UL Research Week 2025 saw record attendances, discussions about groundbreaking research and exciting new collaborations, all centred on the excellent research being carried out in the University.
Twenty-five events took place across the week (28 April - 2 May 2025) with contributions from all four faculties.
It was a fantastic showcase of research across the University and the enthusiasm shown by participants and attendees demonstrated the importance the week is to researchers as we strive to deepen existing collaborations, foster new ones and celebrate the work being carried out.
At UL, we are constantly pushing the boundaries, creating new discoveries, and it is all for the greater good. The impact that our research can have on society can never be underestimated. Our researchers are working to help make our country, and our world, a more sustainable place, more inclusive and healthier, and all while striving to use smart technology for the betterment of all.
Check out the Research Week 2025 playlist on YouTube
Monday, 28 April 2025
Research Week Launch 2025: Showcase of UL's Internal Research Centres
At the core of UL鈥檚 research are strong academic disciplines, through which collaboration and innovation have impact across society. UL鈥檚 internal research centres bring together critical masses of expertise from across a variety of disciplines to proactively collaborate and conduct their focused research.
Watch on YouTube
Beyond health & happiness: Serotonin and immunity as influencers of cancers
Serotonin is widely known as the 鈥渉appiness hormone鈥 of our brains that is responsible for our good mood. And the immune system is known to attack the dangerous invaders and protect the body from harm. But do we know that serotonin and the immune system have a dark side, as they can induce and promote cancers? This was a Limerick Digital Cancer Research Centre event.
Implementation science - bridging the gap between knowledge and practice
UL's Health Research Institute presents an interactive workshop applying implementation science to a real-world problem. Chaired by Dr Laura Keyes (Director Centre for Implementation Research, 黑料社 CIRcUL) it includes guest speakers, Professor Allison Metz (Director of Implementation Practice, University of North Carolina), Professor Geoff Curran (Director Centre for Implementation Research, University of Arkansas) and Professor Laurence Taggart (Professor of Implementation Science, Queen鈥檚 University Belfast).
Watch Implementation science - bridging the gap between knowledge and practice on YouTube
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Collaborating with Mathematicians: Asking the right questions, getting the right answers
Are you asking the right questions? Researchers from MACSI research centre will explore how successful collaborations between mathematicians and industry happen when you ask the right questions.
Watch on YouTube
Ethical implications of patient and public involvement in health research
Health Research Institute presents Meaningful and Safe: The Ethical Implications of Patient and Public Involvement in Health and Medical Research Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in research involves researchers working in collaboration with patients, carers, families, service users or the public to plan, design, manage, conduct, disseminate and translate research.
UL PhD candidate experiences of doctoral education
A research-informed discussion on UL PhD candidate experiences of doctoral education. The Irish National Framework for Doctoral Education was updated in 2023 to underpin excellence in doctoral education in Ireland by providing a set of nine principles for doctoral education. These principles reflect factors identified in numerous studies as supportive of doctoral candidate well-being or success.
Watch on YouTube
Tips & Tricks for crafting winning research proposals
Dr Martina Prendergast draws from her observations from over 23 years of reviewing and writing grant proposals. Hear tips like why you should always compose the title and acronym last and why you shouldn鈥檛 ever do it on your own! You鈥檒l learn tricks like front-loading the important info at start of sections and why clever formatting keeps the evaluators鈥 attention. Come along and learn hacks for good time management, version control, the art of brevity and some critical 鈥楧os and Don鈥檛s鈥 for writing competitive proposals.
Watch (UL access only)
Symposium on Integrated Cancer Medicine: Technologies, imaging and AI redefining cancers research and care
HRI presents: The Limerick Digital Cancer Research Centre (LDCRC) will host a Symposium on Integrated Cancer Medicine. This event will highlight ongoing cross-faculty, interdisciplinary research at UL/UHL with an emphasis on breast cancer and blood cancer. This is an opportunity to connect with researchers from a wide range of disciplines, across all career levels.
Watch Symposium on Integrated Cancer Medicine: Technologies, imaging and AI redefining cancers research and care on YouTube
An overview of ResearchComp: benefits and practical examples when considering individual professional development plans
UL realigned its Researcher Development Programme with ResearchComp: The European Competency Framework for Researchers in 2024. What is ResearchComp, and more importantly how can we use it to develop our transferrable skillset?
