The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) held a celebratory event on July 04th to mark 50 years as space research pioneers in Ireland. DIAS researchers became involved in space research following the Apollo 11 moon landing which celebrates its 50th Anniversary next week.
At the event, the contributions of DIAS technicians/scanners Hilary O’Donnell, Emer Kee and Dinah Molloy were formally recognised. All three women worked at DIAS alongside Professor Emeritus, Denis O’Sullivan on lunar samples and space research materials following the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 as well as other Apollo missions in the 1970s.
Their work was commended by CEO and Registrar of DIAS, Dr Eucharia Meehan and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD, who was also in attendance.
DIAS also welcomed Teresa Lago, Secretary General of the International Astronomical Union and former Board member of the DIAS School of Cosmic Physics to deliver a talk. Her lecture explored Ireland’s long history of association with the International Astronomical Union, as well as the experience of small countries joining the European Southern Observatory and the important role of astronomy education.
DIAS welcomes back former space research technicians
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Posted: 10th July 2019 by Caoimhe Mulhall
The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) held a celebratory event on July 04th to mark 50 years as space research pioneers in Ireland. DIAS researchers became involved in space research following the Apollo 11 moon landing which celebrates its 50th Anniversary next week.
At the event, the contributions of DIAS technicians/scanners Hilary O’Donnell, Emer Kee and Dinah Molloy were formally recognised. All three women worked at DIAS alongside Professor Emeritus, Denis O’Sullivan on lunar samples and space research materials following the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 as well as other Apollo missions in the 1970s.
Their work was commended by CEO and Registrar of DIAS, Dr Eucharia Meehan and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD, who was also in attendance.
DIAS also welcomed Teresa Lago, Secretary General of the International Astronomical Union and former Board member of the DIAS School of Cosmic Physics to deliver a talk. Her lecture explored Ireland’s long history of association with the International Astronomical Union, as well as the experience of small countries joining the European Southern Observatory and the important role of astronomy education.
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👋🔵 Another Irish 🇮🇪 connection to @NASA, the #Apollo program, and the early days of space exploration! 🚀 #Apollo50 twitter.com/IrishTimesSpor…
We heard it might be a big space anniversary over @NASA , but we didn’t want one of our own be eclipsed! @DIASDunsink hosts the instruments that captured the first images of a solar eclipse 100 years ago and helped support Einstein’s theory of relativity. #DIASdiscovers #Eclipse
The third technician @DIAS_Dublin who worked on the #Apollo 16 cosmic ray data was Emer Kee! She later went on to be a scientific lab technician in @LYIT and is now retired. A massive thanks again to Emer, Hilary, and Dinah for making DIAS space research pioneers! #DIASdiscovers
✨"The excitement of it was magical"✨ Dinah Molloy in @thejournal_ie discussing the #Apollo11 Moon landing and her work as a technician at DIAS on material from the first Irish experiment in space on Apollo 16: thejournal.ie/moon-landing-i… #DIASdiscovers #Apollo50
A lot to celebrate for #Apollo50 this week, including Dinah Molloy--another technician who worked on the Apollo 16 cosmic ray data @DIAS_Dublin! Dinah is now an assoc researcher @scottpolar in Cambridge and a research associate in @TCEHTCD. #DIASdiscovers #WomenInSTEM
What does DIAS do?📚 Check out the video below for an introduction to DIAS and the exciting research questions we are tackling! youtu.be/JFVLdzT9G3k #DIASdiscovers
50 years ago, the historic #Apollo11 mission launched 🚀, bringing the first humans to the moon! If they had visited the far side of the 🌖,they may have seen Ellison crater, named after former @DUNSINK_Dublin and School of Cosmic Physics director Mervyn Ellison. #DIASdiscovers
Hilary O'Donnell was one of the three DIAS technicians instrumental in analyzing data form Ireland's first space experiment measuring cosmic rays on #Apollo 16. She is now retired and volunteers in @DIASDunsink as an outreach coordinator and caretaker. #DIASdiscovers #WomenInSTEM
“There is still a profound sense of wonder” ☄️ Our own @petertgallagher, Head of Astronomy & Astrophysics, on yesterday's @bbcradioulster #SundaySequence discussing the legacy of #Apollo11 with @AudreyCarville and guests: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0… #DIASDiscovers #Apollo50
Prof Teresa Lago, Sec Gen of @IAU_org, was back in Dublin July 4 to mark 100 years of the IAU, discussed Ireland’s long history of IAU association, the links between Portugal and Ireland joining @ESO, and the need for better gender representation within the IAU. #DIASdiscovers
In the words of Michelle Obama, “you have walked through that door of opportunity, and thank you for reaching back and supporting others” @mitchelloconnor thanking Professor Teresa Lago, Sec Gen of @IAU_org, for her work trailblazing a path for women in Astronomy. #DIASdiscovers
Senior Professor @petertgallagher, of @DIASAstronomy helping to "inspire the next generation of scientific explorers" @I_LOFAR's new AstroLands that will stage space camps and workshops. Pictured in: irishtimes.com/news/science/n… in the @IrishTimes by @KOSullivanIT #DIASdiscovers
“The wonder of space, has for decades, inspired us all to learn more about our universe and our planet.” @mitchelloconnor welcomed Professor Teresa Lago to DIAS on July 4 to mark 100 years of @IAU_org and kick off our series of events celebrating #Apollo50! #DIASdiscovers