Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences research celebrated at Research Showcase Day

20 May 2026

• Researchers from UCC College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences presented new and original work spanning health, climate, education, social change, and creative practice.
• The programme featured interdisciplinary presentations, artistic performances, film screenings, posters, and exhibitions.
• Dr Benjamin Gearey, Dr Caoimhe Dempsey, and Prof Nicola Ingram, Dr Gemma Campion and Dr Aoife Neary were recognised with CACSSS Research Impact Narrative Prizes for research addressing environmental heritage, youth wellbeing, and educational inequality.

Environmental sonification as an art-historical method, new approaches to understanding conspiracy beliefs, and research rethinking the medieval archive were among the projects featured at the 2026 UCC College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences (CACSSS) Research Showcase Day on 14 May.

A key event in the College research calendar, the annual Showcase highlights the depth, range, and real-world impact of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences research, bringing together researchers from across disciplines to share new work, foster collaboration, and explore responses to contemporary societal challenges.

Professor Stephen Graham, Head of UCC College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, said: “From research addressing environmental change, education and social inequality to creative and practice-based projects that challenge how we understand culture, society and history, the Showcase demonstrates the vital contribution of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences research. What is particularly striking is the extent to which this work is engaging with communities, informing public discussion and policy, and driving real change across a wide range of areas.” “The day was also a really important opportunity for colleagues to make connections with each other and build a richer sense of the community of scholars around them. I personally valued the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of work taking place across our research community,” Professor Graham said.

Professor James Kapaló, Vice Head of UCC CACSSS - Research and Innovation, said: “Research Showcase Day is an important opportunity for colleagues across CACSSS to come together and engage with the remarkable range of research taking place across the College. The event reflects both the strength of established areas of expertise and the emergence of new interdisciplinary collaborations and methodologies. It also demonstrates the essential contribution of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences research to understanding the complexities of contemporary society and addressing the challenges facing communities nationally and globally.”

Interdisciplinary research addressing real-world challenges 

The 2026 programme featured a series of sessions exploring health and wellbeing, climate and environmental change, participatory and community-engaged research, digital literacy and AI, and social transformation. Presentations also addressed questions of gender, equality, inclusion, education, and cultural heritage.

Researchers at all career stages contributed to the programme, including doctoral researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and established academics, reflecting the College’s culture of interdisciplinary and collaborative research.

Creative and practice-based research formed a central part of the Showcase, with contributions spanning poetry, sound, performance, and film. A lunchtime Film Showcase from UCC School of Film, Music and Theatre, alongside performances including Quiet Music Ensemble, highlighted the growing role of artistic and practice-led research within the university.

Celebrating research impact

The presentation of the CACSSS Research Impact Case Study Narrative Prizes was a highlight of the day, recognising excellence in communicating the wider impact of research.

Now available to read on the College's Research website, The 2026 award-winning narratives are: 

• Dr Benjamin Gearey (UCC School of Human Environment) - The Living Archive, highlighting the importance of peatland heritage in conservation policy and environmental understanding
• Dr Caoimhe Dempsey (UCC School of Applied Psychology) - Wellbeing in School, advancing research-informed approaches to child and youth wellbeing
• Nicola Ingram, Dr Gemma Campion and Dr Aoife Neary (UCC School of Education), with Anne Burke, Anne Marie Rogan and Rachel Coffey of the Cork Traveller Education Unit - Traveller Transitions, addressing educational inequality through collaborative, community-engaged research

Supporting a collaborative research culture

The Research Showcase Day brings together researchers from UCC Futures Areas including Collective Social Futures and Future Humanities Institute in addition to ISS21, and the Radical Humanities Laboratory, reflecting the breadth of research activity across CACSSS.

The 2026 event highlighted the importance of fostering an open, interdisciplinary, and collaborative research environment, while showcasing the significant contribution of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences research to public life, policy, culture, and community engagement.