UCD Research has won the award for ‘Best Public Sector or Civil Service Campaign’ in the 2024 PRCA Awards for Excellence in Public Relations, for the communications campaign around the launch of Ireland’s first satellite, EIRSAT-1. The awards were presented on 21 June at a gala event in Dublin. UCD’s prize was presented by award sponsor Truehawk Media.
The awards are co-hosted by the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) Ireland and the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) for over 30 years, to recognise the best in Irish public relations, public affairs and internal communications across the public and private sectors.
This year, 74 entries were shortlisted, comprising over 60 campaigns across a diverse range of topics and sectors including public health, Irish culture, environmental and technological innovation, combatting deprivation and social exclusion. See the press release including full list of winners.
Nominated in two categories, ‘Ad Astra! UCD students launch Ireland’s first satellite’ was recognised for its outstanding delivery across multiple channels and activities in pursuit of two main goals: (1) to raise awareness and excitement about Ireland’s first space mission, driving audiences of all ages to watch the launch; and (2) to inspire the next generation to get involved with STEM subjects and careers in the space sector.
UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact, Professor Kate Robson Brown said: “The Communications team at UCD Research plays an essential role in our shared mission to support, develop, and celebrate the research community of UCD. I am delighted that their creativity and quality of service has been recognised in this award."
The UCD Research communications team extend thanks to colleagues who participated in the campaign, including UCD College of Arts and Humanities, UCD C-Space/EIRSAT-1 team, and UCD University Relations. Also thanks to external PR specialist and project manager Niamh Hickey, and stand-in communications manager Daniel Rowan.
About the campaign
EIRSAT-1 is Ireland’s first satellite, built and launched into space by a student-led team from UCD. As Ireland’s first space mission, it represented an historic moment for UCD and the Irish Government, taking Ireland forward to greater participation in the multi-trillion euro global space industry.
The campaign brought together Government offices and State agencies, the European Space Agency, secondary school and higher education cohorts, cultural and academic institutions, the Irish overseas network and Irish space industry leaders.
It integrated an exciting programme of digital content, traditional media, schools outreach and a live event, including complex media relations, coordinated social media activation, and a creative arts project to inspire and drive cultural change around STEM and space science.
DEIS school pupils from around Ireland and UCD Creative Writing MA students collaborated on an original poem that was etched on EIRSAT-1, and a stunning animation of the poem became the heart of the digital campaign - bringing the EIRSAT-1 story to life across multiple sectors and channels (see more below), in tandem with calls to watch the launch, including online ‘watch parties’ with Irish embassies across the globe.
About EIRSAT-1
Follow the EIRSAT-1 journey at https://www.eirsat1.ie/ and on X @EIRSAT1
About the Space Poem Project
As part of the outreach programme for the EIRSAT-1 project, UCD, Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI), the JCSP Demonstration Library Project, brought school pupils from all around the country to collaborate with UCD MA Creative Writing students in creating a poem through a series of workshops.
Emer O Boyle, UCD Parity Studios designed artwork for the poem, and she and Dr David Murphy from the EIRSAT-1 team worked with EFJ Engineering to laser etch the poem on the outer cover of the Antenna Deployment Module, the part of the satellite responsible for communications to and from home.
The space poem project brought writers, students, teachers, librarians, engineers, scientists and artists together in a collaborative, creative way. The co-created poem is called ‘All Ways Home’.
The poem was curated by Associate Profesor Paul Perry, with Professor Ian Davidson, Dr Jessica Traynor, and Dr Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi, supported by UCD Research. Award winning illustrator, Alan Dunne, worked with UCD Research and UCD College of Arts & Humanities to create this beautiful three-minute animation of the poem that brings the efforts of everyone involved to life. Phil Brookes created the music and was sound producer, with Jane Allen as overall producer.