Opinion - News & Events | Trinity College Dublin

Why the Norman conquest still has a powerful hold over British culture and politics

Britain appears to be a nation on the verge of Norman-conquest mania, writes Millie Horton-Insch, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, History of Art Department, in a piece for The Conversation.

8 Sep 2025

Culture|Research

AI can democratise higher education if used wisely

Professor Orla Sheils, Vice-Provost and Chief Academic Officer, writes in The Irish Times about the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence to the higher education sphere, and argues that they should be embraced.

25 Aug 2025

Community|Innovation|Society|Students

Why Ireland’s mild temperatures won’t protect it from the climate crisis

Prof. Graham Dwyer from the Trinity Centre for Social Innovation and Prof. Karen Wilshire, Professor of Climate Sciences at Trinity, write about a topical issue for The Conversation.

22 Aug 2025

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Kneecap trial spotlights challenges for Irish speakers in British and Irish courts

Many would rather use the language they know best to answer questions on which their liberty or livelihood could depend, writes Dr Róisín Á Costello, School of Law, in an article first published in The Irish Times.

21 Aug 2025

Research|Society

Did the Sun boycott make Liverpool more leftwing? My study indicates it may have shifted views

Lucas da Silva, Department of Political Science, examines how the longstanding boycott of the rightwing tabloid the Sun in Liverpool affected people’s political attitudes up to 2004.

8 Aug 2025

Research|Society

Why the Nazis stole a fragment of the Bayeux tapestry

Millie Horton-Insch, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the History of Art Department, Trinity, tells the tale of how a fragment of the Bayeux tapestry ended up in the Schleswig-Holstein state archives. This piece was first published by The Conversation.

15 Jul 2025

Arts|Culture|Research

Will the Government really put McDonald’s ahead of children in poverty?

The reason child poverty persists is that whenever the opportunity comes to translate words into action there is always some higher priority. This year that higher priority looks to be the hospitality sector, writes economist Barra Roantree

7 Jul 2025

Culture|Health|Society

Trinity hosts Ireland’s first BioBrillouin microscope

Trinity now has Ireland’s first and only BioBrillouin microscope, which will enable researchers to make giant strides in the fields of inflammation, cancer, developmental biology and biomedical materials, among others.

4 Jul 2025

Research|Science

There is no loneliness epidemic – so why do we keep talking as if there is?

Most people experience periods of loneliness, isolation or solitude in their lives, but these are different things, writes Brendan Kelly, School of Medicine, in a piece for The Conversation.

27 Jun 2025

Health|Research|Society

Rent reforms are the sticking plaster on a crisis – only radical change will work

By offering something to landlords and tenants with new rental rules, the Government is taking something from both, writes Sarah Hamill, School of Law, in the Irish Independent.

27 Jun 2025

Research|Society

In a world dominated by loud, divisive politics, the cardinals found an antidote in Pope Leo XIV

Leo XIV was a choice few saw coming, and is a figure of humility, steadiness and introspective strength, writes Bronagh Ann McShane in an opinion article first published by The Irish Times.

12 May 2025

Research|Society

Glitter’s sparkle hides a darker side – it can change the chemistry of our oceans

Drs. Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco and Kristina Petra Zubovic from Trinity's School of Natural Sciences write about some important research of theirs in this piece first published by The Conversation.

2 May 2025

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Race to succeed Pope Francis begins with his funeral, as informal alliances of cardinals emerge

The ritual of conclave is ancient, but the stakes are unmistakably modern, writes Bronagh Ann McShane, School of Histories and Humanities, in a piece originally published in the Irish Times.

28 Apr 2025

Culture|Research

Pope Francis promoted women to unprecedented heights of power in the church

Dr Bronagh Ann McShane, Research Fellow on the VOICES project in Trinity's School of Histories and Humanities, with a piece first published by The Conversation in the wake of Pope Francis' death.

22 Apr 2025

Society

How mobility assistance dogs can improve quality of life in children with cerebral palsy

Heather Kennedy Curtin, Specialist Physiotherapist in Gait Analysis, Trinity, writes about new research findings from her team in this piece first published by The Conversation.

16 Apr 2025

Research|Science

Vision of Pope Francis has signalled shift in how Vatican views women in leadership

Do recent reforms signify a genuine commitment to inclusivity or are they merely symbolic gestures aimed at appeasing critics, ask Dr Bronagh McShane in an article first published in the Irish Times.

11 Mar 2025

Culture|Research|Society

Decolonising Ireland’s education system remains vital despite the country’s wealth and privilege

Ireland urgently needs to decolonise its higher education system, write Aoife Lynam, Conor McGuckin and Lucie Ehiwe from the School of Education in this piece for The Conversation.

6 Mar 2025

Research|Society

AI could supercharge human collective intelligence in everything from disaster relief to medical research

By enhancing human decision-making, AI systems offer faster and more accurate insights – whether in medical research, disaster response, or environmental protection, write Hao Cui and Taha Yasseri, School of Social Sciences and Philosophy in a piece for The Conversation.

5 Mar 2025

Research|Society

If humans are ‘bundles of habits,’ can we take control of them?

Eike Buabang, School of Psychology and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, shares five essential strategies to master your habits in an article for The Conversation.

3 Mar 2025

Research|Science|Society

St. Brigid’s Day: Courageous Women

Professor Jane Ohlmeyer celebrates the lives of courageous women across history – ‘the viragos and matrons’ from Brigid to Bishop Budde – who have inspired, advocated for the oppressed, and never hesitated to speak truth to power.

5 Feb 2025

Research

Syria: how the fall of Assad has affected the asylum debate in Europe

The European Union and its member states must find a balanced approach that prioritises human rights while addressing domestic political pressures, writes Morgiane Noel, PhD Candidate in EU & International Law for The Conversation.

13 Jan 2025

Research|Society

Can native woodland flourish without farmers? They also deserve a just transition

There are ongoing calls and policy targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and afforestation is identified as a vital solution to mitigating impacts, but significant challenges remain.

10 Jan 2025

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Their DNA survives in diverse populations across the world – but who were the Denisovans?

Dr Linda Ongaro, from Trinity's School of Genetics and Microbiology, explains what we know of the hominin species that interbred with humans in our early history, and whose genetic legacy remains in our DNA.

26 Nov 2024

Culture|Research|Science

Misinformation really does spread like a virus

How misinformation gets around can be effectively described using mathematical models designed to simulate the spread of pathogens, writes David Robert Grimes from the School of Medicine, and Sander Van Der Linden at University of Cambridge.

14 Nov 2024

Health|Research|Science|Society

Biodiversity COP: Global climate efforts and gains made, but no clear agreement

Dr Siobhan McQuaid writes about her experience of COP16, the latest biodiversity summit, in an opinion piece for the Journal. She says there are many reasons to have hope.

11 Nov 2024

Business|Environment|Society|Sustainability

The case for broader accessibility to psychedelic therapies for mental disorders in Ireland

Dr John R. Kelly writes how easing regulatory constraints would facilitate the advance of the scientific evidence underpinning psychedelics and psychedelic therapy

28 Oct 2024

Health|Innovation|Research|Science

Drowning in disinformation? Can we train social media to meet our needs?

As an election looms, David Landy writes that when it comes to social media, people aren’t “sociological dopes”, blindly reacting to online prompts and unable to understand and change their own behaviour.

18 Oct 2024

Research|Society

Kaos’s Caeneus is part of a long tradition of queer and trans characters in retellings of ancient myths

The Greek myths have been retold and reconfigured many times – the Netflix series Kaos is just the latest in this millennia-long tradition, writes Suzanne O'Neill, School of Histories and Humanities, in this article for The Conversation.

19 Sep 2024

Culture|Research

Harris-Trump debate: Harris may have stumbled occasionally, but overall she came off as presidential

The most important thing Harris did was shift attention back onto Trump, writes Dan Geary, School of Histories and Humanities, in an analysis piece for The Irish Times.

12 Sep 2024

Research|Society

Orlaigh Darling on five Irish novelists to read while you wait for the new Sally Rooney novel

Orlaith Darling, PhD Candidate in the School of English, writes in The Conversation about five Irish novelists to read while we wait for the publication next month of Sally Rooney's new novel, Intermezzo.

29 Aug 2024

Culture|Research

Sarah Hamill: Why Ireland’s housing crisis may force some students to put their education on hold

Some students will face the choice of dropping out or pausing their education simply because they cannot find affordable housing, writes Sarah Hamill, School of Law, in a piece first published in the Irish Independent.

28 Aug 2024

Research|Society

Kamala Harris is walking a tightrope on the conflict in Gaza. She can’t afford to lose votes

Daniel Geary, School of Histories and Humanities, writes in the Irish Times about how what happens at next week’s Democratic convention in Chicago may determine whether or not Harris wins the US presidential election in November.

16 Aug 2024

Research|Society

Elon Musk says he’s a ‘cultural Christian’ – why some leading thinkers are embracing Christianity

In The Conversation, Simon McCarthy-Jones considers the implications of why some conservatives are embracing Christianity but struggle to accept Christianity’s central supernatural claims, like Christ’s resurrection.

26 Jul 2024

Culture|Society

Six ways to look after your brain health in your 20s and 30s

Corrina Grimes, Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) writes in The Conversation, on six of the most important lifestyle changes you can make while you’re young in order to look after your brain health.

24 Jul 2024

Health|Research

How being shot might affect Donald Trump’s mental health – and that of millions of others

Trump may not experience any psychological effects, but given that he could soon be re-elected, the potential effect of these events on his mental health — whether negligible, negative or positive — cannot be ignored, writes Simon McCarthy Jones in The Conversation.

16 Jul 2024

Health|Society

If this analysis of Dublin's transport plan was submitted by a student, I would fail it

Trinity economist Barra Roantree has written a piece originally for The Journal that is critical of an analysis produced on Dublin City's traffic management plan

15 Jul 2024

Business|Community|Sustainability

If this analysis of Dublin's transport plan was submitted by a student, I would fail it

In an opinion piece originally published by The Journal, Trinity economist Barra Roantree us critical of new economic analysis that claims to show a lot of problems with the new Dublin city transport plan – but it doesn’t stack up

15 Jul 2024

Community|Environment|Sustainability

How to start weightlifting after 60

Being strong as you age can help you maintain independence for longer, make you more resistant to injuries and falls and is great for overall wellbeing. Julie Broderick and Fiona Kennedy from the School of Medicine write in The Conversation on how to start to build your strength when you are over 60.

