News

Recent advances in offshore wind technologies implies that bottom fixed and floating turbines can be deployed further from shore at lowering cost and several studies indicate that Ireland is particularly well placed to exploit this potential. However, factors which influence the acceptance of offshore renewables may differ to those of onshore projects, particularly if energy… | Read on »

Most of us recognise that everyday life today is not the same as it was a few months ago let alone a few years ago what with climate change, the pandemic, social inequalities, digital technologies, global markets and so much more. It is a world shaped increasingly by collective as well as individual choice, and… | Read on »

Cuan Beo, a community based coastal organisation working in South East Galway Bay,  published a report ‘An Economic Assessment of the Marine Resources of the South-East Galway Bay Catchment’ on Friday 19th November. The report highlights the importance of the marine resource of South East Galway Bay. It was launched at a regional event held on… | Read on »

“In order to improve inclusion, we first had to understand the barriers to inclusion and participation.” – Inclusive Learning at NUI Galway Researchers at NUI Galway have revealed the lived experience of postgraduate students before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. While the vast majority of students surveyed prior to the pandemic found their learning environment… | Read on »

Growth in electricity demand together with the expansion of variable renewable energy will have significant implications for the future electricity system. One main concern is how the system can maintain balance between supply and demand to avoid blackouts from potential intermittent supply shortages. At present, this balance relies primarily upon traditional sources of flexibility on… | Read on »

Social gerontology extensively addresses financial reasons to work in later life, and pension inequalities. There is much less focus on the non-financial positive contributions that work provides for the older woman (Jahoda 1981), especially within a rural context. A qualitative study of twenty-five 45-65 year old women in Connemara, Ireland was undertaken from a lifecourse… | Read on »

On 1 December the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host The Rise of Digital Ephemerality by Ronan Doyle. The concept of ephemerality is increasingly relevant for information systems scholars, business leaders, governmental regulators, and broader society. This talk examined the rise of digital ephemerality, its importance for information systems research, and why it is necessary to consolidate what… | Read on »

Whitaker Institute member Dr Mike Hynes, co-leader of the Social Sciences Research cluster, spoke with the Irish Examiner about car ownership in Ireland and the need to prioritise public transport in the face of the climate emergency. The article is available to read here.

Dr Margaret Hodgins (Health Promotion) and Whitaker Institute member Dr John Cullinan, leader of the Centre for Economic Research on Inclusivity and Sustainability,  talked to The Irish Times about their research into the effects of workplace bullying.

Whitaker Institute member Professor Brian Hughes spoke with the Irish Independent about the use of advent calendars as marketing tools, using the psychology of unboxing to trigger intrigue and excitement. The article is available to read here.