Healthy and Sustainable Communities for All UCD Transdisciplinary
Research Network Event
March 13th 2024
UCD Village Auditorium
UCD Transdisciplinary Research Network Event
This networking event brings a diverse group of academics and researchers together to encourage innovative cross-College collaborations. Many of the big issues in today’s society need multiactor approaches and perspectives to address them. As a University with world-class research from soil to society, this networking event showcases on-going research, signals ambitions and supports the development of collaborations for trans-disciplinary research across UCD campus.
The event includes the broadest definition of sustainability to be inclusive for all colleagues across UCD and to promote opportunities for meaningful collaborations under the broad heading of ‘Healthy and Sustainable Communities for All’. We list above the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 to highlight the range of themes that currently inform policy.
Vice Principals for Research, Innovation and Impact
Dympna Devine VPRII College of Social Sciences and Law
Lorraine Brennan VPRII College of Health and Agricultural Sciences
Elaine O’Reilly VPRII College of Science
Aoife Gowen VPRII College of Engineering and Architecture
Helen Dixon VPRII College of Arts and Humanities
Andreas Hoepner VPRII College of Business
UCD Transdisciplinary Research Network Event
10.00- 10.05
Introduction
10.05 – 11.20 Session 1
Flash Talks
11.20-11.45 Coffee Break
11.45-12.45 Session
2
Flash Talks
Karen Keaveney School of Agriculture and Food Science
Paul Cuffe School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Orla Murphy Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy / Civil Engineering
Fergus McAuliffe Earth Sciences
Susi Geiger Business
Amanda Fitzgerald Psychology
Desmond Tobin Medicine/Charles Institute of Dermatology
Paul McAleer Languages, Cultures and Linguistics
Kirill Nikitin Chemistry
Patrick Brodie School of Information and Communication Studies
Hugh Campbell Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy / Civil Engineering
Seaneen Sloan School of Education
PARALLEL A
Olga Ionnidou Education
Elgar Kamjou Planning and Environmental Policy
Rachel McArdle Geography
Kevin Roche Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Lauren Devine UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science
Karen Maye School of Education
Sarah Cooney Psychology
Hanne Jahns Veterinary Medicine
Fiona Lalor Agriculture and Food Science
Ciaran McNally Civil Engineering
PARALLEL B
Hamed Heydari-Doostabad Electrical and Electronics
Ainhoa Gonzalez Geography
Rachel Farrell Education
Christopher Burbidge Earth Sciences
Oluwayemisi Olomo School of Business
Ruben Flores Sociology
Alison Connolly School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science
Anne Pender Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy
Mark Pickering School of Medicine
12.45 - 13.00
Louise Griffin | UCD Sustainability Manager
13.00 - 14.00 Networking Lunch
College of Arts and Humanities
College of Health and Agricultural Sciences
College of Social Science and Law
College of Engineering and Architecture College of Science College of Business
UCD Transdisciplinary Research Network Event
Professor Aoife
Gowen
School of Biosystems and Food Engineering
Dr. Caitriona Dowd
School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe)
Dr Paul Cuffe
Sustainable Agri-Food Technologies
Social Scientist interested in implementation of agri-food technologies to improve sustainability
Conflict & Hunger (SDGs 2 & 16)
Beyond broad consensus that conflict leads to hunger, we have limited understanding of whether, and how, specific violent tactics result in specific food security outcomes. I am a former humanitarian and current conflict researcher whose work focuses on the role of violent conflict in food crises. As a social scientist, I would like to explore possible collaborations with nutrition / public health researchers working on development / humanitarian contexts, leveraging complementary expertise to develop an interdisciplinary political epidemiology of food crises.
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Energy Infrastructure
How to build energy infrastructure (like powerlines) that is less ugly and dehumanisingRemote delivery of illumination-on-demand using long endurance drones and focused spotlights- Ergonomics & human factors of control room displays for controllers of power grids- Design of small personal electric vehicles to properly and fully embrace the potential of electric power- Use of image classification software and/or novel legal strategies to empower citizens to fight back against visual clutter in cities (illegal advertising signage etc) at scale.