11 Jul 2024

Health|Research

Why politicians may find it hard to understand ordinary voters

The 2024 election has seen party leaders strain to present themselves as being in touch with the struggles ordinary people are facing in the cost of living crisis. And yet they don’t appear to be convincing anyone, writes Dr Emma Otterski, Department of Philosophy, in an article originally published in The Conversation.

3 Jul 2024

Research|Society

Shirley Jackson: celebrating 75 years of taut, ambiguous, disturbing stories

Three quarters of a century on, The Lottery and Other Stories remains the perfect showcase for one of the 20th century’s most original, and now, most justly celebrated, authors, writes Bernice Murphy, in The Conversation.

26 Jun 2024

Culture|Research

What have we learned from the Troubles that can help provide a roadmap to peace in Gaza?

Prof Jan de Vries, School of Nursing and Midwifery writes for the Irish Independent on the resolution of 'the conflict within' for those involved in brokering peace in times of war.

11 Jun 2024

Research|Society

Children, Adolescents and Climate Change: The case for urgent action

In a letter originally submitted to the UN Climate Change Secretariat, Trinity researchers argue for additional focus on the acute impact of climate change on children in low and middle-income countries.

10 Jun 2024

Environment

The Parthenon marbles evoke particularly fierce repatriation debates – an archaeologist explains why

The Parthenon marbles are probably the most renowned example of a country calling for heritage objects to be returned, writes Prof. Christine Morris, School of Histories and Humanities in The Conversation.

10 Jun 2024

Arts|Culture|Research|Society

Blood test to track immune response could be first step in developing better MS treatments

Dr Hugh Kearney, School of Medicine writes in The Conversation on his team's recently developed test and its potential clinical impacts for MS patients.

29 May 2024

Health|Research

What's the story with your oral microbiome?

Gary Moran, Associate Professor at the School of Dental Science writes in The Conversation about the importance of the 700 known species of bacteria which live in our mouths - along with yeasts and viruses - and the role this community plays in four main diseases.

23 May 2024

Health|Research

Alice Munro, master of the short story

In this piece in The Conversation, Ellen Orchard, PhD Researcher in the School of English at Trinity College Dublin celebrates the writings and career of the author Alice Munro.

22 May 2024

Arts

How do we reduce pesticide use while empowering farmers? A more nuanced approach could help

There’s no simple answer that makes pesticides right or wrong – context is key, according to Trinity's Professor Jessica Knapp, writing here for The Conversation.

14 May 2024

Environment|Research|Science

Netzah Yehuda: The ‘violent and aggressive’ IDF unit the US is thinking of sanctioning

Carlo Aldrovandi, Assistant Professor in International Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin, writes in The Conversation about whether Washington will sanction the Netzah Yehuda battalion, which has been mired in misconduct controversies since long before the outbreak of the current hostilities with Hamas.

9 May 2024

Arts|Research|Society

What is meaningful work? A philosopher’s view

Caleb Althorpe, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Philosophy in Trinity College Dublin writes in The Conversation about the factors that contribute towards 'meaningful work'.

29 Apr 2024

Arts|Research

Five things our research uncovered when we recreated 16th century beer (and barrels)

Susan Flavin and Charlie Taverner, Dept of History write in The Conversation about their ERC-funded FoodCult project which is investigating the food and diet of early modern Ireland.

23 Apr 2024

Culture|Research|Science|Society

This philosophical theory can help you stop taking criticism personally

Making a distinction between “who” we are and “what” we are can help you stop taking criticism personally writes Samantha Fazekas, Teaching Fellow, Department of Philosophy, in The Conversation.

4 Apr 2024

Research|Society

Ramadan brings fresh fears of escalation on both Gaza Strip and West Bank

Carlo Aldrovandi, Assistant Professor in International Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin, writes in The Conversation about fresh fears of escalation during Ramadan on both Gaza Strip and West Bank due to lack of access to aid.

13 Mar 2024

Research|Society

A quiet revolution: Trinity’s women employees over the years

On International Women’s Day 2024, Trinity is celebrating not only its graduates, but also the many wonderful women who have worked in administration, catering and a whole range of other functions without which the university could not operate.

8 Mar 2024

Community|Culture|Society

Inclusive minds: nurturing brain health for all

GBHI Atlantic Fellow Eléonore Bayen explores the complex relationship between disability, inclusion, and brain health, emphasizing the pivotal role of inclusive environments in promoting cognitive well-being and social equity, as exemplified by the MyBrainRobbie initiative.

7 Mar 2024

Health|Research|Society

Jane Harris: celebrating the British abstract painter you’ve probably never heard of

Artist Jane Harris, belonged to a generation of painters who chose to play with the wealth of visual effects and associations offered by decoration, writes Timothy Stott, Department of Art History & Architecture, in this piece for The Conversation.

4 Mar 2024

Arts|Culture|Research

The UK’s two-child limit on benefits is hurting the poorest families

Yekaterina Chzhen, Assistant Professor in Sociology at Trinity College Dublin, is the co-author of this article in The Conversation about the effects of the UK's two-child limit on benefits.

4 Mar 2024

Society

Three secrets to successful climate litigation

Courts around the world are handling an increasing number of climate and environmental cases due to the urgent need to combat worsening warming and ecosystem destruction. Morgiane Noel, School of Law, writes for The Conversation about the secrets to successful climate litigation.

28 Feb 2024

Environment|Society

How modern vendettas compare with blood vengeance in the age of King David

The phenomenon of blood vengeance is a feature of the modern world, but to fully understand it we must first understand its debt to antiquity, writes Prof. David Shepherd, School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies, for The Conversation.

26 Feb 2024

Culture|Research|Society

Five signs that you might be rightwing

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology at Trinity College Dublin writes in The Conversation about what being "rightwing" actually means and why people become rightwing.

8 Feb 2024

Health|Research|Society

Mindset change needed to fight biodiversity loss

If our loved ones were at risk of collapse, we’d do anything to help them recover. We need to do the same for the planet, writes Prof. Jane Stout in The Irish Times

6 Feb 2024

Community|Sustainability

St Brigid at home and on tour with Cuala

To celebrate St Brigid's Day, Dr Billy Shortall, research fellow at the Cuala Press Research Project, shows us how St Brigid was celebrated in the visual art of Cuala Industries, a female run arts and crafts cooperative in the early 20th century.

1 Feb 2024

Arts|Culture|Research

Instapoetry is successful and there’s nothing wrong with that

Instagram poetry should be taken more seriously by the establishment, writes Rafael Mendes Silva, PhD candidate at the School of Languages, Literature and Cultural Studies in this piece for The Conversation.

1 Feb 2024

Culture|Research

Friendship is crucial for refugee children – here’s how to talk to your child about being welcoming

Rachel Hoare, Director of the Trinity Centre for Forced Migration Studies at Trinity College Dublin writes in The Conversation about the importance of encouraging your children to be welcoming and inclusive towards refugee children.

30 Jan 2024

Community

Silent fields: a cocktail of pesticides is stunting bumblebee colonies across Europe

Trinity's Professor Jessica Knapp writes, along with colleagues, about a recent study and the concerning results it delivered with regard to the plight of some of our precious pollinators.

29 Jan 2024

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Rape has been outlawed for 1,400 years, yet we’re still arguing about how to define it

Directives on combating violence against women have a long history as does wrangling over what defines rape, writes Prof Jane Ohlmeyer in a piece first published in the Irish Independent.

29 Jan 2024

Culture|Research|Society

Dave Fanning’s AI defamation case is at a new frontier of litigation

The Achilles’ heel of generative AI is its pervasive tendency to spoof. This is giving rise to mind-bending legal issues - along with complaints from authors and artists, writes Deirdre Ahern, School of Law, in a piece originally published in The Irish Times.

26 Jan 2024

Research|Society

The mysteries of The Book of Kells — from monks on magic mushrooms to superhuman detail

Although now faded by 1,200 years of use, the colours in the manuscript still retain some of their original psychedelic intensity, writes Dr Rachel Moss, School of Histories and Humanities, for The Conversation publication.

22 Jan 2024

Arts|Research

Gaza war: how South Africa’s genocide case against Israel is shaping up

Carlo Aldrovandi, Assistant Professor in International Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin, writes in The Conversation about how South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague is developing.

17 Jan 2024

Arts|Research|Society

Embracing ‘virtual dark tourism’ could help heritage sites at risk of degradation

Nicole Basaraba, School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies, writes about her research on virtual dark tourism for The Conversation.

15 Jan 2024

Culture|Research

Are Irish nuns facing extinction?

In an article for The Irish Times, Dr Bronagh Ann McShane, School of Histories and Humanities, provides historical context for a new RTE documentary that asks if the nuns in Irish convents today are the last of their kind.

15 Jan 2024

Culture|Research|Society

The Conversation: Freedom of thought is under threat. Here’s what we can do to protect it

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology at Trinity College Dublin, writes in The Conversation about what we can do to protect freedom of thought against the threat posed by states, big tech and even ourselves.

9 Jan 2024

Society

Central banks should be fighting the climate crisis – here’s why

Professors Martin Sokol, Trinity, and Jennie Stephens, Northeastern University, argue the case for central banks catalysing a more just, equitable and climate-stable future in this piece for The Conversation.

5 Jan 2024

Environment|Society|Sustainability

AI could make cities autonomous, but that doesn’t mean we should let it happen

Trinity's Prof Federico Cugurullo believes we should be very careful before handing control of our cities to AIs. He writes about AI urbanism and the challenges ahead in this piece for The Conversation.

4 Jan 2024

Culture|Science|Society|Sustainability

How Ireland served as a laboratory for the British empire

What we are bearing witness to in the Middle East and Ukraine are legacies associated with the collapse of the Ottoman, British and Russian empires, writes Prof Jane Ohlmeyer in an analysis piece first published in the Irish Times.

31 Dec 2023

Culture|Research

Who are the new greats of Irish music? Five musicians to watch out for in 2024

The world lost three great Irish musicians in 2023: Shane MacGowan, Sinéad O’Connor and Christy Dignam. Dr Jonathan Hodgers, School of Creative Arts, writes for The Conversation about five musicians to watch out for in 2024.

21 Dec 2023

Culture|Research

Yes, climate change is a crisis. But let’s stop using the language of war

We talk about the need for improved flood defences, the need to protect ourselves against the forces of nature. But what we really need is to work with nature, writes Prof Iris Möller in an analysis piece first published in The Irish Times.

19 Dec 2023

Research|Science|Sustainability

How writing 'made us human' – an 'emotional history' from ancient Iraq to the present day

Dr Martin Worthington, School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies, reviews Walter Stephens's new book 'How Writing Made Us Human' for The Conversation.

