School Research Strategy 2025-30

Our Research 

The School of Natural Sciences conducts research on all aspects of the natural world and their intersection with society, including: planetary processes, environmental function, evolution and ecology of living organisms and the interaction of people with their wider environments.

We, as a School, are policy-oriented and aim to address environmental, climate and social changes, with a focus on sustainability and innovation. Our multidisciplinary research and our researchers collaborate widely through our global networks and partnerships with communities, universities, governmental agencies and businesses. Research across the School is divided across three key research areas: Society, Space & Environment; Evolution, Development and Ecology, and Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Our Research Resources:

Find out more about our Research Centres/Units involvement:

100% of our academic staff within the School of Natural Sciences are research active, with research occurring as part of world leading individual academic research groups, and boasts three Trinity Research Centres head-quartered within the School, along with a number of other affiliations with Research Centres/Units and University Research Themes.

Find out more about our Research Collections and Public Outreach:

The School of Natural Sciences boasts a significant research collections curated within the school. These have important historical significance and are used for research, teaching and public outreach through the Zoological Museum, Geological Museum, Freeman Library, TCD Herbarium, Trinity College Botanic Garden and Threatened Irish Seed Bank. 

Our Rankings

According to the QS World University Subject Rankings 2024 and 2025, Trinity continues to position itself in the top 100 globally for the three key discipline areas of Ecology, Biological Sciences and Geography within the School of Natural Sciences . 

In addition, Trinity is ranked: 

• 30th in the world for Impact in Sustainable Cities and Communities through the core School of Natural Sciences research in the area.
• 79th in the world for Climate Action; the School of Natural Sciences' research is a major driver of this impact.

Trinity is currently ranked 29th in the world for 2026 QS Sustainability Rankings.

In the 2026 QS World University Rankings (overall), Trinity is 75th globally.