Dr Francoise Blin and Dr Tia Keyes – this year’s President’s research award recipients
- 31 January 2006

Dublin City University’s highest research distinction, the President’s Award, was presented today, 31 January 2006, to two leading academics, Dr Tia Keyes of the School of Chemical Science and Dr Francoise Blin of the School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies.

The awards are presented annually to academics for outstanding research carried out in the field of Science and Engineering and also in Social Sciences and Humanities. DCU academics are invited to nominate candidates for the awards, who are then judged on the following criteria: national and international prominence, the relevance of their research, and the degree of excellence they have achieved in their specific area.

Dr Francoise Blin, for outstanding contribution to research in Humanities and Social Sciences

Dr Francoise Blin, School of Applied Language and Intercultural studies, received the award for her pioneering work in linking research to the classroom experience and for her commitment to interdisciplinarity in her research activities.

She is internationally recognised for her work with Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and is now the Vice-President of EUROCALL Executive Committee.

With the advent of Moodle, an open source virtual learning environment, and a social constructivist approach to Teaching and Learning, it is the research of scholars such as Dr Blin which will provide the academic community with the tools to analyse our students’ learning experience and devise appropriate teaching strategies and further research projects.

Dr Tia Keyes, for outstanding contribution to research in Science and Engineering

Dr Tia Keyes of the School of Chemical Sciences and the National Centre for Sensor Research received her award on the basis of her outstanding contributions to inorganic photophysics as well as energy and electron transfer dynamics.

She played a key role in developing the research programme of the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute that was funded by Science Foundation Ireland in 2005 to the tune of more than €16.5m.

In conclusion, Tia has made outstanding research contributions in physical chemistry, promoted science to new audiences, pushed the boundaries of multi- and interdisciplinary science, contributed significantly to social and economic development.

ENDS