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UCC research to tackle national and global societal challenges
Supporting entrepreneurial activity in Cork City that delivers both a healthy food and a healthy natural environment, and improving addiction services for women based on past experiences are among the projects at University College Cork (UCC) awarded funding from Research Ireland under its New Foundations Programme.
Comprising a total investment of €66,000, these awards will support UCC researchers in developing collaborative projects with community organisations and government departments. The projects will address health, social, environmental, and economic challenges in Ireland and beyond.
Over a period of 9-12 months, the New Foundations funding will enable the researchers to build new partnerships, explore innovative ideas, and bring academic expertise to real-world issues through research actions, network development, conferences and workshops, and capacity building for interdisciplinary collaboration.
Among the new research projects that will be funded with civic society partners and government departments and agencies are:
Dr Mara van Twuijver (Department of Food Business & Development, Cork University Business School)
Project Title: Exploring Cork's Agri-Food Social Enterprise Ecosystem (ECAFSEE)
This study focuses on Cork City, a city with a strong food tradition, to understand how to support social enterprises in this sector. Using an entrepreneurial ecosystems framework, the study examines the existing support structures and identifies opportunities for growth. This study will consider needs on the level of the ecosystem and the level of the individual organisation to determine support needed for social enterprises to thrive in the agri-food sector.
"Now, more than ever, we need to rethink how we produce and consume food. Social enterprises, as organisations dedicated to creating positive impacts for people and the planet, have the potential to drive creative solutions in this area. Known as the food capital of Ireland, Cork City is committed to fostering a sustainable food system - a commitment shared by UCC and reflected in the cooperation with Cork City Council in this project," said Dr van Twuijver
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Dr James Windle (Department of Sociology & Criminology)
Project Title: How Women Living with Addiction Experience Services
Drug policy research seldom includes the voices of women who have lived with addiction and engaged with harm reduction and treatment services. The proposed research would begin to fill this gap in the knowledge base by interviewing a cohort of 10 women who have used Tabor Group services. The key objective is to support addiction services to uncover what is different and unique about the needs of women service users, to support their recovery journeys.
"While women account for around one-quarter of all illicit drug treatment demand, there is a lack of research focused specifically on women who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. By interviewing women who have lived with addiction and engaged with treatment and harm reduction services, we can support service providers to offer more focused, and effective, harm reduction and treatment provision for women," said Dr Windle.
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Dr Irene Hartigan (School of Nursing & Midwifery)
Project Title: Collaborative Co-design and Co-development of a Micro Credential in Transnational Interdisciplinary Research in Dementia
This project will establish an international knowledge exchange PPI (Public and Patient Involvement) partnership to facilitate the sharing of expertise and supporting partner engagement between researchers in dementia care, individuals living with dementia, their caregivers/families, and five civic society partners (CSPs) in Ireland and Canada. This network will utilise a PPI approach to co-develop a micro-credential in PPI for dementia research.
"This project is a collaborative effort to enhance dementia awareness and support through strategic partnerships at UCC in Ireland and McMaster in Canada. By co-creating a pioneering PPI micro-credential for dementia, we are uniting academic expertise and best practices to empower PPI contributors and Civic Society Partners," said Dr Hartigan.
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Dr Carol Power (Centre for Co-operative Studies, Cork University Business School and ISS21)
Project Title: Social Economy Initiatives Supporting Ageing in Place (ASPIRE)
As Ireland’s population ages, there is a growing need for services that support older people to age in the community and enjoy optimal quality of life. The social economy, including voluntary, community, charitable organisations and social enterprises, provides supports ranging from help with daily life tasks, to household maintenance, housing adaptation, and social supports that maintain integration and participation in the community. Through the development of in-depth case studies of service initiatives, this research explores how the social economy can support ‘ageing in place’ (i.e. in the community).
"We are delighted to collaborate with Age Action on the ASPIRE project, which will seek to identify and learn from existing support initiatives provided by voluntary and community groups, social enterprises and charitable organisations. The research will explore how these initiatives might be adapted by other communities and will provide an evidence base to inform policy that supports ageing in place," said Dr Power.
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Professor Jools Gilson (Department of Film, Music & Theatre)
Project Title: Climate Science and Arts Practice: Sustainability Literacy and Action
This project focusses on the development of an Arts & Sustainability Festival in Cork City by researching and re-thinking the place of Arts Practice within sustainability discourses at local and governmental level. Partners include SDSN Ireland and Cork City Council. Research will involve multi-stakeholder consultations with community groups from across Cork City. Workshops will pilot creative strategies for collaborative partnership between artists and scientists and learning from this workshop will inform the development of the proposed Arts & Sustainability Festival.
"We're very excited to develop this collaborative project. We’ll be working with a range of local communities and developing ways to bring artists into UCC to collaborate with Climate scientists. This project meets a growing understanding that Arts Practices are critical to addressing engagement with the Climate Urgency," said Professor Gilson.
Congratulating the five award recipients from University College Cork on their awards, Professor John F. Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation said:"These evidence-based awards align with the strategic goals of the University through the implementation of engaged and open research that will address critical societal challenges and deliver enhanced outcomes for citizens and society."
Nationally, Research Ireland has announced funding for 59 projects under its New Foundations programme. The programme includes co-funding from a range of Government Departments and agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Irish Aid), Department of Education, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA), Department of Rural and Community Development, and the Heritage Council.
Making the announcement, Celine Fitzgerald, Interim CEO of Research Ireland, commented: "The New Foundations programme exemplifies how research can be a powerful tool for societal change. By supporting collaboration between academic researchers and those working on the frontlines of community development and public policy, we can co-create knowledge that directly benefits people’s lives. We are proud to support these new projects, which will contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable and evidence-informed Ireland."