Podcasts about ucd

Guests:Ciara Greene, Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at UCD, where she heads up the Attention and Memory LaboratoryDr Lara Dungan, ImmunologistDr Tara Shine of Change By Degrees

Joining Dearbhail to dissect the Sunday papers are Brenda Power, Columnist at the Irish Daily Mail & Sunday Times, Graham Finlay, Assistant Professor of Politics and International Relations at UCD, Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent, for The Irish Examiner, and Keire Murphy, Senior Policy Advisor, ESRI,

Helena Smith, Athens Correspondent, The Guardian, Gerald Mills, physical geographer, UCD, expert in the climates of cities and Isabel Moreno, is a meteorologist based in Madrid

Strata, Ireland's leading provider of construction time management and digital construction services, recently released the 2025 Strata Report: Digital Transformation in Construction. Ronan recently caught up with Enda Grimes, the Director and Founder of Strata to find out more about the 2025 Strata Report and digital transformation in the construction sector.Enda talks about his background, what Strata does, the 2025 Strata Report, AI, and more.More about Enda Grimes:Enda Grimes is the Director and Founder of Strata, Ireland's leading provider of construction time management and digital construction services. At Strata, he leads a specialist engineering team providing expert planning, BIM services, project controls, analytics, 4D visualisation, and delay analysis services.With over 20 years' experience across all construction sectors both national and global, he previously served as head planner for the €3 billion ESS project in Sweden. He holds an MSc in Engineering and Civil Engineering from UCD and an MSc in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution from King's College London.

Scott Lucas, Professor of US and International Politics at Clinton Institute in UCD and Danni Hewson, Head of Financial Analysis at AJ Bell

Will O'Callaghan and Keith Treacy are joined by Ronan Finn this morning to look back at St Pat's loss to Besiktas last night, Melia's potential, Shamrock Rovers' disappointment, and Ronan's own journey to UCD.Off The Ball Breakfast from 7:30am with UPMC Ireland | #GetBackInAction

This week's special guest host is a club legend, four-in-a-row and FAI Cup winning captain Ronan Finn, who is in his second season at UCD to pursue a Master's Degree in Sports Management. Finner helps review a boring St Joseph's game, which his daughter enjoyed at least, and a big win over Derry in Tallaght on Sunday that put Rovers 10 points clear. We look ahead to Thursday's tie with Kosovo Football expert Eljon, and potentially a trip to Portugal where Ronan made his European debut with Sporting Fingal in 2010, and also nearly cost Rovers the title that season. We reminisce about Belgrade and White Hart Lane, his League of Ireland debut for the college in 2005 and scoring against the Hoops as a teenager. Ronan talks his long wait for a first European goal, Pico taking the armband and equalling his European appearance record, Rory Gaffney's greatness, Burkey's fitness, the gaffer's half-time team talks and "the turn" when results haven't yet come. We discuss his relationship with Stephen Bradley and the senior leadership group within the squad, winning the Cup and lifting the league trophy with young Josh, and making the move from centre-mid to right-wing back, all the way up to his last goal for Rovers against Bohs in front of the south stand and the difficult decision to leave the club. There's also a chat about the dip in crowds this summer, extending the league season, doing punditry for our Conference League Phase games on TV last season, his ambitions in football after he retires, and, of course, fishing.

A formal state ceremony takes place in Cahersiveen today to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O’Connell. The 19th-century Kerry politician, known as The Liberator, led the campaign for Catholic emancipation and is remembered as one of Ireland’s greatest political leaders. Jerry spoke to Professor Maurice Bric, emeritus professor of history at UCD and director of Daniel O’Connell Summer School. Jerry asked him about a charge made by Kerry historian Dr Tim Horgan that O’Connell drove a deep wedge between republican Presbyterians in Ulster and Catholics and used religion as a tool to build a political base.

Father John Kenny, Administrator of Westport Parish in Mayo // Caitriona Dowd, Assistant Professor at the School of Politics and International Relations in UCD

Joining Brendan to discuss the Sunday papers this week are Hary McGee, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times, Lisa Chambers, Former Fianna Fáil TD now with business advisory firm Consello, Niamh Hourigan, Sociologist with Mary Immaculate College, Scott Lucas, Professor of U.S. and International Politics at the Clinton Institute, UCD.

