Trinity researcher wins 2018 CONNECT Public Engagement Award
Posted on: 17 October 2018
Dr Jacek Kibilda has been awarded the inaugural CONNECT ‘Education and Public Engagement Award’ in recognition of his work with migrant teenagers in Dublin. Led by Trinity College Dublin, CONNECT is the world-leading Science Foundation Ireland research centre for future networks and communications. Dr Kibilda is a postdoctoral researcher at the centre.
The award was presented by CONNECT Director, Professor Luiz DaSilva, at the centre’s annual assembly in Kilkenny.
The award citation mentioned, in particular, Dr Kibilda’s 2017 initiative with the Separated Children’s Service managed by the City of Dublin Education and Training Board to create a programme for Transition Year (TY) students from a migrant background. Repeated in 2018, the programme now focuses on female students in order to address the gender imbalance in STEM.
Dr Kibilda’s research focuses on 5G communications networks. He is a Fulbright Tech-Impact Scholar and has conducted research with the Wireless Networking and Communications Group at the University of Texas at Austin. He has published opinion pieces in The Irish Times on developments in 5G and Ireland’s readiness for the technology.
Congratulating Dr Kibilda, Professor DaSilva said:
I am very pleased that Jacek’s generosity is honoured in this way. In addition to his leadership of our TY programme, Jacek has also participated in multiple other public outreach activities.
He is highly respected among his peers as an academic researcher, and is a fantastic role model for those seeking to combine high-quality research with innovative public engagement.
CONNECT includes 350 researchers across ten Irish higher education institutes. The centre is co- funded under the European Regional Development Fund.