19 Dec 2023

Culture|Research

Who should pay the bills if the State pension age stays at 66?

Keeping State pension age at 66 is unfair to younger generations, writes Barra Roantree, School of Social Sciences and Philosophy in a piece first published in The Irish Times.

13 Dec 2023

Research|Society

Blue Eye Samurai: historian explains what the Netflix series gets right and wrong about real Edo-period Japan

Ruth Starr, Lecturer in History of Japanese art and architecture at Trinity College Dublin writes in The Conversation about what the Netflix series gets right and wrong about real Edo-period Japan.

12 Dec 2023

Culture|Research

All the video games shortlisted for the 2023 Game Awards – reviewed by experts

David Stevenson, Assistant Professor in the School of Film, writes a review of one of the games up for a 2023 Games Award for The Conversation.

12 Dec 2023

Culture|Research

Seti: how we’re searching for alien life at previously unexplored frequencies

Is there life beyond Earth? The question has turned out to be one of the hardest to answer in science. Find out how astrophysicists from Trinity are seeking ET in this piece published by The Conversation.

7 Dec 2023

Research|Science

How AI can decode ancient scripts – from medieval manuscripts to hieroglyphics

The ethics and dangers of AI have received important attention over the past year, but its power to make legible and navigable our cultural heritage also deserves attention, writes Dr Mark Faulkner in this piece for The Conversation.

5 Dec 2023

Arts|Culture|Science

Why the Fed should treat climate change’s $150B economic toll like other national crises it’s helped fight

Climate disasters are now costing the United States US$150 billion per year, and the economic harm is rising. Trinity's Prof. Martin Sokol co-authored this piece for The Conversation.

30 Nov 2023

Environment|Research|Society

Opinion: Prophet Song by Paul Lynch is a distinctly Irish tale of civic and ideological collapse

Prof Eve Patten reviews Booker Prize winning book 'Prophet Song' by Paul Lynch

28 Nov 2023

Arts|Culture|Research

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch: Booker prize-winning novel is a distinctly Irish tale of civic and ideological collapse

Prof. Eve Patten writes for The Conversation about Paul Lynch's book 'Prophet Song' which won the 2023 Booker Prize.

28 Nov 2023

Arts|Culture|Research|Society

Booker prize 2023: shortlisted novels are a ‘golden age’ of Irish writing

Booker short list authors Paul Murray and Paul Lynch are part of a “golden age” of Irish writing, writes Orlaith Darling, School of English, for The Conversation.

24 Nov 2023

Arts|Culture|Research

The Hesitant Fiancée: the story of a TikTok phenomenon

The reluctant bride’s unwavering gaze has been lauded for its accurate depiction of feminine rage, a concept historically difficult for male artists to capture.

23 Nov 2023

Arts|Culture|Society

World COPD day: research, advances and collaboration

Today, November 15th, is World COPD Day. Professor Suzanne Cloonan writes about the disease, its incidence in Ireland, current research and the establishment of an international research network which was founded to expand our understanding of COPD.

15 Nov 2023

Health|Research

People with ID often diagnosed late when cancer is well advanced

Many people with intellectual disability are diagnosed with cancer when it has already spread (metastasized) and the odds of survival are lower, writes Martin McMahon for The Conversation

18 Oct 2023

Health|Research

Does AI have a right to free speech?

Granting AI free speech rights would both support and undermine our freedom of thought, writes Dr Simon McCarthy-Jones, Psychiatry, in this piece originally published in The Conversation.

28 Sep 2023

Innovation|Research|Science

Student accommodation: Without decent housing it’s hard to get a decent education

The issues students face in securing accommodation are closely linked to the broader housing crisis, writes Dr Sarah Hamill

15 Aug 2023

Society|Students

Ethiopia wants to join the BRICS group of nations: here are the pros and cons

Padraig Carmody, Professor in Geography at Trinity, is an expert in the political economy of globalisation in Africa. In this piece he takes a look at the desire of Ethiopia to join the BRICS grouping and assesses the potential benefits and risks.

12 Jul 2023

Society

What if Ulysses had never found a publisher?

As we gather to celebrate another Bloomsday the researchers behind a new digital directory of Irish publishing reflect on bibliodiversity and the landscape of the Irish publishing sector.

16 Jun 2023

Arts|Culture|Research

AI already being used in the legal system - we need to pay more attention to how we use it

Artificial intelligence has become such a part of our daily lives that it’s hard to avoid – even if we might not recognise it. writes Morgiane Noel, PhD Candidate, School of Law in this piece originally published in The Conversation.

23 May 2023

Research|Society

The power of anonymity: an Elena Ferrante expert explains

Enrica Maria Ferrara, School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies, writes about anonymity and authorial power in this piece for The Conversation.

4 May 2023

Culture|Research

Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason delivers Henry Grattan Lecture

The School of Social Sciences and Philosophy lecture series has been running since 2013, featuring speakers including former Taoiseach Mr John Bruton, former President of Ireland Mary McAleese and Mario Draghi, former President of the European Central Bank.

3 May 2023

Society

Abortion services review: Little has changed in some parts of the country

Catherine Conlon, School of Social Work and Social Policy, Dr Deirdre Duffy, Lancaster University, write about their research about service users and providers of abortion service in Ireland. This piece was first published by The Irish Times.

2 May 2023

Health|Research|Society

Why Leaving Cert results delay has to stop

Vice-Provost Orla Sheils writes: It is difficult to pinpoint an excuse for the ongoing delay that justifies the enormous disruption to students’ progression beyond second level education. From a logistical perspective, the delay means colleges and universities once again face organising a staggered start.

20 Apr 2023

Society|Students

International lessons from the Good Friday Agreement, 25 years on

Decades of peace efforts have created a remarkable wealth of human peacemaking experience in Ireland at all levels of society, from diplomats to community workers, says Dr David Mitchell, in this piece originally published in The Irish Independent.

6 Apr 2023

Research|Society

How a night of poor sleep can affect your next day at work – and four ways to function better

Trinity's Professor Wladislaw Riven with an interesting piece first published by The Conversation, with some handy hints for those who haven't slept well before work.

3 Apr 2023

Business|Health

Are criminal proceedings the only route to truth for Baby John?

Dr Catherine Conlon writes about her research on concealed pregnancy in contemporary Ireland in this piece that was first published in The Irish Examiner.

29 Mar 2023

Research|Society

We used to think diamonds were everywhere. New research suggests they’ve always been rare

Emma Tomlinson, Assistant Professor in the School of Natural Sciences, co-authored this piece about what her collaborative research is teaching us about the formation of diamonds throughout time.

16 Mar 2023

Environment|Research|Science

International law doesn’t protect people fleeing environmental disaster – here’s how it could

Only the creation of an efficient international framework of laws can guarantee refuge for people fleeing such environmental disasters in future, says Morgiane Noel, PhD Candidate, School of Law.

14 Mar 2023

Research|Society

Landlords and tenants could both be aggrieved by the government’s ‘first refusal’ plan

It is hard to fully tease out the constitutional issues which may arise from the announcement that tenants will get the first chance to buy their home from their landlord, writes Dr Sarah Hamill, School of Law, in a piece first published in The Sunday Business Post.

13 Mar 2023

Research|Society

Are interest rates really going to keep rising sharply?

Until core inflation is definitely under control, borrowing costs are going to rise more sharply than everyone was hoping, says Dr Supriya Kapoor, Trinity Business School, in this piece published in The Conversation.

13 Mar 2023

Business|Research|Society

Windsor Framework is as good as it gets for unionism. Will it be enough?

The DUP’s response to the Windsor Agreement will determine whether we will celebrate the Good Friday Agreement’s 25th next month, its very future and that of these islands, says Etain Tannam, Associate Professor in international Peace Studies, in a piece originally published by The Irish Times.

6 Mar 2023

Research|Society

Why are so many Irish films and filmmakers nominated for Oscars?

They might have little else in common, but Banshees and The Quiet Girl are the products of a network of influences, a long tradition of acting talent that now moves comfortably between LA and Ireland, writes Professor Ruth Barton in this piece originally published in The Conversation.

28 Feb 2023

Arts|Culture|Research

Ireland has lost almost all of its native forests – here’s how to bring them back

Martha O'Hagan Luff, Associate Professor in Trinity Business School, explains why it is important that we re-establish native forests in Ireland and how we can do it in this piece first published by The Conversation.

27 Feb 2023

Environment|Science|Sustainability

ChatGPT: our study shows AI can produce academic papers good enough for journals

Publishers and researchers should not necessarily see ChatGPT as a threat but rather as a potentially important aide for research argue Dr Brian Lucey, School of Business and Michael Dowling, Dublin City University, in this piece that was originally published in The Conversation.

30 Jan 2023

Business|Research|Society

Brigit of Ireland: Saint or goddess?

Ireland's new public holiday to celebrate the icon Brigit has been greeted with widespread enthusiasm. In this comment piece, Dr Mary Condren, Trinity’s Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies, asks “who is Brigit, goddess or saint?”

30 Jan 2023

Culture|Research

Finding festive treats in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland

The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland is an online treasure trove of historical records where we can learn a lot about Christmas of the past, explains Ciarán Wallace, in this article that was first published by RTE History.

26 Dec 2022

Culture|Innovation|Research

The 2,700-year-old rock carvings from when Nineveh was the most dazzling city in the world

Recently uncovered Assyrian reliefs stem from the ancient city of Nineveh, which became synonymous with Assyrian power, explains Assyriologist Dr Martin Worthington, in an article published in The Conversation.

22 Dec 2022

Culture|Research

Iran: dissent by public figures has amplified the protest across the country – and the world

Protesters in Iran have challenged limits on freedom of expression and civil liberties, explains Dr Roja Fazaeli, School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies, in this piece for The Conversation.

19 Dec 2022

Culture|Research|Society

Why new short-term letting laws won’t increase long-term rental supply

Thousands of former short-term lettings may end up being left empty or used as corporate lets, explains Dr Sarah Hamill, School of Law, in an analysis piece for The Irish Times.

15 Dec 2022

Research|Society

Autumn statement 2022: experts react

Assistant Professor of Finance at Trinity, Supriya Kapoor, contributes to an insightful look at what the latest key developments in UK politics mean in this piece first published by The Conversation.

17 Nov 2022

Business|Society

From QAnon to The Sandman: how demons found a place in popular culture

In western culture today, demons exist as something of a paradox, argue Zohar Hadromi Allouche, Assistant Professor, School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies and S. Jonathon O'Donnell, Queen's University Belfast in this piece first published in The Conversation.

