The Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE) awarded its highest honour, the 2025 Parsons Medal, to leading Irish academic Engineer, Professor Vincent Fusco.
The Academy awards the Parsons Medal to an Engineer, who has made an exceptional contribution to the practice of engineering on the island of Ireland that has resulted in significant social or economic impact.
Lady Alicia Parsons, Vincent Fusco, Academy President Sean Finlay.
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Paul Moore
Professor Vincent Fusco, Academy President Sean Finlay, Hon. Secretary Joe Harford who read the Citation.
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Paul Moore
Professor Vincent Fusco was, until recently, Director of Research for the School of Electronic, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Chief Technology Officer of the ECIT Research Institute at Queen’s University of Belfast, where he previously founded an internationally recognised High Frequency Electronics technology research group.
Fittingly the Award was held during the Birr Engineering STEAM Heritage Festival at Birr Castle Demesne, ancestral home of Sir Charles Parsons, eminent Irish engineer, and namesake of this medal, inventor of the compound steam turbine in 1884.
This was an opportunity for the Academy and Vincent to celebrate with family and friends.
Cathy Fusco, President Sean Finlay, Vincent Fusco
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Paul Moore
Celebration in the castle courtyard with Lady Rosse and Lady Alicia Parsons.
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Paul Moore
Lady Rosse also presented a Parsons commemorative coin to professor Fusco.
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Paul Moore
The citation was presented to Vincent by Sir Charles Parson’s descendant, Lady Alicia Parsons. Alicia is an aeronautical Engineer and manages the estate and gave us a tour of the visitor centre before the award ceremony.
Sean Finlay, President, the Irish Academy of Engineering commented,
“Vincent has made an exceptional contribution to the practice of engineering nationally and internationally through the innovative application of engineering to advanced wireless technology.”
“Ireland has for over 150 years been significant to the growth of global data communications. Today wireless is a global business offering mobile users much flexibility.”
Vincent Fusco
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Paul Moore
Professor Fusco commented, “The Irish Academy of Engineering provides independent advice to policy makers on issues related to engineering and technology. I am honoured to be the recipient of the 2025 Irish Academy of Engineering’s Parsons medal and would like to thank the Academy for selecting me. It is an honour to receive this recognition for engineering achievement. Throughout my career I have been privileged to have collaborated with inspirational colleagues and students on many problems in the field of wireless communication that are of relevance to today’s world where the ability to connect wirelessly is a key social, and economic driver.”
Jim Browne, Tom Leahy, Vincent Fusco, Sean Finlay, Lady Alicia Parsons, Joe Harford, Seamus McKeague.
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Paul Moore
The Academy Executive and Academy past Presidents from 2019 to 2025 and Hon. Secretary Joe Harford accompanied by Lady Alicia Parsons were given a tour of the Castle and grounds including the famous Birr Castle Leviathan telescope.
A plaque commemorating all the Parsons medals awarded now hangs in the Birr castle visitor centre.
After the award ceremony Vincent, his family and friends and members of the Academy were invited to lunch. After lunch, tea and pastries were enjoyed in the dining room of Birr Castle and Vincent discussed with Lady Alicia an example of his development of a composite of sapphire glass and thin-film antenna for an automotive sensor. A tour of Birr Castle was hosted by Lady Rosse.
Lady Alicia Parsons briefed by Vincent on sapphire glass composite antenna
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Tom Leahy
During a tour of the castle gardens Lady Alicia Parsons briefed the Academy on the I-LOFAR (Low frequency array) Radio Telescope.
Lady Alicia Parsons briefed the Academy on the I-LOFAR (Low frequency array).
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Paul Moore
This is the largest and most sensitive low-frequency radio telescope in the world. The Irish LOFAR is the westernmost station in the network, which includes the UK, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Latvia and Italy.
Explore Birr Castle Demesne and the legacy of the Parsons family, renowned for their pioneering work in science, engineering, and astronomy over 400 years.
The Academy awarding of the Parsons Medal 2025 to Prof. Vincent Fusco, who has made an exceptional contribution to the practice of engineering on the island of Ireland, is an example of how the Academy recognizes excellence in Engineering and delivers on its mission of providing thought leadership in a time of great change.
Academy news bulletin 16 October 2025 Academy Parsons Medal 2025 awarded to Vincent Fusco Final