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Irish Research Council announce €5.3 million investment into research tackling national issues

Irish Research Council announce €5.3 million investment into research tackling national issues

The money is being invested through the IRC’s Coalesce programme.

Gary Grimes

Gary Grimes

Now listen, as a country we've got a lot going for us - breathtaking landscapes, world class musicians, writers, actors and athletes, and, of course, the highest population density of good craic individuals on the planet.

But we're not perfect - sure, where is? With that in mind, it's a relief to hear that the Irish Research Council has announced it is investing a whopping €5.3 million into research that aims to tackle national and global societal challenges.

The money is being invested through the IRC's Coalesce programme which explores issues around everything from the Covid-19 pandemic to climate change.

"The investment announced today is vital in finding innovative ways to address major issues in society - such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the housing crisis and climate change," said Peter Brown, director of the IRC.

Research funded under the 2020 Coalesce (Collaborative Alliances for Societal Challenges) programme included projects aiming to improve children's maths education through digital games, a programme to boost digital engagement among older people, and an examination of digital engagement among rural citizens.

"The Coalesce fund provides a unique opportunity for researchers to break down barriers between different disciplines and collaborate with peers across different sectors and departments, which will deliver results that will benefit every facet of Irish society."

The Coalesce programme is now in its third year and so far it has seen over €11.8 million invested into Irish research. The Department of Foreign Affairs contributed €2.1 million towards this year's fund.

"The call for 2021 will see even more Government departments partnering with the fund, which will open up new areas for research," Brown said.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash

Topics: Ireland