News

Progression to PhD Register!

It was another milestone for Priya Dharshini Augusthian on 24th June when she successfully transferred from PhD track to PhD register for her funded doctoral study on how the Rediscovery Centre’s secondary level education programme can be enhanced to further support the Junior Cycle curriculum through STEM and environmental topics towards education for sustainability and the circular economy. Her internal examiner, Dr Majella McSharry, lecturer in Sociology at the School of Human Development, DCU and Chair of Postgraduate Studies by Research, facilitated an engaging and challenging discussion around her work to date. Several aspects of her research were highlighted and celebrated including the significant and imminent educational, social and scientific importance of her work and her novel methodological approach around appreciative inquiry.  Priya’s research, funded from Research Ireland through their 2023 Enterprise Partnership Scheme Postgraduate Scholarship, is in collaboration with the Rediscovery Centre, Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy. Priya is supervised by Dr Orla Kelly and Dr James Lovatt, both Senior Lecturers in the School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies. 

SYNAPSES is a European project that supports teachers and head teachers in promoting Sustainability Citizenship in Schools. As one of the Erasmus+ Teacher Academies, it provides workshops and professional development, both in-person and online through webinars and a forum for exchange.

Connecting (Neural) networks together, the SYNAPSES Project recognises that tackling issues of sustainability, is something to do with a wide community. Professional development aims at implementing a Whole School Approach, involving all internal stakeholders, as well as external stakeholders and incorporating sustainable thinking in every day practice, rather than looking at sustainability as a project based 'theme'.

Find out about our past and upcoming events in our 2025 newsletter -

Starting the Year Right With Erasmus+ funding!

Warm wishes from the DCU SYNAPSES Team

Dr. Margaret Farren, Dr. Yvonne Crotty, Sean Manley