The World Technology Universities Network is pleased to welcome Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin as Chair, WTUN Operational Board for 2024-25. Elected by his peers on the Operational Board to the role of Deputy last year, Ciarán’s tenure as chair formally began on 1 August 2024.
During his membership of the operational board, Dr Ó hAnnracháin has worked closely with the WTUN Secretariat and General Board on increasing membership of the network, as well as encouraging engagement and participation of ATU staff and students in the network’s activities. This include hackathons, student competitions, PhD student research bursaries and staff research exchanges.
“Participation in these activities allows staff and students to engage with colleagues around the world, giving a real and important global dimension to their work and studies. It allows us all to look beyond our Euro-centric view of the world and work with students and staff from across the globe, many of whom may have different experiences and perspectives but share a common goal of addressing the 17 SDGs. I am firmly committed to ensuring that as many staff and students have these opportunities while working and studying at all our ATU campuses”, said Dr Ó hAnnracháin.
Together with WTUN Development Manager, Denise Whitehead, Dr Ó hAnnracháin will travel to Toulouse, location of this year’s EAIE Conference, in September to meet with existing WTUN members and to promote the work of this international alliance of technology universities.
On 31 July 2024, Dr Mullika Sungsanit, Suranaree University of Technology, ended her term as Chair of the Operational board and Dr Ó hAnnracháin began his term. He will remain Chair until 31 July 2025, when he will hand over to Dr Chawin Chantharasenawong, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi.
On behalf of the WTUN we would once again like to thank Dr Sungsanit for her work and leadership over the last two years as Deputy/Chair of the Operational Board.
This event was to mark this year’s ‘WTUN for International Women in Engineering Day (INWED)’. Once again, the breadth of topics covered demonstrates the plurality and varied areas of expertise in which Network members are engaged; this time coming together under the 2024 theme ‘Enhanced by Engineering’. Read more about INWED and the Women’s Engineering Society here.
Welcome to our ‘Member in the Spotlight’ series, where we showcase the research focuses and work of our members. We hope these profiles support you in getting to know our members and to identify themes in your work and focuses where you may be able to collaborate with colleagues at member institutions.
Introducing…Unviersidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
Who are Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte?
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) is a leading educational and research institution based in Natal, Brazil. Their mission is to promote excellence in teaching and research and to foster sustainable and inclusive growth and development in society. UFRN is committed to innovation, social responsibility and sustainable development.
UFRN undertakes collaborative work with partners and collaborators from around 25 educational institutions within Brazil and 90 more worldwide.
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Campus
What are their research focuses?
UFRN delivers their research within the socioeconomic interests of the region under strategic areas like regional development, sustainable conservation, energy focuses, health and governance public policies, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.
Its research is organised into several interdisciplinary cores which include:
Advancement of Public Policies
Studies in Collective Health and Nutrition
Agriculture and Fishing
Education for Sciences
Studies for Marine Resources
Studies for Oil and Renewable Energies
Environmental Studies
Disaster Research
Studies in Sexual Diversity, Gender and Human Rights
General Board Member: Professor José Daniel Diniz Melo, Rector of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
Operational Board Member: Professor Bruno Motta, Department of International Relations at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
UFRN, as a member, has been involved in several WTUN activities from hosting and sending applicants on exchanges on themes such as: Computing; Artificial Intelligence; Music for Game Design; Urban Livability Index; and Gender Based Violence.
If you want to learn more about UFRN, you can view their Member Profileor read some recent stories we have shared in our news roundups about their work:
WTUN Secretariat had the pleasure of speaking with Nadiia Sadova to find out more about her research and what it means to be awarded the WTUN BC Scholarship Prize
Currently undertaking her doctoral degree in Technical Sciences (Dr. tech.) in Biophysics at WTUN member university, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FHOOE), Nadiia’s academic career began by studying publishing and editing. Motivated by an interest in biology, she returned to higher education at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria to study Food Technology and Nutrition. Nadiia’s current research interests include immunoassays for inflammatory and stress biomarkers and intestinal function and oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster (Common fruit fly).
Among this year’s entries, Nadiia’s entry was highly regarded by the assessment panel who agreed that her application and work best demonstrated a commitment to cutting-edge, challenge led research which will have direct benefit to people and society. The panel also noted the accompanying endorsement from an industry expert.
Could you tell us a little bit about your academic journey and what led you to your PhD and your current research?