Dr. Philip Crowe
School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy / Civil Engineering
Dr Kirill Nikitin
School of Chemistry
UCD Centre for Irish Towns (CfIT)– Call for Expertise
UCD Centre for Irish Towns (CfIT) is an established academic centre that supports the co-creation of vibrant, resilient communities in Irish towns. Irish towns are a convergence point for a range of social-ecological systems and provide a manageable scale in which to explore challenges, work with communities, and test innovations. We are currently finalising a 3–5-year plan that aims to more fully establish CfIT as a Centre of Excellence. As part of this we are seeking new members of our Working Group to increase the diversity of disciplines and perspectives represented.
Phosphorus recovery process
As production of phosphate fertilizer from mined raw materials becomes increasingly unsustainable, there is considerable motivation to extend the range of phosphate sources to maintain plant performance. Our current research into an entirely novel phosphorus recovery process will address the P-challenge.
We have secured an NCF grant (www.sfi.ie/challenges/future-food-systems/SINFERT/) to further develop the phosphate extraction process and progress it to commercialisationready stage.
Dr. Patrick Brodie School of Information and Communication Studies
Impacts and implications of “cloud” technologies
Unexpected material impacts and implications of “cloud” technologies by analysing their use and application on fish farming. The industry has seen a recent “cloud” and AI boom, as companies seek to make their cultivation and harvesting measures more efficient by applying data-driven and machine-learning technologies to their operations, requiring “cloud-first” strategies of automation in service of “sustainability.” I’m interested in finding out more and finding potential collaborators to discuss this political ecology of coalescing data farms and fish farms.
UCD Transdisciplinary Research Network Event
Dr. Kevin Roche
School of Mechanical and Materials
Engineering
Dr. Seaneen Sloan
School of Education
Technologies and systems to support circular and sustainable materials use I am interested in technologies and systems to support circular and sustainable materials use. A particular area of focus is using novel and low-cost sensors to identify different types of plastics in recovered waste, so that they can be separated for recycling. For such technology to ever be implemented effectively, it must integrate well into the material life cycle. Therefore, I am also interested the studying broader waste recovery systems and understanding people’s awareness and engagement with these.
Growing Up in Digital Europe (GUIDE)
Growing Up in Digital Europe (GUIDE) will be Europe’s first comparative, input-harmonised, cohort study of child wellbeing. It is led by UCD with 22 European partners. Data will be collected on child wellbeing and individual, familial and community-level factors related to children’s wellbeing. The team are creating a central hub at UCD that will coordinate the survey operation across Europe and would welcome opportunities to collaborate with a range of disciplines (including psychology, child health, education, social policy, statistics, public health, sociology, geography, economics, law).
Ms Lauren Devine
School of Agriculture and Food Science
Dr. Fergus McAuliffe
School of Earth Sciences
Dr Sarah Cooney
School of Psychology
Associate
Professor Amanda Fitzgerald
School of Psychology
Ms. Rebecca White
School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering
Developing solutions to support UCD students transition towards healthy and sustainable dietary behaviours
Our Horizon Europe funded project PLAN’EAT, is an applied research project that aims to better understand how environmental, social, cultural and individual factors affect student’s food choices, and to co-design solutions to support improved dietary behaviours. We would welcome any perspectives or insights from across UCD to aid in informing our evolving PLAN’EAT Living Lab study.”
Earth science in society
The goal of the iCRAG SFI Research Centre is to create solutions for a sustainable society. We develop innovative science and technologies to better understand the Earth’s past, present, and future and how people are connected to it. We are looking to meet fellow scientists, engineers and social scientists interested in interdisciplinary work at the nexus of earth science and society.
Body image in mental health, chronic health conditions, child development and education
Looking for collaborators with expertise in body image in mental health, chronic health conditions, child development and education.
