The Founder of Celtic Renewables, Professor Martin Tangney OBE, was one of five trailblazing alumni who were honoured with the highly prestigious Alumni Achievement Award from their alma mater University College Cork (UCC), Ireland, at a gala awards dinner in Ireland.
The awards recognise UCC graduates who have gone on in their careers to make outstanding contributions to society and are internationally recognised leaders in their fields. An Alumni Achievement Award is one of the highest accolades given by the university.
“We are very proud that our alumni have been generous and impactful in securing a better life for our citizens and our planet."
Prof Tangney graduated from UCC with a First Class Honours degree in Microbiology and has gone on to establish himself as a driving force and award-winning pioneer in low carbon innovation in the biotechnology sector.
“It is a tremendous honour to receive this recognition from my alma mater. Studying at UCC helped to shape my life in many ways, and my degree course opened my eyes to the wonders of bacteria and how we can utilise them commercially.”
He developed the internationally acclaimed biotechnology innovation which is behind low carbon chemical pioneers Celtic Renewables.
“As the world strives to tackle climate change, biotechnology has a pivotal role to play as companies like Celtic Renewables seek to replace fossil fuel-derived chemicals with sustainable low carbon biological alternatives. I didn’t know it back then, but the seeds for Celtic Renewables were planted in my mind at UCC.”
The Alumni Achievement awards dinner is an annual celebration by UCC of its alumni, but the 2021 ceremony was postponed until now due to covid.
The other 2021 award winners on the evening from different disciplines were: her Honour Judge Helen Boyle, Cork Circuit Court judge; Professor Des Crowley, Doctor and inclusion health leader; Sean Minihane, founder of the Irish Immigration Reform Movement; and the critically acclaimed award-winning poet and author Doireann Ní Ghríofa.
The 2021 recipients pictured above are (L-R):
Professor Martin Tangney OBE;
Her Honour Judge Helen Boyle;
Sean Minihane;
Doireann Ní Ghríofa;
Professor Des Crowley
The UCC Alumni Achievement Awards took place at UCC.
