University College Dublin has secured close to €2 million in funding from Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for three environmental research projects.
The funding is being awarded as part of a broader initiative by the EPA, which is supporting 25 new projects across 10 different organisations in Ireland, focusing on policy-relevant environmental and climate research.
One recipient is Dr. Alison Connolly from the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, and the UCD Centre for Safety and Health at Work, who is leading a project that will collect and analyse biological samples, including blood and urine, to assess chemical exposure among the Irish population.
HBM4IE study
The Human Biomonitoring for Ireland (HBM4IE) Environmental Chemical Exposure study “will collect and analyse samples, including blood and urine, to evaluate chemical exposures among the Irish population,” Connolly commented.
“HBM4IE will advance the use of human biomonitoring in Ireland, as well as contributing to ambitious EU goals to reduce pollution to levels no longer considered harmful and create a toxic-free environment.”
Another recipient is Dr. Enrico Secchi from the UCD College of Business, who is conducting research on the transition to a circular economy, with a study entitled Just Transition in Ireland’s Circular Economy: Scaling and Supporting Irish Food and Fashion Resource Recovery.
The third recipient is Dr. Grace Cott from the UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, who is working on a project entitled Solutions for Optimum Restoration of Saltmarshes.
‘Need for determined action’
“Our latest EPA State of the Environment Report highlights the scale of challenges facing Ireland and the need for determined action across climate, sustainable consumption, biodiversity and pollution goals,” commented Laura Burke, director general at EPA.
“This new EPA funding will help to build the vital research talent and knowledge needed in Ireland to respond to these challenges and achieve a healthier environment. I congratulate the successful research teams and look forward to seeing the positive impacts these projects will have on environmental protection in the years ahead.” Read more here.