Body Image
Multidisciplinary focus on body image research
Developing STEAM micro-credentials for agentic learning for post-primary Integrated literacies for climate change and sustainability
Research Question We would like to connect with researchers on: Developing STEAM micro-credentials for agentic learning for post-primary Integrated literacies for climate change and sustainability Circular design thinking- a compulsory module for undergraduate students Call for Expertise Under the Muinín Catalyst Sustainable STEAM programme, we are looking for content-experts in the area of Space to consult on our post-primary programme. The Future of Space: This programme introduces learners to space science, technology, physics and indigenous perspectives through project-based learning.
UCD Transdisciplinary Research Network Event
Ms Karen Maye
School of Education
Professor Susi
Geiger
School of Business
Dr. Marta Talevi
School of Economics
Dr. Hamed HeydariDoostabad
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Dr Rachel Toomey
School of Medicine
Cooperating Teacher (CT) as mentor can be used most effectively to support the student teacher
This study aims to identify how the role of Cooperating Teacher (CT) as mentor can be used most effectively to support the student teacher (ST) in their school placement and promote teacher learning for both the CT and ST and contribute to the development of democratic pedagogical partnerships between schools and Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers. A key action is to build capacity in CTs to mentor STs on their school placement and to support CTs to act as “in-house” assessors of STs through a mentoring module, Teachers Leading Mentoring, tailored to the needs of CTs in Ireland.
Healthcare Markets
Susi Geiger’s academic work investigates how healthcare markets can be organised and made sustainable so that they work toward the right for health for all and are answerable to public good concerns. I have a particular focus on market failures and how activists contest these market failures and work to alleviate them, for instance in highly-priced medicines, patent issues or other failures of access to healthcare. My research is funded by a European Research Council Consolidatory Grant, and I seek impact through policy engagements and academic activism in the access to medicines space.
Citizen-science, capacity building + better models
Call for expertise:- citizen-science, capacity building + better models, and low-cost tools to monitor ground-water, weather, etc. for early warnings, adaptation, sustainable development (in the energy sector, agriculture, or others);- identifying irrigated areas using satellite images (in Global South);- collaborations with hydrologists, engineers, agriculture and climate scientists on undertaking sustainability analysis of solar-powered irrigation and the risk of over-extraction in specific sites. I also work on uptake/use of EVs, PVs, energy efficiency; energy decarbonization policies.
Renewable energy and Power systems
Renewable energy and Power system
Dr Kirill Nikitin
School of Chemistry
Medical imaging and radiation protection
We Interested in exploring a One Health approach in medical imaging and radiation protection, as well as investigating methods to improve understanding of how medical images are perceived and ensuring that this is incorporated appropriately in developing and implementing new technological innovations in imaging.
Addressing the global P-depletion challenge
This SFI funded project (https://www.sfi.ie/challenges/future-food-systems/SINFERT/) relates to a novel non-aqueous liquid-phase process for the extraction of phosphorus. We have demonstrated a proprietary process termed DOC whereby treatment of solid phosphate sources (e.g. natural rock, SSA, chicken manure or bone meal ash) leads to pure phosphorus compounds for chemical industry and/or agriculture. The aim is to address the global P-depletion challenge and create efficient and commercially viable recycling of phosphates via new DOC technology.
UCD Transdisciplinary Research Network Event
Associate Professor Hanne
Jahns
School of Veterinary Medicine
Associate Professor Ainhoa
Gonzalez Del Campo
School of Geography
Dr. Christopher Burbidge
School of Earth Sciences
Associate Professor Dorota Piaskowska
School of Business
Dr. Anita McKeown
School of Materials and Mechanical Engineering
Characterisation of environmental pollutants in pinnipeds stranded along the Irish coast since 2019
Characterisation of environmental pollutants in pinnipeds stranded along the Irish coast since 2019. Marine mammals are considered one of the best sentinel organisms in aquatic and coastal environments and are used to gain information on the current or potential negative trends within the aquatic ecosystem and their possible impact on human and animal health. Looking for collaborators to examine archived tissues from grey and harbour seals stranded along the Irish coast for environmental pollutants and help to inform on environmental status of Irish coastal waters.
