Research Ireland has announced funding for 59 projects under its New Foundations programme. Comprising a total investment of €683,677, these awards will support researchers in developing collaborative projects with community organisations and government departments. The projects will address health, social, environmental, and economic challenges in Ireland and beyond.  

 

Making the announcement, Celine Fitzgerald, Interim CEO of Research Ireland, commented:  

“The New Foundations programme exemplifies how research can be a powerful tool for societal change. By supporting collaboration between academic researchers and those working on the frontlines of community development and public policy, we can co-create knowledge that directly benefits people’s lives. We are proud to support these new projects, which will contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable and evidence-informed Ireland.”  

 

Trinity research projects to receive funding are:  

  • Mairead Hurley, School of Education, Ar Scáth a Chéile: Co-creating Evidence-Based Recommendations for Cross-Sectoral Partnerships and Whole-School Approaches to ESD 
  • Joe Whelan, School of Social Work and Social Policy, ‘The flats are coming down. Yup the flats! “A sociological exploration of life in the Dolphin House flat complex using arts-based creative methods 
  • Felicity Daly, Public Health & Primary Care, Exploring forced migrants’ perspectives to improve sexual health training and services: a mixed methods research project 
  • Claire Howlin, School of Psychology, Understanding the role of music and arts in the lives of neurodivergent people 
  • Catherine Elliott O'Dare, School of Social Work and Social Policy, Understanding self- directed ageism: A qualitative study with older people in Ireland 
  • Irina Kinchin, School of Medicine, Developing an integrated care pathway for implementing disease-modifying therapies in Alzheimer’s 
  • Saranya Rameshkumar, CRANN, Nanoengineered Membranes for Biomethane Recovery and Capturing Carbon Emissions 

 

Dr Mairéad Hurley , School of Education, Trinity College Dublin 

Ar Scáth a Chéile is a collaborative project between Trinity College Dublin’s School of Education and the Irish Schools Sustainability Network. It supports the implementation of ESD to 2030: the national strategy for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). 

Through research in an innovative sustainability leadership programme in post-primary school Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore, Co. Waterford, the project will examine how partnerships and whole- school approaches to ESD influence students’ sustainability competences. Findings will be shared and discussed at a summit involving educators, students, policymakers, and industry leaders on November 20th in the Trinity Long Room Hub. Through this exchange across sectors, Ar Scáth a Chéile will co-create effective guidelines and foster a collaborative network to support ESD in Ireland.  

Dr Patrick Kirwan, founding director of the Irish Schools Sustainability Network and biology teacher at Ardscoil na Mara said: “We’re delighted that Research Ireland are funding this partnership between Trinity College, the ISSN and Ardscoil na Mara. The project will draw on the experience of teachers across Ireland and share evidence-based practice in the area of education for sustainable development.  We hope it will identify levers that will accelerate the change we need to see in our education system and provide opportunities for new kinds of partnerships between schools and other sectors”.

Further information can be found here: 

https://www.researchireland.ie/news/new-foundations-awards/ 

Contact: mairead.hurley@tcd.ie