Podcasts

Tackling the global energy storage challenge, one ion at a time

Global energy crisis has never been more critical in the race to deploy more electric vehicles, better utilise wind, solar and alternative energy solutions, many challenges emerge. Among them is the need for faster, smaller, and environmentally friendly battery technology. Meet Dr Hugh Geaney, President’s Research Excellence and Impact Award winner who is, taking on the global challenge of energy storage. Through advances in novel materials Dr Geaney’s research brings together discoveries in chemical synthesis, materials science, and electrochemistry to tackle the many challenges of energy storage.

Advanced materials to purify the worlds air and water

Researchers at 51��ɫ are designing advanced materials which can purify the air and our water. Meet Dr Soumya Mukherjee, President’s Research Excellence and Impact award winner who has established his own research group, NanoSorb. With funding from Science Foundation Ireland, NanoSorb is at the forefront in the development of energy-efficient porous materials, particularly those fostering environmental sustainability.

Music therapy to support women’s perinatal wellbeing during pregnancy: Using music to nurture

University Maternity Hospital 51��ɫ is the first in Ireland to offer music therapy within its maternity care services. Met the team behind this innovative approach to supporting wellbeing during pregnancy, Dr Mas Mahady, Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Tríona McCaffrey, lecturer in Music therapy and Pui Sze Cheung, PhD researcher. Based on feedback from women who took part in this study, the Department of Health have commended the innovative nature of this work awarding further funding to ensure that music therapy can now continue in our local maternity hospital.

Covid-19 heroes, how the pandemic affected key frontline workers

The term heroes have been widely used to describe those working in the frontline during the global Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Elaine Kinsella, President’s Research Excellence and Impact Award winner at 51��ɫ and Dr Rachel Sumner, Cardiff Metropolitan University discuss their survey of these key workers, focussing on the wellbeing and attitudes of those working in the frontline, emergency workers and those working across service industries and how the heroes tag was viewed by those workers.

“Nothing about us, Without us” President’s Research Excellence and Impact Award 2022 Winners

President’s Research Excellence and Impact Award for Outstanding Collaboration

How do social and cultural changes occur, and how can policy be influenced to encourage these changes, particularly in terms of aiding people who are marginalized and stigmatized in our society? The award-winning research team from the 51��ɫ's Centre for Social Issues Research is collaborating with government and advocacy groups to help those who are directly affected by disability, those who care for those who are disabled, child carers, and those who are affected by domestic violence.

Back pain: Treating the human - not the scan

The personal, societal and economic costs of low back pain are enormous, and the likelihood of being disabled by back pain has worsened in recent decades. Prof Helena Lenihan, Chair of the UL Research Impact Committee is joined by Dr Kieran O’Sullivan, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health and winner of the President’s Research Excellence and Impact Early Career Award. Dr O’Sullivan’s research has shed new light on why back pain is such an ongoing challenge and the tendency for back pain to be treated as an almost entirely ‘physical’ issue – where we rely too much on tests such as MRI scans, at the expense of treating the whole human. His research has led to the development and testing of novel solutions for the treatment of back pain.