Environ

 

UCD 10th-12th March 2025

Registration and Call for abstracts open now.

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 teh afternoon by a Workshop on Sensor and IoT Solutions for Environmental Applications. On Monday evening, a wine reception and public engagement panel discussion will take place.

The second day of the conference, Tuesday, 11th March, will begin with a welcome address and opening speeches from eminent speakers from UCD, UCD Conference Convenor Dr Rajat Nag and Dr Junli Xu (Lily), and ESAI Chairperson, Dr Niamh Power, followed by 1-2 keynote talks. 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 (in total) delivered at the event. The parallel session's themes include:

• One Health and Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration
• Advancements in Renewable Energy Technologies
• Sustainable Water: Management and Water Conservation
• How Sustainable is my Food?
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
• Circular Bioeconomy and Waste Management
• Environmental Monitoring and Remediation (including Biobased Approaches)
• Air and Noise Pollution
• Green Chemistry and Sustainable Manufacturing
• Micro and Nano Plastics and Animal/Human Health
• Emerging Contaminants
• Policy, Governance, and Sustainable Development
• Sustainable Design Challenge
• Water and Nature in a Changing Climate
• Marine and Coastal

Environ 2025 Conference Highlights

Monday 10th March 2025

Tour and Workshops @ Environ

• A visit to UCD Rosemount Environmental Research Station (10:00 am to 12:30 pm). UCD Rosemount Environmental Research Station is a state-of-the-art plant and environmental research facility under the joint management of the School of Biology and Environmental Science and School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Ireland. The original walled yard of Rosemount House now contains custom laboratory facilities for plant and crop research. 
• Workshop 1 ( 10:00 am to 12:30 pm): Coastal Resilience through Nature-based Solutions: This two-hour workshop will be held in the UCD School of Civil Engineering Hydraulics laboratory, where various experimental tests on nature-based and eco-engineered solutions will be conducted in a wave flume. The capacity of the workshop is 15. A volunteer will leave O'Brien Centre for Science at 10 am sharp. The walk will take approximately 20 min from the conference venue to the UCD School of Civil Engineering (at UCD Newstead).
• Workshop 2 (2.00 pm to 4.00 pm): Sensor and IoT Solutions for Environmental Applications: This two-hour workshop offers an interactive demonstration of various sensors designed for multiple environmental applications. Participants will rotate through stands led by Dr Joseph Sweeney, Dr Anna Molter, Dr Sharon O'Rourke, and Dr Junli Xu, each showcasing unique sensor applications, including air quality monitoring, soil analysis, and plastic sorting.  At each station, participants will explore practical applications of smart sensor technologies (e.g., near-infrared sensors) and learn how these tools can be integrated with IoT systems to enhance sustainable environmental management. This rotating format allows attendees to engage directly with each expert, gaining hands-on insights and tailored explanations on sensor functionality, data capture, and implementation. The workshop is designed for up to 50 participants, with registration on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please click here for more info on the workshops.

Monday 10th March 2025

Wine reception at O'Brien Centre for Science (19:00 – 20:00)
The best part of any event is the opportunity to network. This year at Environ 2025, we are organising a wine 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 (20:00 – 21:30)
This is a public event and will feature keynote speakers whereby the audience will have the opportunity to pose questions to the panel.

Tuesday 11th March 2025

Opening Ceremony (9.15-10 am)

• President of UCD 
• Director of UCD's One Health Centre 
• Vice-President for Sustainability (UCD)
• ENVIRON 2025 Conference Convenor 
• ESAI Chairperson

Plenary Lectures. to be confirmed 
(10.00 am – 11.00 am) 

Reception, Live Music & Conference Dinner (19:00 – 22:00). 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.

Wednesday 12th March 2025

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, 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.

Title of the talk: Energy Recovery Potential and Analysis of Environmental Impacts of Waste to Energy Options: A Case Study of Dhanbad, India

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 2024 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

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.

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