Satellite view of storm over the British Isles

UCD Earth Institute

UCD's institute for environmental, climate and sustainability research

About the UCD Earth Institute

Our multidisciplinary community of researchers work on topics relating to climate, water, biodiversity, plants for the future, sustainable communities, people, work and society, and the built environment.

We foster interdisciplinary research through an active programme of projects, initiatives and events designed to bring researchers and stakeholders together, to start new conversations, spark new ideas and support new collaborations.

Explore our work

Leaf image with names of academic disciplines overlaid

Research

Our annual fellowships for leaders in climate research

News

20Feb

Communications vacancy at the Earth Institute

We're looking to recruit a communications professional to work with our environmental, climate and sustainability research community, helping us build relationships with stakeholder groups, communicate our research findings more widely and to further the societal impact of our work

28Jan

Coffee morning research talk programme for 2025

Our coffee morning research talk series kicks off this week with talks on AI, ancient Greece, migration and more - join us each Thursday from 10.45.

17Dec

Exploring Plant Memories: Bridging Art, Science, and Sustainability

In Memory of Plants, a collaboration between Joanna Kacprzyk and artist Lorna Donlon, demonstrates how art and science can intersect to foster sustainability by addressing Plant Awareness Disparity and reconnecting people with the natural world through personal and emotional engagement.

11Dec

Earth Institute journalist in residence scheme 2025 open for applications

Applications are open for our 2025 journalist-in-residence scheme which offers journalists a unique chance to work with top environmental, climate and sustainability researchers at UCD.

02Dec

Discovery of a 2000-year-old fig in Co. Dublin highlights ancient trade links with the Roman Empire

A collaboration between Fingal County Council and UCD School of Archaeology's Meriel McClatchie has unearthed the charred remains of a fig that is almost 2000 years old. How did a fig make its way from distant lands to a field in Fingal almost two millennia ago?

27Nov

Democracy and Environment seminar: delivering climate and environmental action

Event on 26 November co-organised with UCD Dublin European Institute and the UCD Centre for Democracy Research.

Scorecard of Irish political party manifestos for general election 2024 in the style of whitegoods energy rating

25Nov

2024 General Election manifesto analysis for faster and fairer climate action

Earth Institute research group commissioned by the Friends of the Earth Ireland publishes independent analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Irish political party manifestos on climate in the lead up to the general election on 29 November 2024.

22Nov

Karen Keaveney Appointed Chair of National Decarbonisation Zone Strategy Group

Karen Keaveney has been appointed Chair of Ireland’s National Decarbonisation Zone Strategy Group, an interdepartmental group established by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.

20Nov

Andrew Parnell appointed as Met Éireann Professor of Weather and Climate Research at UCD

Andrew Parnell has been appointed to lead a new multi-million-euro research programme to develop weather and climate services for Ireland using AI and data science hosted between the Earth Institute and the School of Mathematics and Statistics, funded by Met Éireann.

Aftermath of Storm Darragh highlights neglected disaster scenarios facing Ireland

Dr Ronan McDermott explains why the aftermath of Storm Darragh rather than Storm Éowyn is indicative of the complex multi-hazard interactions that climate change will present Ireland

Events

06Mar

Earth Institute International Women's Day Research Celebration

Celebrate International Women's Day with this workshop exploring the gender dimension of research

Hand holding Climate Justice Now placard

05Mar

On climate injustice, are universities part of the problem or can they be transformative?

Talk and panel discussion with Jennie Stephens (Maynooth University), Miranda Bauer (President, UCD Students Union), Tasman Crowe (UCD VP for Sustainability) Shane Bergin (UCD School of Education)

Silhouette of a group of people walking across a watery landscape

04Mar

The human impacts of climate change - a journalist's perspective

Conversation with award-winning journalist and photographer Sally Hayden

28Feb

Screening of Our Blue World with panel discussion

Part of Dublin International Film Festival 2025

27Feb

Beyond the green backdrop: Exploring the plant-human connection through art

Earth Institute coffee morning research talk with Joanna Kacprzyk and Lorna Donlon

25Feb

Animal Welfare Advocacy

Animal Welfare Advocacy, part of the Institute's Environment and Democracy Dublin city centre seminar series, will explore the role, impact and capacity building needs of animal welfare advocacy in Ireland, and explore the contrasting opinions of the status of animal welfare in the state.

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