Dr. Laura Maye is a Lecturer at the School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University College Cork. Her research specializes in Interactive Media and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), focusing on participatory design methods and immersive technologies. Key research interests include virtual reality applications, co-design methodologies for cultural heritage, community-centered technology development, and sensory interaction studies. Her work emphasizes inclusive design and socio-ecological relationships in technology. Recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate strong trends in VR-based sensory studies, community radio innovations, and rehabilitation technology. Articles frequently employ mixed-methods approaches and highlight cross-modal perception, participatory frameworks, and rural HCI challenges.
Réamonn Keary is a Professor and former Head of the Keyboard Faculty at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) in Dublin. He specializes in piano performance, pedagogy, and chamber music. A prominent figure in music education, he has hosted the RTÉ lyricfm series Piano Keys (2003–2017) and the annual Key Skills workshops for music teachers. He frequently presents masterclasses internationally, including at Millikin University (Illinois) and the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna. His research and professional activities include editing the piano works of Fanny Robinson, a foundational figure of the RIAM, and contributing to the RIAM’s Local Centre examination system as former Chairman of Senior Examiners. He has adjudicated major competitions, including the Dublin International Piano Competition (2006, 2009). Education includes studies at the RIAM, Trinity College Dublin, Maynooth University, and private lessons with Leonid Brumberg in Vienna.
Dr. Máire Ní Ríordáin is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at University College Cork. She currently serves as M.Ed. Modular Programme Director, School of Education Examinations Officer, and Chair of the School of Education Research Ethics Committee. She is also Treasurer of the Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) and a serving member of their Executive Committee. Her educational background includes a BSc.(Hons.) in Physical Education and Mathematics from the University of Limerick (2005) and a PhD in Mathematics Education from the same institution (2009). Dr. Ní Ríordáin's research focuses on the intersection of language and mathematics education. Her primary interests include bilingualism (Irish and English) in mathematics education, mathematics teacher professional development, practitioner research in teacher education, and STEM education. She has developed frameworks like LCM2 to analyze bilingual mathematics learning and has contributed significantly to understanding how language influences mathematical cognition. Her work addresses critical issues in Irish education, particularly regarding the teaching of mathematics through Irish and supporting out-of-field mathematics teachers. Her extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on language-responsive mathematics teaching, bilingual education, and teacher development. Recent work explores CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) approaches, STEM education, and gender issues in mathematics learning. She has led major international conferences, including serving as Co-Leader of the 14th Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education. Teaching Council Research Bursary (2009) Advanced Scholar Award (2005) MACSI Postgraduate Scholarship (2006) Dr. Ní Ríordáin has supervised multiple doctoral students including Aoife O'Brien, Fergal Harrington, Laura Tagnin, and Bernie Ní Dhonnchú. She has secured significant research funding, including projects like M²EID (€95,500 from Irish Research Council), CaLSAM (€68,840 from ERASMUS), and several grants from University College Cork and the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. She has been actively involved in national teacher development programs, particularly for out-of-field mathematics teachers.
Professor Michelle Norris is a Full Professor and Director of the Geary Institute for Public Policy at University College Dublin's School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice. She is a leading expert in housing policy and urban regeneration with over 30 major research projects and more than 170 publications to her name. Her educational background includes: BSocSc from University College Cork MSocSc from University College Dublin PhD from University College Cork Professor Norris's research focuses on housing policy, particularly the management and financing of social housing, urban regeneration, comparative analysis of European housing provision, and the historical development of Irish housing policy. She has led significant research initiatives including the €3.4 million EU Horizon Europe project "EqualHouse" which aims to combat housing inequality across Europe. Her work bridges academic research and policy implementation, with strong connections to Irish and international policymakers. Her recent publications reveal consistent themes around housing financialization, homelessness prevention, social housing policy, and the intersection of housing with social justice issues. She has developed nuanced understandings of how financial circuits impact housing affordability, how life course stages affect homelessness risks, and how stigmatization impacts social housing communities. Professor Norris has received significant recognition for her work, including: University College Dublin's Research Impact Award (2015) Irish Research Council's Research Impact Award (2021) She serves in numerous advisory capacities, having been appointed to the National Economic and Social Council by the Taoiseach in 2011 and 2016, chaired the Housing Finance Agency from 2012-2017, and served on the interim board of the Land Development Agency from 2018. In 2022, she was appointed to the Housing Commission established to review housing policy in Ireland. Professor Norris actively supervises PhD students researching housing policy, urban regeneration, and social justice issues, and teaches modules on Housing and Social Cohesion and Housing Policies Neighborhood, emphasizing active learning and critical reflection in her teaching approach.
