EPA awards five UCD researchers funding to tackle climate and environmental challenges
Posted 15 February, 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded funding to five UCD researchers leading projects seeking to address climate and environmental challenges.
As part of its Research Call 2023, the EPA announced €14.3 million in funding across 33 new research projects to support innovations and research capacity in strategically important areas across Ireland.
The UCD awardees are involved in key areas relating to sustainability transitions and societal transformations, with a priority on maximising the impact of research and innovation for the environment.
Addressing Climate Change Evidence Needs
- (opens in a new window)Professor Louise McHugh, UCD School of Psychology – ‘Sow what?: Connecting Farmers and Policy Makers on Climate Change’
- (opens in a new window)Dr Cara Augustenborg, UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy – ‘Using worldviews to inspire and scale climate action’
Delivering a Healthy Environment
- (opens in a new window)Dr William Smith, UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering – ‘Solid-fuel emissions to air in Ireland’
- (opens in a new window)Dr Linda Fox-Rogers (Ad Astra Fellow), UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy – ‘Remediation of Faulty Septic Tanks: A Mixed Methods Approach to Environmental Risk Communication’
Protecting and Restoring Our Natural Environment
- (opens in a new window)Dr Paul Brooks, UCD School of Biology and Environmental Sciences – ‘Enhancing Blue Carbon and Ecological Services through Nature-Based Solutions: Integrated Restoration in Irish Coastal Waters
Today, the EPA announced €14.3m in funding for 33 new innovative research projects to address climate and environmental challenges in Ireland.
— EPA Ireland (@EPAIreland) (opens in a new window)February 14, 2024
Watch our video to learn more about how these projects.
For more info: (opens in a new window)https://t.co/WrU1LzFnrk(opens in a new window)#ResearchCallAwards2023 (opens in a new window)pic.twitter.com/vJHGQuH7On
The EPA also awarded funding to (opens in a new window)Associate Professor Luis Leon Vintro, from the UCD School of Physics, as a co-applicant on the project 'Gamma Radiation Dose Evaluation', which is being lead by South East Technological University.
Announcing the awards, Laura Burke, EPA Director General said: “Scientific research and innovation are playing an increasingly important role in informing how governments and society can respond to the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation.
“The projects announced will address knowledge gaps, both current and future, to provide robust evidence to support the implementation of effective environmental policies in Ireland… [and] are essential to enable Ireland to effectively leverage the full range of environmental, economic, and societal opportunities offered by the green transition."
Adding: “I congratulate the successful research teams and look forward to seeing the project outputs making a positive contribution to environmental protection in the years ahead.”
The funding provided by Research Call 2023 will support more than 200 research staff across 13 organisations, including nine higher education institutions, three enterprises and one registered charity received funding.
The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
The next EPA Research Call will open for applications in April 2024. For a full list of awardees and further information (opens in a new window)visit the EPA website.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations (with materials from Emma Loughney, UCD Research and Innovation)
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