At school, I loved biology and maths. I was interested in biology and attended extracurricular biology-related clubs and competitions. Over time, I drifted away from science and began studying linguistics and writing, eventually completing a Masters in Publishing and Editing.My childhood interest in biology stayed with me and I hoped to one day study something biology related. When I returned to university studies, I thought strategically about my choices and looked for a biology-related course that would lead to a profitable profession. I chose a degree in Food Technology and Nutrition. The study of molecular biology in this course led me to my current research in intestinal health.
When I started the course, I never imagined I’d end up in research but as I worked on my bachelor and master theses, established laboratory processes alone, and solved various research questions, I realised I loved it. At the end of my master thesis, I asked my supervisor, Professor Dr Julian Weghuber, if I could continue my research as a PhD student. The programme was competitive, but I was lucky and was accepted as a doctoral student.
Whilst my previous studies in linguistics and writing don’t seem directly related to my work now, the skills I learned are still valuable. These previous experiences support me in structuring papers, organising my thoughts, and writing for scientific publications. Before my second high education I used to work as an editor and later chief editor of a medical magazine, dealing with natural science topics like nutrition.
Can you tell us about the technological solutions and developments that you are using in your research?
I work mainly with Drosophila melanogaster, also known as fruit flies, which are those tiny pests that appear in the kitchen when fruits aren’t put away. For scientists, they are a beloved research model organism, especially in genetics. They are easy to cultivate, are relatively low cost, reproduce quickly, and are very flexible to varying conditions. They also have a similar intestinal physiology to humans. Although, their intestines are simpler, they are still an effective comparable model and a good basis for studying the effects of compounds on the intestines. However, a lot of research topics, specifically nutrition and intestinal research, are unable to utilise the Drosophila melanogaster to their full potential because of their relatively small size.
Normally, the investigation of pharmacokinetic characteristics of a chemical such as its absorption rate is carried out through plasma samples. For example, a human consumes half a cup of glucose solution and an hour later a blood sample is taken and assessed to identify how much glucose is absorbed. Comparing a human’s digestive tract with that of a small fly can include obvious challenges. You cannot take a syringe and draw a sample from a fly and, if that were possible, the amount drawn from a fly is so small that you would encounter several analytical issues, such as limit of detection. I work with bio active compounds, something most often derived from plants, which are usually present in such low concentrations in our food that if you decrease it down to the fly scale, it’s almost impossible to trace. My biggest challenge was how to assess this absorption rate and how much of the consumed compounds are taken in whilst using this tiny fly as a model organism.
To overcome this, I came up with the compound retention methods, abbreviated to CORE. In this method, I used a tracing dye to look at how much of the compound is not absorbed and passes through the digestive tract, rather than how much of it is absorbed. To do this, a precise dose of non-toxic non-absorbable tracing dye is given to the flies, so we can investigate the absorption, distribution, metabolization, and excretion (ADME) parameters of the compounds. Consuming 100 milligrams of something does not mean your body will make use of all 100 milligrams and having an effective and accessible model to evaluate this can enhance the future development of medication and the development of food and food supplements.
Currently, this research is done in clinical studies with humans or mammal model organisms, most often rats or mice. My method aims to provide a cheaper and quicker model organism. The study using this CORE method has recently been published in a peer-reviewed journal, Biomedicine and Pharmacology [1].
Speaking of the other cutting-edge technologies, I used Luminex-based technology to complete mRNA multiplexing for mRNA quantification, which allows scientists to quantify multiple genes in the same sample simultaneously. The standard method for mRNA quantification is using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test. This technique can require multiple tests for multiple genes and larger sample sizes. Using Luminex-based technology, I was able to complete mRNA quantification for multiple genes from a single sample. Up to 50 genes can be tested in two days using this process, saving time and resources. To obtain the same results would take me around nine to ten working days through the qPCR method. This technology is relatively new and isn’t widely applied. I hope that soon it will be used more widely, lessening the resources and costs involved in utilising it. Sustainability is hard to achieve in laboratories. Quantifying multiple genes from a single test will save on equipment use and plastic costs, too.
How did you first hear about the WTUN Brian Cantor Scholarship Prize and what made you apply?
