Environment - News & Events | Trinity College Dublin

Twenty-four Trinity labs earn sustainable certifications

The 24 have today been awarded sustainable lab certifications under a Research Ireland-led programme piloted in partnership with Impact Laboratories and My Green Lab.

16 Jul 2025

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Universities need restructuring for climate and community needs, study finds

Higher education institutions offer critical social infrastructure with untapped potential to contribute to more equitable and sustainable futures, according to new research.

15 Jul 2025

Culture|Environment|Research|Society|Students

Ireland’s only protected insect stars in new comic to spotlight importance of the bioeconomy

The latest Beo and Raja comic stars the beautiful Marsh Fritillary butterfly. The comic focuses on the importance of insects with the aim of engaging younger audiences in issues of biodiversity.

11 Jul 2025

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Sustainable aviation in the spotlight as Trinity hosts international conference

Researchers from around the globe will this week attend the inaugural International Conference on Sustainable Aviation Research (ICSAR).

7 Jul 2025

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Trinity’s groundbreaking carbon capture tech takes off at Dublin Airport

Trinity's carbon capture tech initiates its first industrial-scale field test at Dublin Airport, demonstrating its potential for revolutionising carbon capture in aviation and e-fuel industries.

1 Jul 2025

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Three new Trinity projects to address climate challenges

Dr John Kennedy, Prof. Wolfgang Schmitt, and Matthew Chersich have secured Environmental Protection Agency funding to support related research.

19 Jun 2025

Heatwaves greatly influence parasite burden; likely spread of disease

New research from scientists at Trinity College Dublin strongly implies that heatwaves have a major influence on the spread of many diseases – and that many existing predictive models have overlooked this complexity.

4 Jun 2025

Environment|Health|Research|Science|Sustainability

Geography PhD candidate wins 2025 Mary Mulvihill Award

Kevin O’Leary, a second-year PhD candidate in Geography in the School of Natural Sciences, is the co-winner of the 2025 Mary Mulvihill Award – a science media competition that commemorates the legacy of science journalist and author Mary Mulvihill (1959–2015).

23 May 2025

Awards and Funding|Environment|Research|Students

Professors Jennifer McElwain and Jonathan Coleman elected Fellows of the Royal Society

Prof. McElwain’s research on fossil plants has shaped our understanding of how the atmosphere has changed over millions of years, while Prof. Coleman developed a transformative technique for producing 2D nanomaterials like graphene from layered solids such as graphite.

20 May 2025

Awards and Funding|Environment|Research|Science

Ancient ocean sediments link changes in currents to cooling of Northern Hemisphere 3.6 million years ago

New research from an international group has for the first time shown a strong correlation between the two. Differences in sediment composition imply profound changes in the circulation of deep water currents occurred at this time in Earth's history.

16 May 2025

Environment|Research|Science

Waste not: CHARM-EU students tackle real-world sustainability challenges

Trinity will today host the final day of XHIBIT, an intensive learning programme during which CHARM-EU students teamed up with local organisations to develop sustainability solutions.

16 May 2025

Environment|Students|Sustainability

Plastic manufacturing technologies jeopardise food safety and the environment

AMBER Centre researchers based in Trinity have discovered that the way many everyday plastics are manufactured builds unseen stress into the material—stress that later drives the release of tiny plastic particles into our food and the environment.

13 May 2025

Environment|Health|Research|Science|Sustainability

The Climate Fiction Prize 2025: the five shortlisted books reviewed by our experts

Chris Morash, School of English, joins a panel of researchers to review the novels shortlisted for the 2025 Climate Fiction Prize.

13 May 2025

Culture|Environment|Research|Sustainability

From ashes to concrete

Engineers have devised a means of transforming biomass ash byproduct into high-quality concrete, which reduces carbon emissions by over 50%.

6 May 2025

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

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

Simple water-saving technologies could shave nearly €10 million in state water costs by 2030

Installing efficient water-saving technologies (taps, showers, toilets) in new build homes in Ireland could save €280 annually in a four-person house when associated energy savings are also included.

