An Taoiseach launches George Boole 200 celebrations with a little help from a friend
Yesterday an Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny T.D. joined Dr Michael Murphy, President of University College Cork to launch details of the university’s year-long celebrations in 2015 to mark the bicentenary of George Boole (1815-1864). In an event, spanning two cities, the celebration of QCC/UCC's first professor of mathematics was brought to the attention of the nation.
The celebrations of the life and legacy of George Boole include a diverse range of high-profile projects and events that will celebrate the contributions of Boole in the fields of mathematics, computer science and engineering, but will also establish a series of legacy initiatives that will serve to inspire and fund the next generation of talent in these disciplines, for more click here.
Dr Michael Murphy, President of University College Cork, said: “Ireland is lauded around the world for our famous scholars and among them George Boole, originally from Lincoln, is highly distinguished. Some 200 years after his birth, George Boole remains a beacon of academic excellence and the influence of his theories of logic and probabilities are as powerful today as they were back in the 1800s. At UCC we are hugely proud of George Boole and he serves as the ultimate ambassador to our long tradition of independent thinking - a trait he epitomised in his lifetime. Through our planned extensive programme of celebratory George Boole 200 events we will celebrate the long established tradition of world-class research in academic disciplines associated with him. Of course, his most enduring legacy will be that whenever you turn on a computer or use the internet, you think of George Boole.”
Speaking at the launch, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. said: “It is timely that UCC is celebrating George Boole in the week of the Web Summit since his pioneering work in mathematics and computer science makes him one of the forefathers of the digital age. As the Government works to secure economic recovery, Ireland continues to enhance its reputation as a world leader in science and technology. I commend UCC on their ambitious and exciting programme of events to commemorate George Boole's bicentenary year, which should be of great interest to Cork and the country as a whole." To view images of the event follow this link.
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