Eoin O'Neill appointed as new Earth Institute director
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Credit: Ste Murray |
The UCD Earth Institute is delighted to announce the appointment of Eoin O'Neill as its new director starting 1 September 2023. Eoin has been Head of the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy since 2018 and is Professor in Environmental Policy. Eoin is a Science Foundation Ireland-Funded Investigator in BiOrbic, Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre; a chartered planner with the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI); and prior to being appointed at UCD he worked as a Technical Specialist in Flood Risk Management in the UK Environment Agency.
Eoin is an active researcher and seeks to advance research findings to inform policy, in Ireland and internationally. Eoin holds BA (Hons) and MRUP degrees, and a PhD in planning and economics. His research interests concern the interactions of people and the natural and built environments, under the broad themes of risk (perception and behaviour), and policy design (incentives and regulation of development). He is active on research projects across a wide range of areas, including, land use regulation, flood risk, groundwater, climate adaptation, and the bioeconomy.
His appointment marks a significant stride in the Institute's goal of fostering impactful and transformative multidisciplinary research and working with stakeholders to address global, regional and national environmental challenges.
Eoin expressed his eagerness to take on this new role, saying, “It is a tremendous honour to be appointed as Director of the Earth Institute and to contribute to advancing our understanding of the intricate dynamics shaping our planet. I am excited to work alongside esteemed colleagues from various disciplines and to engage with partners beyond academia, driving real-world solutions that address the environmental and sustainability challenges we face.”
Congratulating Eoin on his appointment, Professor Helen Roche, the Interim UCD Vice President for Research, Innovation and Impact, said: “Eoin's leadership and vision will undoubtedly invigorate the Earth Institute's mission to cultivate innovative solutions for the complex environmental and sustainability challenges of our time. His longstanding expertise and experience in fostering interdisciplinary research and engaging with societal stakeholders and policymakers aligns seamlessly with the ethos of the Institute and its membership.”
Professor Roche also recognised the work done by Professor Tasman Crowe during his six-year tenure as Director of the Earth Institute from 2017 to 2023: “Tasman has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Institute's mission and membership. Tasman actively fostered an environment where researchers from diverse fields could converge, exchange ideas, and collectively address pressing global challenges. Under his guidance, the Earth Institute has flourished as a vibrant community united by a shared commitment to environmental and sustainability research. I am sure he will continue to be a strong advocate for the environmental and sustainability research community in his new role as Vice President for Sustainability at UCD.”
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