UL Sustainability Challenge 2024-25 offers €5,000 each to 5 UL Student Projects

The Doctoral College, in collaboration with the Sustainable Futures and Innovation (CSFI), is launching the Student Sustainability Challenge 2024-25.  

This initiative encourages UL students to develop sustainability-focused projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It’s a great opportunity for you to work in interdisciplinary teams, collaborate with mentors, and gain real-world experience in developing solutions to local, national or international sustainability issues. 

The challenge aims to give UL postgraduate researchers (PGRs) the opportunity to build skills in developing compelling project proposals, project management, recruiting a team, working with expert mentors and end-users, and building a network.

We are looking for projects around themes such as climate action, waste reduction, biodiversity, social sustainability, circular economy, responsible consumption and production.

Student teams may select their own topic or look to a bank of suggested topics from industry sponsors for inspiration.  

Up to five projects will be shortlisted and will receive mentoring from UL faculty or industry partners and up to €5,000 to prepare and deliver a pilot or demonstration of their proposal. The Challenge culminates in a final pitch event to an expert panel during Research Week in April 2025 where a winning project will be selected. 

  Timeline: 

• Launch: October 4, 2024 
• Applications Due: November 1, 2024 
• Project Development: November 2024 - March 2025 
• Final Judging & Awards: Research Week in April 2025 

  Further details, including the application form, can be found on the Challenge website- UL Student Sustainability Challenge 2024/25.

 If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact gerard.downes@ul.ie