Capturing SDGs progress at the local level
Can we develop a framework for capturing SDGs progress at the local level? I am interested in recording, analysing and understanding local efforts towards sustainability and developing mechanisms to ensure this information feeds into national SDGs reporting. This is of particular relevance to UCD and other third level institutions in the context of their influential role in shaping environmental and societal outcomes. I would like to set up a multidisciplinary research on sustainable campus operations and streamlined integration of sustainability concepts and practice into the curriculum.
Geoscience data analytics and data infrastructure development
Focussed on geoscience data analytics and data infrastructure development at iCRAG, I have a background in multidisciplinary academic, metrological and regulatory environments with public, government and industry. My experience includes development of systems for data management and analysis, detectors and environmental monitoring networks, radiation physics and geochemical analysis and modelling. I apply this to FAIRing datasets and developing EU centric data solutions for geoscience, radioecology and radiation protection, human environment interaction through climate change.
Sustainability-focused courses
I am currently researching how graduates from sustainability-focused courses transfer and amend their knowledge in and through practice, and how they can impact their organisations despite being low-power actors. I am also revamping my (business) modules to incorporate sustainability principles. I am looking forward to the event and forging new connections.
Agentic learning, integrated literacies for sustainability, intergenerational learning We would like to connect with researchers on the following:
1. Developing STEAM micro-credentials for agentic learning for post-primary learners
2. Integrated literacies for climate change and sustainability
3. Circular design thinking Values-led Innovation Module - a compulsory module for undergraduate students
4. Intergenerational Learning Professor Desmond Tobin
School of Medicine/ Charles Institute of Dermatology
Dr. Paul McAleer
School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics
Dermatology – Call for Collaboration
Our skin is a highly complex neuro-immuno-endocrine organ, positioned strategically at the interface between our external & internal environments, which transduces vast information via myriad compartments, appendages, and receptors. All have evolved to sense & respond to diverse stressors (e.g. UVR, mechanical, chemical, (micro)biological). Tantalizing insights our emerging into how Skin-Gut and Skin-Brain axes influence our health & wellbeing. The UCD Charles Institute provides a powerful platform for CHAS colleagues to interrogate their research questions in a highly accessible human organ.
Plastic Recycling
I am looking for experts in plastic recycling as I am starting up an educational project to reduce plastic waste
UCD Transdisciplinary Research Network Event
Dr. Alison Connolly
School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science
Dr Fiona Lalor
School of Agriculture and Food Science
Dr. Rachel McArdle
School of Geography
Human biomonitoring (HBM)
Human biomonitoring (HBM) is considered the gold standard methodology for conducting human exposure assessments to chemicals. HBM is a systemic chemical assessment that analyses biological materials (e.g. blood, urine) to measure the internal dose, from all exposure sources and routes. HBM can measure environmental chemicals and is an essential tool for assessing total exposures to a chemical from various sources, evaluating temporal changes, and identifying highly exposed or vulnerable groups. Discussions for environmental or occupational exposure assessments or supplementary studies.
Impact of reformulation strategies on consumer behaviour
With a view to contributing to national food policy, this project will use a mixed methods approach to study how since their inception, reformulation strategies have impacted on consumer behaviour. Specifically, this study would measure the impact that reductions in salt, fat and/or sugar in food products frequently consumed in Ireland, have had on consumers. The study will, through the medium of focus groups, determine the level of consumer awareness and knowledge of food reformulation. The outcome of this qualitative method would then be used to inform a questionnaire to be completed online.
CONUNDRUM - empowering communities in sustainable modes of mobility
There are currently social, environmental, and economic burdens being experienced in small towns in Ireland by an over-reliance on carbon-intensive, private transport and a lack of public transport options. Our project CONUNDRUM is funded by the SFI and led by Prof Niamh Moore-Cherry (UCD) and Prof Brian Caulfield (TCD), working with TASC. We are researching how to empower communities to adopt more sustainable modes of mobility by demonstrating how shared low-carbon transportation can plug the gap when high frequency public transport might not be available.
