Climate
Our community of researchers work across disciplines and sectors, engaging with stakeholders and communities, on a wide range of topics relating to climate.
Overview
Climate is one of the Earth Institute's seven thematic research areas. Academic members of the climate theme are drawn from over thirty 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 climate theme leads to find out more about our work in this area.
Climate research in UCD
Climate researchers in UCD are tackling global, national and local challenges - how can improved understanding of past climates help us to predict and model future climates? How will ecosystems be affected by climate change and how can we reduce negative impacts? How will changing climate influence our ability to provide water and food for growing populations? How can our communities, particularly those in coastal areas, prepare and adapt? What technologies will help us contain our CO2 output, and make the shift to more efficient and renewable energy?
Climate research in UCD is carried out in a range of schools and colleges, centres, institutes and groups including:
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Climate Fellows programme
The UCD Climate Fellows Programme supports the wider dissemination of climate research and the career development of leading-edge climate academics and researchers, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the societal impact of climate research.
The programme offers structured support including stipends, expert advice and networking opportunities, aimed at fostering new avenues for societal and academic impact. Fellows are supported in participating in public engagement initiatives, policy events and collaboration across disciplines and sectors.
UCD Climate Fellows 2024
- Dr Saule Akhmetkaliyeva (School of Biology and Environmental Science)
- Dr Graham Benham (School of Mathematics and Statistics)
- Dr Tomas Buitendijk (Quinn School of Business)
- Dr Grace Cott (School of Biology and Environmental Science)
- Dr Shauna Creane (School of Civil Engineering)
- Dr Soumyabrata Dev (School of Computer Science)
- Dr Orla Kelly (School of Social Policy, Social Work, Social Justice)
- Assoc. Prof. Oliver Kinnane (School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy)
- Dr Ronan McDermott (School of Agriculture and Food Science)
- Dr Shane McGuinness (Schools of Geography and Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy)
- Lorcan McLaren (School of Politics and International Relations)
- Dr Fiachra O'Loughlin (School of Civil Engineering)
- Dr Fabiola Schneider (Quinn School of Business)
Recent climate talks
Watch a selection of recent climate-themed talks, seminars and coffee morning presentations on topics including climate finance, humanitarian action, the Irish dairy sector and more.
Member spotlight
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
