Biodiversity
Our community of researchers work across disciplines and sectors, engaging with stakeholders and communities, on a wide range of topics relating to biodiversity.
Overview
Biodiversity is one of the Earth Institute's seven thematic research areas. Academic members of the biodiversity theme are drawn from over twenty UCD schools and represent a wide range of disciplines and approaches.
The Institute works to support new connections and collaborations across disciplines and sectors and to enhance the impact and profile of research in this area.
Get in touch with our water theme leads to find out more about our work in this area.
Biodiversity research in UCD
Biodiversity researchers in UCD are tackling global, national and local challenges - how can we better understand the complex interdependencies between humans, other animals, plants and microorganisms? How are human activities and climate change affecting plants, animals and ecosystems? What are the best ways to protect and restore these ecosystems, or help them adapt, so we can conserve them and maintain the ecosystem services they provide as part of nature's contributions to people?
Biodiversity research in UCD is carried out in a range of schools and colleges, centres, institutes and groups including:
- UCD Area 52 Lab: Conservation, Ecological and Population Genetics
- (opens in a new window)UCD Bat Lab
- UCD Centre for Plant Science
- UCD Ecological Modelling
- (opens in a new window)UCD Flower Power Laboratory
- UCD Irish Forest Research Centre
- (opens in a new window)UCD Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour
- UCD Marine Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution Research Group
- (opens in a new window)Stanley Ecology Lab
Recent talks
Watch a selection of recent biodiversity-themed talks, seminars and coffee morning presentations on topics including the EU Nature Restoration Law, human-wildlife conflict, and new projects on trees and soil.
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Member spotlight
Writing, nature, sound, language, ecology, climate anxiety, environmental humanities and interdisciplinarity interview with Dr Paula McGrath, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Research with impact
At UCD, our research makes a difference. We aim to collaborate and co-design research with the communities most impacted by our work, improving the lives of people throughout the world and working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The case studies below highlight some of the positive impact that research by Earth Institute members has had on Ireland and the world.
Case study: Supporting climate action through tree planting
Coastal communities are at significant risk from the impacts from climate change, such as coastal erosion and flooding, so it is important that these communities are collectively involved in local actions, like tree planting, to mitigate the impacts. The Coastal Community Growing Together (CCGT) project developed an online platform to foster this type of collective action in Pembrokeshire, Wales, despite social distancing measures in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals
