Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has announced the appointment of Professor Mark Ferguson from the University of Manchester as its next director general.

Students, scholars and professionals wishing to apply for Fulbright scholarships in 2012-2013 must have applications in by midday Nov 18.

Minister Ruairi Quinn has mooted the idea of offering homes owned by NAMA to entice overseas scholars, in lieu of paying them inflated salaries.

The Italian authorities have put six scientists and an official on trial for manslaughter following a quake that devastated the city of L’Aquila in 2009.

Last year, Science Foundation Ireland facilitated a 44 per cent increase in collaborations between SFI-funded scientists and Ireland’s enterprise sector.

Engineers Ireland is encouraging ambitious engineers to apply for scholarships on its ‘Future Professionals Programme’ before May 27.

NUI Maynooth is offering 12 new fully-funded doctoral teaching scholarships to begin in September 2011, with full fees covered and a stipend of €16,000.

University College Cork has been ranked second in the world for its research in the probiotics area by ratings agency Thomson Reuters Science Watch.

Restrictions on third-level colleges, pushed through by the previous government in its final days, have been greeted with disbelief by academics.

NUI Maynooth is a key participant in a world-first European study into the next generation of the internet, along with five partner universities in Europe.

Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Conor Lenihan has welcomed the 12.5 per cent budget increases within his Department.

A document published by The Irish Council for Bioethics stresses the need to protect research findings from falsification by researchers who might cheat with results.

Five Irish third-level institutions are joining with Michigan State University and the disability body Respect to set up a Disability Research Institute.

A revolutionary smelling device, which could lead to the early detection of aggressive cancers, is being developed at Tyndall National Institute in Cork.

Steven Davy has won an Inspire Fellowship to study at Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, where he will join his twin, another Inspire winner.

A sexual harassment complaint against a lecturer who showed a female colleague a research paper on the sexual activities of bats has been upheld.

Today’s Cabinet reshuffle saw Tánaiste Mary Coughlan switched to Education and Batt O’Keeffe moved to Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

On March 19, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn delivered her first public address in Ireland since becoming European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science.

A Department of Education ‘profile analysis’ of grades awarded at Leaving Cert and Higher Education levels has found evidence of ’significant’ inflation.

A unique pre-famine manuscript covering the period leading up to and including the Great Famine was recently presented to Glucksman Library.