Trinity College Dublin is set to launch three new research projects aimed at tackling some of Ireland's most pressing climate and environmental challenges. Dr John Kennedy, Professor Wolfgang Schmitt, and Matthew Chersich have successfully secured funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support their vital work.

The EPA Research Programme, a key initiative from the Government of Ireland funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, is providing substantial backing for these projects. The funding for each project ranges from approximately €580,000 to €660,000.

Here's a closer look at what these projects aim to achieve:

  • Predicting Ireland's Future Noise Landscape: Dr John Kennedy from the School of Engineering will lead a project to predict and assess the future noise environment in Ireland. This research will help us understand how noise levels might change across the country in the coming years.

  • Turning Waste into Carbon-Capturing Materials: Professor Wolfgang Schmitt from the School of Chemistry and AMBER Research Ireland Centre will focus on an innovative solution: transforming bio-waste into graphene materials that can capture carbon. This could offer a new way to reduce carbon in our atmosphere.

  • Monitoring Climate Change's Health Impact: Matthew Chersich, working on a Children’s Health Ireland study, will be developing long-term systems for monitoring the impacts of climate change on health in Ireland. This project is crucial for understanding how our changing climate affects public health over time.

Dr John Kennedy, who is heading up the "Noise 2050" project, shared his enthusiasm: "The EPA's support for Noise 2050 enables us to harness cutting-edge acoustic modelling, sensor networks, and even involve the public to map and predict Ireland’s changing soundscape all the way to 2050. By combining real-time data with community input, we can create specific strategies to reduce noise, improve public health, guide smart policy decisions, and make our cities and rural areas quieter and more pleasant to live in."

He added, "This project recognises the need for a healthier environment, driven by new ideas, built on science, and shaped by the people it serves."

Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment, highlighted the importance of this investment: "The increased amount of research funding the EPA is announcing in 2025 shows just how critical research and innovation are in dealing with climate change, environmental pollution, and the decline of biodiversity. This new EPA funding will help create inventive solutions to support Ireland’s efforts to address these challenges. Congratulations to the successful researchers, and I'm really looking forward to hearing more about these exciting projects in the years ahead."