Minister for Further & Higher Education Simon Harris visits University of Limerick campus
Pictured during the visit at the Bernal Institute in UL were Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris, Dr Marina Moraes Leite, Bernal Institute and Professor Kerstin Mey, President UL Picture: Alan Place
Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD paid a visit to the University of Limerick campus this week.

Minister Harris visited University of Limerick this Monday where he spoke with students, researchers and staff.

Minister Harris met with UL President Professor Kerstin Mey and colleagues from the University – saying afterwards that it was a “great visit”.

Professor Mey said: “We were delighted to showcase the research capability of the University and talk about our Sustainability Framework during the visit of the Minister to our campus.

“Students and research are at the heart of everything we do at UL and we were very proud to explain that to him. The Minister was able to hear first-hand from students who are adding to the bank of knowledge and will act as the catalyst of change that we need them to be when they leave this institution and go out as ambassadors for UL,” added Professor Mey.

The Minister was given a tour of the Glucksman Library, where he was shown the Automated Reserve Collection (ARC), an automated storage and retrieval system that has the capacity to store c.500,000 books and is the first of its kind in Europe.

During the visit, Minister Harris also watched a performance by three student musicians from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at UL and spoke with researchers at the Bernal Institute who are developing cutting-edge battery technology.

He tweeted afterward: “Enjoyed my visit to @BernalNews in @UL last night. Super research work underway including around the area of battery life - something we are all reliant on in many aspects of life. Thanks to Tadgh & Marina for showing me some of their work & to the researchers for talking with me.”