UCD College of Social Sciences and Law

Top sustainability award for Professor Niamh Moore-Cherry

We’re proud to celebrate Professor @niamhmcherry.bsky.social, our College Principal, who has received the Fáilte Ireland National Spotlight Award for Sustainability for co-organising the 35th International Geographical Congress.

Read more: www.ucd.ie/newsandopini...

Warmest congratulations to all our undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD graduates celebrating their conferrals today and tomorrow. A wonderful achievement and a major milestone. The College of Social Sciences and Law is proud to celebrate with you and wishes you every success in the next chapter.

We were delighted to recognise colleagues marking ten years of service in the College of Social Sciences and Law. Professor @niamhmcherry.bsky.social presented our 10-Year Long Service Awards, celebrating a decade of dedication and contribution.

Read more: www.ucd.ie/socscilaw/ne...

We launched the UCD College of Social Sciences and Law’s first Annual Social Sciences Lecture this week, marking our 10-year anniversary and welcoming Professor Wayne Holmes for a thought-provoking talk on AI in education.

Read more: bit.ly/4rsEIfw

UCD has been ranked in the global top 50 for Sustainability for the third year in a row. The results highlight work across climate, equality, health and community impact, along with a top-30 global ranking for Governance.

Full story: bit.ly/4piKmic

Today we welcome Professor Wayne Holmes to UCD for the College of Social Sciences and Law’s first Annual Social Sciences Lecture. He speaks at 4pm on how AI is changing education. A great milestone in our ten-year celebration.

Screenshot shows UCD MPP programme ranked no. 1 in Ireland.

Screenshot shows the TOP10 ranking of the UCD Master of Public Policy in Western Europe.

Very pleased to see UCD Master of Public Policy ranked within the top10 in Western Europe and no. 1 in Ireland. Thanks to co-director @drdonoghue.bsky.social faculty @ucdspswsj.bsky.social & @ucdsocscilaw.bsky.social
You can apply for 2026 here: www.ucd.ie/publicpolicy

While the positive impacts of #care are well known, Dr. Sarah Donnelly, Associate Professor of Social Work
@ucddublin.bsky.social @ucdsocscilaw.bsky.social, highlights another side — the #wellbeing of carers themselves. Her presentation explores balancing the rights of carers & those they care for.

Sanna, a third-year Social Justice and Sociology student, is thriving in her 12-week internship with Senator Shane Curley at Leinster House. This week, she attended President Catherine Connolly’s inauguration at Dublin Castle, an inspiring glimpse into Ireland’s political life.

Interpreter in overturned FGM conviction worked on over 240 cases A court interpreter who worked on Ireland's first and only FGM case that was overturned on appeal over translation errors assisted in more than 240 other cases for the Irish Court Services

Associate Professor Niamh Howlin from UCD Sutherland School of Law features on RTÉ Investigates: First Conviction tonight at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

She discusses translation failures in Ireland’s first FGM case and what must change.

Read more: www.rte.ie/news/investi...

📺 Tune in tonight!

Professor @niamhmcherry.bsky.social and Dr @deanphelan.bsky.social from UCD School of Geography feature in RTÉ One’s 10 Things to Know About…

Episode 1: “Change”
🗓️ Mon 10 Nov | 8:30 pm | RTÉ One & Player

Learn more about the CONUNDRUM project 👉 bit.ly/3LyCGKc

UCD Open Day is in full swing!
Meet the Social Sciences and Law team in the Newman Building and O’Reilly Hall, join talks and workshops, and chat with our students and staff.

Our ambassadors are here to help, take a campus tour and picture your future at UCD! 💬✨

Applications are open for two UCD Ad Astra Doctoral Scholarships💫

It covers:
☑️ Tuition fees (up to the non-EU rate)
☑️ A yearly stipend of €25,000
☑️ An annual research budget of €4,000

Deadline: 6 February 2026

@elisaadamico.bsky.social

www.ucd.ie/spire/study/...

Daltaí na 6ú Bliana, Tuismitheoirí, Múinteoirí agus Comhairleoirí Gairmthreorach! Faigh tuilleadh eolais faoi na cúrsaí a bhfuil suim agat iontu, bí ag caint leis an bhfoireann agus le mic léinn agus faigh taithí ar shaol an champais in UCD.
Cláraigh anois ag www.ucdopenday.ie

Calling all 6th Year students, parents, teachers and career guidance counsellors. UCD Open Day 2025 takes place on Saturday, 8 November, from 10am to 4pm. Learn more about our Social Sciences courses, chat with staff and students, and experience life on campus at UCD.
Register now www.ucdopenday.ie

Martin Doody Memorial Lecture 2025 The Discovery Programme's annual Martin Doody Memorial Lecture, delivered this year by Prof Joanna Brück of University College Dublin

You are warmly invited to The Discovery Programme’s Martin Doody Memorial Lecture 2025:
"Animal Kin, Animal Others in Early Bronze Age Britain”

It will be delivered by Prof Joanna Brück of @ucddublin.bsky.social

Sign up here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/martin-doo...

