Student Prizes

ESAI Student Prize Competition 2026

The ESAI will be judging all student oral and poster presentations for consideration in this years student competition. All winners will be invited to submit an article on their research project to the ESAI Website and the ESAI E-Zine 'Environews. Results will be announced at the prize giving ceremony at the close of conference at  on Wednesday 29th April. Best of luck to everyone!

The prizes and categories this year are:

• ESAI Best Oral Presentation (€500) sponsored by Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland
• ESAI Best Poster Presentation (€250) sponsored by Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland
• Best Wastes & Resources Management Presentation (€250 & 12 month CIWM student membership) sponsored by Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM)
• Best Water Related Presentation (€250) sponsored by Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)
• Best Biodiversity Presentation (€250) sponsored by Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)
• Best Social Engagement Presentation (€250) in honour of Michael Ewing sponsored by the Irish Environmental Network
• Best Natural History Presentation (€250) sponsored by Irish Naturalists’ Journal
• Best Analytical Chemistry Poster (€250) sponsored by Eurachem Ireland
• Richard Fitzgerald Memorial Prize Best Aquatic Environment Poster (€250) sponsored by Eirinn Innovation

Micheal Ewing

Michael was always an environmentalist but he was much more than that. He lived sustainably and organically before it was a movement, and he made friends and built communities wherever he went. In 2008, he was asked by the Irish Environmental Network to help build their network and in 2010 to build the IEN’s advocacy arm, the Environmental Pillar, and the fifth national Social Partner.
Michael was also a member of the National Economic and Social Council and served as a member of the National Climate Dialogue Advisory Committee, the National Advisory Group for the Public Participation Networks and chair of the Green Party Policy Council. His passion for peace and nuclear disarmament led him to work with CND Ireland and meet with communities throughout the country to promote its ideals. After he obtained a masters degree in Environmental Science from Sligo ATU in 2003, he worked on a research project on the Aarhus Convention. From this work, allied with his facilitation skills, he became involved in the Irish Environmental Network.
His core skill was as a facilitator with an ability to unite and bring people along. Regularly working 18 hour days, he assisted the members of the IEN and the Pillar to work together and to trust each other so that the environmental movement had a unified voice on environmental matters. This legacy carries on today and the Environmental Pillar regularly meets with ministers and officials and nominates people to various bodies. 
It is impossible to sum up how important Michael was to the environmental community in Ireland and to the IEN and Environmental Pillar. Without him IEN would not be where they are today. He will be a huge loss, but his legacy in helping to build a vibrant environmental network and movement and his contribution to sustainable development, social inclusion and local democracy will live on He was and will remain a keystone of the environmental movement in Ireland. Michael is sadly missed.