Award that recognises research achievements and contributions of academics within the first five years of their first faculty appointment.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY
In Memory of Plants Art Exhibition
4 Aug 2022
The In Memory of Plants exhibition was a part of the Alternative Kilkenny Arts (AKA) Festival (August 4–14, 2022). It belonged to a series of small, socially distanced exhibitions by 10 different artists hosted in a garden near the village of Bennettsbridge in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The exhibitions were displayed in sundry garden structures (including caravans, outdoor toilet, artist studio, sheds, and horsebox). Although Kilkenny-based artist Cathy Dineen, owner of the garden and the host of the exhibitions, was present onsite, the individual exhibitions were unsupervised most of the time and available to visitors between 12 and 6 p.m. daily over the duration of festival. The exhibition In Memory of Plants was based on concepts developed by artist Lorna Donlon and plant scientist Dr Joanna Kacprzyk through a series of conversations on integrating art and science, causes of PAD, and role of personal experiences in public engagement. The “cabinet of curiosities” style displays, created by Lorna Donlon and arranged with assistance from Ruth O'Brien, featured a wide diversity of objects and artifacts with the overarching theme of memories, nostalgia, and time passing by.
Polonium Network is a networking social platform for all researchers and innovators interested in R&I collaborations and opportunities, in particular (but not only) for Polish researchers all over the world, researchers in Poland interested in outgoing mobility and international researchers interested in conducting research in Poland. We connect researchers and representatives of both the academic and the business sector. Polonium Network helps researchers build international networks and exchange information, find job offers and other opportunities, identify advisors and mentors, as well as provides support regarding career paths, funding and grant or fellowship applications.
I won the audience choice award for the best presentation in the Science: Polish Perspectives 2021 Zurich conference. The presentation was entitled “How does the plant cell die? Investigation of programmed cell death regulation in plants.”
The conference took place online May 7-8, 2021.
EVENT ADMINISTRATION / PARTICIPATION
Seminars
1 May 2021
Project and online conference ‘Identification of the long-term solutions for tackling stress amongst UCD biology students and staff’ – funded by Learning Enhancement Project Grant. Participants: students and faculty from UCD and UK universities (Belfast, Dundee, Manchester). I was a Co-PI/Co-organiser.
Graduate Student Appreciation Day 2020 was organised to manifest support and appreciation for the contributions of graduate research students within SBES. This UCD SPARC (Supporting Partnerships and Realising Change) funded project involved setting up an affirmation tree displaying positive notes and comments from supervisors, and a coffee and doughnut morning as an opportunity to tell the students directly how important they are to the school and university and how much we value their contribution to both research and teaching. The project was extremely well received by the research community at SBES and beyond, as an event fostering research culture and inclusion, enhancing the research student experience and giving their working environment a positive boost .
Regular contributor to the Inspiring the Future Ireland initiative, involving school visits. Inspiring the Future enables schools to connect with inspirational volunteers from the world of work quickly and easily, in school or virtually, revolutionising the way in which young people get insights into exciting and unique careers and inspiring them to be ambitious.
