Galway Students Shine at Global Undergraduate Awards with Gold Medals

A remarkable achievement has been celebrated in Galway, where two students received accolades for their innovative research at the Global Undergraduate Awards (GUA), recognized as the leading academic awards program for undergraduate research worldwide. Rían Cody, a student from Tuam attending Trinity College Dublin, has been named a global winner and will be awarded the prestigious Thomas Clarkson Gold Medal at the Global Summit in Dublin on November 11.

Rían’s project, titled “Mackie and Boyle on Self-Refutation,” earned him top honors in the Philosophy category. His success was highlighted at the All-Ireland Summit event held at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin last week. During this event, his fellow Galway native, Roisin Flynn from Salthill, also received recognition, securing a regional award in the Life Sciences category for her project on “The Role of Histone Deacetylases in Breast Cancer Brain Metastases and the Therapeutic Potential of Their Inhibition.”

The Global Undergraduate Awards program distinguishes itself by showcasing excellence in undergraduate research. It features global winners, regional winners, and those highly commended. The top ten percent of submissions are recognized as highly commended, while regional winners are the highest performers from their respective GUA regions. The ultimate accolade, the Global Winner title, is awarded to the best submission in each category, accompanied by the Thomas Clarkson Gold Medal.

The selection process for this year’s awards was extensive and rigorous. A panel of judges, comprising over 500 experts, reviewed more than 2,400 submissions from 348 universities across 99 countries and 25 categories. Alongside Rían Cody, another Irish student from Trinity College Dublin achieved global winner status, while ten regional winners hailed from institutions including the University of Limerick, University of Galway, MTU, Queen’s University, DCU, and SETU. Additionally, five students received highly commended recognition from institutions such as Trinity College, University of Galway, and University College Cork (UCC).

Rían Cody and Roisin Flynn’s achievements not only showcase their dedication and hard work but also highlight the thriving academic environment in Galway. Their recognition at such an esteemed level reflects the high standards of research being conducted by undergraduates in Ireland and beyond. The upcoming Global Summit promises to celebrate these outstanding accomplishments on a grand stage, further inspiring future generations of scholars.