Pioneering Solutions for Global Challenges - E3

In the pursuit of a more sustainable and harmonious future, E3 research stands at the forefront, leading the way in finding balanced solutions for a better world. Addressing complex global challenges, its interdisciplinary approach harnesses the power of science, technology, and the humanities to tackle pressing issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and societal well-being. With an unwavering commitment to fostering innovative and collaborative research, E3 endeavours to create a positive impact on our planet and pave the way for a brighter and more equitable future.

The Kinsella Challenge-based E3 Multi-disciplinary Project Awards have invested in new Ph.D. talent. This initiative fosters challenge-based and cross-disciplinary research to tackle the most pressing global challenges of our time.

Significant progress has been achieved by the four Kinsella Award teams, supporting 17 Ph.D. researchers in E3-related research. Additional funding from Microsoft Foundation, a US-Ireland agricultural research award, and Science Foundation Ireland further enhances their research capacity. Projects like SUMMIT for sustainable mobility, Digitising Biodiversity, FOREST for nature relations, and NuReCycle for water pollution solutions showcase the breadth and impact of E3 research.

1) SUMMIT-Sustainable Mobility Models for a Just Transition

The SUMMIT project, led by Prof. Vinny Cahill, is reimagining, designing, and promoting future models of city/region-scale mobility provision and the governance structures, policies and technologies to enable them. The team comprises co-PIs from diverse disciplines to explore equitable mobility solutions that optimize resource usage and enhance sustainability. The project is training climate-conscious professionals and researchers with multidisciplinary expertise in mobility. Ph.D. students receive co-supervision from experts in two disciplines, fostering collaborative research and publications while contributing to existing courses and E3-themed programmes such as the M.Sc. in Smart and Sustainable Cities.

Reem Cherif, a SUMMIT Ph.D. student, is investigating the implementation of the 15-minute city model in Dublin from different perspectives: planning and governance, residential market dynamics, and personal travel data. While Belal Edries, aims to enhance traditional transport modelling by incorporating people's mobility constraints and activity patterns. Working with the Irish National Transport Authority, Belal explores techniques like adjusting activity patterns and reserving capacity to optimise travel. Shima Rahmani is exploring personalised, multi-modal mobility using an 'Intelligent Cooperative Journey Planning' approach. She is applying Artificial Intelligence to develop a journey planner that optimizes the overall mobility network while meeting traveler preferences. Tianfang Zhou is examining how personalisation may be used to support user adoption of both ad hoc and infrastructural mobility hubs, which are places where several different modes of transport are available, to ease journey planning.

The SUMMIT team has secured additional funding through support from the ADVANCE CRT SFI Centres for Research Training, the ADAPT Centre, and EY. This funding is facilitating the recruitment of further Ph.D. students. Members of the team have also secured funding for joint projects, such as the ClearWay project funded under the SFI Frontiers for the Future programme, and the TRACT and ROBUST projects funded by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) with co-funding from the Department of Transport Ireland.

To learn more visit: https://www.tcd.ie/e3/summit/

PROJECT TWO: Digitising Biodiversity: Landscape-Animal-Digital-Human Translations

Ecosystems are complex and interconnected. Obtaining reliable biodiversity data on the ground is expensive, requiring field surveys, sample collection and processing and tends to be done at coarse spatial and temporal resolutions. This hinders our understanding and capacity to predict the impacts of human disturbances of ecosystems, causes tension between industry and environmental conservation by increasing the cost of environmental impact assessments, and undermines the effectiveness of both national and international environmental legislation and policy, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This project will improve both the quality and quantity of biodiversity data by capturing data from multiple targeted scales, from small insects to larger animals and birds, simultaneously, thus generating complex multivariate data to which the researchers will apply statistical modelling techniques to translate the ‘big data’ collection efforts into ‘big information’ knowledge gain. Ultimately, this project will develop a smart environmental monitoring system that will bring about a about a step-change in the measurement, recording and translation of biological data from nature.

Four Ph.D. students are working on various aspects of environmental monitoring, including the development of 360 audio-visual technology, mm-wave radar technology, statistical models for biodiversity data analysis, and non-human communication translation.

Meegan Gower's research focuses on using 360 video cameras and Deep Neural Networks to monitor birds, small animals, and insects non-invasively. Linta Antony develops advanced mm-wave radar technology for biodiversity monitoring, leveraging AI algorithms for radar signature classification. LITTY MATHEW works on statistical models to analyse real-time biodiversity monitoring data, while Lucy-Mae M. studies non-human interactions to understand how to translate information from the natural world without anthropomorphism.

The project secured additional funding from the Microsoft Foundation and SFI CONNECT Centre.

PROJECT THREE: FOREST: Reimagining relations with nature

The FOREST project, led by Professors Jane Stout and Fraser Mitchell, is exploring the implications of expanding Ireland's forests with native species to address climate and biodiversity issues. The multidisciplinary team investigates sustainable forestry approaches, considering technology vs. nature-based solutions, carbon offsetting, community engagement, rewilding, and site-specific afforestation. The PhD students are conducting research on various aspects, including climate justice through restorative development, statistical models for afforestation analysis, ecological value of new forests, perspectives on value and financial incentives, and blending nature-based and technology solutions for climate action.

Oscar Mooney's research explores community participation and fair distribution of costs and co-benefits in afforestation offsetting in Ireland. Kate Harrington surveys young native woodlands to establish ecological value indicators. Laqiqige Zhu compares financial incentives for afforestation and alternative land uses. Roisin Gowan optimises a blended approach, combining nature-based and technological solutions for climate action.

To learn more visit: https://www.tcd.ie/e3/forest

PROJECT FOUR: NuReCycle: Diffuse Water Pollution: Nutrient Capture Recovery and Recycling systems

The NuReCycle project, led by Dr. David O’Connell, addresses the global issue of agricultural water pollution in Ireland, where nearly half of monitored river water bodies show poor ecological status due to siltation and nutrient excess. The multidisciplinary team explores scientific, biological, and engineering interventions to reduce runoff and protect aquatic ecosystems' water quality. They aim to demonstrate nutrient control, recovery, and recycling concepts. The project involves four Ph.D. students conducting research and preparing review papers.

Luke Quill focuses on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) for myco-phytoremediation to reduce runoff using vegetative buffer strips. Brian Joyce collaborates with Luke to find the optimal AMF and leguminous plant combination for phosphorus and nitrogen uptake. Diogo Ferreira investigates nutrient removing hydrochar and biochar for improved water treatment. Gabriel Coleman explores the history of agricultural intensification and its impact on water quality.

“This award has provided us with a unique opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across several disciplines. The combined expertise that has advanced this project will contribute to tackle theproblem of agricultural pollution and find ways to protect our precious aquatic ecosystems”. Dr Marta Martins, Co-PI, NuReCycle

In November 2022, The NuReCycle project laid the foundations for an associated $1 million US-Ireland agricultural research award for research on dual-function engineered biochar. The collaboration involves Trinity, US Department of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, and the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The project's findings hold promise for sustainable approaches to mitigate diffuse agricultural water pollution and promote environmental protection.

The E3 Research's pioneering approach towards finding balanced solutions for a better world has showcased ground-breaking progress in addressing global challenges. From sustainable mobility models to biodiversity conservation and responsible forest management, these multidisciplinary projects exemplify the transformative potential of collaborative research. The continued support of Eric & Barbara Kinsella has enabled these projects to thrive and will undoubtedly lead to a more sustainable and harmonious future for all. As we eagerly await the research findings and their subsequent impact, the contributions of E3 research serve as an inspiration for fostering a brighter and more equitable world for generations to come.