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The Department of Electronic & Computer Engineering at the ºÚÁÏÉç proudly welcomed Professor Dan Toal as he delivered his inaugural lecture, marking a significant milestone in a career that has profoundly shaped the fields of electrical engineering, robotics, and marine technology.

Professor Toal, Chair of Electrical Engineering and Robotics and Director of the Centre for Robotics & Intelligent Systems (CRIS), has led pioneering work in underwater robotics, establishing Ireland’s only dedicated research centre in this field. Originally founded in 2000 as the Mobile & Marine Robotics Research Centre, the centre later evolved into CRIS, becoming a national hub for innovation in autonomous marine systems. Under his leadership, CRIS has developed Ireland’s first autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicles, Tethra and LATIS, significantly advancing deep-sea exploration capabilities.

With a career spanning both industry and academia, including over €15 million in research funding and leadership roles in major national projects through MaREI, Lero, and Confirm, Professor Toal is renowned for bridging academic research with real-world impact. He holds several patents in renewable offshore energy technologies and remains a key contributor to international advisory boards and public science engagement.

As a mentor, Professor Toal has supervised 21 PhD students and championed undergraduate research through summer internships, fostering a collaborative and inclusive research culture. His leadership continues to place UL and CRIS at the forefront of marine robotics and sustainable energy research globally.

The department extends its congratulations to Professor Toal on this important occasion and looks forward to his continued contributions to innovation and education.