Dr. Mark Pickering
School of Medicine
Dr Simona Grasso
School of Agriculture and Food Science
Associate Professor Jaime Jones
School of Music
Dr. Sarah Browne
School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science
Microplastic pollution
Microplastic pollution, especially in marine environments, is an emerging threat to human, animal and environmental health. Tackling this problem effectively requires scalable microplastic measurement tools. Our group develops low cost, accessible imaging instruments for microplastics detection, designed for both researchers and non-research stakeholders (e.g. community groups etc). We would be in collaboration to develop this work or to share this approach towards other problems.
Consumer attitudes towards upcycled foods
The goal is to gather insights on what Irish consumers think about the concept of upcycled foods. Upcycled foods are new foods where by-products have been incorporated. There will be a survey and/or a sensory test with different types of information provided (no info, info on health, on sustainability or both). A real product could be used, or different concepts could be tested. Looking for a multidisciplinary approach to develop this study, collect the data and publish the results as a team.
DIY [do-it-yourself]/ community-based cultural production
I am investigating the value of DIY [do-it-yourself]/ community-based cultural production (music, film, theatre, art, dance, etc.) in sustaining engaged citizenship, sharing knowledge and learning, combatting alienation and loneliness in urban settings, and caring for diverse participants, including older age groups. My current research focuses on how digital technologies can reduce DIY scenes’ precarity and make them more hospitable spaces for all members. I am looking for expertise in the areas of aging studies, public policy, information studies, and urban planning and development.
Sustainability in education theory & practice
Sustainability in education theory & practice - this is a call to collaborate on education pedagogy and frameworks in education for sustainable development. In nutrition and dietetics we are focused on sustainable food systems, however, our students need exposure to diverse knowledge systems and roles of other disciplines across ecological, sociological, and economic sustainability.
UCD Transdisciplinary Research Network Event
Dr. Ashley Cahillane
School of English, Drama and Film
Dr. Niki Nearchou
School of Psychology
Dr. Emeka Dumbili
School of Sociology
Dr. Heleena Moni
Bottu
School of Agriculture and food science
Dr. Michael Fop
School of Mathematics and Statistics
Dr. Jeremy Auerbach
School of Geography
Dr. Thomas Däubler
School of Politics and International Relations
Socio-cultural benefits of Irish Sea and its coasts
I am researching the socio-cultural benefits (e.g. sense of place, local identity, artistic inspiration) provided by the Irish Sea and its coasts. This is for the Horizon Europe MARBEFES project: marbefes.eu. I am interested in further positioning marine areas as cultural spaces wherein seafarers and coastal communities develop highly valued traditions, cultures, and identities. Interested in perspectives from social science; maritime culture and history; cultural geography; marine governance; political ecology; and other relevant fields.
Factors associated with sustainable resilience and well-being
I specialise in understanding the mechanisms underpinning social, environmental, psychological and biological factors associated with sustainable resilience and well-being. An emerging area of my research agenda focuses on the ways factors embedded in the natural, social and built environment of the individual (access to green spaces, neighborhood safety, exposure to noise and pollution), may be linked to resilience, mental health and ultimately quality of life. This primarily addresses SDG 3: Healthy Lives & Wellbeing but also linked to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities.
Alcohol and Drug Use
Are there researchers working on alcohol and drug use in UCD? I am new here, so I need to know for collaboration purposes.
Sustainable dietary mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases
The research question explores sustainable dietary mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and brain fog, focusing on inflammation and oxidative stress through various biological pathways. I am interested in generating preliminary data on new sustainable foods using novel in vitro cell models and interventions as investigative platforms. The goal is to develop collaborations with the aim of developing a funding application and publishing collaborative work.
Developing innovative statistical and machine learning methods for analyzing complex high-dimensional data
My research focus is on developing innovative statistical and machine learning methods for analyzing complex high-dimensional data. Specifically, I am interested in developing models that can detect hidden patterns and describe complex associations in the data. Areas of research include statistical network analysis, clustering and classification, and variable selection. I am passionate about exploring new fields and scientific problems where datadriven research demands the development of novel data analysis methods. I am attending the event with the intent of establishing new collaborations.
