Professor Diskin awarded Teagasc Gold Medal
MAYO-based Professor Michael Diskin is the 2018 winner of the Teagasc Gold Medal.
Prof. Diskin is head of the Teagasc animal and bioscience research department and is also the sheep enterprise leader. He has been in charge of the Teagasc Mellows Campus in Athenry for 14 years.
Michael is a native of Corr na Móna in Co. Galway and lives in Castlebar.
The Teagasc Gold Medal is awarded on an annual basis to a member of staff who has made an exceptional contribution to Teagasc and to the agriculture and food sectors.
Michael has a strong national and international scientific reputation as a reproductive physiologist, particularly working with beef cattle. He has published over 130 refereed publications.
In 2008, in recognition of his scientific achievements, he was appointed adjunct Professor in the School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine in UCD.
He was presented with his award at a Teagasc authority meeting in Ballyhaise Agricultural College, Co. Cavan, by Teagasc chairman Liam Herlihy.
Said Mr. Herlihy: “Michael Diskin has had an outstanding career in Teagasc as a scientist and as a manager, where he has displayed huge dedication to the agriculture industry and to Teagasc. He has had a long, varied and distinguished career and we thank him for all he has contributed to the advancement of animal reproductive physiology and the Irish farming industry.”
Michael started work in An Foras Taluntais (AFT), working with Joe Sreenan on animal reproduction. As enterprise leader for sheep, he has worked to improve the Teagasc sheep programme and has played a leading role in the sheep BETTER farm programme.
He has been head of the animal and bioscience research department for the past five years.
He also chaired the organising committees for the Teagasc FarmFest Open Day in 2008 and the very successful Farming and Country Life 1916 event held in Athenry 2016.
Recently, he has been involved in the establishment of the BIA Innovator Campus CLG at Athenry, which to-date has secured almost €6 million in government funding.
Accepting the Gold Medal award, Michael said: “Teagasc is a team-based organisation and I am fortunate and privileged to have worked with many teams of excellent people during my career. I am delighted to accept this award and I receive it on behalf of all of my current and past Teagasc colleagues in Athenry and in other Teagasc centres that I had the privilege to work with. I want to thank all the farm, technical, research, advisory, specialist and administrative staff.”