Academic biography

Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin is an Associate Professor in the School of STEM Education, Innovation & Global Studies and a member of CASTeL, Ireland’s largest Research Centre in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education, at DCU. Her research focuses on Mathematics Education, in particular on Teacher Education and on learners who, because of their socioeconomic background or gender, may have differing experiences of mathematics. 

She was appointed Chair of the Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration, whose work concluded with the publication of their recommendations in April 2026. In 2022 she was appointed by the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) as Chair of Ireland's Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, who returned their report and recommendations to government in 2023.

She is an award-winning science communicator and educator and was previously named as a European Young Leader, a group nominated to facilitate and create a more equal, innovative and inclusive Europe.

She is experienced in contributing to policy having participated in, for example, Project Maths Policy Review Group, the STEM Education Policy & Action Plan 2017-2026, the Mathematics Leaving Certificate Development Group, and in the Education & Research sections for the 2020 Programme for Government. 

(3 maternity leaves >10 months each taken between 2019 and 2025)