Brian MacCraith facts for kids

Brian MacCraith is an Irish physicist born in Dundalk, Ireland, in 1957. He was the third president of Dublin City University (DCU) in Ireland. He started working at DCU in 1986. In July 2010, he became the president and served for 10 years. After his time as president, he took on volunteer roles. These included leading Ireland's special group for COVID-19 vaccines and the Future of Media Commission.

Early Life and School

Brian MacCraith grew up in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. His parents were both teachers. He went to primary schools in County Armagh and Dundalk. Later, he attended CBS Dundalk, which is now called Coláiste Rís. Both his mother and father taught him during his school years.

He studied Physics at NUI Galway and earned a science degree. He also completed his master's and Ph.D. degrees there. His advanced studies focused on how light interacts with special materials used in lasers.

His Career Journey

Brian MacCraith first worked at Dundalk Institute of Technology. In 1986, he joined Dublin City University (DCU). He taught physics and started the university's Optical Sensors Laboratory. This lab focused on creating and studying optical sensors. These are devices that use light to detect things. He researched optical chemical sensors, which detect chemicals, and biosensors, which detect biological things. He also worked on tiny sensors for medical tests. He has published many papers and developed new ideas in these areas.

In 1999, MacCraith became the first Director of the National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR) at DCU. He helped get a lot of money for this center from different groups. Later, he suggested creating the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI). This institute started in 2005. It received the largest amount of funding for a research project in Ireland's history at that time. MacCraith was its first director. In 2010, he also proposed the Nano-bio-analytical Research Facility (NRF) at DCU.

He also spent time as a visiting scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., in the United States.

Leading DCU as President

Brian MacCraith was chosen to be the third president of DCU. He took over after Ferdinand von Prondzynski's 10-year term ended. His inauguration, or official start, was on July 13, 2010. In his speech, he mentioned that he and DCU's first president, Danny O'Hare, both came from Dundalk and went to the same school. He said O'Hare was an inspiration to him.

He also talked about the importance of the population along Ireland's east coast. He hoped to build stronger connections between DCU and Dundalk IT, and with County Louth in general. In 2012, these two institutions signed an agreement to work together.

During his time as president, MacCraith often spoke about what businesses and industries need from universities. He also talked about the need for more funding for higher education. He also discussed how important it is for female students to study STEM subjects.

Important Roles for Ireland

Brian MacCraith has led several important reviews for the Irish government. He chaired a review of medical training and careers, which led to the "MacCraith Report" in June 2014. He also led a review of STEM education in Irish schools, which reported its findings in November 2016.

He has been a member of the board for several organizations. These include Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI), Ibec (a group for Irish businesses), Chamber Choir Ireland, and SciFest, which he has chaired. He also leads the Board of Trustees for the Genio Trust. This trust helps give money for social projects, like those supporting people with dementia and home care.

Future of Media Commission

In 2020, the Irish government asked MacCraith to lead the Future of Media Commission (FOMC). This group was set up to study and suggest ideas for the future of media in Ireland. It especially focused on public service broadcasting, like national TV and radio. The FOMC published its report in July 2022. The government agreed with almost all of its suggestions and is now putting them into action.

COVID-19 Efforts

In November 2020, the Irish Government appointed Brian MacCraith to lead its High-Level Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination. This group was in charge of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme in Ireland. They gave advice to the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health on how to carry out the vaccination plan.

Awards and Special Recognition

Brian MacCraith is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics. He is also a Fellow of SPIE, which is an international science group for optics and photonics. He is one of the few Fellows of the Irish Academy of Engineering. This group was created by the Institution of Engineers of Ireland. He also won the Mallin Invent Award for his new ideas and inventions.

In 2007, MacCraith was chosen to be a member of the Royal Irish Academy. This is often seen as the highest academic honor in Ireland, especially in the science field.

In 2014, the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, gave him an honorary doctorate. This is a special degree given to people who have achieved great things.

Personal Life

Brian MacCraith is married to Catherine MacCraith. They have two children, a daughter named Aoife and a son named Eoin.