After a thorough development phase, Building Stories, a future-focused research initiative from University College Dublin, is entering a new phase of public engagement and implementation. With the launch of Living Labs in partnership with Monaghan and Cork City Councils, the project is addressing some of Ireland's most urgent challenges, including the housing crisis, carbon emissions from construction, and the decline of town centres. Backed by €690,000 in funding through the National Challenge Fund's OurTech Challenge, the project brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers in architecture, planning, computer science, and data governance. Building Stories is developing a dynamic, AI-powered geospatial platform to accurately map vacancy in Ireland's built environment, providing leaders in housing and planning policy with actionable, building-level data. Speaking about the project, sustainable urban design expert and spokesperson for Building Stories, Dr Philip Crowe, said: "With Building Stories we aim to give local authorities, national agencies, and communities a new lens through which to understand vacancy, with data that can assist in good decision making and more efficient management of the built environment." Building Stories is a 12-person research team at UCD's School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy and the School of Computer Science, led by Dr Philip Crowe, Dr Gavin McArdle and Dr Rob Brennan. It is affiliated with the UCD Centre for Irish Towns (CfIT) and ADAPT, the Research Ireland Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, and supported by Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland. The project is building a secure and robust geospatial model that draws on diverse proxy datasets, satellite imagery, and advanced machine learning to dynamically predict the vacancy status of buildings across Ireland. Dr Crowe continued: "Ireland has no reliable, up-to-date database on vacancies at the granular scale of individual buildings and sites. Building Stories aims to provide this data and unlock the more efficient reuse of vacant properties towards better housing delivery, reduction of carbon emissions and the sustainable revitalisation of towns." In summer 2025, the project is being tested on the ground in Living Labs in Monaghan Town and Cork City, which will combine data modelling with citizen science to verify insights and incorporate local knowledge. The project began in 2023 but is now scaling its impact, growing the initiative and refining the model in partnership with local authorities and stakeholders across Ireland. Through open collaboration, citizen engagement, and a commitment to data transparency and governance, the project aligns with EU data and AI regulations, and Ireland's ambition to be a leader in the ethical advancement of a digital society. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Harry McGee, political correspondent with The Irish Times and Tom Philips, Planning Consultant and adjunct associate professor in Architecture and Planning in UCD

This week on Talk World Radio we're talking with Kathy Kelly, President of World BEYOND War, about a new book and an upcoming online book club, and about the latest developments in Gaza and what to do about it. The book is called Our Journey from Afghanistan: A Story of Survival and Hope. See book club: https://worldbeyondwar.org/book-club-our-journey-from-afghanistan-a-story-of-survival-and-hope/?clear_id=true See information on Unarmed Civilian Defense: https://worldbeyondwar.org/UCD

For the sixth and final episode of this limited podcast series on the past, present and future of Irish food and agriculture, we delve into our potential food future. What might it look like in the decades to come? Are heritage and culture going to give way to science and technology as we navigate climate change and its many challenges? How can we keep rural Irish communities fed and thriving, and what role does the farming community play in it all?Host Janine Kennedy speaks with Irish Farmers Journal deputy editor Caitriona Morrissey, UCD professor and bioeconomy expert, Tom Curran, and Davie Philip and Oliver Moore from the Feeding Ourselves Community of Practise, which is based in the Cloughjordan Ecovillage. Food Island is presented by multi-award-winning food journalist Janine Kennedy and brought to you by the Irish Farmers Journal. It shares the evolving story of Ireland's rich food ways, farming cultures and gastronomy. This special six-part series on the past, present and future of Irish food and agriculture was produced in collaboration with the UCD Earth Institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, during a meeting at the White House with the president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, US president Donald Trump launched an incendiary attack on one of his predecessors, Barack Obama.In a fluent speech he accused Obama of “treason” and “sedition”.No evidence was given and the“papers” he mentioned seemed to refer to last week's report from Tulsi Gabbard, his national security director, on the 2016 election that claimed to show “a treasonous conspiracy” with Russia to fix the election against Trump.Trump has frequently attacked his political opponents, regularly mentioning “Sleepy Joe Biden” and “Lying Hillary Clinton”. But is this different? And why now? Might it be another diversionary tactic to take the focus of the so-called Epstein files, as the controversy around their release – or even existence – shows no sign of calming? And what has Obama said?Scott Lucas, political analyst and professor at UCD's Clinton Institute, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investigations are ongoing into a potentially “extensive outbreak” of listeriosis in Ireland after one person has died with a confirmed case of the disease. The Food Safety Authority has recalled 140 ready-made meals from Irish stores over concerns of the presence of Listeria. To explain more about the bacteria was Alan Reilly, Adjunct professor at the Institute of Food and Health in UCD and former chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