Watch (UL access only)
Wednesday, 30 April 2025
UL Sustainability Challenge 2025
The UL Student Sustainability Challenge 2025 is an inspiring showcase of innovative, student-led sustainability projects! This challenge which empowers UL students to develop impactful sustainability solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Five shortlisted teams present their final projects in what is a fantastic opportunity to see fresh ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world solutions to pressing sustainability challenges. Support the next generation of sustainability leaders and get inspired by the innovative solutions shaping our future! In partnership with Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation, UL Doctoral College and industry sponsors Bidvest Noonan and Kirby Group Engineering.
Watch on YouTube
Performing arts practice in/as research: Exploring multiple approaches to performance, pedagogy, and practice in creative and applied research in the Performing Arts
By showcasing various research projects where practice is at the centre, this session highlights the powerful and efficacious impacts of practice-based, practice-led and practice-informed research within and beyond home disciplines and on the wider community. The event includes short, live and pre-recorded performances, and a facilitated, round-table discussion, including questions from the audience.
Watch on YouTube
Understanding media coverage of the War in Palestine
This event focuses on media narratives in relation to the war in Gaza. Dr Mike Berry (Cardiff University), co-author of鈥疊ad News From Israel鈥(2004) and鈥疢ore Bad News From Israel鈥(2011), will discuss the pioneering work of the鈥疓lasgow Media Group, which examined how bias in news coverage leaves audiences confused about the nature of the conflict and the motives of actors. Includes new research being carried out focusing on media coverage of the targeted killings of journalists in the warzone.
Watch on YouTube
Innovate at UL: Unlocking university & external supports
Are you a researcher with an innovation that could change the world? Curious about turning your academic work into a business? 'Innovate at UL: Unlocking university and external supports', is an insightful event designed to guide researchers on the path to commercialisation. Hosted by the Technology Transfer Office (TTO), this session explores the supports available to help you bring your research to market. Learn about funding opportunities, mentorship and intellectual property supports.
Translating Breakthroughs: Communicating your research to the world
Join Professor Donald Patrick McDonnell, a world-leading cancer researcher, for an enlightening session on how to communicate your research to the wider public. This talk emphasises the critical role of clear communication in shaping public understanding, policy-making, and societal engagement with research. Professor McDonnell will address common challenges that face researchers, such as technical jargon and complexity, offering practical strategies to distil intricate concepts into compelling narratives. Storytelling techniques will be highlighted as a powerful tool to engage non-expert audiences and convey the significance of research findings.
Watch Translating Breakthroughs: Communicating your research to the world on YouTube
PAfH (Physical Activity for Health) on the global stage
Welcome to PAfH (Physical Activity for Health) on the global stage -an exciting event focused on promoting physical activity for health bringing together experts from around the world to discuss the importance of staying active and healthy. Learn from leading professionals in the field and network with like-minded individuals. Let's work together to make a positive impact on our health and well-being! Hosted by UL's Health Research Institute.
Watch PAfH (Physical Activity for Health) on the global stage on YouTube
Let鈥檚 Talk GenAI for postgraduate and early career researchers
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is poised to transform academic and research practices in Higher Education Institutions. The technology has the potential to, at the very least, support and introduce efficiencies into every aspect of the research process, but is likely going to radically transform what we understand research to mean. However, notwithstanding this potential, ethical considerations surrounding GenAI remain, including issues of data privacy, intellectual property rights, bias and reliability of outputs. These legitimate concerns necessitate research vigilance to ensure its responsible and appropriate use.
Watch (UL access only)
Picture This! exhibition, view the pictures
Picture This! is a competition for UL PGRs to communicate their research in picture format with a 60-word caption detailing how their photo represents their research. After an initial judging round, involving a public vote and an external judging panel the top ten entries that have qualified for the final of 鈥淧icture This!鈥 will be exhibited in The Globe (Millstream Courtyard). The finalists will be on hand to talk about how their picture and associated caption represent their research.
Watch on YouTube
Health research transforming public and patient involvement - The power of partnership in co-producing wisdom for action
It is essential that patients and the public have a voice about health research because they have expertise about their own health. If we do not hear that expertise, we are missing information to design services and policies that improve people鈥檚 health. Researchers in the Participatory Health Research Unit, School of Medicine, 黑料社 are internationally recognised for studying innovative ways to transform public and patient involvement in health research so that it is ethical, inclusive and impactful. This interactive and musical event showcases recent publications and current research with contributions from patients, community and health sector partners. Hosted by UL's Health Research Institute.
