On our second day in Dublin, we got right to business by heading to Trinity College to learn more about higher education in Ireland, as well as some of the fantastic innovations and inventions that have come from Irish scientists. Did you know that the first stethoscope and hypodermic needle both originated in Ireland?
The Trinity College campus is rich with history. It was created by royal charter in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth and is modeled after Oxford and Cambridge. It is considered one of the "ancient universities." Some amazing inventions have come from Trinity alumni, including the first transdermal nicotine patch, which has helped millions of people stop smoking and provided a foundation for transdermal medication delivery methods today. We were also able to view the Book of Kells, which was quite amazing. It's cultural significance cannot be understated.
We concluded our day with the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl to learn more about some of the prolific writers that were either born in or made Ireland their home, including Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Brendan Behan, and Samuel Beckett. It was fascinating to hear about how their connection to Ireland influenced their work, and see where they would hang their hat and stop in for a pint... or two!
Monday looks to be busy with a bus tour of Dublin and a meeting with the Irish Development Authority for an overview of the development of Ireland as a biomedical devices hub.