Trinity College Dublin School of Engineering is celebrating after 6 of its teams were shortlisted for the SFI National Climate Challenge Fund. The fund, which was recently announced by Minister Harris and Commissioner McGuinness, aims to address the challenges of climate change by supporting innovative projects that will help to reduce emissions and increase sustainability.

26 teams from across the country were shortlisted in the climate challenge, across 2 Challenges; The 2050 Challenge which seeks transformative, forward-looking solutions to Ireland becoming climate neutral and resilient by 2050, and The Future Digital Challenge invites transformational societal and economic impact from disruptive digital technologies. 6 of the 9 teams shortlisted in The 2050 Challenge coming from Trinity College Dublin's School of Engineering. Four of the teams are from the Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin, with a further two teams from the Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering.

The six teams from Trinity College Dublin’s School of Engineering have put forward a range of exciting proposals, including new technologies for reducing carbon emissions in transport, innovative materials for construction, improved biofiltration of wastewater and smart energy management systems for homes and businesses. The teams will now receive funding to develop their projects further, with the aim of creating real-world solutions to the challenges of climate change.

The 2050 Challenge seeks transformative, forward-looking solutions to Ireland becoming climate neutral and resilient by 2050.

Trinity’s School of Engineering Teams (alphabetically by lead researcher):

  • Dr Muhammad Ali, Trinity College Dublin (Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering), co-lead Prof. Laurence Gill, Methane Biofilter – biofiltration of methane generated from on-site wastewater treatment systems.
  • Dr Subhash Chandra, Trinity College Dublin (Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering), co-lead, Dr Liwen Xiao, Trinity College Dublin, Lumiscarb – decarbonising energy systems and the atmosphere by capturing CO2 and converting it into sustainable biofuels using solar energy.
  • Dr Julie Clarke, Trinity College Dublin (Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering), co-lead Dr Paul Nolan, University of Galway - developing a climate risk index for buildings over time to allow for adaptation measures.
  • Prof. Aonghus McNabola, Trinity College Dublin (Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering), co-lead Prof Mary Kelly Quinn, University College Dublin, low-cost fish-friendly micro hydropower energy storage.
  • Dr Séamus O’Shaughnessy, Trinity College Dublin (Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering), co-lead Dr Daniel Trimble, Trinity College Dublin DRIVE – improving thermal management of batteries in electric vehicles.
  • Dr Charles Stuart, Trinity College Dublin (Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering), co-lead Dr Sinéad Roden, Trinity College Dublin, mapping the way for decarbonising aviation in Ireland.

Dr Alan O’Connor, Head of School of Engineering Trinity College Dublin, said:

“We are extremely grateful and honoured to have six teams from Trinity’s School of Engineering shortlisted for the SFI National Challenge Fund. This fund represents a significant investment in research and innovation, which will allow us to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society today. This funding will enable our researchers to push the boundaries of knowledge and make a real impact on the world.”

The National Challenge Fund was established under the government’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. The fund is coordinated and administered by Science Foundation Ireland.

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