CDS Hybrid lecture series
To bridge the gap between research and practice the Centre of Deaf Studies launched a hybrid lecture series on topics related to Sign Language Studies.
The Capstone Project Presentation Webinar:
30th April 2025, 5pm-6,30pm
Book you place here
The Centre for Deaf Studies will host a Capstone Project Presentation Webinar at 5:00 PM, delivered via Zoom in Room 111. This event offers a unique opportunity to spotlight the culmination of student research in a format that is both accessible and community oriented.
The webinar will begin with a brief introduction by the host, who will welcome attendees and outline the purpose of the session, grounded in the Centre’s commitment to the principle of “Giving Back to the Community.” A short overview of the diverse Capstone research topics will follow, setting the stage for a series of engaging student-led presentations.
Each of the ten students will deliver a concise, seven-minute presentation, designed to communicate key insights clearly and effectively. With the aid of two to three PowerPoint slides, students will guide the audience through their research objectives, background, main findings, and the broader impact of their work on the community. Presentations will be delivered in either Irish Sign Language or English, with interpretation provided to ensure full accessibility.
The second half of the webinar will be dedicated to a 20-minute Q&A and discussion session. This segment aims to foster community engagement by encouraging reflection on how the presented findings might be applied in practice. Audience members will have the opportunity to pose questions, explore implications, and connect with the themes raised in each project.
The event will close with brief concluding remarks summarising the key insights and reaffirming the value of research in enriching the lived experiences of the Deaf community. The entire session is expected to last no more than 90 minutes, offering a focused yet dynamic platform for academic exchange and community connection.
Seminar on Community Resilience:
Date: 15th May 2025
Time: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Venue: Robert Emmet Theatre, Trinity College Dublin
Hosted by the Centre for Deaf Studies with support from a Reach Deaf Services research grant, this full-day seminar brings together leading researchers and community voices to explore the many dimensions of resilience within Deaf communities.
The seminar features keynote talks from prominent scholars including Professor John Bosco Conama (Trinity College Dublin), Dr. Octavian Robinson (The Ohio State University), Dr. Mette Sommer (Heriot-Watt University), and Dr. Noel O’Connell (University College Cork). Topics range from definitions of resilience, Deaf ecosystems and business ownership to community solidarity and the lived experiences of CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults).
In addition to the talks, the event will include two interactive panel discussions, where Deaf individuals will share personal narratives and reflections on resilience, highlighting real-world insights and strategies for community empowerment.
This seminar provides a platform for dialogue, research exchange, and community-building, aimed at deepening our understanding of resilience through a Deaf-centred lens.
2024 lectures
March 4th 2024: Anja Saft (Germany) The Academic potential of sign language interpreters as researchers. You can find the recording and materials of that lecture here: https://strategicinterpreting.blog/2024/03/07/visiting-researcher-lecture-anja-saft/
April 4th 2024, Caroline O’Leary and Ciara Grant: A new Irish Sign Language glossary of parliamentary terminology. Recordings of the lecture, and the link to the results of the project can be found here: https://strategicinterpreting.blog/2024/04/05/centre-for-deaf-studies-lecture-a-new-isl-glossary-of-parliamentary-terminology/
April 24th 2025. Dr Vera Kolbe: Interpreter mediated classrooms- experiences and challenges from the perspective of teachers, interpreters and pupils