Dr. Mairead Hourigan is an Associate Professor in Mathematics Education at Mary Immaculate College (MIC), University of Limerick, specializing in STEM Education. She is actively engaged in research on educational transitions, teacher education models, Lesson Study, problem posing, and STE(A)M education, with her work contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education. Her educational background includes a PhD, M.Sc, and B.Sc (Physical Education & Mathematics) from the University of Limerick, establishing a strong foundation for her interdisciplinary approach to mathematics education. Hourigan's research focuses on improving mathematics education through innovative approaches like Lesson Study and integrated STEM education. Her work emphasizes the development of primary teachers' capabilities, problem-posing practices, and the implementation of effective educational transitions. She explores how teachers can better support students' statistical reasoning and mathematical thinking through practical, real-world applications, as evidenced by projects like the BUDS (Engaging with Beekeepers Using Data Science) initiative. Her research consistently addresses the challenges and opportunities in rural educational settings while promoting inclusive practices for diverse learners including emerging bilingual students. Her research outputs reveal a strong emphasis on teacher professional development through Lesson Study models and the integration of STEM concepts in primary education settings. Recent work examines rural implementation challenges, bilingual learners' statistical reasoning, and the impact of extended professional development on teacher efficacy, with numerous publications in high-impact journals across mathematics education, STEM education, and professional development fields. C. Oswald George Award (2021) C. Oswald George Prize (2015) Peter Holmes Prize (2020) Teachers' Research Exchange (T-REX) Module Innovation Framework Award (2020) Hourigan actively supervises postgraduate students and has secured significant research funding, including a €2.8 million study on teachers' professional journeys. She collaborates extensively with colleagues on projects like Studio LAB Encounters and STEM Café, focusing on becoming STEAM educators. Her work with the National Centre of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Learning (NCE-MSTL) has directly informed national curriculum development, including consultation reports on the Draft Primary Mathematics Curriculum. She serves as a key academic advisor to the Department of Education on STEM and Arts education policy. She leads and participates in numerous community engagement initiatives, including Science & Maths Week activities, and has maintained a multi-year partnership with RTE's Home School Hub. Her research consistently bridges theory and practice, with strong connections to teacher education programs and classroom implementation across Ireland.
Vittorio Bufacchi is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. He holds a PhD from the London School of Economics (LSE) and has taught at institutions including Yale University, the University of Manchester, and University College Dublin. His research focuses on political philosophy, particularly social justice, human rights, and the ethics of violence, with significant attention to Cicero's political thought. Education: PhD in Political Philosophy, LSE (1994) MSc in Political Theory, LSE (1989) Bachelor of Arts in Politics, University of Sussex (1988) Research Interests: His work bridges political philosophy with applied ethics, addressing topics like structural injustice, post-truth politics, and the philosophy of human rights. Notable contributions include Why Cicero Matters (2023) and Everything Must Change: Philosophical Lessons From Lockdown (2021). He frequently contributes to public discourse through media outlets like The Irish Times and The Guardian . Grants & Awards: Irish Research Council Grant: Social Justice Allyship (€105,604, 2023) Research Excellence Awards: CACSSS (2008–2016), IRCHSS Fellowship (2004) Teaching: He teaches modules on political philosophy, human rights, and Cicero's political thought. Recent courses include PH2035: Roman Political Thought - Cicero and PH3025: Political Philosophy in Theory and Practice . Public Engagement: Bufacchi actively bridges academia and public life through podcasts, invited lectures, and op-eds addressing contemporary issues like Brexit, vaccine equity, and far-right politics.
Tobias Lock is a Professor of Law at Maynooth University, holding the Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law and Fundamental Rights (awarded 2020). Previously, he worked at Edinburgh Law School, University College London, and others. His expertise lies in European law, human rights law, and legal systems interaction, particularly Brexit-related legal challenges. He advises the Scottish Parliament on EU constitutional law and serves on the Irish Centre for European Law’s board. Research focuses on EU legal frameworks, fundamental rights (EU Charter, ECHR), and comparative law (Germany/UK). He contributed to Brexit legal analysis, including parliamentary testimonies and advisory roles. Awards include the British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award (2018). Teaching and research initiatives include the Jean Monnet Chair program, fostering EU law specialization at Maynooth with modules, study visits, and public engagement. His work spans over 15 years, with publications in leading journals and books on EU courts, international legal relations, and post-Brexit governance. Key projects include the Jean Monnet Chair (€40,867.20) and research on the Charter-NI Protocol interaction (€8,763.35). His SSRN page hosts accessible research. He welcomes PhD students in EU law, constitutional law, and related fields.