Thurs 4 Dec
7.30pm
Online
Free

Moving to Survey Self-Completion: Mode Choice and Sensitive Questions - Public Policy Research and evidence used to understand changes in our societies, both over time and comparatively, relies heavily on survey data. The European Social Survey (ESS) has long been recognised as a pione...

How does survey mode shape what people are willing to say?

Ireland’s European Social Survey pilot shows self-completion (paper or online) can lead to more open answers on sensitive issues like income, migration and LGBTQ+ attitudes.

Read more:
🔗 publicpolicy.ie/papers/movin...

UCD researcher Anh-Quân Nguyen awarded First Book Prize by Oxford University Press

Congratulations to Dr Anh-Quân Nguyen (UCD School of Philosophy), named a winner of the Oxford University Press First Book Prize 2025 for It’s Okay to Despair about Climate Change.

His work explores “militant pessimism” as a radical response to climate crisis.

www.ucd.ie/newsandopini...

🌍 Interested in social justice in Ireland?

Join our online info session for UCD’s Exploring Social Justice Summer School, launching June 2026.

🗓 28 Oct 2025 | 5 PM Dublin / 12 PM EDT
💻 Zoom link
🔑 Passcode 651077

Discover two summer programmes on social justice, culture, and activism.

Our College Principal, Professor @niamhmcherry.bsky.social, shares what makes UCD College of Social Sciences and Law a unique and inspiring place to study and work, where world-class academics and diverse students explore human behaviour, society, and the systems that shape our world.

📣🤖 𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽- 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗻-𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹

ℹ️Our school is recruiting a fully-funded #PhD student in #𝗔𝗜 & #𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀

▶️ 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮 & 𝙛𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨: www.ucd.ie/ics/vacancie...

#PhDscholarship

We’re hiring: a fully funded PhD in AI and Heritage Futures at UCD School of Information and Communication Studies, starting May 2026 under Dr Sun Park.

Explore how AI is reshaping how we preserve and understand cultural heritage.

Deadline: 31 Jan 2026

Apply via: www.ucd.ie/registry/pro...

Congratulations to UCD alumnus Paul O’Brien on receiving a UCD Alumni Award for his global leadership in human rights. As Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, Paul has worked in 50+ countries advancing equality and justice. 👏

🔗 alumni.ucd.ie/awards/

Prime Time: Cash-based shift swapping widespread in prisons, officers say

Professor Niamh Brennan (UCD Sutherland School of Law) appears on RTÉ Prime Time to unpack new reports of cash-based shift swapping in the Irish Prison Service and the serious governance questions raised.

🎥 Watch the clip: www.rte.ie/video/id/284...

Launch of another beautiful publication by former colleague Joe Brady @ucddublin.bsky.social and alumnus Paul Ferguson. Superb example of scholarly public engagement and impact. Congratulations to you both!

⚡ Researchers from UCD School of Economics explore how dynamic electricity pricing could cut emissions and support renewables as Ireland moves to a cleaner energy system.

Read more on PublicPolicy.ie 👉 publicpolicy.ie/environment/...

“Objects, war and memory in Ireland past and present”

The exhibition was co-created by Prof. Joanna Brück of UCD School of Archaeology & seven people who have come to Ireland as refugees. It will be on view in Kilmainham Gaol Museum until 31 st January 2026 and thereafter around Dublin

A new EU-funded pilot, Co.Here, has launched in Kildare to explore refugee integration. Led by UCD School of Politics & International Relations with Helping Irish Hosts & Pairity, it links Ukrainian newcomers with communities while gathering evidence to inform policy.

🔗 bit.ly/4gQULi6

@ucdschooloflaw.bsky.social By 2057, 1 in 3 people in Ireland will be aged 60+, including nearly 700,000 aged 80+.

On publicpolicy.ie, Dr Nat O’Connor (UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work & Social Justice) highlights why urgent planning is needed.

👉 publicpolicy.ie/papers/irela...

All the best to Sam Kinirons, Research Ireland PhD Scholar, @ucdarchaeology.bsky.social and the other speakers at the 26th Medieval Dublin Symposium. Oct 4, 9:30–5:00, Robert Emmet Theatre, Trinity College.

dublinfestivalofhistory.ie/event/26th-m...