Darwin Day HAI Darwin Day 2009
Darwin Day 2009
The 7th annual Darwin Day Lecture, as arranged by the Humanist Association of Ireland, was given by Professor David McConnell, Professor of Genetics,TCD. Title - "Darwin, genetics, and the nature of humankind".
David McConnell is Professor of Genetics at the Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College, Dublin. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin (BA, 1966) and the California Institute of Technology (PhD, 1971), he held an Eleanor Roosevelt Research Fellowship at Harvard University in 1976-77.
He pioneered the development of molecular genetics and genetic engineering in Ireland, participating in several EC biotechnology programmes, and collaborating with ICI, Guinness, Schering Plough, Biocon, BP and NovoNordisk in various biotechnology projects. He planned and led the development of the Smurfit Institute of Genetics, a leading centre for research and teaching of genetics. He was a founding participant in the Yeast Genome Project. He advised the United Nations Industrial Development Organization on many projects, and was Chairman of the Select Committee which reported on the location of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.
Formerly Vice Provost of Trinity College, he is currently a member of the Irish Council for Science Technology and Innovation and Chairman of The Irish Times Trust. He is a member of the Executive Board of the European Federation of Biotechnology and a member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation.
He is also Co-Vice Chairman of European Action on Global Life Sciences (EAGLES) which aims to enhance the collaboration between European researchers and researchers in the developing world to fight hunger and disease.