Ciaran Cuffe, Co-Chair of the European Green Party and Tom Philips, Planning Consultant and Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture and Planning at UCD

Often, some days feel longer or shorter than others, but today, July 22nd, is actually literally shorter than others.Why is that?Shane Bergin, Physicist & Assistant Professor in Science Education at UCD, joins Seán to discuss.

In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. dives into the big, shiny (and slightly confusing) changes in federal tax law passed in July 2025, and what they mean for your fundraising plan in 2026 and beyond. Bill brings clarity with his signature blend of research, wisdom, and a dash of humor. The laws don't take effect until 2026, which gives fundraisers time to plan. His top-line takeaway? Don't panic. This isn't the end of charitable giving as we know it, nor a sudden waterfall of donations. One of the headliners in the new law is the return of the Universal Charitable Deduction (UCD). Everyone can now claim a tax deduction for their giving. Singles can deduct up to $1,000, and married couples filing jointly can deduct up to $2,000, starting with their 2026 giving. Research, and our collective memory of the COVID-era UCD, suggests this could spark an uptick in donations from lower- and middle-income donors. So go ahead, fundraisers: invite gifts at all levels, and make sure your donors know they can give generously and get a tax break. New “ceiling and floor” limits for high-income donors could put a slight damper on larger gifts. Those in the top 1%, earning over $626K (single) or $751K (joint), can only deduct at the 35% rate instead of the usual 37%, potentially shrinking their incentive to give. But Bill urges fundraisers to stay calm and start conversations. Talk with major donors about how this may or may not change their giving. Likewise, the new "floor" rule, which removes deductions on the first 0.5% of adjusted gross income, is unlikely to affect generous donors giving in the $20K–$30K range. In short: tax math may change, but generosity often stays the course. Bill also touches on a sleeper hit of the new law: the expanded SALT deduction limit, from $10,000 to $40,000, which could lead to more folks itemizing their taxes and, therefore, giving more charitably. Business owners with S-corps and those filing jointly might find fresh incentives to give. Even though businesses can no longer deduct the first 1% of giving, Bill reminds us that corporate philanthropy isn't just about taxes; it's about community goodwill, employee engagement, and customer loyalty. And hey, if all else fails, there's always IRS Section 513(i), your best friend when turning sponsorships into tax-deductible marketing. Bottom line? Your mission still matters. The tax landscape may shift, but relationships and purpose are still your most powerful fundraising tools.

We have delved into Ireland's rich history of food and agriculture, and now it's time to face our current reality. What is Ireland's place in an increasingly tech-driven and globalised world? Are farmers prepared to face the roadblocks ahead as we race to meet our sustainability goals? In this modern age, what even constitutes "Irish" food?In this episode of Food Island, our six-part series on the past, present and future of Irish food and agriculture, host Janine Kennedy speaks with Irish Farmers Journal editor, Jack Kennedy; chef and author, JP McMahon and UCD professor of politics and Earth Institute member Patrick Paul Walsh.Food Island is presented by multi-award-winning food journalist Janine Kennedy and brought to you by the Irish Farmers Journal. It shares the evolving story of Ireland's rich food ways, farming cultures and gastronomy. This special six-part series on the past, present and future of Irish food and agriculture was produced in collaboration with the UCD Earth Institute @universitycollegedublin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland's finances are in "good condition". That is according to the Minister for Finance. Paschal Donohoe is confident we can meet the challenge of US tariffs. US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 30% tariff on imports from the European Union from the 1st of August. He has said that a trade agreement could possibly be reached between the EU and the United States. Minister Donohoe did caution that the scenario facing Ireland could "regrettably" have a "significant effect" on growth and job creation, although he added talks are underway at a European level to try and avoid this. Meanwhile, wider economic uncertainty worldwide has not led to a slowdown in consumer spending. New 'Bank of Ireland' data for May, shows Irish consumer spending rose 6.5 percent year-on-year. To assess whether consumers are looking at impeding financial hardship, Alan Morrissey was joined by, Micheál Collins, Ennis native economist and Assistant Professor of Social Policy at UCD and Dr Chris McInerney, Kilkishen-based who's Associate Professor in the Department of Politics at University of Limerick.