15 Nov 2022

Culture|Research|Society

Rishi Sunak and Star Wars: what the UK prime minister can learn about governing from his favourite films

David Kenny, Associate Professor of Law at Trinity, with a piece about the new British PM first published by The Conversation.

4 Nov 2022

Business|Culture|Research|Society

Social prescribing needs more evidence to support its benefits before widespread rollout

Around one in five GP visits are for non-medical problems, such as loneliness or financial difficulty. However, these non-medical problems are known to have a big impact on patients’ health and wellbeing. GPs are aware of this and want to take a more holistic approach to care, but often are not sure how to do it. This has led to the development of “social prescribing”, where GPs “prescribe” social activities or support for people with the help of a link worker.

26 Oct 2022

Health|Research

Four of Shakespeare’s plays and how they speak to the current political situation in Britain

Orlaith Darling, Early Career Researcher in Contemporary English Literature and Critical Theory at Trinity, with a timely piece first published by The Conversation.

26 Oct 2022

Culture|Research|Society

Confronting our demons: understanding Halloween and the vital connections between darkness and light

Halloween celebrates the vital connections between the light and dark interfaces of existence explains Dr Cathriona Russell, School of Religion, Theology and Peace Studies, in this piece originally published in The Irish Independent.

26 Oct 2022

Culture|Research|Society

Winter eviction ‘ban’ does little more than buy the government time

The problem with the rental market is not over-regulation but bad regulation, poorly enforced, explains Dr Sarah Hamill, School of Law, in this comment piece originally published in The Sunday Business Post.

24 Oct 2022

Research|Society

Eviction ban is likely to survive court challenge

The Covid-19 moratorium sets a precedent and should guide the implementation of the new ban, writes Rachel Walsh, Associate Professor, School of Law, in a piece originally published in The Irish Times.

20 Oct 2022

Research|Society

Struggling to make friends as an adult? Why you should try looking to older generations

When making friends, we usually look for people of similar ages, assuming they will share our worldview and life experiences; but this is not always a reliable indicator for forming friendships, says Catherine Elliott O'Dare, School of Social Work and Social Policy, in this piece for The Conversation.

27 Sep 2022

Research|Society

From Queen Elizabeth to King Charles: how Northern Ireland’s unionists feel about the monarchy

Monarchism is embedded in Northern Ireland’s Ulster unionist identity, explains David Mitchell, from Trinity's School of Religion Theology and Peace Studies, in this piece for The Conversation.

22 Sep 2022

Research|Society

How Irish entrepreneurs can take on climate change

Professor Quentin Crowley, from Trinity's School of Natural Sciences, says the global climate crisis offers green economic opportunities, not least for Ireland and its abundant offshore wind-energy resources.

8 Aug 2022

Business|Environment|Sustainability

Inflation: why it’s happening and why interest rates are going up to combat it

Supriya Kapoor, Assistant Professor of Finance at Trinity, writes an explainer piece about a pertinent topic, first published by The Conversation.

5 Aug 2022

Business|Research|Society

Crypto crash: market volatility is testing investor will but crypto-enthusiasts still see a future

Investing in cryptocurrencies is like riding a rollercoaster with large appreciations followed by sudden dips, says Prof Brian Lucey in this piece he co-authored with Prof Andrew Urquhart, University of Reading, for The Conversation.

28 Jul 2022

Business|Research|Society

RATs for flu exist – should we be self-testing for that too?

Professor John O'Leary contributes to a piece first published by The Conversation in which the authors ask whether we should be using rapid antigen tests to diagnose flu in the same way as COVID-19.

14 Jul 2022

Health|Science

Believed to be destroyed 100 years ago, our historical archives are brought back to life with virtual treasury

Peter Crooks and Zoë Reid write about how Ireland's historical archives were brought back to life in a piece originally published in The Irish Independent.

27 Jun 2022

Culture|Innovation|Research

The Money Question at the Back of Everything: Ulysses and Capitalism

Joyce’s view of economics is still relevant in 2022, explains Adrian Howlett, PhD candidate, School of English.

17 Jun 2022

Culture|Research

Beauty and the Bleach: the colonial history of colourism explored in BBC documentary

In a recent BBC documentary, entitled Beauty and the Bleach, presenter Tan France (of Queer Eye fame) tackles the issue of colourism.

19 May 2022

Culture|Research|Society

Ukraine lays bare our collective ignorance of Central and Eastern Europe

Ireland’s historic, economic and demographic ties to the region run deeper than is often realised. It’s time we started paying attention

18 May 2022

Research|Society

Cult-like status of self-important strongmen may finally be waning as war takes toll

The cult of the leader, a standard barometer of authoritarianism, is one of the pillars of Vladimir Putin’s Russia and Viktor Orban’s Hungary.

9 May 2022

Culture|Research|Society

‘Putin is Hitler’: why we use analogies to talk about the Ukraine war, and how they can lead to peace

The war in Ukraine has produced a disorienting array of analogies. David Mitchell, Assistant Professor in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation looks at how analogy is used to both create policy and justify it in this piece for The Conversation.

30 Mar 2022

Research|Society

Deltacron: what scientists know so far about this new hybrid coronavirus

Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity, Luke O'Neill, says we must keep a close eye on the latest COVID-19 variant of interest. "Deltacron" appears to be a wild child hybrid of delta and omicron but we don't know much about it yet.

21 Mar 2022

School’s out: How lockdown highlighted educational inequality in Ireland

Remote learning required access to technologies that may have not been available to all students, and different levels of support may also have been provided by different schools.

15 Mar 2022

Research|Society

Partygate Revisited: why Boris Johnson’s Downing Street is starting to sound like an Evelyn Waugh novel

If Partygate has taught us anything, it is that the British public has had enough of Johnson’s Waugh-esque ramblings, says Orlaith Darling, Early Career Researcher in Contemporary English Literature.

24 Feb 2022

Culture|Research|Society

In decade of centenaries, we should hold on to the sense of those hopeful early days

From the Skibbereen Eagle to the New York Times, editors around the world made the same comparison – the hand-over of Dublin Castle was the “downfall of a Bastille”, writes Dr Anne Dolan in this piece that was originally published in The Irish Independent.

14 Jan 2022

Culture|Research|Society

T-cells: the superheroes in the battle against omicron

Luke O'Neill, Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity, writes about Omicron and how our immune systems are fighting the common COVID-19 variant in this piece first published by The Conversation.

10 Jan 2022

Beyond Sherlock Holmes: five Victorian detective stories you must read

Arthur Conan Doyle wasn't the only author spinning tales of cunning detectives. Dr Clare Clarke picks five Victorian detective stories you must read in this piece for The Conversation.

6 Jan 2022

Culture|Research

Bah Humbug! The weird and wonderful world of Victorian Christmas cards

Dr Clare Clarke, Assistant Professor, School of English, takes a closer look at the dark and disturbing images that featured in Victorian Christmas cards.

23 Dec 2021

Culture|Research

Christmas music: is there a magic formula behind festive chart-toppers?

Dr Jonathan Hodgers, Adjunct Research Fellow of Music, asks 'what makes for good Christmas music' in this piece for The Conversation.

23 Dec 2021

Culture|Research

What Star Wars can teach us about the decline of democracy

In this piece, co-authored for The Conversation, David Kenny, Associate Professor of Law, argues that several useful constitutional law lessons can be drawn from the Star Wars films.

7 Dec 2021

Culture|Research|Society

The Eternals – Marvel consulted me to help superheroes chit chat in Babylonian

Dr Martin Worthington writes about his experience of providing Babylonian translations for the latest Marvel movie, Eternals. This piece was originally published by The Conversation.

7 Dec 2021

Culture|Research

Alzheimer’s: exercise may reduce brain inflammation, helping to protect us from the disease

Professor in Physiology at Trinity, Áine Kelly, writes a fascinating piece for The Conversation, which may stimulate more of us to get active.

6 Dec 2021

Opinion: Adele 30 – the psychology of why sad songs make us feel good

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, explains why hearing sad music feel so good in this piece for The Conversation.

18 Nov 2021

Culture|Research|Society

The publishers who made Shakespeare a global phenomenon

Andrew Murphy, 1867 Professor of English at Trinity, with a fascinating insight into the rise of Shakespeare. This article was first published by The Conversation.

15 Nov 2021

Culture|Research

Sláintecare as much a reputational as a quality of life issue

The reform of the health system is essential for the quality of life in Ireland and the country’s international reputation, says Camilla Devitt, Assistant Professor, School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, in this opinion piece.

4 Nov 2021

Research|Society

‘Net-Horror’ movies lay bare our dormant fears about the internet

While it is true to say that cinema, in most cases, tells us something of our anxious encounters with the modern, it is in Horror film that such fears are writ large.

30 Oct 2021

Culture|Research

From Tarantino to Squid Game: why do so many people enjoy violence?

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, asks why we are drawn to watch violence, in this piece first published on The Conversation.

28 Oct 2021

Culture|Research|Society

Abdulrazak Gurnah: what you need to know about the Nobel prize-winning author

Melanie Otto, Assistant Professor in English at Trinity, explains the influence the author has had over his career in this informative piece first published by The Conversation.

8 Oct 2021

Culture|Research

Mu: everything you need to know about the new coronavirus variant of interest

Luke O'Neill, Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity, explains the current situation regarding the mu variant of COVID-19. This article was first published by The Conversation.

3 Sep 2021

The pandemic could leave us with congestion chaos – here’s how to avoid it

Brian Caulfield, Associate Professor in Trinity's School of Engineering, takes a look at what returning commuters may mean for cities and related carbon emissions in this piece first publshed by The Conversation.

3 Aug 2021

Why spite could destroy liberal democracy

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology at Trinity, with a timely piece first published by The Conversation.

3 Aug 2021

Virgin Galactic: space tourism takes off with Branson’s inaugural flight

Louis Brennan, Professor of Business Studies at Trinity, underlines the importance of another step towards space tourism in this article first published by The Conversation.

12 Jul 2021

We solved the mystery of why some fish are warm-blooded

Lucy Harding, PhD Candidate in Trinity's School of Natural Sciences, explains in this piece for The Conversation how her research into fish physiology is solving old riddles in the natural world.

5 Jul 2021

Research

Coronavirus: so many variants, but vaccines are still effective

Luke O'Neill, Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity, with a timely piece first published by The Conversation in which he looks at the emergence of different COVID-19 variants and what that means for managing the pandemic.

24 May 2021

Jerusalem: the politics behind the latest explosion of violence in the Holy City

Carlo Aldrovandi, Assistant Professor in International Peace Studies at Trinity, writes about the escalation of violence with a timely piece first published by The Conversation.

13 May 2021

Why the humble legume could be the answer to Europe’s fertiliser addiction

In a thought-provoking piece first published by The Conversation, Professor Mike Williams (Trinity's School of Natural Sciences) helps to explain how a "wonder crop" could make a big environmental difference.

26 Apr 2021

Northern Ireland: the politics behind the riots

Assistant Professor in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation at Trinity, David Mitchell, writes about the violence seen in Northern Ireland in recent weeks in this piece first published by The Conversation.

16 Apr 2021

Coronavirus: will immunity rapidly fade or last a lifetime?

Luke O'Neill, Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity, assesses one of the most pressing questions on most lips with regard to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in this piece in The Conversation.

8 Mar 2021

How Ireland turned around one of the biggest spikes in COVID cases in the world

Luke O'Neill, Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity, with an insightful look at Ireland's response to the deadly COVID-19 spike over the past few weeks. The piece was originally published by The Conversation.

10 Feb 2021

Mother and baby homes inquiry: now reveal the secrets of Ireland’s psychiatric hospitals

Professor in Social Policy at Trinity, Eoin O'Sullivan, with a co-authored piece first published by The Conversation, considering Ireland's grim legacy of coercive confinement.

26 Jan 2021

How anti-vax memes replicate through satire and irony

Jan Buts, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Translation Studies at Trinity, with a fascinating look at memes, and how they can quickly mutate from jokes into more harmful viral content.

21 Jan 2021

Three ways to move more while working from home

Julie Broderick, Assistant Professor in Physiotherapy at Trinity, has some easy tips for anyone working from home. The article was originally published by The Conversation.

8 Jan 2021

Three ways to move more when working from home

Stand up more; use lunchbreaks for exercises and add "exercise snacks"; bthree ways to move more while working from home from Julie Broderick, Assistant Professor, Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin

7 Jan 2021

Trump’s legacy in Africa and what to expect from Biden

Professor Padraig Carmody and Ricardo Reboredo from Trinity, along with Francis Owusu from Iowa State University, consider the US election's implications for Africa in this piece first published by The Conversation.

25 Nov 2020

The Future of Back to Work Requires a Hybrid Systems Thinking

Tanusree Jain, Assistant Professor in Ethical Business and Louis Brennan, Fellow and Associate Dean at the Trinity Business School, argue that the COVID-19 crisis and the reality of the new normal makes planning for the future extremely complex and challenging, requiring agile adaptations on the part of employees and employers.

23 Nov 2020

Exercise and the brain: three ways physical activity changes its very structure

Áine Kelly, Professor in Physiology at Trinity, explains how exercise has wider-reaching impacts on our physiology than many believe in this piece first published by The Conversation.

18 Nov 2020

Exercise and the brain: 3 ways physical activity affects its structure Physiology Professor Áine Kelly writes about the impact exercise has on the structure of the brain in an article first published in The Conversation.

Physiology Professor Áine Kelly writes about the impact exercise has on the structure of the brain in an article first published in The Conversation.

17 Nov 2020

What does Joe Biden mean for Brexit? A quick primer on the current state of play

Etain Tannam, Associate Professor in International Peace Studies at Trinity, writes about the implications Joe Biden's election win will have on Brexit in a piece first published by The Conversation.

16 Nov 2020

Bottle-fed babies may consume millions of microplastic particles, our research suggests

A thought-provoking piece of research led to this article, written by Dunzhu Li and Yunhong Shi, from Trinity's School of Engineering.

30 Oct 2020

Norway’s Supreme Court set to rule on whether the country can keep searching for new Arctic oil

Trinity's Alexandru Gociu and Suryapratim Roy discuss an important upcoming case with huge implications for Norway and the countries that import its oil.

23 Oct 2020

Is reaching zero COVID-19 possible?

Kingston Mills, Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity, asks one of the most pertinent questions facing the world today in a piece originally published by The Conversation.

20 Oct 2020

Trinity’s 1641 Depositions a game-changer for genealogy-hunters

Celebrating its tenth birthday, the 1641 Depositions Project provides a unique window into everyday life in 17th-century Ireland, writes Professor Micheál Ó Siochrú

20 Oct 2020

Plant diversity makes West Africa’s shea trees bear more fruit

Aoife Delaney, from Trinity's School of Natural Sciences, explains how ecosystem services provided by tree and shrub diversity support the well-being of millions of people in West Africa.

12 Oct 2020

Behind a smokescreen: State-owned companies complicate the global fight against tobacco use

Efforts to curb tobacco have been thwarted in part because half the global cigarette industry is controlled by countries who are part of those efforts, writes Daniel Malan in the South China Morning Post

6 Oct 2020

From psychopaths to ‘everyday sadists’: why do humans harm the harmless?

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology at Trinity, asks one of life's most curious questions in an article published by The Conversation.

25 Sep 2020

New Dublin on screen – a place of freedom and choice

Ruth Barton, Head of School of Creative Arts writes how Dublin's screen history reflects its real-life contradictions in this article published by The Conversation.

17 Sep 2020

Research

How tech billionaires’ visions of human nature shape our world

Trinity's Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Simon McCarthy-Jones, writes his latest thought-provoking piece, first published by The Conversation.

15 Sep 2020

Irish business can do more to protect human rights defenders

Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, and adjunct professor at the Centre for Social Innovation, Trinity Business School, says business should help protect human rights defenders

11 Sep 2020

“Hope and history”: Seamus Heaney’s vision of the world

Rosie Lavan, assistant professor at the School of English and author of a new book on Seamus Heaney, explores his legacy ahead of a Longroom Hub event to mark the anniversary of the poet's death.

1 Sep 2020

A new art of business leadership: Lessons from the COVID era

In an article first published in the California Management Review, Tanusree Jain, Louis Brennan, and Harry J. Van Buren III argue that leaders in the COVID-19 era should take this unique opportunity to think far outside the box.

26 Aug 2020

Electric car sales are on the rise – is coronavirus a turning point for the market?

Research Fellow in Energy Economics at Trinity, James Carroll, with a fascinating article first published by The Conversation.

19 Aug 2020

Covid-19 deaths in care homes are a wake-up call to us all

In an opinion post first published in the Business Post, Prof. Des O'Neill says the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the urgency of asking ourselves what we really want from our nursing homes.

17 Aug 2020

John Hume’s legacy is that belief in change can make change happen

The following opinion piece by Etain Tannam, Associate Professor of International Peace Studies, was published first in the Irish Independent ‘The Border is not a line on the map. It is a mental border built on fear, prejudice and misunderstanding and which can only be eradicated by developing understanding and friendship. This is the real […]

17 Aug 2020

AI is a totalitarian’s dream – here’s how to take power back

Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology & Neuropsychology Simon McCarthy Jones on why we must not allow others to know more about ourselves than we do.

13 Aug 2020

Cause for concern: COVID-19’s troubling impact on the brain

This opinion piece by Tomás Ryan, associate professor in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, originally appeared in the Sunday Business Post on 19th July 2020

20 Jul 2020

“We need those summer dollars!”: Why the COVID shark is out there still

In the Sunday Independent, Prof. Luke O'Neill wrote about the parallels between the film Jaws and COVID-19, casting Tony Holohan as Chief Brody

6 Jul 2020

Shared Island? There’s hope for British-Irish intergovernmental relations

With the UK's exit from the EU nearing, Trinity's Professor Etain Tannam reflects on whether the Shared Island document marks a new beginning or a false dawn for British-Irish and cross-border relations.

2 Jul 2020

COVID-19 exposes major flaw in global supply chains

In this article from Openaccessgovernment.org, Dr Tanusree Jain and Dr Louis Brennan, Trinity Business School, propose that we must fix vulnerabilities of global supply chains exposed by COVID-19

19 Jun 2020

Why Boris Johnson must stop talking about ‘good British common sense’

A fascinating opinion-editorial written by Trinity's lecturer in philosophy, Peter West.

19 Jun 2020

China’s quantum satellite enables first totally secure long-range messages

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Harun Siljak writes how this technology is being used to reach a major milestone: long-range secure communication you could trust even without trusting the satellite it runs through.

16 Jun 2020

Research

Why it’s difficult to be a woman in research right now

Professor Clodagh Brook discusses how women in research have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and what can be done to ensure that female researchers continue to be heard. This article was published on siliconrepublic.com on June 2nd, 2020

16 Jun 2020

Research

Mass action needed to change US

Daniel Geary, Mark Pigott associate professor in American history, writing in the Irish Times that steps required to prevent police murdering of African Americans have been known for 50 years.

8 Jun 2020

Northern Ireland after coronavirus: three scenarios for politics and peace

A thought-provoking opinion piece published by The Conversation and written by David Mitchell, assistant professor in conflict resolution and reconiliation at Trinity.

4 Jun 2020

Like Covid 19, child domestic abuse respects no boundaries

This opinion piece from Dr Stephanie Holt, Associate Professor and Head of School and Dr Ruth Elliffe, Teaching Fellow, School of Social Work & Social Policy, was published in the Irish Examiner

2 Jun 2020

Face coverings: the evidence is there if we look beyond what’s strictly medical

In an opinion piece originally published in the Irish Independent, Dr Louise Caffrey, Assistant Professor of Social Policy, says there's plenty of evidence to back the broad use of face coverings to help defeat Covid-19, if you look beyond what's strictly medical.

2 Jun 2020

Has business efficiency made Covid crisis worse?

Novel argument in praise of "redundancy" from Trinity Business School's Tanusree Jain and colleagues Adrian Zicari, Concepcion Galdon and Mario Aquino Alves. Published first in the Business Post.

28 May 2020

Why children must be the focus as lockdown eases

Social Work and Social Policy Professor Robbie Gilligan writes on the importance of placing children centre-stage as we exit lockdown. This opinion piece was first published by the Business Post.

14 May 2020

Why trust is key to making calculated grades work

A timely piece from Professor Damian Murchan, head of Trinity's School of Education, on why trust is key to the success calculated grades for this year's Leaving Cert. First published in the Irish Independent.

11 May 2020

Coronavirus: how physiotherapists are helping patients recover

Assistant professor in physiotherapy at Trinity, Julie Broderick, with a jointly written piece about the importance of physiotherapy for people who are critically ill with COVID-19.

