News & Events

As part of our national celebration of Science Week, Leo Varadkar TD, in collaboration with Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), hosted a meeting of scientists and experts all researching areas that are central to addressing the challenges we face related to climate change. The meeting focused on the areas where there are opportunities for research to address some of those challenges.

The meeting was attended by: Professor Mark Ferguson Director General Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland, Prof Brian Ó Gallachóir, Professor of Energy Engineering in University College Cork’s School of Engineering and Vice-Director of UCC’s Environmental Research Institute and Director of MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Dr Barry O’Dwyer, SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine and Lead Researcher in Climate Ireland, Clare Waston, MaREI Engagement Research Support Officer, Dr Lisa Ryan, School of Economics, UCD, Dr Conor Murphy, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, Maynooth University, Prof Anna Davies, Professor of Geography, Environment and Society, Trinity College Dublin, Prof Kevin O’Connor, Director Beacon, SFI Bioeconomy Research Centre, UCD, Dr Dara Stanley, School of Agriculture and Earth Institute.

Commenting on the meeting, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, said “Our response to climate change must be underpinned by science and research. Indeed, science and technology will help us to unlock and identify new ways of reducing emissions and adapting to our changing climate. Today’s meeting with Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), in Science Week, is a valuable opportunity for me to hear directly from some of the experts who are exploring high tech solutions to make our economy and our society more sustainable. The Government is providing an extra €2 million to SFI for 2020 for its cutting edge research programme because we want to ensure Ireland is at the forefront of adapting to a more climate resilient future.”