Schools Update

School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy EDI Initiatives

EDI Governance and Committee Structure

The ALPEP EDI Committee works to develop and sustain a welcoming, inclusive and respectful School environment in which staff and students are supported to achieve their full potential. The Committee includes academic and administrative staff representatives from each disciplinary unit (Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Environmental Policy), as well as student representatives, ensuring broad and meaningful representation.

ALPEP School EDI Committee

Key EDI Initiatives and Actions

ALPEP Staff Buddy Programme & Parent Buddy Programme

ALPEP has introduced the UCD Staff Buddy Programme and Parent Buddy Programme to support staff induction, inclusion, and wellbeing. These initiatives provide informal peer support, particularly for new staff and staff returning from extended leave.

ALPEP Buddies:

Student EDI Representation

ALPEP has strengthened student engagement in EDI through dedicated student representatives. These representatives act as a direct link between the student body and the EDI Committee, ensuring that students’ EDI concerns and initiatives are meaningfully considered in School-level decision-making. EDI points of contact and support pathways have been shared during staff–student meetings to improve visibility and accessibility. The School continues to support student-led EDI initiatives and to encourage open dialogue between staff and students on inclusion-related matters.

Menstrual Health and Period Products Initiative

EDI student representatives supported by ALPEP EDI Committee have launched an initiative to improve access to menstrual products through a community-based basket system on the Richview Campus. Recognising that period products are essential rather than optional, the initiative provides discreet, judgement-free access based on the principle:

“Take when you need, donate when you can.”

Community baskets are located in all women’s and non-binary toilets on the Richview campus, with an additional basket on the first floor of the Newstead Main Building to align with and complement existing UCD provided free product provision on the ground floor.

The initiative was launched by the MRUP and MAUCA 2026 EDI representatives. Student feedback was highly supportive of this initiative, highlighting its positive impact on wellbeing, inclusion, and accessibility. Its continuation relies on in-kind community donations and reflects a shared commitment to student wellbeing, dignity, and inclusion.

Dignity and Respect Training and Awareness

Dignity and Respect training has been actively promoted across the School. In particular:

• The UCD Active Bystanders Challenging Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct #NotInOurUCD (online student course) was highlighted and promoted by the EDI Graduate student representative during the APEP PhD Graduate Symposium (2025).
• Dignity and Respect modules and workshops continue to be communicated and encouraged among all staff groups at the start of each academic term.

Inclusive Working Practices: Ireland–China

In recognition of ALPEP’s transnational teaching and research activities, particularly with staff temporarily based at Chang’an Dublin International College (CDIC) in Xi’an, core meeting hours have been agreed. Meetings requiring participation from colleagues in China should be scheduled between 9:30 and 11:00 (Irish Standard Time) to ensure reasonable and inclusive working hours across time zones.

Teaching, Representation, and External Engagement

The School continues to monitor and promote:

• Gender balance and diversity in guest lectures and invited speakers.
• Inclusive engagement with professional bodies, including the Planning Institute, ensuring that students across all programmes benefit from diverse perspectives in lectures and presentations.

Ongoing and Emerging Issues

The ALPEP EDI Committee remains attentive to School-specific EDI issues that may require local action, particularly where existing University-level frameworks may not fully address contextual challenges.

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School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering EDI events October

Monday, 22/09/25, 5-7 pm, SCBE Welcome back evening

• Organised by Chem. Eng. Programme director
• Talks included HoS welcome, introduction of EDI, talks from alumni and students who went abroad
• Followed by a pizza reception
• Attended by >60 students, >5 academic staff

Thursday 02/10/25, 2-3 pm, SCBE EDI Stage 2 coffee, room ENG124

• The event was attended by about 20 stage 2 students, 5 academic staff, 3 technical staff and one postgraduate student (member of EDI committee)

Friday 03/10/25, 10.30-11.30, SCBE EDI monthly coffee morning, room ENG124

• Attended by researchers (postgraduate students, stage 5 research students, interns), academic, technical and admin staff

Monday 06/10/25, 11-12, SCBE EDI stage 3 coffee morning, room ENG124

School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering

The PhD and Postdoc representatives of the SMME EDI Committee have organised a PhD and Postdoc Seminar Series in the School. This is aimed at enhancing peer-to-peer interaction among research scholars of different research groups and sharing information on conferences, equipment/facilities or resources available to them. This addresses some of the key concerns raised in the 2024 postdoc experience report. Presentations are scheduled to happen every Tuesday from 13:00-14:00 in the Spring 2025 trimester, with coffee and networking serving as an icebreaker. The recent two sessions were delivered by Zhichao Geng, discussing ultra-precision photocatalysis polishing of silicon carbide ceramics and Seyed Masih Mousavizadeh, exploring high-strength bonding techniques for bioresorbable stents.

Here's the lineup for the upcoming talks:

• 11 Mar: 1–2 pm, Xingyu Fu (Postdoc), Clinton Auditorium – Design and Assembly of the Microneedle Device
• 18 Mar: 1–2 pm, Tianyu Guan (PhD), ENG 321 – Towards defect-free replication of polymeric microstructures using novel Ni-PTFE nanocomposite moulds
• 25 Mar: 1–2 pm, Shreyan Banerjee (PhD), ENG 317 – A Neuromorphic Approach for Monitoring and Control of Features of Interest in Dynamical Systems
• 1 Apr: 1–2 pm, Divyanshu Sood (PhD), TBD – Evaluating the effects of occupancy on energy use and indoor environmental quality in residential building archetypes over spatial and temporal scales
• 8 Apr: 1–2 pm, TBD TBD, TBD – TBD
• 15 Apr: 1–2 pm, Chanikya Valeti (Postdoc), TBD – TBD
• 22 Apr: 1–2 pm, Ankush Gogoi (PhD), TBD – Stochastic Differential Equations on Riemannian Manifolds

In addition to the seminar series, a pinboard was used to capture the concerns of the PhD and postdoctoral scholars. People's discussions on the pinboard included adding more relevant PhD modules, the inclusion of international students, loneliness, teaching opportunities, stipends, lab equipment and software access, and work provisions for PhD spouses. For people in MME interested in participating in the talks, the link is as below:

https://forms.gle/5MwMXGdHwwXeTAMf7 .

