This year's conference, the 34th Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium (Environ 2024), is a collaboration between the Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland (ESAI) and the South East Technological University, Waterford (SETU). It will be hosted from the 25th March to the 27th March 2024. Environ is the longest running and largest forum for environmental researchers in Ireland, attracting an average of 270 delegates annually. The event offers a high-visibility platform for both young and experienced researchers to present their findings to an audience comprised of academia, government bodies and agencies, as well as industry representatives. Building on success of the last event at ATU Letterkenny in 2023, ESAI and SETU Waterford have joined forces to deliver an exciting and engaging conference experience for 2024. Download conference poster here.
ENVIRON 2024 is hosted by the SETU Waterford Campus. Established in 1970 as the Regional Technical College (RTC), the RTC experienced rapid growth in response to the strong regional demand for tertiary education. In 1997, the RTC adopted its name to become Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), becoming the second IT after Dublin Institute of Technology at that time. WIT have been granting degrees from Higher Certificate to PhD levels since 2001, fostering a robust research culture that attracts students from around the world.
In May 2022, WIT merged with Carlow IT to establish the South East Technological University (SETU). The Waterford campus comprises of five faculties and is home to more than 6000 full time students, 1000 part-time students, with more than 200 Erasmus students exchanging every year. Additionally, the Waterford campus hosts approximately 1000 international students from 80 countries.
SETU Waterford also have strong connection with industries around the South East, in terms of development of their award winning undergraduate programme (winner of the ‘Pharma Education & Training Awards’ in 2017 & 2021 and being nominated for ‘Best student experience award’ and ‘HR Leadership and Management Award’ in 2018) as well as in their research PhD programme. Many of the research PhDs are linked to industry and address societal needs. There is currently 234 PhD students and 95 Master By Research students across all campuses in SETU. Over the past 10 years, the University has successfully attracted € 143 million in research funding from various sources such as SFI, the European Framework Programme (FP), and Horizon 2020. Additionally, the university has three Enterprise Ireland (EI) funded Technological Gateway Centres in the areas of telecommunications research, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology research. The University is also the only Irish Partner among the eight other universities in the EU Connexus Programme. The program aims to establish a hub of excellence focused on science and innovation in Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability.
The theme of Environ 2024 is “Harbour to Harvest: Research from Soil to Sea” echoing most of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals such as ‘Good Health & Well Being’, ‘Clean Water & Sanitation’, ‘Affordable & Clean Energy’, ‘Decent Work & Economic Growth’, ‘Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure’, ‘Sustainable cities & Communities’, ‘Responsible consumption & Production’, ‘Climate Action’, ‘Life Below Water’, ‘Life on Land’ etc. ENVIRON 2024 should reflect how research in different areas could collaborate to create solutions for a healthy and sustainable nature and environment for the wellbeing of all the living organisms in this world.
The conference will commence on Monday, 25th March 2024, with a choice of two guided field trips to either Anne Valley Park or Copper Coast Geopark, followed by an interactive workshop “My Greener Lab”. On Monday evening a wine reception, photography exhibition and public engagement panel discussion on “How to Run your Business Sustainably” will be hosted at the SETU Waterford campus. This event will include guest speakers from the Food, Agriculture, Marine and Pharmaceutical Industries to discuss sustainable practices in their businesses for a healthy environment.
The second day of the conference, Tuesday, 26th March, will begin with a welcome address and opening speeches from the President of SETU, Prof. Veronica Campbell, SETU Conference Convenor, Dr. Peter McLoughlin, Head of School of Science and Computing, SETU, Dr Graece Tan & ESAI Chairperson, Dr Niamh Power. This will be followed by a keynote talk from Grace O’Sullivan, Green Party MP, Member of the European Parliament and member of the European Green Party and Dr. Tara Higgins, Program Manager of EPA’s Evidence Programme. Afterward, there will be oral parallel sessions throughout the day featuring talks from various keynote chairpersons, a dynamic mix of presentations from environmental researchers and including 5 minute short presentations from early-stage researchers. Dedicated networking poster sessions will feature throughout the day. The second day will conclude with the Gala Dinner at the Tower Hotel in Waterford City, followed by music and dancing.
The last day of the conference, Wednesday 27th March 2024 will commence with a talk by Tasneem Khan, the founder of SEA School in Dunmore East, Waterford, followed by oral parallel sessions and a dedicated networking poster session. The conference will conclude with a student award ceremony recognising ‘Best In Conference’ with over €2500 to award in various categories. Click here to read more.
There will be over 100-120 poster and oral presentations delivered at the event. The parallel session's themes include:
Tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided mid-session (Time: 3pm – 5pm @ Tourism & Leisure Building, Seasons Restaurant, SETU Waterford.
The best part of any event is the opportunity to network, and this year at Environ 2024, we are organising a wine reception and an environmental photography exhibition by Tasneem Khan, the founder of Sea School, Dunmore East, before the Public Engagement Event. This is an excellent opportunity for the general public to engage with the environmental research community, various businesses, meet with our colleagues, exchange knowledge, and enjoy the night before the Public Engagement Event. Click here for more on the photography exhibition and Click Here for more on the public event.