Donal Trump receives a health diagnosis, threatens to sue the Wall Street Journal, and caves on the release of Epstein files. All to discuss with Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst at the Clinton Institute in UCD.

Diarmaid Ferriter, Professor of Modern Irish History at UCD

The biggest day in the domestic calendar takes place this weekend at Dubarry Park in Athlone, with a championship triple header: The Harp Bowl between the Louth Mavericks and Westmeath Minotaurs, the Shamrock Bowl between UCD and the Belfast Trojans - and the first ever time the Claddagh Bowl will take centre stage on the big day.Michael speaks with UCD HC Darragh Farrell and Belfast Trojans HC Phil Gunning ahead of the weekend.You can get tickets here: https://www.universe.com/events/american-football-ireland-championship-tripleheader-tickets-BRCKY7?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLYoMpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp6qyygjvKIPo_drMI7kVxX7tw_zuhJdxNYC-C_Fe0vJncX0ZzgWR6VysNigY_aem_RGTWMBcC13FlEj447KiSZAYour ticket includes a free gameday program while supplies last. The event also features cheerleaders, aviation aerial acrobatics, raffle prizes, great food and drink on location from the Bounty Bar, and three games of championship American football.

To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O'Connell, Newstalk's Talking History debates his life, his legacy and how he should be remembered.Featuring: Prof Christine Kinealy, Professor of History at Quinnipiac University, and author of Daniel O'Connell and Anti-Slavery and an expert on O'Connell, Frederick Douglass, and the Famine; Prof Davide Mazzi, Professor of English Language, Translation and Linguistics and Head of the Department of Studies on Language and Culture at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy; and Prof Maurice Bric, Emeritus Professor of History at UCD, and Director of the Daniel O'Connell Summer School.

Guest: Dr Simon Piggott, Clinical Research Fellow with the Diabetes Complications Research Centre at the Conway Institute, UCD

Taoiseach Micheál Martin wishes to re-establish town councils in Ireland by 2029, citing a “...sense of representation at all levels.”So, should town councils be re-established?Independent Councilor in New Ross, Michael Sheehan and Tom Phillips, Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning at UCD join Kieran to discuss.

EU ministers are to debate the bloc's approach to trade talks with the United States. With Brussels scrambling to head off 30% tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump. Pat discusses this and more with Nora Strecker, Associate Professor of Economics at UCD and also Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent for Euro News.

Donald Trump announces plans to sell military defence weapons to Ukraine.He has not specified the type of weapons or the amount, but he did warn the EU that they will cover the cost. We get the latest on this and more with Scott Lucas Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst, Clinton Institute, UCD.

Dr Andrew Hines, Lecturer at the School of Computer Science in UCD, on how AI is impacting jobs.

The Independent Covid Evaluation Panel aims to understand the extent of the damage from the Covid-19 pandemic, and take those learnings for advice on preparation for the next potential epidemic. So, what has been learned?Nat O'Connor, Assistant Professor of Social Policy in UCD and a member of the Independent Covid Evaluation Panel has been writing about this in the Irish Examiner, and joins Seán to discuss.

The Housing Minister has issued new guidelines on apartments, changing the minimum sizes, reducing the requirement for open spaces & removing requirements for communal spaces. To discuss this Tom Phillips, Town Planning Consultant /Adjunct Professor of Planning in UCD & Darragh Moriarty, Labour Party Councillor for Dublin South West Inner City.