8 May 2020

Why UN can win back support on human rights

An opinion piece by Donna Lyons, Assistant Professor at the Trinity School of Law, on how the United Nations could win back support for its human rights framework, as first published in the Business Post

8 May 2020

Treating COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquinine: can you teach an old drug new tricks?

Assistant professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at Trinity, Niamh O'Boyle, with an important piece underlining why nobody should self-medicate when fighting COVID-19.

1 May 2020

Research

Confinement: the fear of death, the price of life and the risk of living

A fascinating opinion-editorial by Laurent Muzellec, professor in marketing, Trinity Business School, which was first published in the Irish Independent.

30 Apr 2020

COVID-19 and why conscious capitalism can be the new normal

The Covid-19 virus pandemic has changed and will continue to change the world in profound ways. Our social, economic and political world will never be the same.

15 Apr 2020

Indian citizenship has now been reduced to ‘us’ versus ‘them’

A thought-provoking piece written by Trinity professors, Rahul Sambaraju and Suryapratim Roy, and published by The Conversation, which considers two controversial changes to citizenship laws in India.

2 Mar 2020

Quantum internet: the next global network is already being laid

Written by Trinity and CONNECT's Dr Harun Šiljak, and published by The Conversation, this piece looks ahead to see what the future holds in a world with access to a quantum internet.

18 Feb 2020

Opinion: Sinn Féin’s surge signals a precarious path ahead

Gaily McElroy, Trinity's professor in political science, with a thought-provoking opinion piece on the results of the Irish general election, first published by The Conversation.

11 Feb 2020

Palestinians will never be convinced a deal with Israel is worth making if annexation is packaged as peace

Writing for The Conversation, Trinity's Professor Brendan Browne responds to the so-called “deal of the century” for Israel-Palestine “peace” unveiled in Washington this week.

30 Jan 2020

Things people say about exercise that aren’t true

It can be hard to include exercise in our busy lives, despite the best of intentions. There are a lot of reasons people don’t exercise, and a lot of misconceptions about exercise. Here are nine common misconceptions about exercise and what research actually tells us.

16 Dec 2019

Understanding autism: new research dispels common assumptions

Ruth Byrne from Trinity College Dublin and Kinga Morsanyi, from Queen's University Belfast explore new insights into the autistic mind and what it’s like to have autism.

13 Dec 2019

Research

Nature versus nurture: how modern science is rewriting it

The question of whether it is genes or environment that largely shapes human behaviour has been debated for centuries. During the second half of the 20th century, there were two camps of scientists – each believing that nature or nurture, respectively, was exclusively at play.

27 Nov 2019

Research

Gaza: what life is like under the continuing Israeli blockade

By the seaside in Gaza City. Yaser Alashqar, Author provided Yaser Alashqar, Trinity College Dublin In his latest update to the UN Security Council in late October, Nicolay Mlandenov, the UN’s special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, warned that as the occupation of Palestinian land continues and a two-state solution moves further away: […]

8 Nov 2019

Research

How to stay fit into your 60s and beyond

Ageing is inevitable and is influenced by many things – but keeping active can slow ageing and increase life expectancy.

6 Nov 2019

Research

Virgin Galactic goes public and leads space tourism race

The route to success in the space tourism industry is bound to be a wild ride and Branson is hoping his first mover advantage will bring healthy returns in the long run.

5 Nov 2019

Reconnecting with what we are eating, and each other

Research is revealing the negative impacts of eating alone, which has been found to be linked to a variety of mental and physical health conditions.

4 Nov 2019

Research

Shame plays an important role in political life – or at least it used to

Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies, Aneta St?pie?, with an opinion piece published by The Conversation.

23 Oct 2019

Freedom of thought is under attack – here’s how to save your mind

Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neurophysiology Simon McCarthy explores freedom of thought as it stands at a critical crossroads.

21 Oct 2019

Podcast: To the moon and beyond 3

Trinity's Professor Louis Brennan, who has studied the business of space for some time, features in this podcast about the current space race and its wider implications.

18 Jul 2019

Research

How Luxembourg is positioning itself to be the centre of space business

Luxembourg sees the business of space as one of its future engines of economic development and prosperity, according to Professor Louis Brennan.

16 Jul 2019

The food system needs a revolution

We need a food revolution, argue the authors of the piece, who feel processed-food producers can sometimes paint a false picture of supposed improvements.

15 Jul 2019

Four ways blockchain could make the internet safer, fairer and more creative

Blockchain could help stamp out hate, allow you to vote with your phone, stop tech companies selling your data, and ensure you never forget another password.

15 Jul 2019

We spoke to survivalists prepping for disaster: here’s what we learned

A fascinating piece published by The Conversation, featuring contributions by Associate Professors in Marketing at Trinity, Norah Campbell and Sarah Browne.

24 Jun 2019

An anti-Brexit party just made an incredible breakthrough in Northern Ireland

An opinion piece by Professor David Mitchell, around the success of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, published by The Conversation.

30 May 2019

Theresa May is right about one thing – it’s time politicians worked together

by Martin Fellenz, Associate Professor in Organisational Behaviour, School of Business Brexit increasingly looks like a train crash in slow motion. Watching the British parliament going through consecutive Brexit votes, however, only to end up back where it started, is more like an ever repeating loop of the moments just before and after impact. If […]

26 Mar 2019

Ireland determined to avoid no-deal scenario as UK plays politics

The UK's no-deal tariff plan was viewed in Dublin as a way to scare Brexiteers into supporting Theresa May's deal, says Dr Etain Tannam, in this comment piece for The Conversation.

20 Mar 2019

Research

Donald Trump’s use of humiliation could have catastrophic consequences

Donald Trump's use of humiliation could have catastrophic consequences, explains Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, in this piece for The Conversation.

11 Mar 2019

Research

If anyone won the Oscars this year it was Netflix – the prize for industry disruption

No single film dominated the 2019 Academy Awards as in some years, but arguably Netflix emerges as the winner, says Prof Louis Brennan and Dr Paul Lyons in this piece for The Conversation.

27 Feb 2019

The Troubles: tens of thousands of people were violently displaced in Northern Ireland

The legacy of violent displacement in Northern Ireland has yet to be fully examined, explains Brendan Ciarán Browne, Assistant Professor and Course Coordinator MPhil Conflict Resolution, in this piece for The Conversation.

26 Feb 2019

Leo Varadkar’s coalition government holds remarkably stable in face of Brexit

Opinion piece published by ‘The Conversation’ by Gail McElroy, Professor in Political Science, Trinity College Dublin On paper, Theresa May and Leo Varadkar have much in common politically. Ideologically centre-right, both the British prime minister and Irish premier (Taoiseach) head minority governments that rest on precarious confidence and supply agreements. But Varadkar is in a […]

4 Feb 2019

Keeping fit: how to do the right exercise for your age

Assistant Professor in Physiotherapy at Trinity, Julie Broderick, with an opinion piece about varying your exercise with age, which was published by The Conversation.

4 Jan 2019

Why Brexit is causing turmoil for the pound and other markets

Trinity's Professor of International Finance and Commodities, Brian Lucey, contributes to a piece originally published by The Conversation.

14 Dec 2018

Brexit: views from around Europe on future relationship between UK and EU

Experts from around the EU, including Trinity's Etain Tannam, explain the priorities in member states for the next steps of the future EU-UK relationship

22 Nov 2018

Political representation: ethnicity trumps gender in Burundi and Rwanda

An opinion editorial written by Assistant Professor in Economics, Andrea Guariso and published by The Conversation.

12 Nov 2018

DUP’s red lines based on self-destructive Britishness many unionists don’t share

An opinion editorial written by Assistant Professor in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation, David Mitchell, and published by The Conversation.

31 Oct 2018

Who is behind the name of Elena Ferrante?

An opinion piece published by The Conversation explores who is behind the name of the pseudonymous Italian novelist Elena Ferrante.

24 Oct 2018

Wicked problems and how to solve them

An opinion piece published by The Conversation that explains how wicked problems can be solved, by using a water systems research case study.

18 Oct 2018

Is stakeholder capitalism making a comeback?

Over two centuries, capitalist ethos has swung from profit-taking for the few, to a distribution of wealth to the many, and back again. Is the pendulum poised to swing once more? asks Professor Louis Brennan in this piece for The Conversation.

8 Oct 2018

Research

How capitalism ruined our relationship with bacteria

How is our perception of bacteria influenced by the aims and desires of the manufacturers of cleaning products, asks Norah Campbell, Trinity College Dublin and Cormac Deane, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

5 Oct 2018

Brexit: fears in Dublin that time is running out to solve Irish border impasse

Despite the hype from some in the UK, very few observers expected a Brexit breakthrough at the EU’s Salzburg summit on September 20, writes Dr Etain Tannam in a piece for The Conversation.

24 Sep 2018

Research

Crucial video evidence of war crimes is being deleted – how can it be saved?

How can we save crucial video evidence of war crimes which is being deleted by the social media platforms that are hosting them, asks Roisin Costello, PhD Candidate, School of Law, in a piece for The Conversation.

24 Sep 2018

Research

The ‘Braveheart effect’ – how companies manipulate our desire for freedom

The powerful urge we get to regain a lost or threatened freedom, even at great cost, is formally called “reactance” but I call it the “Braveheart effect, writes Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology.

4 Sep 2018

What’s next for the Catholic Church after visit of Pope Francis

Fáinche Ryan, Assistant Professor in Systematic Theology assesses the challenges for the Irish people in the aftermath of the papal visit in a piece published by The Conversation.

3 Sep 2018

Bitcoin rollercoaster reflects the biggest issue facing cryptocurrencies: regulation

Professor of International Finance and Commodities at Trinity, Brian Lucey, with a jointly written opinion piece published by The Conversation.

17 Aug 2018

Adul Sam-on: the stateless boy who survived the Thai cave

An article, written by Postdoctoral Researcher, Derina Johnson, and published by The Conversation, focusing on the plight of the many stateless young people in the world.

16 Jul 2018

Pompeii should teach us to celebrate people’s lives, not mock their death

Doctoral Researcher in Classics, Ellen Finn, with an article published by The Conversation around the ethics of the “meme-ification” of the dead and our own often abstract perception of death and dying.

26 Jun 2018

Above and Beyond: Exploring the Business of Space

Human interest in space peaked during the course of the Space Race during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the USA.

17 Jun 2018

Four things that should happen before Irish unity

This opinion piece, written by Professor David Mitchell, and published by The Conversation, considers what should happen before the island of Ireland considers unity.

30 May 2018

Food sharing with a 21st-century twist – and Melbourne’s a world leader

An article co-authored by Professor Anna Davies and published by The Conversation, looking at the increasing influence of food-sharing.

