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2022 Rising Stars

Counterfactual explanations and overconfident artificial intelligence\n“This morning I drove into the campus and I crashed my car,” says Eoin Delaney - and thankfully this is the start of a fictional anecdote to illustrate a counterfactual explanation, rather than a real-life event. Dr. Eoin Delaney
Counterfactual explanations and overconfident artificial intelligence “This morning I drove into the campus and I crashed my car,” says Eoin Delaney - and thankfully this is the start of a fictional anecdote to illustrate a counterfactual explanation, rather than a real-life event.
Applying artificial intelligence to the printing press during the Protestant Reformation\nIt was provocative by any standard. But when German religious reformer Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) published the richly illustrated, pope-mocking pamphlet, The Passion of Christ and Antichrist in 1521, the Catholic Church was all-powerful in western Europe and heretics were burned at the stake. Dr. Drew Thomas
Applying artificial intelligence to the printing press during the Protestant Reformation It was provocative by any standard. But when German religious reformer Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) published the richly illustrated, pope-mocking pamphlet, The Passion of Christ and Antichrist in 1521, the Catholic Church was all-powerful in western Europe and heretics were burned at the stake.
Using sensory feedback to improve prosthetics\nIt’s more common for people with lower limb loss to use prosthetics than it is for people with upper limb loss. “There’s a variety of reasons for that,” says Sigrid Dupan. “Partly it\'s because if you still have one arm, a lot of people can actually do the majority of the tasks they need to do. Dr. Sigrid Dupan
Using sensory feedback to improve prosthetics It’s more common for people with lower limb loss to use prosthetics than it is for people with upper limb loss. “There’s a variety of reasons for that,” says Sigrid Dupan. “Partly it's because if you still have one arm, a lot of people can actually do the majority of the tasks they need to do.
AI hackers in a ‘huge’ threat landscape\nMadhusanka Liyanage is Ad Astra Fellow and Director of Graduate Research at the School of Computer Science. His new book 6G Security and Privacy - a Comprehensive Guide troubleshoots the sixth-generation wireless technology slated for roll-out in 2030. Dr. Madhusanka Liyanage
AI hackers in a ‘huge’ threat landscape Madhusanka Liyanage is Ad Astra Fellow and Director of Graduate Research at the School of Computer Science. His new book 6G Security and Privacy - a Comprehensive Guide troubleshoots the sixth-generation wireless technology slated for roll-out in 2030.
Lisa Smith and other western women of Islamic State\nJulia Cañas Martinez has, understandably, kept close tabs on one of the most controversial cases to come before Ireland’s Central Criminal Court in recent years. Former Irish soldier Lisa Smith, 40, was found guilty in May of being a member of the unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, from 2015 to 2019. Dr. Julia Cañas Martinez
Lisa Smith and other western women of Islamic State Julia Cañas Martinez has, understandably, kept close tabs on one of the most controversial cases to come before Ireland’s Central Criminal Court in recent years. Former Irish soldier Lisa Smith, 40, was found guilty in May of being a member of the unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, from 2015 to 2019.
‘Pizzagate,’ fact checking, and the weaponisation of social media\nPropaganda has been around for centuries. But its modern iteration - disinformation - is a far more recent buzzword. “I think 2016 was a watershed moment because of the Brexit vote in the UK and the election of Donald J. Trump as a US President,” Dr. Marco Bastos
‘Pizzagate,’ fact checking, and the weaponisation of social media Propaganda has been around for centuries. But its modern iteration - disinformation - is a far more recent buzzword. “I think 2016 was a watershed moment because of the Brexit vote in the UK and the election of Donald J. Trump as a US President,”
How do fictional representations of child sexual abuse affect readers and viewers?\nDr Ailise Bulfin had perhaps never expected to research fictional representations of the “really difficult issue” of child sexual abuse (CSA) in contemporary culture. After all, she is a scholar of nineteenth century literature and had originally sought to examine its covert presence there. Dr Ailise Bulfin
How do fictional representations of child sexual abuse affect readers and viewers? Dr Ailise Bulfin had perhaps never expected to research fictional representations of the “really difficult issue” of child sexual abuse (CSA) in contemporary culture. After all, she is a scholar of nineteenth century literature and had originally sought to examine its covert presence there.
Anything that can be used against you will be used against you\nWhat worries Abeba Birhane about her field is the prevalence of “blind trust” in artificial intelligence (AI). AI models are ubiquitous tools that are increasingly being used to aid decision making, including how someone is hired or granted a loan or mortgage. Dr. Abeba Birhane
Anything that can be used against you will be used against you What worries Abeba Birhane about her field is the prevalence of “blind trust” in artificial intelligence (AI). AI models are ubiquitous tools that are increasingly being used to aid decision making, including how someone is hired or granted a loan or mortgage.
Machine learning to improve sports injury detection and performance\nLast year Ireland rugby captain Johnny Sexton missed the game against Argentina because of his. Leinster flanker Dan Leavy had major surgery - and was ruled out for most of the season - because of his. Connacht’s Stephen Fitzgerald had to retire on medical grounds because of his. Knee injuries truly are the bane of the professional rugby player’s life. Indeed, of any sports player’s life. Dr. Niamh Belton
Machine learning to improve sports injury detection and performance Last year Ireland rugby captain Johnny Sexton missed the game against Argentina because of his. Leinster flanker Dan Leavy had major surgery - and was ruled out for most of the season - because of his. Connacht’s Stephen Fitzgerald had to retire on medical grounds because of his. Knee injuries truly are the bane of the professional rugby player’s life. Indeed, of any sports player’s life.

