Research

Our Research

DCU Water Institute specialises in technological developments across the Science, Engineering and Computer Science domains, with a strong focus on communications, as well as policy and business drivers.

These areas are reflected in the Institute’s membership within DCU, spanning all faculties of the University.

Our research is technology-focused in a policy-rich environment and falls under four thematic pillars: Water and Health; Marine; Energy and Aquaculture; Governance and Society.

Research Ethics

The DCU Water Institute Ethics Committee in keeping with the DCU Strategic Plan 2023-2028, has developed a set of Core Ethical Principles for Water Institute Members. These will draw on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and research integrity best practice in DCU, Europe and globally. Our ethical framework influences how we collaborate, and with whom.

The Ethics Committee promotes DCU’s Research and Innovation Support (RIS) Research Integrity Module and other relevant resources to its membership.

The Ethics Committee disseminates ethics information and resources on ethics topics relevant to members through workshops and seminars.

The Institute works to ensure clear communication and dialogue on ethical principles and integrity in research. As part of this, it encourages open discussion on emerging ethics in the research and innovation landscape.

Marine Projects

Advance Water Monitoring System

Fiona Regan

The Development of a Novel Biosensor for eDNA Detection

Anne Parle-McDermott

Lab-on-a-Disc Technology for Phosphate Sensing in Catchments

Fiona Regan

Marine Mining in Search of Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Christine Locher

Monitool: New tools for water quality monitoring

Fiona Regan, Blánaid White

The Next Evolution in Materials and Models for Ocean Energy

Yan Delaure

Water and Health Projects

The development of new integrated photocatalysts for the removal of pharmaceuticals from industrial wastewater streams

Anne Morrissey, Kieran Nolan, Parasuraman Selvam

IMPACT - Innovative monitoring to prioritise contaminants of emerging concern for Ireland

Fiona Regan, Blánaid White

Potential Sources and Environmental Fates of Certain Phthalates

Jenny Lawler

Permotox – Occurrence and sources of persistent, mobile, and toxic substances in Irish waters

David O'Connor, Fiona Regan, Susan Hegarty, Liam Morrison, John Wilkinson

The Role of Passive Sampling in screening and monitoring of new and emerging chemicals

Fiona Regan

The State of the Art on the Potential Human Health Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics

Dr Sandra O’Neill, Dr Jenny Lawler, Pr Anthony Staines, Dr Imen Gdara

Energy Projects

Efficient End-to-end Waste Water Management for Meat Processing Plants – Exemplar Project

Anne Morrissey, Kieran Nolan, Lorna Fitzsimons, Brid Qulity, Yan Delaure, Jenny Lawler

Accelerate Innovation in Urban Wastewater Management for Climate Change (ALICE)

Lorna Fitzsimons

Demonstration project to prove the techno-economic feasibility of using algae to treat saline wastewater from the food industry

Yan Delaure

Optimal Design and Operation WWTPs in Ireland

Lorna Fitzsimons

Research Impact

DCU Water Institute's research is making a notable impact, with real-world applications influencing both local and global policy and business practices.

Our innovative water monitoring efforts are shaping modern environmental management strategies and promoting sustainable practices across various industries.

At the DCU Water Institute we aim to go beyond the lab by contributing to the solutions for real world problems in fields like health, business practices, and policy through collaborations in industry, government and academics. To date, the Institute’s investigators have published numerous studies, greatly enriching academic research in this space. The impact of this work is enabling healthier ecosystems, promoting efficient business practices and ensuring more equitable access to water resources.

Some of our notable impacts include:

EPA Report The State of the Art on the Potential Human Health Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics . Contributing to the understanding of how the ingestion of plastics through waterways impacts human health
Marine Life Activity Detection, Classification, and Indexing for the SmartBay Ocean Observation Platform . DCU researchers utilised data from SmartBay’s test bed to develop underwater video analytics. This technology enables the detection, classification, and indexing of marine life activities, offering crucial insights into ocean ecosystems.
WaterBlitz. A national initiative encouraging citizen scientists to collect water samples for crucial research that advances our understanding of the health of Irish waters.
DCU Climate Policy Study This research uses political economy analysis to examine barriers that impede Ireland’s climate adaptation policy, focusing on those sectors exposed to water-related risks. The study aims to identify opportunities for policy reform and implementation.
Antidepressants and Antibiotics found in Irish Rivers. DCU-led research discovered the presence of 15 pharmaceuticals in Irish Rivers.

Please visit our Library page, which is regularly updated with a comprehensive list of water-related research and outputs.

The page hosts resources and information relating to:

EPA Reports
EU Environmental Reports
OECD Publications
Humanitarian Impacts
Research Development Innovation

Research Library

Explore our comprehensive Research Library, a collection of cutting-edge studies, reports, and resources from DCU Water Institute. Designed for researchers, policymakers, and the community, this hub offers insights into water quality, sustainability, and innovative solutions addressing global environmental challenges. Dive in to access groundbreaking work shaping the future of water research.