Research Newsletter - Issue 109: Good News

Erasmus+ Forward Looking Project

PI: Dr Shivaun O’Brien (School of Policy & Practice)

Project Title: EDU-WELL: Advancing Educational Well-being through Ethical Data Innovation

Coordinating Institution: KMOP Policy Centre

EDU-WELL will work with educators, students, school leaders, and regional authorities to transform how educational data is collected, analysed, and utilised across Europe’s school systems. By introducing a composite, multidimensional educational welfare index, it will capture not only learning outcomes, but also indicators related to student and teacher well-being, equity, inclusion, infrastructure, digital readiness, and environmental factors. This will enable consistent and meaningful comparisons of educational welfare across EU Member States and regions, impacting policy by providing actionable insights to national and EU policymakers to shape more equitable and effective digital education strategies.

Research Ireland National Challenge Fund Prize Runner Up Awards - Healthy Environment for All Challenge

PI: Dr David O’Connor (School of Chemical Sciences)

Project Title: Bohemian - Biological and chemical aerosol monitoring and modelling 

Using real-time devices, artificial neural networks and machine learning algorithms, the BOHEMIAN project will produce the first Irish specific forecast model for allergy related bioaerosols, which will allow people to understand and alleviate the influence of bioaerosols on their lives.

Bioaerosols encompass a wide range of organic atmospheric particles (pollen, fungal spores and bacteria) that can seriously affect the wellbeing of the Irish public. Despite 30% of the population having an allergy, no monitoring of bioaerosols is undertaken here and no data is available in order to understand the impact of these particles or to enable their mitigation. By delivering real-time information on airborne biological and chemical threats, BOHEMIAN will strengthen public health protection, supporting environmental decision-making and providing Ireland with a future-proof early-warning capability.

PIs: Dr Ciprian Briciu-Burghina (Lead PI, School of Chemical Sciences) and Prof Fiona Regan (Co-PI, School of Chemical Sciences)

Project Title: RESTART: Rapid bactErial Sensing for a healThy wAter enviRonmenT

Coordinating Institution: DCU

Clean water is critical for recreation, aquaculture, fisheries and drinking supplies, but the methods which currently detect contamination take between 18 to 72 hours to complete. Faster detection tools and sensors are needed to provide stakeholders with water quality data in a timely manner in order to better manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems. 

The RESTART project is working to develop an in-situ sensor for monitoring water quality. This sensor, called CS Sentinel, will provide an early warning of bacterial pollution events.