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Research Communicator of the Year

This award recognises researchers who have taken a proactive approach to sharing their research with the general public, thereby raising UCC profile.

Submission formats include:

  • Op-Ed in News Outlet (entries must be self-authored and published in a news outlet).
  • New Media (entries may include videos, radio segments, podcast, and other works of new media.
  • Faculty cited in Media (entries must include quotes or references to UCC research from more than one news article. Entrants must be evaluated based on number of articles in which the faculty member was cited. Faculty affiliation with UCC must be identified).

Submissions must be accessible to and intended for a broad, general public audience. They must be relevant to topics, events and issues of societal impact in the calendar year 2025.

Nominations can be made by any UCC staff member.

Evaluation Criteria

Reach & Impact
  • The extent to which the research communication reaches a broad audience.
  • Evidence of impact on public understanding, policy, or societal discourse.

Clarity & Accessibility
  • Ability to communicate complex research in a clear, engaging, and accessible manner.
  • Use of language and formats that resonate with non-specialist audiences.

Innovation & Creativity
  • Use of innovative or creative approaches to communicate research (e.g., multimedia, storytelling).
  • Demonstration of originality in presenting research to the public.

Institutional Profile Raising
  • Explicit mention or association of UCC in the communication.
  • Contribution to enhancing UCC's reputation and visibility.

Quality & Rigor
  • Accuracy and reliability of the research being communicated.
  • Alignment with ethical standards and best practices in research communication.

Engagement & Interaction
  • Evidence of public engagement (e.g., comments, shares, discussions, or follow-up activities).
  • Efforts to interact with the audience and respond to feedback.

 

Deadline For Submission

  • Friday March 27th 2026, 5pm.

How To Apply

To submit a nomination for this award, complete all sections of the entry form.

Previous Winners

Year Awardee College/School/Department/Centre/Institute
2024 Dr Michelle McKeown Department of Geography
2023 Dr Olive McCarthy Centre for Co-operative Studies / Cork University Business School
2022 Professor Hannah Daly Environmental Research Institute and MaREI
2021 Dr Paul Deane MaREI
2020 Professor Alan Kelly School of Food and Nutritional Sciences
2019 Professor Conor O'Mahony School of Law
2018 Dr Theresa Reidy Department of Government & Politics
2017 Professor John Cryan Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience

Research & Innovation Awards

Gradaim Taighde agus Nuálaíocht

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