Research Ireland has announced funding for 59 projects under its New Foundations programme. Comprising a total investment of €683,677, these awards will support researchers in developing collaborative projects with community organisations and government departments. The projects will address health, social, environmental, and economic challenges in Ireland and beyond.

New Foundations promotes close collaboration between researchers, civic society groups, and policymakers. The programme includes co-funding from a range of Government Departments and agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Irish Aid), Department of Education, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA), Department of Rural and Community Development, and The Heritage Council.

Making the announcement, Celine Fitzgerald, Interim CEO of Research Ireland, commented: “The New Foundations programme exemplifies how research can be a powerful tool for societal change. By supporting collaboration between academic researchers and those working on the frontlines of community development and public policy, we can co-create knowledge that directly benefits people’s lives. We are proud to support these new projects, which will contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable and evidence-informed Ireland.”

The UCD projects awarded are: 

• Dr Megan Welton, Ad Astra Fellow and Assistant Professor, UCD School of History: Form, Image, Action: Reframing Women and Binaries in Medieval Worlds, c.500 CE - c.1500 CE. 
• Dr Karen Smith, Assistant Professor, UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice: A just and inclusive transition for children.
• Dr Caitriona Dowd, Ad Astra Fellow and Assistant Professor, UCD School of Politics and International Relations: 4 Network on Conflict - Affected Agriculture in Nigeria.
• Associate Professor Miguel Bustamante, UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics: Second European Fluid Dynamics Conference. 

Over a period of 9-12 months, the New Foundations funding will enable researchers to build new partnerships, explore innovative ideas, and bring academic expertise to real-world issues through research actions, network development, conferences and workshops, and capacity building for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Other projects funded include:

Funded awards include:

• The flats are coming down. Yup the flats! A sociological exploration of life in the Dolphin House flat complex using arts-based creative methods (Trinity College Dublin) 
• The role of crime and security journalism in our democracy (Maynooth University) 
• Co-designing a web-based resource to help young people with disabilities find suitable physical activities in their community (RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences) 
• Social economy initiatives supporting ‘Ageing in Place’ (University College Cork) 

Learn more about the Research Ireland New Foundations awards at https://www.researchireland.ie/news/new-foundations-awards/.