17 Apr 2025

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

New research outlines pitfalls of posthuman, AI governance in real-world “city brain” project

The work underscores what can go wrong when an AI that manages city transport, safety, health and environmental monitoring predicts the future and intervenes in the present, significantly influencing urban governance and public policy development.

16 Apr 2025

Environment|Research|Science

Extraordinary tales of Trinity’s Zoological Museum brought to life in new book

Dr Martyn Linnie, curator of Trinity College Dublin’s Zoological Museum, has just launched a new book, bringing to life the many tales of the museum’s history and that of its permanent residents.

4 Apr 2025

Environment|Research|Science

Microplastics pollution from glitter can disrupt marine biomineralisation

New research reveals that PET-based glitter microplastics can actively influence biomineralisation processes in marine environments, raising fresh concerns about the long-term environmental impact of microplastic pollution on marine ecosystems.

1 Apr 2025

Environment|Research|Science

Trinity geologists release new book for walkers interested in Dublin’s built heritage

Prof. Patrick Wyse Jackson and Dr Louise Caulfield, from Trinity’s School of Natural Sciences, have released The Decorative & Building Stones of Dublin: a walking guide.

21 Mar 2025

Culture|Environment|Society

Trinity Water Centre launches ahead of World Water Day 2025

The Trinity Water Centre—a pioneering hub dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and education in water—which will primarily address global water challenges, inform resource management, and deliver technological advancements.

21 Mar 2025

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

New eMobility eHub offering electric cars, e-bikes and e-cargo bikes for the public launches in Galway City

The eHubs offer a range of shared public travel options, providing residents and visitors with convenient, sustainable, and cost-effective travel choices.

21 Mar 2025

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

eMol eSoghluaiseachta nua a chuireann gluaisteáin leictreacha, rothair leictreacha agus rothair leictreacha lasta ar fáil don phobal seolta i gCathair na Gaillimhe

Cuireann eMoil raon roghanna taistil phoiblí comhroinnte ar fáil, ag soláthar roghanna taistil atá áisiúil, inbhuanaithe agus éifeachtúil ó thaobh costas de do mhuintir na háite agus do chuairteoirí.

21 Mar 2025

Environment|Research|Sustainability

Climate change fuelling mental health crisis in areas most affected by climate crisis

Climate change is not just an environmental issue — it’s a mental health crisis impacting on adolescent wellbeing right now in areas most affected by climate change, according to new research from the School of Psychology.

18 Mar 2025

Environment|Research|Society|Sustainability

New €5 million project will transform fibre optic cables into active sensors, safeguarding networks from damage

The project will help to safeguard telecommunications networks from damage – accidental and malicious – as well as boosting how we communicate and understand our environment

14 Mar 2025

Environment|Research|Science

Trinity's iconic Campanile re-emerges after repairs

Trinity’s Estates and Facilities team have worked since the summer of 2024 towards a comprehensive upgrade of the 100-foot bell tower, which was constructed in 1853, and is the first major structure visitors to Trinity see after coming through the Front Arch.

21 Feb 2025

Community|Environment

“Bioprospecting” scientist sleuthing for crop-aiding fungi brings their spectacular beauty to life

Diego Bianchi, a PhD candidate in the School of Natural Sciences, has launched the Fungal Galaxies gallery to show off the spectacular beauty of some of his new agricultural allies.

18 Feb 2025

Environment|Research|Science

Bad hair bears! Greasy hair gives polar bears fur with anti-icing properties

An international team of scientists has discovered the anti-icing secret of polar bear fur – something that allows one of the planet’s most iconic animals to survive and thrive in one of its most punishing climates. That secret? Greasy hair.

29 Jan 2025

Environment|Research|Science

Seanad hustings event held at Trinity

The candidates took part in two debates, hosted by broadcaster Áine Kerr, followed by audience questions. Among the issues discussed were education, disability, housing, health, climate and data centres.

15 Jan 2025

Community|Environment|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