Mailo Power, Managing Director, Monkey Reusable Products Ltd
Enda Buckley, Director of Sustainability, Carbery Group
Ben Dallaghan, Project Manager, Bord lascaigh Mhara
Mark Stafford, Nature & Sustainability Manager, Danone
Kieran Ryan, Energy & Sustainability Lead, MSD Ireland
Tess Ames, Ocular Therapeutics Research Group Manager
This is a public event featuring short presentations from keynotes speakers, followed by an open discussion and panel Q&A session focused on "How to Run Business Sustainably". The aim of the event is to inform the public & fellow researchers about the sustainability efforts of various industries in Ireland. The panel will comprise of reputable speakers from different sectors from food, agriculture, marine, pharmaceuticals and consumer products in Ireland. Each panellist will give a 10 min presentation on the sustainability journey of their respective companies, followed by a discussion on current and future challenges, policies and sustainable solutions to ensure a better environment protection. The diverse audience will have the opportunity to pose questions to the panel, fostering interactive discussions about the future of sustainable Ireland. The event is free to attend but registration is required.
The event will be opened by Prof. Veronica Campbell, President of SETU, Dr. Peter McLoughlin, Head of School of Science & Computing, SETU, ENVIRON 2024 Conference Convenor & ESAI Chairperson
Plenary Lecture 1 (9.45 am – 10.15 am) by Grace O’Sulivan, member of the Green Party and EU member. Title: Milestones of this Mandate
Click here for poster
Grace O’Sullivan is a mother of three from the beautiful seaside town of Tramore in Co. Waterford, on the South East coast of Ireland; she is an environmental and peace activist, a Green Party MEP, an environmental education specialist and an ecologist and in the past has been involved in a number of sustainable business developments.
Grace has always had a strong affinity with all things marine and worked in her early years as a lifeguard and later as a member of a sea and cliff rescue team in Tramore and proudly holds the title as Ireland’s first female surf champion! At 21 Grace took up a job with Greenpeace, where she spent the next twenty years of her career travelling the seas and oceans of the world, taking part in actions for peace and climate justice and was a crew member of the Rainbow Warrior when it was bombed by the French Foreign Intelligence Service in 1985. Grace continued her work as a peace and environment activist within the political sphere serving for three years as a Senator in the Irish Parliament and subsequently as MEP after she was elected to the European Parliament in 2019.
Grace is a proactive member of important committees serving on the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (PECH) Committee, and the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee. Grace is also a member of delegations on Mercosur and Palestine, a member of the Euro-Latin America Parliamentary Assembly and a member of a number of inter-groups and working groups and is the Green Party Spokesperson on the Marine. Grace is also member of the SDGs Alliance in the European Parliament and a member of Parliamentarians for the Global Goals.
Plenary Lecture 2 (10.15-10.45 am) by Dr. Tara Higgins, Programme Manager of EPA’s Evidence Programme. Title: Bridging the gap, connecting EPA research with policy
Click here for poster
Dr Tara Higgins is Programme Manager of the EPA’s Evidence Programme, which includes the EPA Research Programme. The EPA has been funding independent scientific research in Ireland for 20 years, focused on generating the evidence needed to respond to environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. The EPA places a high importance on ensuring that the outputs of EPA-funded research are effectively transferred to the policy system. With this in mind, the EPA is now actively embedding knowledge transfers processes right across its research programme, helping to bridge the gap between research and policy. Tara has previously worked in the EPA’s licensing, circular economy and strategic environmental assessment units. Prior to joining the EPA, she carried out applied environmental research in the US, Australia and Ireland. She holds a BSc and PhD from NUI Galway, an MSc from the University of Edinburgh and a Fulbright Fellowship from the University of Colorado.
A drinks reception will set the stage for an atmosphere of entertainment, fun, and relaxed communications among all attendees at the Tower Hotel, Waterford, overlooking the River Suir and Marina. The three-course dinner (20:00 – 22:00), followed by dancing, will take place in the same venue.
Plenary Lecture 3 (9.30 am – 10.00 am) by Tasneem Khan, Founder of Sea School, Dunmore East. Title On SEAing: Connecting Marine & Maritime Knowledge
Click here for poster
Tasneem explores and interprets knowledge systems from coastal & marine landscapes - with an aim to juxtapose research and learnings from the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic. Researcher. Zoologist. Photographer. Educator. Diver. Sailor. Adventurer. Artist. - Tas is happiest underwater, knee-deep in the mangroves or working under the hull of a boat. She has been designing field-ecology curriculum through art-science methodologies for the past 15 years - the currents of her work have taken her from the equator to the arctic circle and her work has featured across numerous popular and scientific publications, art shows and modules. Currently living in Dunmore East, she has launched a community centred initiative SEA school, creating a living archive of coastal knowledges, seascapes and biodiversity influenced by the Ocean.
We look forward to welcoming you all to Environ 2024
Dr. Shiau Pin Tan (Graece) Environ 2024 Conference Co-Convenors, SETU Waterford
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