30 May 2018

Kenya illustrates both the promise as well as the pitfalls of devolution

Assistant Professor in Political Science, Michelle D'Arcy, with a piece published by The Conversation.

24 May 2018

Stop telling Palestinians to be ‘resilient’ – the world has failed them

By promoting Palestinian resilience instead of holding Israel accountable for its multiple breaches of international law the international community is masking its own failures, according to Dr Ciaran Brendan Browne, Assistant Professor, Irish School of Ecumenics.

15 May 2018

Best way to avoid back pain? Lift heavy things

Associate Professor and Chartered Physiotherapist, Fiona Wilson, with a fascinating article published on The Conversation.

5 Apr 2018

Facebook data harvesting: what you need to know

PhD Candidate, Gráinne Maedhbh Nic Lochlainn, with a timely explanation of how our data can be used -- published by The Conversation.

4 Apr 2018

The Victorians portrayed paedophiles as strangers – and the myth persists today

Research Fellow, Ailise Bulfin, with a thought-provoking article published by The Conversation.

4 Apr 2018

Survivors of sexual violence are let down by the criminal justice system

How well do criminal justice systems treat survivors of sexual violence? The answer is not only important to survivors. It also signals to society how sexual violence should be viewed, says Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology.

29 Mar 2018

Bursting the Bitcoin bubble — podcast

Professor of International Finance and Commodities at Trinity, Brian Lucey, contributes to a lively discussion on Bitcoin in The Conversation's Anthill podcast.

21 Mar 2018

Lara Croft is back with a bang – but there are real tomb raiders out there

PhD Researcher in Classics, Ellen Finn, with a piece published by The Conversation, in which she discusses eal-world tomb raiding.

20 Mar 2018

Why China won’t let people compare Xi Jinping with an imperial predecessor

Assistant Professor in Chinese History, Isabella Jackson, with an opinion piece published by The Conversation.

7 Mar 2018

Steven Pinker lauds reason, but people need freedom – this might not end well

A new book published this week by Harvard psychologist, Steven Pinker, argues that the use of reason when making decisions is “non-negotiable”. Unfortunately, trying to tell people they must do something can backfire, says Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology

22 Feb 2018

Five reasons to be optimistic about Northern Ireland politics

A gloom has settled on Northern Ireland. After 13 months of negotiations to restore a power-sharing government, there is still no prospect of agreement, but there are still reasons to be optimistic, says David Mitchell, Assistant Professor in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation, writing for The Conversation.

19 Feb 2018

Why the e-cigarette industry needs global regulations

Writing for The Conversation, Assistant Professor of Ethical Business, Tanusree Jain, explains why flexible regulation and healthy competition is needed.

30 Jan 2018

Volcano crystals could make it easier to predict eruptions

Professor Balz Kamber and Dr Teresa Ubide explain how eruption histories are 'recorded' in crystals within magma in each and every volcano.

24 Jan 2018

Top-down Irish border solution after Brexit undermines 20 years of peacebuilding

Politicians should talk with the local communities who will be most affected when drawing up plans, says Sheila Cannon, Assistant Professor of Social Entrepreneurship.

11 Jan 2018

Why we need to stop talking about a ‘masculinity crisis’

Dealing with damaging harassment culture means changing the way we treat men, too, says Aneta St?pie?, Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies

19 Dec 2017

Lab-grown meat could let humanity ignore a serious moral failing

Lab-grown meat is being hailed as the solution to the factory farming of animals. There is, however, a major problem with lab-grown meat: a moral problem, according to Ben Bramble, Assistant Professor of Philosophy

19 Dec 2017

The two Koreas have tried to make peace before – and they could do so again

As the war of words between Washington and Pyongyang gets ever more lurid, it’s easy to forget that North and South Korea have made serious efforts to defrost their relationship before, explains Dong Jin Kim, Research Fellow, Irish School of Ecumenics.

12 Dec 2017

Brexit: never underestimate political potency of symbolism in Northern Ireland

Even when the question at hand is beyond the everyday governance of Northern Ireland, identity politics and ethno-national tribalism continue to rear their unhelpful heads, according to Dr Brendan Browne, Assistant Professor, Irish School of Ecumenics.

7 Dec 2017

Foreign parliaments are not powerless to help the Rohingya

Research Fellow at Trinity, Andreja Pegan, with a co-authored opinion piece published by The Conversation, in which she argues that pressure from foreign parliaments on Myanmar is vital.

27 Nov 2017

We built a robot care assistant for elderly people – here’s how it works

Assistant Professor, Conor McGinn, with a piece published by The Conversation about the development of Stevie -- Ireland's first prototype robot for assisted care.

21 Nov 2017

Oil shock and North among crises facing Cosgrave’s economy

Late taoiseach knew respect for rule of law and stability essential for economy.

24 Oct 2017

The collapse of Monarch Airlines is a victory for regulation

Lecturer in Strategy and Researcher in Aviation at Trinity, Padraic Regan, with an opinion piece published on The Conversation.

6 Oct 2017

Europe is training military forces in weak states – and that’s seriously risky

Jesse Dillon Savage, Assistant Professor of Global Politics at Trinity College Dublin and Jonathan Caverley, Associate Professor, US Naval War College advise that the US and the EU should be careful to consider what the military training they provide might one day amount to, in a piece published in the Conversation.

26 Sep 2017

Ryanair’s red hot growth may have left its pilots in the cold

Lecturer in Strategy and Researcher in Aviation at Trinity, Padraic Regan, comments on a difficult week for Ryanair.

22 Sep 2017

One in a lifetime chance to transform healthcare must not be wasted

Research Fellow in the Centre for Health Policy and Management and co-ordinator of the Pathways to Universal Healthcare project, Sara Burke discuss 'new politics' in the context of Slaintecare and the pathway to universal healthcare in Ireland, with an opinion piece published in the Irish Indepenedent.

19 Sep 2017

Divided Korea can learn from Northern Ireland’s peace process

Histories of hurt and trauma link Ireland with two Koreas and may show way forward, according to Dr David Mitchell, Assistant Professor in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation, and Dr Dongjin Kim, Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Irish School of Ecumenics

19 Sep 2017

Why China’s audacious building plans could be a huge strain on African economies

PhD Candidate in Geography, Ricardo Reboredo, discusses the potential impact of building plans described by Chinese president Xi Jinping as the "project of the century".

8 Sep 2017

Politics, partners and pride: why Air Berlin is down but not yet out

These airlines are in trouble due to economic failure, but their future is very much in the hands of political power, says Padraic Regan, Assistant Professor in Marketing and Strategy.

29 Aug 2017

Concept of schizophrenia is coming to an end

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, says that the concept of schizophrenia has been fatally wounded by psychiatry, the very profession that once sustained it.

24 Aug 2017

Brain stimulation, boosting creativity and hearing inspirational voices

Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology at Trinity, Simon McCarthy-Jones, with an opinion piece published by The Conversation.

21 Aug 2017

Colombia faces challenge to build peace without sacrificing its biodiversity

Jane Feeney, PhD candidate, says Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, but over the past half century it has also been home to a brutal civil war, inflicting death and displacement on its citizens, with negative repercussions on its natural environment.

21 Aug 2017

A major uprising in Jerusalem and beyond is just a few missteps away

Assistant Professor in International Peace Studies, Carlo Aldrovandi says the summer crisis in Jerusalem makes it clear that a major conflagration in Israel-Palestine could just happen.

17 Aug 2017

A pre-Brexit aviation agreement is needed to avoid travel chaos

Lecturer in Strategy and Researcher in Aviation at Trinity, Padraic Regan, feels Brexit may spell trouble for aeroplane passengers unless an aviation agreement is prioritised.

10 Aug 2017

How to be a better leader — according to science

Associate Professor in Human Resources and Organisational Behaviour at Trinity, says that 'purposeful' leaders with a strong moral compass have the biggest impact on colleagues.

4 Aug 2017

‘Frondeurs’ and fake news: how misinformation ruled in 17th-century France

Lecturer in French History, Linda Kiernan, with an opinion piece published on The Conversation.

2 Aug 2017

Does the next industrial revolution spell the end of manufacturing jobs?

Research Assistant in Manufacturing Research Engineering at Trinity, Jeff Morgan, believes that it is up to us to make sure the 'robot workforce' works for us -- freeing us up to focus more on business development and creative science.

20 Jul 2017

Sensing the dead is perfectly normal — and often helpful

Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology at Trinity, Simon McCarthy-Jones, argues that we shouldn't feel afraid to talk about these experiences -- which are surprisingly common.

20 Jul 2017

Will Amazon’s Whole Foods deal go the same way as L’Oréal and Body Shop?

Assistant Professor of Ethical Business at Trinity, Tanusree Jain, wonders whether Whole Foods will be able to retain its 'conscious capitalism'.

22 Jun 2017

Are diesel cars really more polluting than petrol cars?

A fact-check piece co-authored by Associate Professor in Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Aonghus McNabola, which underlines that older diesel vehicles are more damaging to human health than their petrol counterparts.

2 May 2017

A Contested Experience: The Multiple Meanings Of ‘Hearing Voices’

Dr. Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, writes in a piece in The Huffington Post UK how voices can be many things and suggests that people need information and the freedom to explore what their voices mean, in a supportive environment.

27 Apr 2017

When the past is present: the multiple meanings of ‘hearing voices’

Dr. Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, explains new perspectives emerging in the field of voice hearing, which are leading to innovative ways to help hearers.

27 Apr 2017

What we can learn from the Victorians teaching their kids about consumerism

Assistant Professor in Children's Literature at Trinity, Jane Suzanne Carroll, believes it is important to teach children about production and consumption.

27 Apr 2017

People are taking to the streets to defend science – but it could come at a cost

Dr Joseph Roche, Assistant Professor in Science Education, believes this weekend's March for Science will present a tricky challenge for those involved to strike the appropriate level of political activism.

21 Apr 2017

Children should be more involved in healthcare decisions that affect them

Professor of Children's Nursing in Trinity, Imelda Coyne, explains why children should be seen and heard in hospitals and surgeries.

20 Apr 2017

New anti-protest laws are incompatible with American democracy

Assistant Professor of Sociology, Laura Graham, notes that civil protest is deeply embedded in American democratic history.

7 Apr 2017

How Brexit could put a strain on EU-China relations

Professor in Business Studies, Louis Brennan, believes China will find a less supportive voice within a Europe that doesn't include the UK.

4 Apr 2017

Freud’s divide between psychiatry and neurology is redundant — here’s why

Neurological and psychiatric conditions both involve the brain, but are treated very differently. Perhaps they shouldn't be.