How many times have you looked at your weather app when it's raining, only for your phone to insist that you're actually mistaken and the sun is splitting the rocks!This didn't happen in the past. Back in the good old days, you could be sure of the weather by just taking a look around you.If the hills seemed far away, then the weather would be good. If the cat sat with its back to the fire, then the weather would be bad. Simple!Kelly Fitzgerald is the Head of the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore in UCD. She joins Seán to discuss the origin behind some of these weather phrases.

The Cabinet is to consider reducing the size of studio apartments in order to encourage developers to build more of them.Is this the most effective way to solve the housing crisis?Orla Hegarty, Architect & Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy at UCD and Kate English, Chief Economist at Deloitte, spoke to Matt on Monday's The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the conversation.

We often don't think of the fact poorly dogs and cats need blood transfusions. Finn Ryan told Brendan about her dog Vernon who is one of Irelands greatest donators! To learn more about animal blood donations go to UCD veterinary hospital's website

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, was pictured crying at Prime Minister's Question Time. Commentators called her "unprofessional and wrong." This level of criticism begs the question - are we tougher on female leaders? Professor Brendan Kelly of Trinity College Dublin and Mary McAuliffe, Director of Gender Studies at UCD join the program

«Como sucedía con UCD, las corrientes están integradas y soñando con los ministerios»

Bedsits suited students, single people, separated people and many others, and should not have been banned in 2013. That's according to Michael McDowell's latest column in the Irish Times. To discuss further is Tom Phillips, Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning, UCD and also Rory Hearne, Housing Spokesperson for the Social Democrats,

Colin O'Gara, Head of Addiction Services in St John of God Hospital and Clinical professor of Psychiatry at UCD. discusses gambling inducements with Claire.

Can life be programmed like software? Synthetic biology says yes. We're entering an era where DNA is code and biology is becoming a programmable platform. You can now order synthetic DNA online and use AI to design brand-new proteins. Today, we're diving into the frontlines of this biotech revolution — and joining us is microbiologist, geneticist, and futurist Andrew Hessel to explore what's possible now and what's coming next.Also featured in Newsround are Dr Shelley Brady of DCU and Dr Shane Bergin of UCD.

Andrew Parnell, Professor of Data Science for Climate at UCD, discusses Europe's extreme heatwave.

In a city increasingly defined by data, design, and digital connectivity, a new pilot project is giving some of its youngest residents a powerful tool for change - Minecraft. As part of the Smart Docklands Pilot Call 2024 projects, Craft My Street addresses the topic of community development by delivering workshops to schools in Dublin. A total of 139 students participated and 54 ideas were designed in Minecraft. This initiative was created by researchers from University College Dublin that uses gaming to amplify youth voices in city-making. Blending open-source geospatial data with interactive multiplayer crowd mapping, this project enables young people to propose real-world urban interventions, all while building their ideas block by block in a virtual version of Dublin's Docklands. The initiative is part of a broader effort by Smart Docklands, an innovation programme established by Dublin City Council and CONNECT, the Research Ireland Centre headquartered at Trinity College Dublin. In 2024, the programme launched a €50,000 open call to fund pilots across four urgent themes identified through public engagement: environmental monitoring; urban greening; antisocial behaviour/safety; and community development. Craft My Street was selected for its focus on the latter and its potential to reimagine what participation looks like in the digital age. "Craft My Street shows what happens when researchers meet young people where they are - in games, in classrooms, in their communities - and hand them the tools to shape the future. It's not just about Minecraft; it's about empowering the next generation to imagine and build a better city," said Trinity's Prof. Dan Kilper, Director of the CONNECT Centre. "Young people are rarely included in decisions that affect the communities they live in," said Ítalo Sousa de Sena, Assistant Professor in Digital Landscape Design at UCD and the project's lead. "The Smart Docklands Pilot Programme was a great opportunity to further develop the Craft My Street project and validate its impacts. The network of participation and expertise in engagement from the Smart Docklands team was essential to achieve the goals of the project. The funding was crucial to guarantee that all students could have the same experience with the project, by securing devices and the game for all participants, as well as to continue promoting the playful crowd mapping of Dublin in Minecraft!" Through Mapathons, classroom-based workshops, and access to a public Minecraft server, participating students imagined new public spaces, proposed green solutions, and mapped safety and accessibility issues. The virtual environments reflected real data and spatial realities - but the creativity was all theirs. Reflecting on the programme's impact, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, said: "Young people are an important part of shaping the future of the city, and it's essential to involve them in the conversation. The Craft My Street project as part of the Smart Docklands Pilot Call 2024 projects is a fantastic example of how technology can make youth participation in decision-making more engaging and inclusive." "By reshaping their surroundings in a virtual Dublin through Minecraft, students created solutions in a fun and meaningful way. I'm delighted to support this initiative and to see the creativity and vision of young people come to life. I was particularly flattered to see my own avatar be brought to life." Karolina Anielska, Programme Manager at Smart Docklands, said: "Craft My Street proved that serious topics like city planning can be fun and engaging, especially when young people lead the way. Through Minecraft, they shared creative ideas for Dublin's future and reminded us that play can be powerful. Their energy doesn't just shape the city - it encourages adults to get involved too. This is just the beginning." While the outcomes are playful, the project is underpinned by serious intent. It supports the National Framework for Chi...

