Research, Innovation and Impact
UCD is one of Europe's leading research-intensive universities and addresses many aspects of sustainability.
Overview
UCD is one of Europe's leading research-intensive universities, where research, innovation, education and wider engagement combine to form a dynamic spectrum of activity and impacts. It is an environment where (opens in a new window)undergraduate education, masters and PhD training, research, innovation and wider engagement combine to form a dynamic spectrum of activity and impacts.
Rigorous research-based knowledge and innovation are essential to effective advancement across all of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD’s sustainability research encompasses economic, environmental and social concerns, often using an interdisciplinary approach, from developing the bioeconomy and defending our ecosystems to climate resilience and humanitarian action to ensuring healthy lives and more sustainable societies.
Research at UCD is undertaken by academics from a wide range of disciplines, spanning and combining the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics areas. It is overseen and fostered by UCD Research. It occurs in all Colleges and Schools and in world leading Institutes and Research Centres, which are referenced on the pages of this website under the Action Areas in which they make the most impact. The interdisciplinarity essential to addressing the wicked problems of sustainability is central to their approaches.
NovaUCD is UCD’s innnovation incubator and has facilitatied and accommodated a wide range of sustainability-related start-ups and spin-outs.
Research, Innovation and Impact
At UCD, our research makes a difference.
Through our research we aim to contribute to society and improve the lives of people throughout the world.
From improving girls’ literacy in the global south, to decarbonising Ireland’s energy system to trialling a 4-day working week, read our impact case studies.
Shown left is a map of UCD research publications that have been mentioned in relation to different SDGs in policy documents around the world. Each grey dot represents one of the 18,516 UCD publications since 2016 that were analysed using Altmetric Explorer.
The map indicates the breadth of influence of UCD research on policy for sustainability as evidenced by mentions in government guidelines, reports or white papers, independent policy institute publications, advisory committees on specific topics, research institutes and international development organisations. It does not represent all of the contributions made, especially by researchers in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, in which UCD has particular strength, or by individual advisors and media commentators.
Education
Through Research degree and Professional Doctorate degree programmes,students learn how to conduct rigorous research in their chosen area and gain experience of doing so under the guidance of a principal supervisor, and in some cases a co-supervisor, and supported by a Research Studies Panel (RSP). The degree is awarded following successful completion of a programme of supervised research and advanced education and training. Students on a professional doctorate also need to demonstrate the capacity to apply knowledge in a professional practice setting.
The Research Student Hub has resources and materials tailored to our research students, along with news and events.
Campus Initiatives
Research and education are being integrated into campus operations on a wide range of topics and, by working with external partners, wider impact and adoption are promoted.
The UCD Research Culture Initiative aims to reinforce a positive research culture in the University, one that supports an innovative and creative research environment. This enables excellent research to be carried out with integrity, while recognising and rewarding the full range of activities that characterise high quality research.
The Sustainable Research Initiative promotes best practice for sustainability in research laboratories.