At University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, we have the Doctoral College Initiative, where all doctoral students can learn subjects like ethics and law, independent of the specialist topic of their PhD. The head of this initiative, Professor Dr Katherine Gundolf contacted me, informing me about the opportunity, and suggested that I apply for the prize. I was also encouraged to apply by senior colleagues. These colleagues had only heard about my work briefly through a few presentations but believed in my research and found it interesting. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to apply and that others might find it interesting too.
What impact do you think being a recipient of this prize will have for you and your work?
The experience of my work being seen and evaluated by others is valuable. This prize has given me confidence that the topic I am working on is meaningful, not just for me. Being acknowledged is good for the mental health of PhD students generally, who often welcome a boost of support for their work.I strongly believe that research is a field of work where internationalisation and exchange experiences are of crucial importance. The idea of a university network where people can exchange ideas and work is fantastic, in my opinion. I was participating in a short academic exchange when I heard the news that I had been awarded this prize.
The main impact of this prize is that it will enable me to visit with other research groups working in my field. The work in the Drosophila melanogaster field is unique and each laboratory does things in their own way as there is no unified standard to guide their handling. Visiting other research groups is valuable, allowing me to learn and gain inspiration from the solutions of others. It also helps to spread this experience, allowing, for example, younger generations of bachelor or master students to work with this model.
What are your hopes for the future of your research and where do you envision your doctoral degree will take you?
The end of 2024 signals the end of the funding period for this project. This project was supported by two Austrian organisations; Josef Ressel Centre for Phytogenic Drug Research and FFoQSI and I have until the end of the year to finalise some of my findings. I hope that the existing project will be prolonged or transformed under a different framework.
As for the future, I love science and I hope I will continue to work in research. I want to dedicate more time to the research of bioavailability and bioactive compounds to better understand what makes some substances more favourable in our guts than others. Why do we absorb this and not that? Can we make our bodies absorb certain compounds and not just let them pass through?
We have learned how to extract valuable compounds from nature and to sell them as vitamins and supplements, but in very few cases do we understand how much of it is used by our bodies and how these interact with everything else we consume. For example, some vitamins require the presence of certain fats to be well absorbed. Diets which restrict the consumption of certain food groups could also impact uptake of certain compounds. I hope to get a chance to investigate these details in future research and I think Drosophila melanogaster make great accomplices in this field of work.
Research into intestinal health and bioavailability of substances conducted by our lab is also related to industry projects. It’s great to see that companies are not just interested in producing supplements, but also in understanding how these supplements work. I think it’s important for applied sciences to work together with industry and enable industry to remain science based.
What advice would you give to individuals who aspire to undertake a PhD?
If you want to do it, go for it. Never stop being curious.
Greeting from the WTUN. Thank you for the great response to the call for speakers circulated for this year’s ‘WTUN for International Women in Engineering Day (INWED)’. Once again, the breadth of topics covered demonstrates the plurality and varied areas of expertise in which Network members are engaged; this time coming together under the 2024 theme ‘Enhanced by Engineering’. Read more about INWED and the Women’s Engineering Society here.
Welcome to our ‘Member in the Spotlight’ series, where we showcase the research focuses and work of our members. We hope these profiles support you in getting to know our members and to identify themes in your work and focuses where you may be able to collaborate with colleagues at member institutions.
Introducing…Atlantic Technological University
Who are Atlantic Technological University?
A founding member of the World Technology Universities Network (via former designation ‘Connacht Ulster Alliance’) Atlantic Technological University is a multi-campus technological university, based in the northwest of Ireland in Europe, with campuses in Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal. (Campus locations)
ATU is also a member of the EU GREEN European University Alliance and has international partners across North and South America and Asia. As such, the university celebrates a diverse student and staff population.
ATU has a rich history of academic and research excellence, founded on practice-orientated study which addresses major global and societal challenges. As a university, they are dedicated to enabling sustainable economic, social, and cultural development in its surrounding regions.
What are their research focuses?
With faculties of Business, Science and Health, Engineering and Technology, and Creative Arts and Education, ATU delivers varied research. They have a number of research centres focused on exciting, thematic work.
The Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC) unites researchers and students to enhance the management of marine and freshwater ecosystems worldwide. The research centre has origins dating back to 1980s, and with a custom-built research space and laboratories, they have expanded their work to carry out research projects with agencies and industry, providing expertise and advice to national and international bodies.
ATU is active member of the WTUN, contributing to the design and delivery of a number of activities. This includes participation in several WTUN Exchange Programme visits, both as host and funding recipient. Past themes include: Nanomaterials; Health; Computing; ThermoFluids and Energy; Materials Engineering; Engineering Management; and Business Sustainability.
