricultural Science, and in 1957 a Masters Degree in Animal Nutrition. In 1962 Patrick gained a PhD in Animal Genetics from Cornell University.

In 1988 Patrick moved to the World Bank as visiting professor at the Economic Development Institute. In 1989 he initiated a new research programme at Trinity College, Dublin. Using newly developed methods of reading DNA, they measured genetic diversity and planned livestock improvement in developing countries.

Between 1990 and 1993 Patrick was the Director of Animal Production and Health at the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations in Rome. After the BSE crisis in 1996, he and his colleagues developed a system of DNA traceability for the meat industry, which has been used successfully in Europe for some years.

Patrick held the post of Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government between January 2007 and September 2012. He has published over 100 papers in refereed journals, and has twice featured on the cover of Nature.