Met Éireann partners with UCD on new AI research programme for weather and climate services
Posted 14 December 2023
A new multi-million-euro research programme supporting the further development of weather and climate services using data science and AI has been announced between University College Dublin and (opens in a new window)Met Éireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service
This new partnership aims to develop AI-enhanced models that will enable Met Éireann to build on its forecasting capabilities and make Ireland even more weather and climate prepared.
Working closely with an expert knowledge transfer team at Met Éireann and a research group from the UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics and UCD Earth Institute, the Met Éireann Weather and Climate Research Professorship will incorporate a €1 million annual investment for an initial period of five years.
The project has been set up to bridge the gap between research and operations by examining the context of high-impact weather, flood forecasting, and the understanding of Ireland's climate.
“UCD and Met Éireann have a long-standing relationship in working together to enhance weather forecasting,” said (opens in a new window)Professor Helen Roche, UCD’s Interim Vice-President for Research, Impact and Innovation.
“By harnessing the power of AI to support the protection of life, property and infrastructure, this partnership takes that relationship to the next level.
“UCD's world-leading experts in this dynamic field are conceiving and evolving creative solutions that impact all of society and our daily life.
"[Our] researchers will help develop AI-enhanced models to enable Met Éireann to build on its forecasting capabilities and make Ireland even more weather and climate prepared.
Adding: “This ground-breaking partnership between UCD and Met Éireann will help produce the next generation of climate and weather scientists and help ensure that we have the tools and expertise needed to tackle the climate emergency.”
A direct response to climate change, the overarching objectives of the new collaboration will focus on enhancing citizen safety, bolstering economic and environmental resilience, supporting weather-sensitive sectors, and use the knowledge gained to train the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Met Éireann said the research and development of AI models and techniques will enable it to build on its existing state-of-the-art forecasting capabilities.
“This Professorship is an innovative and first-of-its-kind partnership for Met Éireann,” said Eoin Moran, Director of Met Éireann. “In doing this, we are putting Met Éireann at the forefront of technological developments that will shape national meteorological and hydrological services for years to come.
“Not only is it a significant investment in the development of national forecasting capabilities and capacity but it will help make Ireland even more weather and climate prepared, by enhancing and improving the level of information available to the public.
“We are hugely excited by the prospect of working closely with UCD, and of the potential opportunities this could lead to in the responsible use of AI for good.”
The establishment of the Met Éireann Research Professorship follows an international peer review process, through which UCD’s application was selected based on its demonstration of excellence and impact, and its commitment to collaboration and knowledge transfer for the benefit of society and the economy.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations (with materials from Daniel Rowan, UCD Research and Innovation)
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
