THEA Colloquium 2020 Programme
#THEA2020
Have your say
Click here to tell us what you think the priorities should be for the new
National Strategy on Research and Innovation
View all session recordings here
Session 1 - Partnership in Action
Wednesday 18th November 2020, 10:00 to 12:00
VIEW VIDEO
The introductory session explored the topic of Partnership in Action via a series of presentations from the sector’s research leaders on Research & Innovation projects involving partnerships with other organisations. This included regional, industry, community, and international partnerships.
Session Chair - Dr Mark White, Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Graduate Studies, WIT
THEA welcome – Dr Joseph Ryan, CEO, THEA
Chairperson’s welcome – Prof. Vincent Cunnane, Chairperson THEA, President LIT10:15 - Presentation 1: Advancing Human Rights and Sustainable Development in and Through Sport
Presenters: Catherine Carty, UNESCO Chair Project Manager, IT Tralee & Philipp Müller-Wirth, Executive Officer for Sport and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO10:30 Research and Innovation Highlight Video from GMIT
VIEW VIDEO10:35 - Presentation 2: DkIT CONNECT Regional Enterprise Development Fund Project
Presenters: Aidan Browne, Head of Innovation DkIT & Thomas McEvoy, Head of the Louth Local Enterprise Office
DOWNLOAD SLIDES10:50 Research and Innovation Highlight Video from IT Carlow
VIEW VIDEO10:55 Short Break
11:05 - Presentation 3: Interlinked Research Engagement to Support Long Term Collaboration - NPD Group and AIT
Presenters: Dr Enda Fallon, Head of Department of Computing and Software Engineering, AIT & Dermot Ainsworth, Managing Director, The NPD Group Market Research Ltd.
DOWNLOAD SLIDES11:20 Research and Innovation Highlight Video from LIT
VIEW VIDEO11:25 - Presentation 4: Sustainable Energy Communities
Presenters: Mel Gavin, RD&I Coordinator, IT Sligo & Dr Orla Nic Suibhne, Community Energy Leader
DOWNLOAD SLIDES11:40 Research and Innovation Highlight Video from LYIT
VIEW VIDEO11:45 - Session Q&A
12:00 - Session close
Session 2 - Tackling Societal Challenges
Wednesday 18th November 2020, 14:30 to 16:30
VIEW VIDEO
The second session began with a look at how the innovation ecosystem in the sector helped address the challenge of the global pandemic. A panel discussion explored how the R&I model within the sector makes it an ideal place to explore solutions to the challenges that society is facing, including recovery from the pandemic.
Session Chair - Dr Liam Brown, Vice-President of Research, Development and Innovation, LIT
14:30 - Dr Liam Brown, Vice-President of Research, Development and Innovation, LIT
An overview of COVID-19 contributions from the sector
DOWNLOAD SLIDES14:45 - Dr Niall Smith, Head of Research, CIT, and Head of CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory
Making Aerosol Safety Known (MASK) project supported by SFI Covid19 Rapid Response Funding
DOWNLOAD SLIDES15:00 - Dr Hilary Kenna, Lecturer in Design and User Experience, IADT
Universal Design and its Application to the Grocery Shopping Experience (with Musgrave/Supervalu)
DOWNLOAD SLIDES15:15 - Dr Dixon Vimalajeewa, Postdoctoral Researcher at TSSG, WIT & Dr Gerald Barry, Lecturer, School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD
Respiratory Virus Propagation Modeling: A Case Study to SARS-Cov-2 Project (with Teagasc and UCD)
DOWNLOAD SLIDES15:30 Short Break
15:45 - Panel Discussion
Joining the three speakers on the panel will be:
- Dr Eamonn Murphy, Managing Director, Irish Centre for Business Excellence
- Dr Elena Martines, Policy Officer, Horizon Europe Missions, European Commission
- Dr Lisa Higgins, Head of Challenge Research, SFI
Session 3 - Towards a Vision for Research & Innovation in Technological Universities
Thursday 19th November 2020, 14:30 to 16:30
VIEW VIDEO
As institutes of technology move towards merger and designation as technological universities, the scale of research and innovation activity in the sector will grow. The closing session focused on discussion of a vision for R&I in Ireland’s new technological universities and how they will be integrated into the new national research and innovation strategy. An international speaker set the scene. A panel discussion explored the challenges and opportunities presented by the increase in R&I in technological universities.
Session Chair: Dr Jennifer Brennan,
Director of Research, Development and Innovation, THEATHEA welcome – Dr Joseph Ryan, CEO, THEA
14:30 - Welcoming address: Minister Simon Harris
Minister for Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and Science14:45 - Keynote Address
Prof. Petter Aasen, Rector, University of South-Eastern Norway
DOWNLOAD SLIDES15:15 Short Break
15:30 - Panel Discussion
Key stakeholders discuss opportunities and challenges relating to R&I in Technological Universities
- Prof. Petter Aasen, Rector University of South-Eastern Norway
- Jim Breslin, Secretary General, Department of Further & Higher Education Research Innovation and Science
- Dr Ciarán Seoighe Deputy Director General, Science Foundation Ireland
- Gearoid Mooney, Divisional Manager - Research & Innovation, Enterprise Ireland
- Claire McGee, Head of Education and Innovation Policy, IBEC
- Dr Orla Flynn, President GMIT16:15 - Closing Remarks
Prof. Willie Donnelly President WIT16:30 - Session close
