Ireland’s place in a changing Europe

A research showcase co-organised by the Geographical Society of Ireland and the RIA Geography and Geosciences Committee. As a research discipline concerned with place, people and the environment, geography actively addresses key contemporary challenges facing Ireland and Europe. To coincide with Geographical Awareness Week 2026 and the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Royal Irish Academy is hosting an expert panel event exploring ‘Ireland’s place in a changing Europe’ through the lens of research projects across the spectrum of physical, technical and human geography. The programme will feature talks on research projects from the field of geography that are either EU-funded or have a European focus or outlook. The initial presentations will be followed by a discussion and Q&A moderated by Arlene Crampsie, President of the Geographical Society of Ireland. The aim of the event is to showcase the breadth and depth of geography research being undertaken across the island and to discuss the wider relevance and application of this research at a European and international level. Hybrid Tickets This will be a hybrid event meaning attendees can join online or in person in the Royal Irish Academy. You can select your ticket preference when booking. Please do not book more than one type of ticket per person. The webinar link will be shared the day before the event. About the speakers: Kath Browne MRIA (University College Dublin), Co-lead Investigator, RESIST Project RESIST was an EU funded research project entitled ‘Fostering Queer Feminist Intersectional Resistances against Transnational Anti-Gender Politics.’ Enacted by a consortium of academics drawn from ten institutions across the EU, UK and Switzerland, the project was conducted across ten case studies between 2022 and 2026. Professor Frances Fahy (University of Galway), Co-ordinator, ENERGISE Project ENERGISE is an innovative pan-European research initiative to achieve a greater scientific understanding of the social and cultural influences on energy consumption. The project develops, tests and assesses options aimed at transforming the quality and quantity of energy use among households and communities across Europe Dr Aaron Lim (University College Cork), Principal Investigator DMAND Project DMAND (Unmanned Marine Mapping and Monitoring for Offshore Energy) is a research project to develop new unmanned mapping and monitoring approaches for seabed surveys to support Ireland’s offshore wind sector. The methods developed aim to reduce survey costs and environmental impact, while improving data quality and responsiveness. Professor Derek Jackson MRIA (Ulster University), Lead Investigator CMAP Project CMAP is an EU-funded project to help tackle the problems of climate change impacts on the Irish coast covering Counties Sligo, Donegal, Londonderry, Antrim, Down and Louth. By combining scientific research with community engagement and cross-border collaboration, the project aims to develop more appropriate strategies to address erosion, biodiversity loss and changing coastal dynamics. Professor Mary Gilmartin (Maynooth University), Principal Investigator MobiliseCare Project MobiliseCare is a research project that seeks to show the ways people, communities and organisations respond to migration with care. The research undertaken in this project aims to highlight the work that people, communities and organisations are doing, across and beyond Ireland, to create more inclusive places and spaces. Provisional programme: 6:00-6:10 Welcome and opening remarks 6:10-7:15 Research showcase 7:15-7:45 Q&A/Discussion