Watch Health research transforming public and patient involvement - The power of partnership in co-producing wisdom for action on YouTube
Thursday, 1 May 2025
Music for perinatal wellbeing
As challenges to perinatal wellbeing represent a persistent global concern, this session will highlight pioneering UL research that supports the use of music for perinatal wellbeing during pregnancy in addition to research on developing the first specialist music therapy programme in perinatal mental health services in Ireland. UL is an international leader in research on music for perinatal wellbeing, a term that describes the emotional and psychological wellbeing of parents across pregnancy and up to one year after childbirth. With live music performances, reflections of study participants, community partners and PPI (Public and Patient Involvement) panel members, the session offers multiple perspectives on this novel research area.
Watch on YouTube
UL Citizens' Assembly
The UL Citizens鈥 Assembly provides UL researchers with the opportunity to access funding for their engaged research, get feedback on their projects from a panel of experts, hone their communication skills, and present to civically engaged, cross-sections of citizens from Limerick city and county. Assembly members choose the projects that will receive a 鈧10,000 award. The Assembly will be arranged in a 鈥榳orld caf茅鈥 style, leaving space in the schedule for participants to share their thoughts about the project presentations before casting their vote.
Watch UL Citizens' Assembly on YouTube
Ageing Research Centre - Research insights on managing chronic pain in older adults
Leading international experts share their insights on the characterisation of pain in older adults. They will also discuss innovative self-management techniques and evidence-based programmes designed to alleviate pain and improve quality of life for older individuals. Presented by UL's Health Research Institute.
Watch on YouTube
Battery and energy materials for a greener future
Moving to a greener energy landscape based on renewably generated electricity is the key scientific challenge of our age. Alongside clean energy production (by solar, wind or tidal source), sustainable energy storage is a critical component of this future. Li-ion batteries have become an integral part of our lives, powering mobile devices and the first wave of mass produced electric vehicles (EVs). However, the future needs a broader variety of energy devices and battery technologies, fueled by innovations in chemistry, materials science,physics and electronics that are underpinned by new policy and economic drivers. The AMPEiRE research centre tackles this challenge focusing on a range of applications including mobile devices, EVs, grid scale storage of renewables, electrocatalysis and energy generation. Research covers from blue-sky chemistry and materials science research to circular economy and policy activities.
Watch on YouTube
3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Grand Final
UL Doctoral College is hosting the annual 3-Minute Thesis competition for postgraduate researchers (PGRs). 3-Minute Thesis is an international research competition aimed predominantly at Research Masters, Professional Doctorate and PhD researchers who are required to present a captivating summary of their thesis topic and its significance in just three minutes. 3-Minute Thesis helps to develop and refine presentation and communication skills and develops PGRs鈥 ability to effectively describe their research to a non-specialist audience.
Watch on YouTube
Friday 2 May 2025
The role of community-based sheds in the mid-west of Ireland: a qualitative evaluation
Both the Men's and Women鈥檚 Sheds movement have seen significant growth in Ireland over recent years. These community-based organisations play a crucial role in promoting the health and wellbeing of their participants by encouraging engagement in enjoyable and meaningful activities. Additionally, the social environment of the sheds fosters the development of positive relationships and a strong sense of belonging.
Watch on YouTube
XTREME Living Lab showcase: Using AI and Mixed Reality for Social Good
XTREME is an EU Horizon Europe-funded project aiming to transform how art and music are experienced through mixed reality (MR). Led by the IT University of Copenhagen and involving 14 European partners including UL, it explores new ways of accessing cultural and artistic experiences beyond physical limitations. The project develops a human-centered and ethically informed MR solution that enables users to experience concerts and performances remotely in their living room with other remote participants. The XTREME solution creates new fusions of real and virtual content for shared immersive engagement. The 黑料社 Living Lab (ULLL) is the central hub of the project fusing technological, creative and social innovation. The ULLL will create innovative Governance and ethical frameworks for XTREME and broader Extended Reality, AI and MR innovation.
Watch on YouTube
Check out previous Research Weeks
Many of our events are recorded and are available to watch. Choose the year you are looking for and explore some of the excellent research taking place.