28 Mar 2017

How to unlock the potential of papyrus wetlands in Africa

Papyrus wetlands cover 6% of sub-Saharan Africa and the quick-growing plant has enormous potential as a renewable energy source.

22 Mar 2017

Disruptive Business Models: Boon or Bane for Society

Airbnb is one example of disruptive business models that have come into sharp focus in recent years.

3 Mar 2017

Stopping maternity care for mothers six weeks after giving birth is unrealistic

Three-quarters of women birthing in Ireland are not being asked about their own health issues after becoming mothers, and the lack of information and lack of discussion about these issues means women stay quiet, because they feel embarrassed and believe they are alone in experiencing these problems.

8 Dec 2016

‘Brexit, Brussels and the Big Apple’ – Trinity experts give their view

Amid the European Commission’s Apple ruling and talk of a hard Brexit, Trinity experts discuss Ireland’s next move as part of the 'Behind the Headlines' series

20 Oct 2016

2016 US Presidential Election:Trinity experts give their views and predictions

Hilary Clinton & Donald Trump on free trade, climate change, race, class and gender.

4 Oct 2016

Was De Gaulle Right After All?

Maybe De Gaulle was right to reject British membership of the EU in the 1960s, on the grounds that Britain was too insular and non-European in outlook.

29 Jun 2016

Pooling of Decision Making Increases Freedom

The Brexit campaign, at least up to now, is based on the assumption that the alternative to EU membership is some nirvana, where the British government will be free to do what it wills on the global stage without being constrained by the decisions of others or the need for collective and binding decision making.

10 May 2016

‘People With Intellectual Disability Have Been Silenced Too Often’

We, as a society, need to tackle continued physical segregation, political invisibility and abuse of human rights of people with intellectual disability.

10 May 2016

The Proclamation was a speech by Pearse, not a constitution

The Easter Rising document did not reflect the range of views of its seven signatories.

28 Mar 2016

Recognising the impact of research in the Arts and Humanities

The Arts and Humanities both celebrate and challenge the expression of the human condition, according to Professor Jane Ohlmeyer.

3 Mar 2016

How Our Employment Laws Could Better Support People with Mental Health Issues

People with mental health problems in Ireland experience persistent labour market disadvantage, according to Mark Bell, Regius Professor of Laws at Trinity.

2 Feb 2016

The Proclamation – The Spirit of 1916 Captured on a Piece of Paper

It was met with indifference when it was first read out and is now often misquoted, but the 1916 Proclamation remains a triumph of inspiration, according to Professor of History Patrick Geoghegan

1 Feb 2016

Shareholders can learn about company risk from Volkswagen scandal

Poor corporate governance is always dangerous, according to Dr Elaine Laing, Assistant Professor in Finance, Trinity Business School

19 Jan 2016

Restrict free markets and other freedoms may be curtailed

Markets are not without limitations, but they allow freedom, according to Professor of Economics John O'Hagan

18 Jan 2016

Brain Disease: Where Ireland Stands

A large majority of us will experience some form of brain illness during our lifetimes, with over half of us requiring therapy for a neurological or psychiatric disease

7 Dec 2015

The Interrogator’s Soul : The Neuroscience of Torture

An ordinary person becomes a torturer with surprising ease, the hard part comes when it’s time to be human again, according to Professor of Experimental Brain Research Shane O'Mara

1 Dec 2015

Inquests Are Essential To Understanding Maternal Deaths

Between 2008 and 2014, eight public inquests into the deaths of women who died in Irish maternity units ended with verdicts of medical misadventure.

26 Nov 2015

The Blame for Paris Atrocities Rests with Attackers – not Islam

The horrific events in Paris last Friday night have presented us, once again, with the vista of so-called "Islamic terrorism", according to Neville Cox, Associate Professor, School of Law.

17 Nov 2015

Why 21st Century Skills? To Prepare Students For Life, Not Just Exams

Teaching for Tomorrow Project Manager, Aibhin Bray, argues the need for secondary schools to embrace 21st Century Learning Techniques.

13 Nov 2015

Ethics in Sport – Major Ethical Questions Trouble the Glorious Enterprise of Sport

Sport remains a glorious enterprise but major ethical questions abound, according to Dr John Scally, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Ecclesiastical History

4 Nov 2015

Digital Age’s Deluge of Data Spells New Chapter for Libraries

Libraries are undergoing massive shifts in how they operate, according to Helen Shenton, Librarian and Archivist at Library of Trinity College Dublin.

19 Oct 2015

Thinking & Feeling About the Migrant Crisis

Emotional reactions are essential to a moral response to the migrant crisis, according to Professor Paul O'Grady, who says that the groundswell of public opinion has been generated by peoples' emotional responses to the images of the migrant crisis.By Professor Paul O'Grady, Head of the Department of Philosophy, Trinity College Dublin

29 Sep 2015

Crowning of Ireland’s Last, Scottish High King

700 years ago, after the Battle of Bannockburn, Ireland and Scotland united to fight England. We should cherish the links that were forged, according to Professor Seán Duffy.

22 Sep 2015

Weighing up the Value of the Arts in Ireland

It is not the number of artists assisted, or the number of events sponsored that matter but the value to wider society, according to Professor of Economics John O'Hagan

17 Sep 2015

The Case for a New National Institute for Health Research

A new National Institute for Health Research could transform our health service, according to Orla Hardiman, Professor of Neurology.

7 Aug 2015

The Ongoing Greek Crisis: A Roadmap for Reform of the Euro Zone

The Five Presidents' Report 'Completing Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union' provides a possible roadmap for the reform of the euro zone, according to Professor Philip R Lane.

6 Aug 2015

Alcohol and Mental Health in Ireland

The best way to improve mental health in Ireland would be for the Government to implement the recommendations of its own Steering Group on a National Substance Misuse Strategy for alcohol, according to Prof Ian H Robertson.

27 Jul 2015

China’s Ambitious Space Programme

Future space endeavors will be driven by a mix of state actors, corporations and individuals, but China, by virtue of the ambition of its space programme, stands out, according to Professor of Business Studies Louis Brennan.

17 Jul 2015

How Much Do You Really Care About Your Online Data?

The perceived concern about losing control of our online data is actually far smaller than the desire to control our purse strings, according to Dr Kevin Koidl.

6 Jul 2015

The North Began – The Forgotten Exodus of Northern Nationalists

Northern activists who fled Ulster to avoid persecution after partition made significant contribution to cultural and political life in the new Free State, according to Professor of Contemporary Irish History Eunan O'Halpin

22 Jun 2015

Magna Carta at 800 – the Dublin Connection

Eight hundred years ago this week one of the most famous documents in world history was born: Magna Carta. It established the principle that executive power should not be above the law, explains Dr Peter Crooks, Assistant Professor in Medieval History

16 Jun 2015

Inspiring Change: Empowering Women’s Futures in Africa

Global progress towards equality for women and girls has been significant in the last 20 years, yet enormous barriers to female empowerment still persist, says Dr Gillian Wylie, Head of the Irish School of Ecumenics.

25 May 2015

Britain Shouldn’t Leave the EU – It Should Join the Euro Group

If the UK wants beneficial reform of the EU then let it be as a fully committed club member, observing the collective rules of that club, says Professor of Economics John O'Hagan.

7 May 2015

Why we don’t hear about the 10,000 French deaths at Gallipoli

Professor John Horne on why the Gallipoli campaign, which became a foundation myth in Australia and the Turkish ,was eventually forgotten in France.

27 Apr 2015

Neonicotinoids are Harmful to More Than Just Honeybees

Professor in Botany, Dr Jane Stout, believes a paradigm shift is needed in agricultural pest control to safeguard bees and other pollinators that provide an incredibly valuable ecosystem service.

27 Apr 2015

State Taking Grandparents Who Provide Childcare for Granted

As long as grandparents are doing the job 'for free' the State avoids the significant investment required for good-quality childcare, says Dr Virpi Timonen, Professor of Social Policy and Ageing at the School of Social Work and Social Policy.

16 Apr 2015

Zoologists Hope ‘Big Brother’ Approach Will Help Combat TB in Badgers and Cattle

The zoologists are using GPS systems to better understand how badgers live their lives in Ireland, so as to develop a highly effective TB vaccination programme.

31 Mar 2015

Bitcoin: A Currency without a Country

Professor in Computer Science at Trinity, Donal O'Mahony, believes the crypto-currency genie is now well and truly out of the bottle.

3 Feb 2015

Time to Talk about Youth Homelessness – Expert Comment on Homeless Crisis

Media attention has focussed on homelessness among families and adults, but if we're really serious about tackling this crisis, then we have to start talking about youth homelessness as this is where the problem often begins argues Paula Mayock, Assistant Professor in Youth Research in the School of Social Work and Social Policy.

19 Dec 2014

The Ebola Outbreak – Is Africa Really Rising?

Associate Professor in Geography in the School of Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin, Padraig Carmody, says: “Much of Africa has made substantial socio-economic progress in the last decade in particular, but for the continent to truly “rise”, a new relationship with the international system and a new state-citizen bargain is required.”

27 Nov 2014

The Future of Sustainable Urban Planning Requires an Understanding of Urban Metabolism

If we are to plan for a sustainable future, it is vital that we assess material and energy flows in and out of cities and plan for some flexibility in their changes, says Dr Ainhoa Gonzáles Del Campo, Teaching Fellow in Trinity's School of Natural Sciences.

22 Oct 2014

Ireland’s obesity problem affects people from all walks of life – it can no longer be ignored or considered ’someone else’s problem’.

Obesity is affecting a growing proportion of older Irish adults and Dr Siobhan Leahy, TILDA Research Fellow and lead author of the July 2014 TILDA report: 'Obesity in an Ageing Society" discusses what is needed now and in the future to address this national epidemic.

2 Oct 2014

Let those damaged by the Irish asylum system tell their stories

A statutory review into the excessive use of Irish mental hospitals is needed according to Dr Damien Brennan from Trinity's School of Nursing and Midwifery. He argues however, that it would be an error for such a review to be incorporated within the inquiry into mother-and-baby homes.

22 Jul 2014

Assessing Ireland’s Hidden ‘Natural Capital’ Wealth Requires Collaboration Between Environmentalists and Economists

A Natural Capital Forum (NCF) for Ireland will be established to advance an economic assessment of all the resources, goods and services produced by the Irish environment, but Dr Jane Stout, Director of the Trinity Centre for Biodiversity Research, says the task ahead is a tricky one.

22 May 2014