🏆 ENGAGE 2025 Grand Final 🏆
🎤On Wednesday, 16 April, the UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science hosted its flagship public science communication event – ENGAGE 2025. Held in the Moore Auditorium and streamed online via Zoom, the event brought together students, staff, and the wider public for an inspiring evening of accessible science.
Final-year PhD students took to the stage to share their cutting-edge biomedical research through engaging, plain-English presentations. With topics ranging from gene editing and cancer therapies to cystic fibrosis and zebrafish models of vision disease, the evening showcased the power of clear communication and scientific impact.
The atmosphere was electric, the audience captivated, and the judges impressed. (opens in a new window)Link here to the event programme.
***
🥇 Winner of ENGAGE 2025– Clodagh Murphy
Clodagh's ENGAGE final talk title was: Orchestrating a Treatment for Lung Cancer
Clodagh explores the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) as a potential "conductor" of lung cancer development—suggesting that by targeting lncRNA, we may stop cancer growth at its source.
Supervisors: Prof Liam Gallagher, Prof Rory Johnson, Asst Prof Arman Rahman
🥈 Runner-Up for ENGAGE 2025– Molly Davies
Molly's ENGAGE Final talk title was : UnPAXing DNA Structure in Ovarian Cancer
Molly investigates the role of the protein PAX8 in ovarian cancer, highlighting how it affects DNA structure and contributes to disease development—opening doors to future therapies.
Supervisor: Asst Prof Eric Conway
Poster Awards – Audience Choice
As part of ENGAGE 2025, we were delighted to showcase 21 research posters created by participants on our School’s Public Science Communication module, led by Dr Craig Slattery. The module is delivered to both UCD PhD students and external professionals via micro-credential.
Voted by our audience, the following posters stood out:
🏆 Best Poster Presentation: Caoimbhe Burke
Caoimbhe's poster title was : Unwanted Party Crashers: How bacteria might affect breast cancer -(opens in a new window) see poster here
🥈 Runner-Up Poster presentation: Braden Miller
Braden's poster title was : Heart Highways: How Traffic Jams Happen in your Arteries - (opens in a new window)see poster here
🥈 Runner-Up Poster presentation: Grainne Connolly: Learn about Weather and Climate -
👏 A huge congratulations to all six of our outstanding ENGAGE 2025 finalists—Felix Joel Brooke, Clodagh Murphy, Ciarán Carey, Molly Davies, Emma Doyle and John Fehilly —who captivated us with their creativity, clarity, and commitment to making science accessible to all. The future is bright!
***
ENGAGE 2025 Host & Judges
We were honoured to be joined by a fantastic panel for ENGAGE 2025, led by our host Dr Claire O’Connell (2nd from left), alongside judges Stephen Flanagan, Joan Mahon (left), and Dr Kate Gajewska (right). Their expertise, insight, and enthusiasm helped make this year’s event a truly engaging celebration of science communication.
See our Host and Judges Bios on our event programme (opens in a new window)HERE.
***
Opening and Closing Remarks
The ENGAGE 2025 Grand Final was officially opened by Professor Geraldine Butler, Head of Teaching & Learning at the UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science.
We were honoured to be joined by Professor Jeremy Simpson, Principal of the UCD College of Science, who delivered the closing remarks and announced this year’s winners, together with Professor Emma Sokell, Dean of Graduate Studies, whose presence underscored the University’s strong support for public engagement and science communication.
***