Mayo native makes history by receiving prestigious European Fellowship award

MAYO native and Interim President of University of Galway, Professor Peter McHugh has been elected Fellow of the European Mechanics Society (EUROMECH).

A native of Ballyhaunis, Professor McHugh is the first person from the Republic of Ireland to receive the prestigious Fellowship award.

Professor McHugh was awarded the EUROMECH Solid Mechanics Fellowship for his outstanding scientific contributions to biomechanics, biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering and the development of biomedical engineering research and education programmes.

By honouring him in such a way, the EUROMECH Council recognises eminent scientific contributions to the advancement of Solid Mechanics.

The prestigious accolade is awarded to just three Fellows every three years, and there currently are only 20 EUROMECH Solid Mechanics Fellows.

The European Mechanics Society will officially confer a Fellowship on Professor McHugh at the 12th European Solid Mechanics Conference, which takes place in Lyon, France in July.

“I am delighted to become a Fellow of the European Mechanics Society,” said Professor McHugh. “It is an enormous honour to have my contribution to research and scholarship, and its application in technological development and education, recognised in this way. I look forward to supporting the work of the Council and to continue to work with colleagues from across Europe and beyond to identify and promote new research directions.”

Originally from Ballyhaunis, Professor McHugh is an internationally recognised research leader in biomedical engineering and his research is focused on fundamental developments and applications of computational and experimental methods in biomechanics, tissue mechanics and medical implants and devices. He has been a pioneer in the development of biomedical engineering research and education in Ireland and internationally.

Professor McHugh joined the University in 1991 and was appointed as the first Established Professor of Biomedical Engineering in 2007. He has served as Dean of College of Engineering and Informatics, Head of School of Engineering, and as Deputy President and Registrar of the University, and was appointed as Interim President of University of Galway in September 2024.

The European Mechanics Society is an international scientific organisation whose objective is to engage in all activities to promote the development of mechanics as a branch of science and engineering, ranging from fundamental research on the behaviour of solids and fluids to applied research in engineering.

The status of Fellow of EUROMECH is awarded to members of the Mechanics community who have contributed significantly to the advancement of mechanics and related fields. This may be through their original research and publications, or their innovative contributions in the application of mechanics and technological developments, or though their distinguished contribution to the discipline in other ways.