Dr. Alan Gorman is an Assistant Professor in the School of Policy and Practice at Dublin City University's Institute of Education, where he serves as Chair of the Doctor of Education (EdD) programme. His research focuses on critical policy analysis, leadership development, and teacher professional learning across the educational continuum. Research interests span education policy, leadership development, teacher professional learning, and professional identity formation, with particular emphasis on critical policy analysis and system-level educational reform. Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on teacher education reform, bullying prevention strategies, and technology integration in education, particularly examining AI applications in lesson planning and digital competence development. Awards include the DCU President's Medal for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (2022) recognizing outstanding pedagogical contributions. Current research initiatives include a tri-nation study on system leadership with international collaborators. As Research Fellow at DCU Anti-Bullying Centre, has contributed to national policy development including Ireland's Action Plan on Bullying.
Agustín S. Bénétrix is an Associate Professor of Economics and Head of the Economics Department at Trinity College Dublin. He serves as Senior Editor for Oxford Open Economics and Associate Editor for Economia and Review of World Economics . His research focuses on international macroeconomics, financial integration, fiscal policy, and banking. Notable work includes analysis of cross-border investments, tax policy impacts, and historical manufacturing trends. Education: Doctoral training in Economics (details not explicitly stated in text) His research explores themes such as uncertainty shocks in banking, currency composition effects, and the role of fiscal policy in stabilizing economies. Recent articles address tax havens' dynamics, household financial assets, and deglobalization in banking sectors. His work often involves collaborations with institutions like the ECB and IMF. Key contributions include studies on the global financial crisis's valuation effects and comparative analysis of economic crises. He organizes workshops on international capital flows and financial globalization. No scientific awards explicitly mentioned in the text. Teaching includes courses on Money and Banking, International Macroeconomics, and Econometrics. Advising and grants details are not listed in the provided text.
Barry Lyons is an Associate Professor in Medical Education at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences. He specializes in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of medical ethics, bioethics, and pediatric anesthesia, with a particular focus on shame, stigma, and legal responsibilities in healthcare. Institution: Trinity College Dublin Faculty: Health Sciences Academic Rank: Associate Professor Research Themes: Medical ethics, pediatric anesthesia, legal accountability, health-related shame His publications over the past two decades address critical issues such as informed consent in anesthesia, ethical obligations in end-of-life care, and the societal implications of shame in medical practice. Current projects include the Wellcome Trust-funded "Shame & Medicine" initiative, which investigates shame's role in clinical practice, patient experiences, and medical education across institutions like the University of Exeter and Children's Health Ireland. Lyons' peer-reviewed work spans bioethics, public health, and anesthetic safety, with recent articles examining topics like anaesthesia-related mortality, parental authority in medical decisions, and health disparities linked to social determinants. His research methodology combines philosophical analysis with empirical studies, particularly addressing how race, gender, and class influence shame dynamics in healthcare. Active memberships include the Society of Legal Scholars, Medico-legal Society of Ireland, and European Society of Anaesthetists. He contributes to clinical guidelines and policy debates, focusing on quality-of-life assessments, airway complications, and ethical frameworks for pediatric care. As part of the TRiCC Researchers network, he collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to improve healthcare practices through ethical and legal scholarship.
Hsiao-Ping Hsu is Assistant Professor in Digital Learning at Dublin City University's Institute of Education. His research integrates emerging technologies like generative AI, VR, and game-based learning into educational contexts. Current projects examine how generative AI transforms lesson planning and computational thinking development. His work emphasizes practical applications of immersive technologies for environmental education and digital literacy. AECT Nova Southeastern Award for Instructional Design Reimagine Education Bronze Award (VR/AR category) Foxconn Education Foundation Research Fellowship
Lorcan Daly is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Sport and Health Science at the Faculty of Science and Health. His research focuses on exercise physiology, aging athletes, and recovery strategies in sports like Gaelic football and indoor rowing. He holds a PhD in Physical conditioning and fatigue recovery in Gaelic games (2022). Education: PhD in Physiology (2022) His research explores physiological adaptations in aging athletes, particularly elite indoor rowers over 50 years old, and examines how recovery strategies impact performance in Gaelic games. He employs machine learning techniques to predict athlete performance and attenuate fatigue. His articles analyze topics like aging physiology, recovery tactics, and the application of synthetic data in sports analytics. Notably, he has studied a 92-year-old world champion rower, highlighting extraordinary aging resilience. Media coverage includes discussions on his work with athletes like Paul Gallen and Denis Crowley, emphasizing lessons from aging physiology for health and fitness.
