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EIRSAT-1 wins UCD Research Impact Competition for transforming national space landscape

Wednesday, 22 January, 2025

The EIRSAT-1 project took first prize for impact among 11 finalists, with the Engaged Research prize going to Prof Patricia Fitzpatrick for her work supporting cancer patients to quit smoking.

UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact Professor Kate Robson Brown has announced the winner and ten finalists of the 2024 UCD Research Impact Case Study Competition. The annual competition encourages researchers from all disciplines to share how their work has made a positive difference to wider society.

This year’s winner, ‘Ireland’s first satellite: transforming the national space landscape with the launch of EIRSAT-1’ was led by Professor Lorraine Hanlon, Director ofUCD Centre for Space Research(C-Space) and Professor of Astronomy atUCD School of Physics. The case study tells the story of the EIRSAT-1 project, highlighting the team’s historic achievement in building, launching and operating Ireland’s first satellite, and the social, cultural, political, educational, economic and technological impacts of their work.

The additional "Engaged Research” impact prize was awarded to the runner-up whose case study most strongly demonstrated meaningful collaboration with the public and stakeholders. ‘Supporting cancer patients to quit smoking post diagnosis’, led by Professor Patricia Fitzpatrick,UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, showed impressive evidence of patient engagement, which led to improved treatment outcomes and positive effects on patients’ health.

Professor Robson Brown commented, “On behalf of UCD Research and Innovation, I’d like to heartily congratulate this year’s awardees. It is wonderful to celebrate their ground-breaking research today and to recognise how this work is influencing policy, building collaborations, enriching lives and inspiring the next generation.

“The number and quality of applications this year reflects the depth and breadth of impactful research taking place across the university at all career levels. It also illustrates how the ongoing provision of research impact resources is helping our community to communicate the ways in which their research is effecting change in a wide range of contexts; in modern technology, sustainable agricultural practices, public health, by improving the lives of young people, and through contributions to research on violence both in Ireland and further afield.”

She continued, “I encourage UCD researchers from every College to explore theUCD Impact Toolkitand consider applying for the 2025 Research Impact Competition.” Details of the next round of the competition will be announced in Spring. The 2024 UCD Research Impact Case Study Competition winner and finalists are: