The Faculty of Science and Engineering at University of Limerick has launched new sustainability scholarships to encourage interdisciplinary action on climate change.
The Faculty of Science and Engineering Sustainability Scholarship S3 will see 10 funded PhDs focus on key areas of sustainable development, and the themes outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The new scholarship scheme will support collaborative research, drawing on the expertise of scientists, engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians and designers to develop impactful and transformative solutions while protecting our natural environment.
The PhDs align with the University’s new Mission-based Sustainability Framework 2030 which was launched earlier this year. The bold vision guides UL’s commitment to the UN SDGs and inspires mission-driven engagement across campus.
Each scholarship—valued at €95,000—will support a PhD scholar over a four-year period, encompassing annual registration fees and a stipend per annum. Applications were welcomed from all disciplines within the Faculty.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative UL President Professor Kerstin Mey said: “Given the importance of sustainability for this institution, this initiative is another exemplar of how we can draw on the treasury of talent that is our student body to attempt to solve the climate issues and grand challenges we face as a planetary community.
“This scholarship scheme is a way to contribute to the many facets of sustainability and a green approach. A key pillar of our development at UL is sustainability and with a strong 50-year history in leadership at local, regional and national levels, we are perfectly placed to take advantage of our position as a pioneering university and put it to excellent use in answering these grand challenges of our time.”
Professor Sean Arkins, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering added: “Through our Sustainability Scholarship, we will educate and train 10 high-level mathematicians, architects, designers, scientists and engineers who will, through these projects, advance solutions to significant global problems.
“Arising from this work, we will spark new collaborations and interactions that address these issues. Our Faculty members are problem-solvers and we pride ourselves on asking big questions for significant answers.”
Project themes include:
- Department of Computer Science & Information Systems: Giving voice to nature: digitally enabled human-nature interaction to support restoration practices in the Shannon River
- Department of Computer Science & Information Systems: Virtual Reality fostering inclusive and sustainable Industry 4.0
- School of Engineering & Department of Chemical Sciences: Elucidating Structure/Property Relationships in Sustainable Lignin Derived Carbon for application in future Na-ion batteries (NIBs)
- School of Engineering & Department of Biological Sciences: Sustainable antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory bioactive compounds from Irish industrial by-products: from cell systems to innovative functional foods
- School of Engineering: Improving the Ability of the Off-Site Construction Industry in Ireland to Address the Country’s Social Housing Crisis
- Department of Biological Sciences & Dept. of Chemical Sciences: PotatoBIO
- School of Design: Cycles: Co-Designing the future of menstrual products
- Department of Electronic & Computer Engineering, School of Engineering, Dept. of Chemical Sciences & Dept. of Geography: ReSolar; Novel Approach to Critical Raw Material Recovery from Waste PV Panels
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics and School of Engineering: Prediction of the plastic yielding of Additively Manufactured Steel 316L: development and validation of a physics-informed mathematical model
- School of Architecture: Unbuilding: re‐thinking the construction of the coastal edge in the face of climate change