Dr. Michael Reichert is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at Oklahoma State University (OSU), where he has served since January 2019, transitioning from Assistant to Associate Professor in July 2024. Previously, he was a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher at University College Cork (UCC), working under Prof. John Quinn on the evolutionary ecology of cognition in wild great tits. Reichert holds a BSc in Biology from the University of North Carolina and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Missouri (2011). He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Humboldt University in Berlin before joining UCC. His academic career includes certifications such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from UCC. His research focuses on animal communication and cognition, particularly in frogs and insects, exploring how environmental factors influence behavioral plasticity, sexual selection, and learning. Key areas include acoustic signaling strategies, female mate preference dynamics, and cognitive mechanisms in contests. He leads the Reichert Lab, which investigates bioacoustics, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary processes using interdisciplinary approaches. Reichert collaborates on educational outreach, such as developing free high school lessons on tradeoffs in animal behavior with the Galactic Polymath Education Studio. His work emphasizes broader impacts, including NSF-funded initiatives like the ON-RaMP program for post-baccalaureate researchers. He also engages in interdisciplinary projects, such as analyzing gut microbiota effects on avian behavior and cognition. His lab’s current projects include studying cognition in contests, the effects of noise on signal preferences, and the role of perception in communication networks. Reichert’s contributions span peer-reviewed publications, seminar series (e.g., Braincoustics), and mentorship in organismal biology and ecology.
Dr. AnneMarie Brosnan is a Lecturer in the History of Education at Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Ireland. Her work focuses on 19th-century US southern education, particularly African American educational experiences during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods. She holds a BEd and PhD from MIC. Education: BEd, Mary Immaculate College PhD, Mary Immaculate College Research Interests: Her research examines underground schooling, missionary education, and teacher education in colonial contexts. Notable areas include analysis of racist textbook content in postbellum US schools and the role of African American educators in freedpeople's schools. Awards: Fulbright Scholar Award (2016) Archie K. Davis Fellowship (2016) Gilder Leherman Fellowship (2015) Professional Activities: She has presented at major conferences including the Organization of American Historians and American Historical Association. Recent invited talks include discussions on religion in Irish education and African American educational history.
Seán Delaney serves as Registrar and Vice President (Academic Affairs) at Marino Institute of Education in Dublin, where he has worked as a teacher educator since 1999. His academic practice is grounded in eleven years of primary teaching experience, including a year as principal of a nine-teacher school in Kilkenny City, and membership on the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment's English sub-committee. His educational qualifications include: Ph.D. in Teaching and Teacher Education, University of Michigan (2008) M.Ed., Harvard University (1998) M.Sc., NUI Diploma in Curriculum Studies, University of Dublin Diploma in Educational Management, University of Dublin B.Ed., NUI Delaney's research examines teacher knowledge, mathematics education, and cross-cultural comparisons of professional practice. He investigates how mathematical knowledge for teaching manifests in classroom instruction and how teacher education can leverage practice-based approaches. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical classroom applications, particularly in primary mathematics contexts. Analysis of his publication history since 2003 reveals sustained focus on adapting U.S. measures of mathematical knowledge for teaching to the Irish context, analyzing textbook structures across cultures, and developing practice-based teacher education methods. Key trends include growing emphasis on differentiated instruction in mathematics and cognitively challenging tasks within international comparative frameworks. His scientific awards include: Fulbright-Ireland Boyer Scholar in Education (1998) Rackham One-term dissertation fellowship, University of Michigan (2008) Delaney actively shapes teacher development through resource creation for the Professional Development Service for Teachers and hosts the "Inside Education" podcast since 2009, exploring innovative professional learning approaches. His teaching responsibilities include module leadership in the B.Ed. program and Master of Education in Primary Mathematics program.
