Download the Environ 2025 Conference Poster
This year's conference, the 35th Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium (Environ 2025), is a collaboration between the Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland (ESAI) and University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. It will be hosted from 10th March to 12th March 2025. Environ is the longest-running and largest forum for environmental researchers in Ireland, attracting an average of 270 delegates annually. The event offers a high-visibility platform for both young and experienced researchers to present their findings to an audience comprised of academia, government bodies and agencies, as well as industry representatives. Building on the success of the last event at SETU Waterford in 2024, ESAI and UCD have joined forces to deliver an exciting and engaging conference experience for 2025.
ENVIRON 2025 is hosted by the UCD (Belfield campus). Established in 1854, UCD has emerged as one of Europe’s premier research-intensive universities. Combining undergraduate education, postgraduate training, research, innovation, and community engagement, UCD has played a pivotal role in shaping modern Ireland. Today, it ranks within the top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide and is recognised as Ireland’s most globally engaged university. UCD hosts over 38,000 students from 152 countries, including 5,000 studying abroad. Its main campus in Dublin spans 133 hectares, featuring state-of-the-art facilities such as the UCD O’Brien Centre for Science and the UCD Lochlan Quinn School of Business.
UCD contributes significantly to Irish society, addressing diverse fields such as business, culture, science, and the arts. Its current strategy, UCD Strategy to 2030, is “to be a university of influence, impact and excitement, making a clear positive difference to the lives of our students, to Ireland and to the wider world.”
UCD drives innovation through multidisciplinary research in areas like data analytics, health, geosciences, and advanced manufacturing. In 2022/23, it secured €161 million in grants, contributing to a total of €1.3 billion since 2012/13. UCD hosts key national research centres such as Insight and iCRAG, and its research output is highly cited globally. Innovation initiatives like NovaUCD and AgTechUCD support entrepreneurship, having assisted over 550 start-ups.
Renowned for academic excellence, UCD boasts a 93% first-year retention rate and has led Ireland in graduate employability since 2018. Four UCD subjects rank in the global top 50, and its modular Horizons programme promotes interdisciplinary learning. With 11,000 postgraduates, including 2,000 PhD students, UCD offers a research-led education that prepares graduates for global challenges.
UCD’s international footprint includes 9,593 students from abroad, 400 partner institutions, and participation in networks like Universitas 21. Professional accreditations in fields like Veterinary Medicine and Business enhance its global reputation. The UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School holds prestigious triple accreditation. UCD Global Centres in regions such as North America and China further strengthen its international collaborations, solidifying its position as Ireland’s Global University.
The theme of Environ 2025 is ‘One Health for a Sustainable Future’, echoing most of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals such as Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, and Life on Land. ENVIRON 2025 should reflect how research in different areas could collaborate to create solutions for a healthy and sustainable nature and environment for the well-being of all living organisms in this world.
The conference will commence on Monday, 10th March 2025, with a choice of a guided tour to UCD Rosemount Environmental Research Station or a Workshop on Coastal Resilience through Nature-based Solutions, followed in the afternoon by a Workshop on Sensor and IoT Solutions for Environmental Applications. On Monday evening, a reception and public engagement panel discussion will take place “Your Sustainable Shopping list- how can you engage in more environmentally conscious shopping”.
The second day of the conference, Tuesday, 11th March, will begin with a welcome address and opening speeches from eminent speakers from UCD, Dr Gerald Barry Deputy Director of UCD's One Health Centre, Prof Tasman Crowe UCD Vice-President for Sustainability. UCD Conference Convenor Dr Rajat Nag and Dr Junli Xu (Lily), and ESAI Chairperson, Dr Niamh Power, followed by a keynotes talk from Mr Andy Fanning EPA’s Programme Manager, Environment & Health and Dr. Junli Xu from University College Dublin. Afterwards, there will be oral parallel sessions throughout the day featuring talks from various keynote chairpersons, a dynamic mix of presentations from environmental researchers including 5 minute short presentations from early-stage researchers. Dedicated networking poster sessions will feature throughout the day. The second day will conclude with the Gala Dinner at the Royal Marine Hotel, situated In Dún Laoghaire (Marine Rd, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, A96 K063), followed by music and dancing.
The last day of the conference, Wednesday, 12th March 2025, will commence with a talk by industry expert S.R, Samadder of the Indian Institute of Technology where he will explore waste-to-energy solutions for sustainable solid waste management, using LCA to assess viable waste management scenarios. This will be followed by oral parallel sessions and a dedicated networking poster session. The conference will conclude with a student award ceremony recognising ‘Best In Conference’, with over €2500 to be awarded in various categories. Click here to read more.
There will be over 140 posters and oral presentations delivered at the event. The parallel session's themes include:
Tour and Workshops @ Environ
Please click here for more info on the workshops.
Reception at O'Brien Centre for Science (19:00 – 19:30)
The best part of any event is the opportunity to network. This year at Environ 2025, we are organising a reception and a digital environmental photography exhibition by the conference participants. This is an excellent opportunity for the general public to engage with the environmental research community, meet with our colleagues, exchange knowledge, and enjoy the night in Dublin before the Public Engagement Event.
