Local professor achieves rare academic milestone
Athlone scientist Professor Neil Rowan has become first in TUS to receive the highest academic degree in the Irish and UK university systems.
Technological University of the Shannon scientist, Professor Neil Rowan, has been awarded a Higher Doctor of Science (D.Sc) by the University of Strathclyde in Scotland – marking a first for TUS.
The Higher D.Sc. is the highest academic degree in the Irish and UK university systems, above a PhD. It is awarded to scholars who have demonstrated a significant contribution to their field over several decades. Professor Rowan is the first academic in TUS to achieve this award. Fewer than ten Higher Doctorates are awarded per year in Ireland.
Professor Rowan’s work has fundamentally advanced the fields of disease prevention, MedTech, and global food security, all underpinned by a commitment to environmental sustainability. Professor Rowan’s D.Sc. thesis comprises 150 peer-reviewed journal papers presented in two volumes—totalling approximately 1,600 pages—the submission covers his research from 1995 to the present day.
Speaking on the news, Professor Rowan said: "When I first entered higher education from school, it was through a soccer scholarship to the University of Galway. If you told me then that I would one day be awarded a Higher Doctorate of Science, I wouldn’t have believed it. I am so grateful for the journey my education and career have brought me on to date. I am truly grateful to all those who have supported me on what has been a herculean academic journey of research and discovery. I sincerely thank the University of Strathclyde, where I graduated with my PhD in 1996. I conducted two-thirds of my research with TUS and am so proud of the wonderful research that is happening across the university. Every day is a school day. I very much look forward to the conferring ceremony in Strathclyde later this year."
Professor Vincent Cunnane, President of TUS, said the achievement is a testament to the world-class research calibre within the university: “Professor Rowan’s award of a Higher Doctorate is an extraordinary milestone, for him personally, for TUS and the wider Technological University sector. It signifies a level of academic authority that is globally rare and reflects decades of inquiry. At TUS, our mission is to drive regional development through global excellence, and Neil’s work, from pioneering MedTech solutions to his recent appointment with the United Nations Panel on Nuclear War Effects, exemplifies this. We are immensely proud to have an academic of his stature helping to drive our research efforts."
A native of Coosan, Athlone, Professor Rowan dedicated the achievement to the memory of his parents, Breffini and Ruth, and to his wife Michelle and children. A former student of Dean Kelly NS and St. Aloysius College, Professor Rowan’s path was carved out via a soccer scholarship to the University of Galway before he moved to Scotland to forge a career that has now seen him ranked #1 in the world for decontamination research. He remains a passionate advocate for the transformative power of modern education.