In this episode: a profile of Ireland's longest-serving Minister for Justice, Gerald Boland, with Prof Stephen Kelly, Professor of Modern History and British Irish Relations at Liverpool Hope University; counter-insurgency strategies in the Civil War, with author Dr Gareth Prendergast; and how women changed the study of foreign languages in Ireland, with Dr Phyllis Gaffney, French Adjunct Researcher at UCD.

Diarmaid Ferriter, Professor of Modern Irish History at UCD

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is urging holidaymakers to be aware of CITES regulations – the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – which protect endangered plants and animals from illegal trade. Many people don’t realise that everyday souvenirs—such as ivory trinkets, coral jewellery, reptile skin products, certain orchids, and traditional medicines—can be illegal to bring into Ireland under CITES regulations. These items may seem harmless, but their trade threatens endangered species. Jerry spoke to Dr Noeleen Smyth of UCD.

According to an Al Jazeera report, Ireland is the second biggest importer of Israeli products.And, with the Tánaiste bringing the outline of the Occupied Territories Bill to Cabinet yesterday, is our government's talk over Israeli actions in Gaza at odds with our actual economic relationship with the country?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Patrick Brodie, Assistant Professor at the School of Information and Communication Studies at UCD.Image: Reuters

US President Donald Trump has said he is "not happy" with Israel and Iran after claiming both countries violated a ceasefire.Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas join The Last Word to discuss Trump's involvement in the conflict and more of the latest news from the United States.But to start, Dr Edward Burke, lecturer in the history of war at UCD, joins to discuss how the escalating situation in the middle east could impact global defence and security as NATO leaders gather in The Hague for a crucial summit.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The new €2.4bn pediatric hospital will officially be named the National Children's Hospital of Ireland according to a Government proposal, despite efforts to name it after doctor and political activist Dr Kathleen Lynn.Dr Mary McAuliffe, director of Gender Studies at UCD, and Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh join The Last Word to discuss whether public buildings should be named after historical figures or whether it is better to play it safe.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