Public Engagement Panel Discussion & Q&A session (19:30 – 21:00)
"Your Sustainable Shopping list- how can you engage in more environmentally conscious shopping". Do you ever wish you had more choice for a more sustainable shopping experience? What are organisations doing to address waste and energy challenges in retail? Join us for a panel discussion between local business championing environmentally conscious shopping, advocates for sustainable shopping experiences, alongside larger organisations with ambitious sustainability targets.
This is a public event and will feature keynote speakers whereby the audience will have the opportunity to pose questions to the panel.
Opening Ceremony (9.15-10.00 am)
Plenary Lectures (10.00-10.50am)
We are honoured to welcome Mr Andy Fanning, from the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr Andy Fanning is a Programme Manager within the Environmental Protection Agency leading the Environment and Health Programme which is responsible for coordinating EPA’s engagement on the interaction between our environment and our health as well as Strategic Environmental Assessment, State of the Environment Reporting, Citizen Science and the EPA’s Radon, Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness work. With a BSc in Environmental Science and an MSc in Environmental Decision Making and an MBA he has led programmes in the EPA for over a decade including the Water Management Programme and Water Programme within the Office of Environmental Enforcement. He recently edited the EPA’s flagship State of the Environment 2024 Report.
In his lecture, titled “Key Insights from the State of and Outlook for Ireland’s Environment” he will explore the interactions between our natural environment and the growing pressures that society is placing on it setting out some of the key learnings that have emerged for the EPA’s integrated assessment that underpins its recent State of the Environment Report 2024 and areas where action is needed to protect and improve the outlook for Ireland’s Environment.
Dr. Junli Xu from University College Dublin will deliver another keynote speech. As an Ad Astra Fellow and recipient of the prestigious ERC Starting Grant, Dr. Xu leads multidisciplinary research at the intersection of spectral imaging and advanced data analytics, including machine learning and deep learning. Their work tackles complex challenges across diverse domains, including food, the environment, geology, and human health.
In her talk, titled “Understanding Microplastics: What We Know, What We Don’t, and Where Science is Headed” Dr. Xu will explore the growing significance of microplastic pollution and its far-reaching implications for environmental and human health. She will critically examine the current state of knowledge, highlighting key discoveries, challenges and limitations for ongoing microplastic research. Additionally, Dr. Xu will identify critical knowledge gaps that hinder scientific progress and discuss emerging research directions, including regulatory considerations, and interdisciplinary approaches needed to address this global challenge.
Plenary Lectures (10.30am-11.00am) TBC
Reception, Live Music & Conference Dinner (19:00 – Late!). A drinks reception will set the stage for an atmosphere of entertainment, fun, and relaxed communication among all attendees at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire, overlooking Dublin Bay. Dinner (20:00 – 22:00), followed by live music and dancing, will take place in the same venue.
Plenary Lecture (9.30 am – 10.00 am)
We are honoured to welcome Professor Sukha Ranjan Samadder from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, India, as a keynote speaker at Environ 2025. A Professor in the Department of Environmental Science & Engineering and Head of the Centre for Water Resource Management at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, he also serves as Associate Dean (Research & Development). With a PhD in Environmental Engineering from IIT Kharagpur and over two decades of expertise, Prof Samadder specialises in life cycle assessment (LCA), remote sensing, solid waste management, and climate change impacts. Recognised as a top 2% scientist globally, he has led numerous national and international projects addressing critical environmental challenges.
In his lecture, titled “Energy Recovery Potential and Analysis of Environmental Impacts of Waste to Energy Options: A Case Study of Dhanbad, India” Prof Samadder will explore waste-to-energy solutions for sustainable solid waste management, using LCA to assess viable waste management scenarios. His insights will be invaluable for researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders working towards sustainable urban solutions.
Student Prize Competition
Students should be aware that the ESAI run student competitions for oral and poster presentations, including best overall poster and best overall oral presentation and in a number of individual categories. Details on the prizes offered this year can be found here. Prizes will be presented at the close of the conference, during the prize-giving ceremony.
The registration fees for Environ 2025 are:
•Full Delegate €240
•Student/Reduced/Seniors €150
•Student Group Discount Rate (Groups of 10) €120
•Conference Dinner €62
Paid up members at the time of the conference receive an ESAI members discount on delegate fees (€65 for full members and €40 for student members).
We look forward to welcoming you all to Environ 2025.
Dr Rajat Nag, Dr Junli Xu (Lily), and Ms Fiona Quinn - Environ 2025 Conference Co-Convenors, University College Dublin
This event is CPD Approved by:
List of Reviewers
Barry John McMahon, Kevin McDonnell, Sarah Murnaghan, Tamíris Da Costa, Sharon O'Rourke, Tom Curran, Srikanta Sannigrahi, Anna Molter, Ronald Halim, Junli Xu, Enda Cummins, Liana Ricci, Camila Perussello, Md Salauddin, Caroline Wynne, Rajat Nag.
