2026 President’s Awards for Engagement announced
The 2026 President’s Awards for Engagement were presented at a ceremony in the Solas room of the U building today (Thursday 2 April).
2026 Awardees
Staff Award
Prof Tomás Ward, School of Computing
Staff Award, Special Merit
Dr Fiona Murphy, School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies (SALIS)
Student Award
Muhammad Shaharyar Bin Irfan
Student Award, Special Merit
Swetha Shankar Ganesh Moorthi
The awards reflect the impact of the engagement of DCU staff and students with the life of the wider community.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Professor Daire Keogh, President of Dublin City University, said:
“These awards reflect DCU’s values as a University of Place and a pioneer in civic and community engagement. This year’s award entries are testimony to the continued depth of commitment across all sections of DCU to impactful engagement with our partners and our local communities.”
About the Awardees
Prof Tomás Ward is AIB Chair of Data Analytics at DCU’s School of Computing. Prof Ward studies how human health, performance and decision-making can be better understood through new ways of sensing and interpreting our physiology and behaviour. He is a member of the Research Ireland funded Insight – Ireland’s Data Analytics research centre.
Dr. Fiona Murphy is an anthropologist whose work moves between research, writing, and creative practice, based in DCU’s School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies (SALIS). Her research traces the politics and poetics of displacement across contexts of forced migration, Indigenous sovereignty, and sustainability. She is also Programme Chair of the Master’s in Refugee Integration.
Muhammad Shaharyar Bin Irfan is studying Law and History.
Swetha Shankar Ganesh Moorthi has recently completed a Master’s in Accounting and Finance.
You can read more about the President’s Awards on the President’s Office website