Occupational health exposures data collection
Delivery riders in Dublin work in one of Europe’s most congested cities and one which also lacks critical bike infrastructure. We are looking for experts to help with occupational health exposures data collection, such as air and noise pollution along with traffic issues. These hazards intersect with racism and violence experienced by migrant riders. We are looking for experts to help with riders mapping their perceptions of the city. The poor compensation they receive for this hazardous employment has led to a recent strike and we are looking for experts in documenting injustices and action.
How do factors like the design of electoral institutions, electoral geography or the organization of representative bodies affect the selection and incentives of political actors
Background: Comparative Politics (quantitative), studying elections, parties and parliaments. Main focus on the effects of formal rules. Collaboration interests: How do factors like the design of electoral institutions, electoral geography or the organization of representative bodies affect the selection and incentives of political actors? Other suggestions welcome! Possible substantive areas: gender equality and representation, climate change policies, public health. Geographical area: Own expertise in European politics, but open towards other contexts.
UCD Transdisciplinary Research Network Event
Associate Professor John Baugh
School of Medicine
Dr. Helen Dixon
School of Classics
Effect of dietary fibre and microbiota-derived metabolites on pulmonary homeostasis and responses to injury
We are interested in the effect of dietary fibre and microbiota-derived metabolites on pulmonary homeostasis and responses to injury. We have shown that supplementing mice with soluble-fibre affects approx. 130 plasma metabolites and 600 alveolar macrophage genes in control animals and prevents pulmonary hypertension and fibrosis. Protection was associated with altered pulmonary inflammatory cell recruitment and significant proteomic alterations. We would love to chat to anybody interested in translating these studies to humans in the context of healthy aging and disease prevention.
Preserving historical cultural spaces and sites of cultural activity focus/interests are centred on preserving historical cultural spaces and sites of cultural activity through innovative transformation that may preserve, yet also reshape, the original identity (e.g.) of buildings, heritage sites and and natural locations. My specific research focuses are in the preservation/conservation of ancient sites and buildings (e.g. Roman bathhouses, temples, early churches, theatres, roads) from antiquity and their later repurposing through the medieval period into the Renaissance. Relevant SDGs: 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, 4, Quality education, 11 sustainable communities.
DrPolat Goktas
School of Computer Science
Integrating Responsible AI and Sustainability for Environmental and Social Well-being
As an AI Research Scientist at the School of Computer Science and Ireland’s Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence (CeADAR), University College Dublin, my core expertise encompasses human-computer interaction, generative artificial intelligence (AI), machine/ deep learning, large language models, and explainable AI. My primary focus is on adopting a sustainable computing approach, utilizing cutting-edge technologies to address pressing sustainability challenges with efficiency and innovation.
Our mission at CeADAR is to deploy our expertise in AI to collaborative initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with specific emphasis on addressing climate change, optimizing resource management, and combating social inequalities. Actively seeking partnerships, we are eager to offer our AI expertise to support and enhance projects dedicated to these crucial areas.
Dr. Ciaran McNally School of Civil Engineering
Low Carbon Concrete Construction
As we seek to move to a low-carbon society, we must also acknowledge that our built environment includes significant quantities of embodied CO2. We are surrounded by steel and concrete, and the production of each are extremely carbon intensive. In many cases there is no obvious replacement to these materials, leading to the sectors often being classed as “hard to abate”. There are however developments in the area of low clinker (and CO2) cements that offer significant potential in this space. These materials are advancing technically, but challenges with respect to sustainable procurement and market acceptance must be overcome.
Dr. Karen Keaveney
School of Agriculture and Food Science
Sustainable Living and Working in Rural Ireland and Europe
I am a Rural Geographer and Spatial Planner working on the sustainability of living and working in rural Ireland and Europe. I engage with communities, civil society and the state to co-design policies for vibrant and resilient rural places. I am currently leading a project (Citizen Rural) which is exploring digital data for participatory democracy in rural areas, and aims to assist citizens to engage in local decision-making. Co-design, bottomup approaches and community engagement are central to my research. I also co-lead the Sustainable Communities research theme in the Earth Institute (with Dr Christine Bonnin, School of Geography), which works across Colleges to bring people with similar research interests together.