Priority will be given to PhDs close to completion and postdocs who have recently joined the school so that they can network and seek collaborative opportunities within the school."

School EDI Activities: Coffee Mornings

Student Coffee Mornings offers a valuable platform for undergraduate students to connect with peers, lecturers, and technical staff. These informal gatherings provide a space for discussing future career paths, exploring research interests, and addressing academic challenges—all while sharing a cup of coffee. By facilitating these interactions, Coffee Mornings fosters an inclusive and supportive environment within the school.

Events are organised by academic stage, allowing for candid discussions on common concerns beyond the classroom. They also serve as a forum to address gaps in facilities, services, and support systems. The School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering collaborates with the School of Electrical Engineering to host joint coffee events for biomedical engineering students. During one such event, students shared feedback and suggestions through a post-it sticker board, providing valuable insights for the School's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee.

The conversations are intentionally open-ended, allowing for dynamic and organic discussions. From exploring the creation of new student societies to finding ways to balance assignment workloads across modules, these gatherings provide a space for meaningful dialogue. They also serve as a platform to share updates on college-level amenities designed to support students and staff with special needs, such as the wellness room for parents of infants. Additionally, the committee took an active role in organising the CEA UCD Pride Coffee Morning, reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity and support for LGBTI+ staff and students. Discussions are underway to integrate the PhD and postdoc seminar series with their respective coffee events in the Spring 2025 trimester.

We are committed to creating a community where every voice is heard and every individual feels included. We look forward to you joining us for brew and laughter at the next School Coffee Morning.

Last spring trimester, the EDI committee at the School of MME sought to expand its activities. As part of these efforts, Sosanna Ní Dhúbháin, a 2009 BE Mechanical graduate who has spent the past twelve years working as an engineer in Formula One (F1), joined us for a video podcast.

Currently, Sosanna is the Lead Brake Duct Engineer for the Aston Martin F1 team. She also gave a talk to our Stage 1 Engineering students on Friday, April 5th. The event was organised by Prof. William Smith from MME, and Sosanna was interviewed by Dr. Seevani Bali, our postdoctoral representative at the SMME EDI committee.

(opens in a new window)Watch the interview here.

School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering

Sinead Kerins retires

On Thursday, 20th June, we gathered outside Belfield House to celebrate the retirement of our beloved Chief Technical Officer, Sinead Kerins.

• Sinead Kerins retires

First EDI Coffee morning of 2024-25

The School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering kicked off the new academic year with a successful Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) coffee morning. Held on Friday 27th September in room 117, the event brought together around 30 PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and staff members from the school.

• First EDI Coffee morning of 2024-25

Stage 2 and 3 Lunch Gathering 2024

The School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering kicked off the new academic year with a successful lunch session for Stage 2 and 3 students. Held on October 1st and 2nd 2024, in the College Common Room, the event brought together almost 30 students from each of the stages.

• Stage 2 and 3 lunch gatherings

Annual SCBE Seminar Day 2024

The Seminar Day showcased the research projects undertaken at the School and acted as an opportunity for staff, postdoctoral researchers and students to network. The SCBE Research Award was awarded to Sheryl Lim, the Seminar Day Best Presentation Award to Beatriz Pinheiro Lopes and the SCBE Seminar Day Best Poster was awarded to Dibyangshee Singh. 

• Annual SCBE Seminar Day 2024

Annual Seminar Day Launch

We successfully launched our annual Seminar Day, which took place on the 7th of March this year. The Seminar Day gives the opportunity to PhD students and Postdocs to communicate their research and network. 

• The First Annual Seminar Day

PhD student, Postdoctoral Researcher and Academic welcome pack.

A welcome pack is provided to every new member who joins the School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering. This welcome pack aims to guide the new members as to what they need to tick off before coming to UCD, once they arrive and after their first month of being at UCD. This welcome pack allows a smooth transition of every newcomer to the School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering.

Electronic newsletter

Facilitating the introduction of new members to the School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering. Every quarter, an electronic newsletter is sent out to all PhD students, Postdocs, Technicians and Academics introducing the new members that have joined the School. The newsletter includes a picture of the new School member, the Research group that they have joined (if applicable), where they are from and their hobbies.

Virtually monthly coffee mornings

Held every first Thursday of the month with running themes. The themes are centred around life in Ireland to promote the smooth transition of international School members. These themes include the best places to visit in Ireland, the best coffee at UCD, etc.

(opens in a new window)Dr Veronica Sofianos, Assistant Professor (Ad Astra Fellow) and School EDI Representative, UCD School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering

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School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy: Visiting Professor and Global Architecture Initiative

Dr Nkatha Gichuyia is visiting through the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy’s EDI initiative to bring scholars to UCD who are from countries that are not well represented amongst staff in architecture, landscape, planning and environmental policy. It also dovetails with the Global Architecture Initiative in the discipline of architecture. This provides academic support and leadership on materials covering Africa, South-East Asia, South and Latin America and the Middle East. Amongst other events, Dr Gichuyia will be leading a seminar in APEP on informal settlements and urbanism.  

(opens in a new window)Dr Samantha Martin-McAuliffe, Former EDI Rep, School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy