Assoc ProfessorKaren Keaveney

The Geography and Geosciences Committee is one of the Royal Irish Academy’s ten multidisciplinary committees. The Geography and Geosciences (GG) Committee is made up of academics, researchers and industry experts who work across the disciplines of geography and geoscience and are based in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Committee members for the 2026-30 term are listed below. The GG Committee meets three times a year to decide on a programme of work that may include outreach and public events, conferences, seminars and round tables, blogs and expert statements. All proposed activities must be approved by the Royal Irish Academy’s Academic Board and align with the Academy’s overall strategic direction. The Geography and Geosciences committee acts as the national adhering organisation for International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics. The committee organises the annual Geological Survey Ireland Geosciences Lecture and maintains close working relationships with other Ireland-based geography and geoscience associations. The committee exists to raise and address issues, including those of public concern, relevant to its shared expertise.

Invited Speaker, Samhlú Reimagining the past, present and future of small Irish towns

Invited panellist at the Local Development Companies Network (LDCN) Community, Society, Economy - Summit 2030,Ballina, Co. Mayo, Oct 30th to 31st 2025.

Invited speaker, National Conference, Smart Towns & Villages Conference 2025 – Reimagining Rural Ireland, Leitrim County Council

RTE Brainstorm

The Teaching Excellence Awards recognise individual academic staff for sustained commitment to teaching excellence and student learning.

The Geographical Society of Ireland (GSI) is the all-island representative body for professional Geographers in Ireland.

Vice president

This collection of StoryMaps illustrates the experiences of the three west coast communities who engaged with geodesign in their community planning. The three communities, one in Mayo - Mulranny - and two in Kerry - Cromane and Asdee - reflected on their experiences in the GeoWestCoast project. In this collection, we hope other communities can explore how participatory approaches could help them to be empowered to engage with change and community-led local development in their areas.

The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Facilitator's Badge is a professional development add-on for educators and staff in Irish higher and further education who have already earned their primary UDL Digital Badge. It qualifies you to locally mentor peer groups and run institutional UDL training.

Elected member

Local authorities, communities and public health bodies (among others), have had to contend with the impacts of rising commuting levels – particularly long-distance – on citizens’ wellbeing and the declining levels of social capital in commuter communities. This last year, there has been an increase in home-working due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which now represents a potential game-changer when it comes to alleviating some of the infrastructural and social pressures that have been on the rise. This briefing outlines the research proposal and island of Ireland case-study titled, ‘InPLACE: Investigating Place, Planning and Commuting’, which is led by the International Centre for Local & Regional Development (ICLRD) and has been supported by the local government systems across Ireland and Northern Ireland. The research seeks to document pre- and post-Covid-19 commuting patterns and evaluate the impact – past, current and potential – on small towns while examining the current interplay between home, community and workplace.

Lead author of article for professional publication: Local Authority Times (Quarterly Publication)

UCD Access & Lifelong Learning, in collaboration with UCD Teaching & Learning and UCD Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, are excited to announce The University for All Faculty Partnership Programme. This Faculty Partnership Programme is designed to support and accelerate the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) throughout the University. It offers a structured opportunity to undertake the Universal Design for Learning training, to qualify as a UDL Facilitator, and become a role model who will persuade and influence others as to the merits of inclusion for all students.

Evaluation of the Innovating Communities programme: Innovating Communities – Designing Monaghan’s Future Innovating Communities (IC) is a new training programme aimed at creating and encouraging a rural population that is open to new ideas and ways of working. The project will deliver innovative and creative training modules that will meet current challenges while building capabilities to cope with future opportunities, by adopting new techniques, increasing problem solving capability and increasing confidence. IC will employ Design Thinking, a process that puts people at the heart of decision making and ideating, while rethinking how we problem solve. Community groups and individuals are invited to log their local challenges and opportunities online through the website and register to participate in the Design Training. The challenge/opportunity categories include Biodiversity, Climate Action, Connectivity / Broadband, Smart Villages, Social Enterprise and more.

Socio-economic Evaluation of Corncrake LIFE - Corncrake LIFE is a project working with farmers and landowners to improve habitat for corncrakes in the Special Protection Area network and surrounding farmland

Member of the National Rural Strategy Expert Advisory Group convened by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD).

Secretary (2014-18; 2020-22); Vice-President (2023-24); President (2024-26)