Ollscoil na Gaillimhe - University of Galway
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research

Each year, the University runs the Student Sustainability Leadership Award programme. Awards are available for up to 2 University of Galway students to support the implementation of our sustainability strategy targets and objectives. The central aim of the Awards is to develop student leaders that are dedicated and enthusiastic about developing a more sustainable campus and community.  It is envisaged that the positions will deliver a positive experience for the successful candidates by providing an opportunity to gain invaluable experience in sustainability knowledge and application, research, networking, teamwork, and communication. 

The Awardee will support the gathering of data and case studies, highlighting our universitywide efforts to progress the UN SDGs during the Academic Year 23-24.  Data will be collected and collated across each of the 17 SDGs under 3 key headings: Students and Learning; Research; and Community Engagement. This will involve desk research, categorising and organising information, and outreach to contacts in other offices. The material gathered should particularly reflect the contributions made by our students in progressing the SDG framework. A final report will be prepared to raise awareness and enhance understanding of sustainability and the SDGs among students, staff, and the wider community. 

https://www.universityofgalway.ie/sustainability/studentsresources/studentsustainabilityleadershipawards/

The Ryan Institute runs competitions and provide seed funding to support sustainability research and the dissemination of this research. Advancing sustainability and innovation is central to the research activities of the Ryan Institute's Research Centres/Clusters and Research Groups. The Ryan Institute is engaged in research and partnerships that contribute to the majority of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which need to be achieved both nationally and internationally between now and 2030.

The Ryan Institute focuses on four thematic research areas, namely (1) Marine & Coastal, (2) Energy & Climate Change, (3) Agriculture & BioEconomy, and (4) Environment & Health. The Ryan Institute is comprised of 12 Research Centres/Clusters spanning these four thematic research areas. At present, the Ryan Institute is University of Galway's largest research institute comprised of 91 Research Groups and 12 Research Centres/Clusters that are responsible for over 500 funded research projects comprising circa. 20% of the overall research income of University of Galway. The 91 Research Groups (each lead by a Ryan Institute Principal Investigator) within the Ryan Institute collectively consist of at least 470 full time researchers, including 90 Postdoctoral Fellows, 50 Research Assistants, and over 240 PhD students.

The MaREI centre, the SFI research centre for energy, climate and marine, provide workshops, funding and support for academic staff at University of Galway and other Institutions that intended to increase sustainability research. For example, providing financial support for PhD fellowships through the energy resilience in the built environment center for doctoral training (ERBE cdt), where the PhD students must be co-supervised by academic staff from multiple institutions (i.e. at least one MaREI institution partner and either UCL or Loughborough University).

The Library provides an extensive collection of books and electronic resources that ensure that sustainability researchers have access to the information and research materials they need. A search for the word 'sustainable' in the library catelogue yields 1.6 million results.

Our library guides specialise in critical areas related to researcher's interests. A search for the word 'sustainable' yields: Statistics, WWI Global trends, Sustainable Development Indicators, Ireland Co2 Emissions and Cars, National Biodiversity Data Centre, Traffic and Transport Traffic Related Statistics from the Gardai (police force), Road Safety Authority Data, Data from National Transport Authority, Rail Statistics Ireland, Bus Statistics Ireland, Taxi Statistics, Bulletin of Vehicle Statistics, Climate and Energy, Water Quality, Air Emissions, Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Recycling and Waste Management, 3D printing, Archaeology, Hotel Management, and Research Data Management.

The Library's strategy incorporates sustainability: "The Library promotes excellence by enabling scholarship to flourish and by providing an experience which inspires curiosity, awareness of global sustainability and a desire to advance the public good."

A new Library & Learning Commons is currently under construction. Sustainability is a key principle informing its construction and operation, creating an exemplar to inspire effective environmental practices in all who use it.

https://www.universityofgalway.ie/media/alwayspublish/LibraryStrategy20212025.pdf 

University of Galway is a globally focused research-led university.  We recognise that research areas are neither standalone nor static.  The problems of the world are not solved from just one perspective. With our knowledge of global challenges, national needs and regional requisites our research areas enable an interdisciplinarity approach and impact.

Our research covers five areas of impact: Enhancing Policy and Society, Enriching Creativity and Culture, Improving Health and Wellbeing, Realising Potential through Data and Enabling Technologies, and Sustaining our Planet and People.

Sustaining our Planet and People:

Purpose: We aim to support the transformational changes necessary for human society to steer itself towards sustainable development.

People: Through a collaborative approach and partnerships, our researchers are delivering research and innovations in areas such as climate action, clean energy, ocean, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, sustainable bio-economy and One-Health.

Place: Our unique location on the Atlantic shore, surrounded by lakes, rivers and wetlands affords us a living laboratory. Internationally, our reputation in this area is led by research across all Colleges and by the work of our Ryan Institute and other research groups.

https://www.universityofgalway.ie/our-research/listings/