What are the effects of stress on memory? How does age change the nature of this vital piece of human cognition? What are the limitations of memory, and how can we embrace them?Ciara M. Greene is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, UCD, where she also heads up the Attention and Memory Laboratory. She's also the co-author of the book Memory Lane: The Perfectly Imperfect Ways We Remember.Greg and Ciara discuss the nature of memory, challenging the common belief that the best memory is akin to a flawless recording device. Ciara argues that memory's imperfections are actually evolutionarily beneficial, aiding in survival and decision-making. They discuss how metaphors for memory have evolved alongside technology, the reconstructive nature of memory, and the importance of understanding its functions. Ciara also explains how schemas play a role in memory errors, but how they are also beneficial.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:Why forgetting your shopping list is a feature not a flaw44:38: We don't need to have this fear that means technology is ruining our mind. This is exactly the same way as is. Like you say, you're, I dunno, you're going to the supermarket and instead of remembering your shopping list, you write it down. Okay. You don't then also need to remember it. They're able to adapt. So like if you say, I have written down my shopping list, you've essentially told your brain you no longer need to remember this. You don't need to remember bread and eggs and mouthwash. Like, our brains are flexible. Like they're not just running on tracks. It's not necessary.It's not a good use of your resources because you've offloaded that task. That doesn't mean that your ability to go to the shop tomorrow and remember that you need to buy laundry detergent is going to be impaired because you wrote it down yesterday. It's just that we're, if you could think of it as being almost like extending your mind. Okay. It's almost like adding an external hard drive to your computer. You're just giving yourself a little bit more, like an, again, a broader sketch pad to play with. And that we, sometimes we use those tools. There's nothing wrong using those tools, but we should do them consciously.How does the basis of memory work?30:21: The reconstruction of memory is literally the basis of how memory works. It's inescapable. You can't just have a good memory and not have a reconstruction.Memory helps us belong03:46: It's important to think, not just about what memory is — it's not something static — but to think about what it's for, what its function is, and how it evolved in the way that it did.Because just like every other part of our minds, and our bodies, every function that we have evolved under evolutionary pressures — you know, that there are survival pressures and reproduction pressures — and those influence the way in which we evolved as human beings, as any kind of species. So when we think about our memory, I think it's important to keep that in mind, and that evolution wasn't prioritizing: it's super important that you remember absolutely every boring detail of every single experience you've ever had. And, you know, that you have this perfect fidelity and recollection of every detail of everything you observe — that's not necessary to support your survival, it's not necessary to support reproduction, and in some cases, it can be counterproductive.Show Links:Recommended Resources:Jorge Luis BorgesHyperthymesiaSource-Monitoring ErrorThird-Person EffectElizabeth LoftusRepressed MemorySatanic PanicMcMartin Preschool TrialGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at University College DublinSocial Profile on XAttention and Memory LabHer Work:Memory Lane: The Perfectly Imperfect Ways We RememberGoogle Scholar PageResearchGate Page

Video recording of this episode is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OcxwmDuUeU&ab_channel=UCD-UniversityCollegeDublin Henry Glassie is College Professor Emeritus at Indiana University, Bloomington, USA, and has published widely in the fields of material culture and vernacular architecture. His contribution to the discipline of Irish Folklore and Ethnology has been exceptional. Having lived in Ballymenone, Co. Fermanagh, for almost a decade in the 1970s, Professor Glassie published a number of studies inspired by the community there, including All Silver and No Brass (1975), Passing the Time in Ballymenone (1982) and The Stars of Ballymenone (2006). These books are landmark works which have become classic texts for students of Folklore in Ireland and abroad, along with many other items on Professor Glassie's long list of publications. Henry has rendered invaluable service to our understanding of Irish popular tradition and vernacular culture, and he can truly be described as a towering figure in the study of Irish Folklore for more than half a century. Even in his retirement, he remains a staunch and committed friend to Ireland and to the people he worked with while carrying out fieldwork here. Henry has had a long and extremely positive relationship with UCD since the establishment of the Department of Irish Folklore in the university in the early 1970s. With the approach of the fiftieth anniversary of his first major publication on Irish Folklore, All Silver and No Brass, it was deemed especially appropriate for the University to take the opportunity to honour Professor Glassie, and on Wednesday 21 May 2025, Henry was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from UCD, in recognition of his remarkable contribution to the growing area of Irish Studies in general, and to the field of Irish Folklore and Ethnology in particular. It was a great honour and personal privilege for me to sit and 'Pass the Time' with Henry, and over the course of ninety minutes we explored his background, interests, intellectual life, and experiences of field work, as well as delving into the topics of place, creativity, art, meaning, identity, belonging and despair; invoking old friends such as Fred B. Kniffen, E. Estyn Evans, Michael J. Murphy, Seán Ó Súilleabháin, Ellen Cutler, Tommy Love, Michael Boyle, Peter Flanagan, and Hugh Nolan as we trooped our way homewards. My thanks to all my colleagues at the NFC, as well as Susan Lysaght, Sandra Collins, Evelyn Flanagan, Andrew Fogarty, Veronica Aguilar Olmos, Dominic Martella for making this episode possible, and - most especially - to Henry and Pravina for their generosity, openness and kindness.