If you want to learn more about ATU, you can view their Member Profile or read some recent stories we have shared in our news roundups about their work:
Welcome to our ‘Member in the Spotlight’ series, where we showcase the research focuses and work of our members. We hope these profiles support you in getting to know our members and to identify themes in your work and focuses where you may be able to collaborate with colleagues at member institutions.
MUC is an accredited college of the University of Bedfordshire (United Kingdom) and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MOHERI), Oman.
MUC has collaborators across the world and is a member of numerous networks and associations such as Advance HE (United Kingdom), British Council (United Kingdom), and European Network of Academic Integrity (ENAI).
What are their research focuses?
Sustainability is an integral component of MUC’s Strategic Plan which emphasises productive partnerships with local community, industry and other educational providers in innovation, environmental sustainability and sustainable development.
The majority of MUC’s research responds to the social and economic needs of society and is funded by Oman’s Research Council (TRC).
The Faculty of Business Management explores themes such as entrepreneurship, business intelligence, tourism, social media and its impact, and employee engagement. A current research project considers the impact of tourism development on coastal communities.
Researchers in the Faculty of Information Technology undertake projects related to digital image processing, information multimodal analytics, data centre virtualisation, robotics and artificial intelligence and technology assisted learning. A project which investigates using explainable Artificial Intelligence to enhance fault diagnosis in Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based automation systems is currently being undertaken, whilst another project delves into developing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning based early detection models to look for disease in fruit trees.
MUC has been involved in several WTUN activities since joining as a member. This includes participation in several WTUN Exchange Programme visits, both as host and funding recipient. Past and current themes include: Entrepreneurship and Gender Equality.
Members of the World Technology Universities Network have demonstrated a commitment to the inclusive advancement of sustainable scientific and technology teaching and research; each demonstrating a commitment to truly equitable innovation for the benefit of people and place. Does your institution have example(s) of effective, impactful, and innovative approaches to increasing participation, progression, and success in STEM related subjects for otherwise underrepresented or marginalised groups (whatever this might mean in context of subject area, culture, history, or locality)? We invite you to share these examples of excellence with fellow WTUN members so that we might learn from each other for the benefit of all.
As part of a series of WTUN led events coinciding with this year’s UNESCO World Engineering Day (4 March) we are pleased to share this call for speakers for an online event proposed for Tuesday 5 March between 11.00-14.00 GMT (exact times to be confirmed and can be adjusted to accommodate time zones where possible and required). We also seek a moderator/chair to host the event and facilitate a Q&A.
Depending on level of response we may consider holding more than one session on this subject or repeating it later in the year, so if you have something you would like to share but the date and time above is not suitable, please do contact us to explore options.
To be the first to receive updates about the events happening w.c 4 March for World Engineering Day register here.
During the World Technology Universities Congress 2022 hosted by Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand, a group of student volunteers interviewed delegates to learn more about their institutional motivations for membership of the WTUN and what they hoped to achieve during WTUC 2022.
The World Technology Universities Network are pleased to announce two universities from Oman and Thailand have officially joined the Network.
The new members are Majan University College, Oman and Thaksin University, Thailand.
Majan University Collegewas established in 1995 as the first private sector College in Oman, and has continued to be at the forefront of higher education in the Sultanate ever since. In December 2017, Majan achieved full institutional accreditation from the Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education (OAAAQA), and maintained its reputation as a trailblazer by being the first higher education institution in the country to do so.
“In light of 21st century challenges, technology and innovation are central to Oman’s Vision 2040 and MUC is delighted to have the opportunity to engage productively with universities across the world through the WTUN network to help in its efforts to support this vision. Data science and cybersecurity are growth areas for our research and we look forward to engaging with other members in these areas in particular” Dr Maha Kobeil, Dean and CEO, Mahan University College
Thaksin University was one of the first higher education institutes in the south of Thailand, initially called the College of Education, initiated by the Ministry of Education. This college replaced the High Teacher Training at Prasarnmitra Road, Phrakhanong District, Phranakorn, in 1954. It was established under the goals to develop a philosophy and modern educational concepts in association with a democratic society, including the in-depth development of education as a systematic career, respectively, to provide a degree in education.
Unfortunately, colleagues from MUC were unable to join us in-person at WTUC2022 in Thailand.