The Chemical Engineering programme in MTU celebrated its 40^th anniversary on 8^th March at the Maryborough hotel.  The reunion was a tremendous success, bringing together over 300 attendees including 240 Chem Eng Alumni showcasing the impact and reach of our alumni.

The reunion was made even more special with inspiring speeches from MTU President Professor Maggie Cusack and Minister Michael McGrath.  Dr. Matt Cotterell, Head of the School of Mechanical, Electrical, and Process Engineering made a presentation to the Guest of Honour, the first female graduate, Bridget Sparrow (neé O’Sullivan) from the class of 1984.   Bridget thanked MTU for the opportunity to represent all the women that have graduated as chemical engineers in the last forty years. Bridget outlined her career over the past 40 years which was very inspirational. 

The Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, said: “on behalf of the government, I want to congratulate all the team at MTU at reaching 40 years of professional Chemical Engineering education. It is an extraordinary story of success and has been integral to the economic transformation of Ireland over the past number of decades. Exports of Chemical products accounted for just 7% of exports in 1973 and were valued at €74 million with Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Products making up just 2.6% of this. In 2022 Chemicals and Related Products accounted for 64% of total exports and were valued at a staggering €134 billion, with Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Products making up 38.4% of our total exports. By continuing to make Ireland attractive to Foreign Direct Investment and by fostering our indigenous business sector we will be creating the opportunities here to build successful careers and looking to the Engineering Faculty of MTU to make a huge contribution to the development of new technologies.”

Dr Aisling O ‘Gorman brought everyone down memory lane over the 40 years relaying the community that is evident within MTU creating by of lecturing staff and students. Dr Brendan O’Connell celebrated recently retired lecturers Noel Duffy and Pat Kennedy honoring their contribution to MTU (CIT/RTC) over many years.    

It was fitting to have gathered 70 Female Chemical Engineers to take a photo to mark International Women’s Day which was impressive in that over 30% of the Alumni attending on the night were female.

The PET Dept appreciates the sponsorship from the following participating companies: Arcadis, Eli Lilly, Irish Cement, International Flavors and Fragrances, Jacobs Engineering, Johnson and Johnson, Merck Group, MSD, PM Group, Sterling Pharma, Thermo Fischer, Viatris and MTU.

Dr. Matt Cotterell, Head of the School of Mechanical, Electrical, and Process Engineering made a presentation to the Guest of Honour, the first female graduate, Bridget Sparrow (neé O’Sullivan) from the class of 1984.  

Dr Brendan O’Connell and Dr Michael J O'Mahony celebrated recently retired lecturers Noel Duffy and Pat Kennedy

 Female staff, students and chemical engineers celebrating International Women’s Day, 2024