2021 Rising Stars

Mental Health Awareness Month - an increase in young people’s anxiety and depression\nAmanda Fitzgerald is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology. Her research focuses on understanding risk and protective factors of young people\'s mental health Amanda Fitzgerald
Mental Health Awareness Month - an increase in young people’s anxiety and depression Amanda Fitzgerald is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology. Her research focuses on understanding risk and protective factors of young people's mental health
From Roots to Pollinators: How above- and below-ground organisms interact through plants\nUnlike fuzzy bumblebees or elegant butterflies, subterranean critters – like earthworms, ants and mites - tend not to rate highly in people’s affections. “If things aren\'t pretty, we don\'t tend to like them which is a pity because it\'s harder to conserve them,” Dr. Tara Dirilgen
From Roots to Pollinators: How above- and below-ground organisms interact through plants Unlike fuzzy bumblebees or elegant butterflies, subterranean critters – like earthworms, ants and mites - tend not to rate highly in people’s affections. “If things aren't pretty, we don't tend to like them which is a pity because it's harder to conserve them,”
Exploring music science, numerical cognition and mathematics anxiety\nFor those of us fortunate enough to be educated, a base level of numeracy is something we take for granted. Dr Flavia Santos is still amazed, many years later, to recount the story of a woman in Brazil who once needed Flavia’s help with a most rudimentary maths problem. \n\n Dr. Flavia Santos
Exploring music science, numerical cognition and mathematics anxiety For those of us fortunate enough to be educated, a base level of numeracy is something we take for granted. Dr Flavia Santos is still amazed, many years later, to recount the story of a woman in Brazil who once needed Flavia’s help with a most rudimentary maths problem.
UCD researcher leads international consortium on education and climate change\nIt was a deeply sobering experience that would colour the course of her academic career. On a field trip to India in 2012 with Harvard University’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Orla Kelly came face to face with the impact of climate change on education. Dr. Orla Kelly
UCD researcher leads international consortium on education and climate change It was a deeply sobering experience that would colour the course of her academic career. On a field trip to India in 2012 with Harvard University’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Orla Kelly came face to face with the impact of climate change on education.
Reclaiming Irish Gothic Writing\nWith his voluminous cape and witchy conical hat, writer James Clarence Mangan cut quite the dash around 1800s Dublin. “He called himself The Man in the Cloak. Apparently he had a shock of white hair and green spectacles as well, so he was really an eccentric character. Dr. Katie Mishler
Reclaiming Irish Gothic Writing With his voluminous cape and witchy conical hat, writer James Clarence Mangan cut quite the dash around 1800s Dublin. “He called himself The Man in the Cloak. Apparently he had a shock of white hair and green spectacles as well, so he was really an eccentric character.
Exploring the Psychological Impact on Contact Tracers\nWhen the first lockdown happened in March 2020, Dr Aoife de Brún became “one of those early volunteers” in UCD’s Covid-19 Contact Tracing Centre. She and her fellow contact tracers were a crucial point of contact in the unfolding pandemic Dr. Aoife de Brun
Exploring the Psychological Impact on Contact Tracers When the first lockdown happened in March 2020, Dr Aoife de Brún became “one of those early volunteers” in UCD’s Covid-19 Contact Tracing Centre. She and her fellow contact tracers were a crucial point of contact in the unfolding pandemic
How can we fix the problem of food waste?\nIf you buy three bags of groceries in the supermarket, imagine coming home and promptly tipping one in the bin. Every day, one-third of the world’s food is lost or thrown away - enough to feed the planet’s estimated 690 million undernourished four times over. Dr Ajay Menon
How can we fix the problem of food waste? If you buy three bags of groceries in the supermarket, imagine coming home and promptly tipping one in the bin. Every day, one-third of the world’s food is lost or thrown away - enough to feed the planet’s estimated 690 million undernourished four times over.
Seagulls in the city – UCD researcher tracks divisive birds\nThey sometimes noisily nest in residential rooftops and swoop to snatch food from pedestrians. As seagulls encroach on urban spaces, conflict with humans is inevitable. But are the birds alone to blame for their aggressive reputation? Dr. Adam Kane
Seagulls in the city – UCD researcher tracks divisive birds They sometimes noisily nest in residential rooftops and swoop to snatch food from pedestrians. As seagulls encroach on urban spaces, conflict with humans is inevitable. But are the birds alone to blame for their aggressive reputation?
Epilepsy research becomes more collaborative\nMost of us have some understanding of epilepsy, the neurological disorder characterised by seizures. But it might come as a surprise to learn that in half of cases there is no known cause. Dr. Gary Brenna
Epilepsy research becomes more collaborative Most of us have some understanding of epilepsy, the neurological disorder characterised by seizures. But it might come as a surprise to learn that in half of cases there is no known cause.

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