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Professor Declan Keeney (PhD, MA, BMus(Hons), LTCL, PgCHET, PgDIP, SFHEA, FRSA) is a Professor of Screen Technologies & Innovation at Ulster University and serves as Director of the Ulster Screen Academy. He is also Co-Founder & Interim CEO of Studio Ulster Ltd, overseeing the development of a £72m virtual production complex with the CoSTAR R&D lab in Belfast. As a Northern Ireland Governor at the British Film Institute and Visiting Professor at Liverpool John Moores University, he bridges academia with industry leadership.
- PhD - The Issue of Emotion in Stories of Conflict: Documentary Filmmaking in a Post Conflict Northern Ireland (Queen's University Belfast)
- MA - Screen Technologies
- BMus(Hons) - Music
- Professional Certifications: PgCHET, PgDip, LTCL
His research focuses on virtual production, 6DoF, photogrammetry, and LiDAR scanning for film/broadcast. He integrates sustainability through net-zero initiatives in screen industries via the AHRC-funded Future Observatory fellowship. His projects include the £13m Future Screens NI Creative Cluster and £4.6m Future Island green transition program.
Recent publications highlight immersive tech R&D, including VR user experience testing (2023), curriculum innovation for creative industries (2018), and conflict memory visualization (2020). These works span digital media, XR, and inclusive creative practices.
- Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy
- Fellow Royal Society of Arts
- Policy Fellow, Future Observatory
- AHRC/DCMS Green Transition Fellowship
Declan leads the CoSTAR Lab, Europe's largest VP R&D network, and directs £91.5m in live screen industry research investments. He spearheaded £25.2m Belfast Region City Deal funding for virtual production infrastructure and the £3m Levelling Up Fund initiative. His work with Rathlin Island's 'Future Island' project and the PEACE IV-funded 'Frictionless' VR documentary demonstrates practical applications of immersive storytelling for social impact.
