The annual presentation of honours and awards was held in the Common Room of University College, Cork on Monday 2nd December 2002 at 6.00pm. The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. John Kelleher, attended.

Craft Apprentice Award

Recipient: Mr. Alan Scully, (C.E.I., Cork Ltd) – Cork

Nominated by: Mr. Pat McCarthy, FAS Training Centre, Cork.

Alan’s nomination is based on his ability and hunger for knowledge, he has consistently performed to a very high standard both practically and academically. Alan has attended the FAS Training Centre in Cork and worked as an apprentice in CEI Cork Ltd. At all stages of his apprenticeship he has shown excellent application, and has completed several courses. During his four year period Alan has achieved Credits in Phase 2-4-6 at FAS Cork and Carlow Institute of Technology resulting in an overall Merit. He has also successfully completed the City & Guilds 275 Technicians Certificate by additional study by night and he has completed the Diploma in Applied Physics & Instrumentation with Distinction, and in August this year he attained a Bachelor of Science Degree with First Class Honours in Applied Physics & Instrumentation.

Technician Award

Recipient: Mr. Pierce Doheny, – Co. Kilkenny

Nominated by : Dr. Eamonn Cashell, Head of the Applied Physics and Instrumentation Dept., Cork Institute of Technology

The contribution for which the recipient is recognised : Pierce’s nomination is based on his outstanding achievement in gaining a distinction and first place in the National Certificate in Applied Physics and Instrumentation at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) in 2002, with an impressive average mark of 82.3%. All of Pierces subject marks were remarkably consistent, spanning the range 89% (Mathematics) to 78% (Process Instrumentation) and aptly demonstrate PierceÕs all-round abilities. Pierce is currently pursuing the National Diploma in Applied Physics and Instrumentation at CIT.

Technologist Award

Recipient: Mr. Andrew Williams – Cork

Nominated by : Dr. Eamonn Cashell, Head of the Applied Physics and Instrumentation Dept., Cork Institute of Technology

Andrew’s nomination is based on his outstanding achievement in gaining a distinction and first place in the National Diploma in Applied Physics and Instrumentation at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) in 2002. Andrew’s average mark was 85.4%, making this one of the highest averages ever achieved. An especially noteworthy aspect of Andrew’s course work was his placement in the Conoco Phillips Refinery Whitegate. His tasks here included the tagging of the entire boiler house area of the plant and working on several transmitter problems, and he also received a detailed understanding of the DCS system in operation in the plant. Andrew is currently pursuing a BSc in Applied Physics and Instrumentation at CIT.

Ger. Dullea Award

Recipient: Mr. Colin Cronin – Co. Cork.

Nominated by: Dr. Eamonn Cashell, Head of the Applied Physics and Instrumentation Dept. Cork Institute of Technology

The contribution for which the recipient is recognised : Colins nomination is based on his outstanding achievement in gaining first-class honours in the BSc in Applied Physics and Instrumentation course at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) in 2002. ColinÕs average mark of 81.4% was the highest of any CIT degree graduate in 2002. As a result, he was the recipient of the DirectorÕs Prize for Outstanding Degree Graduate in CIT, Colin is the first student ever from the BSc in Applied Physics and Instrumentation course to be awarded this very prestigious award. His overall average included a mark of 83% for his final-year project, entitled ÒLevel Control using SCADAÓ. The project required him to implement software to establish communication between a PC and PLC using a LAN and thus establish proportional and integral control of the water level in a remote vessel. It is clear that Colin showed a high aptitude for both the theoretical and practical elements of the degree course.

Technology Achievement Award

The committee decided, that the nominations submitted did not merit the presentation of this award for 2002.

Instrument Pioneer –

Recipient : Mr. Richard Williams – Co Wicklow

Nominated by: Mr. Dave Webster and Mr. Peader Walsh

Richard started his career as a Laboratory Technician with Gouldings in Dublin, and he developed a very keen interest in Instrumentation during his time in the Labs. He could see that this new science could solve a lot of existing problems on the plant. His interest, was such that in time he became the Instrumentation Engineer for Gouldings in the mid 60Õs. One of his first taskÕs was to develop a training programme for his new technicians on site, and to assist with this he approached Anco (now FAS) to encourage them to introduce a course for Instrument Technicians. Anco at the time had only just started to register Electrical Craftspeople and they were not really delivering the type of course Richard required, however Richard was persistent, as only Richard can be and was instrumental in Anco introducing a register for Instrument Craftspeople and thus a certified course for same. He was also very active in the late 60Õs when Anco formed the Tobacco and Industries Group to examine the Instrument Market Requirements, at that time. On the demise of Gouldings in the early Seventies Richard joined Tara Mines as an Instrument Engineer, and worked over and under ground pursuing his great love of the science. In the mid Seventies he formed ADENTEC with a Mr. Michael Quirk. With his new company he was sent to Cork for a 10 day assignment with PfizerÕs to examine Specific Level Measurement on Crystallizers, Richard initiated a solution to same, and the system he introduced is still being used in Citric Acid Plants Worldwide. The project team in Pfizer under Mr. Dan OÕSullivan quickly recognised Richards ability and proceeded to give him testing assignments. One of these projects saw Richard initiate measurement by Isotopes, and Richard as a result guided Pfizer through the Legislative Requirements of the Irish Nuclear Energy Board. His very quick and short 10 day assignment saw Richard spending some Eight Years in Pfizer and ADM. In the Early 80Õs Richard moved to Elan where he spent many a year resolving problems utilising the great knowledge of Instrumentation to initiate solutions. Richard has been a member of ISA since its inception in Ireland and throughout his long career has been through choice, very heavily involved in developing solutions by fully utilising the science of Instrumentation thus making him a true Instrument Pioneer.

Special Recognition

Recipients: John Loughnane – Conoco Phillips and Brendan Barry – Schering Plough

They have adjudicated on the Ireland Sections Honours and Awards Ceremony for the past Seven Years. Both were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation.