The President of UCC has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

University College Cork (UCC) is pleased to announce that its President, Professor John O’Halloran, MRIA, has been awarded an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Massachusetts Lowell in recognition of his outstanding leadership in advancing sustainability in higher education.

Dr Maria Kirrane received €63,000 in funding to lead a project "A Brush With Climate" working with the Research Ireland MaREI Centre at ERI/UCC under the Research Ireland Discover Programme. This programme aims to inspire broader public engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 

The project, 'A Brush with Climate', will utilise UCC’s expertise in climate change and communications and The Environmental Forum’s experience of local community climate action. Workshops with hairdressers will co-develop role-play methodologies to assist in conversations on local climate mitigation and adaptation actions, including the top six most impactful personal climate actions.

As part of Biodiversity Week 2025, University College Cork hosted a series of events celebrating the rich ecological diversity of its campus. A highlight was a guided tour of the UCC Biodiversity Trail, led by Irene Ní Shúilleabháin, UCC Green Campus Greenshoots Coordinator.

Participants were introduced to the wide variety of birds, bats, invertebrates, and plant species that thrive within UCC’s distinctive green-blue environment. The tour provided insight into the University’s ongoing efforts to promote and protect biodiversity, all within the setting of a gentle walk along the River Lee corridor, through the wildflower meadow, and into the mature arboretum—a living symbol of UCC’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.

On April 9th there will be an awareness campaign with information sessions and practical workshops throughout the day, enabling individuals to learn about how to reach "Inbox Zero" (that satisfying state of having no unread emails!) and a guide to undertaking a Digital Declutter.  On the day we will also be encouraging every school and function to pledge a day between April and June to dedicate to their collective digital decluttering effort.  By doing so, we aim to reduce unnecessary digital storage and its associated environmental impact. 

Green Week 2025 is running from 31 March 2025 to 4 April bringing together students, staff, and the wider UCC community for a collaborative week of environmental action and sustainability education on campus.

Highlights of the Week:

• COP29 Reflection Event – A chance to reflect on UCC’s participation at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, and discuss key takeaways from the UCC delegation.

• Bike Doctor on Campus – Get your bike checked and tuned up for free by expert mechanics.

• Vegan & Vegetarian Food Vendors – Enjoy a variety of delicious and sustainable plant-based food options across campus.

For details of the full schedule click here - Green Week 2025 Schedule

The University Wide Module In Sustainability UW0005/CPD1640 was created in 2015 against the backdrop of the Sustainable Development Goals; with the theme of Putting Sustainability in its Place : Putting Yourself in the Picture. Based on an integral approach to teaching and learning that views students as participants in their education cultivating Sustainability citizenship

University College Cork (UCC) is one of the most environmentally friendly universities in the world, according to an international ranking of third-level institutions from around the globe. UCC has placed fourth in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, announced at a ceremony in São Paulo, Brazil today.

The SDSN Ireland delegation attended the Summit of the Future Action Days at the United Nations General Assembly.  During his welcoming address, Secretary-General Antonio Gutierrez stated "We need academics to push the boundaries of knowledge to create solutions".