Dublin City University has secured €925,000 for four interdisciplinary research projects through the Research Ireland COALESCE programme. Focusing on mental health in farming communities, inclusive teacher training using VR, sensory engagement with environmental data, and maths education in South Africa, these initiatives address critical societal challenges through collaborative, impactful research.
Dublin City University (DCU) has secured nearly €925,000 in funding for four impactful interdisciplinary research projects under the Research Ireland COALESCE programme, which supports collaborative research addressing pressing societal challenges in Ireland and globally. The projects span themes of mental health, inclusive education, environmental data, and teacher training in the Global South.
The COALESCE (Collaborative Alliances for Societal Challenges) programme, administered by Research Ireland, funds research that brings together expertise from across disciplines, particularly encouraging partnerships between Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). It comprises three strands: Research Ireland Awards, Better World Awards, and Shared Island Awards.
DCU projects received funding under two strands: Research Ireland Awards and Better World Awards.
Researchers: Dr Anna Donnla O’Hagan and Dr Siobhán O’Connor
Strand: Research Ireland Awards
This project explores mental health challenges within Irish farming communities, who face disproportionately high risks of depression and suicide. Despite the availability of support services, many individuals do not seek help. The study aims to develop a bespoke, evidence-based mental health education programme tailored to the needs of Irish farm families, promoting awareness and engagement with mental health resources. The team will work directly with farming families and key stakeholders.
Researchers: Dr Enda Donlon and Dr Hyowon Lee
Strand: Research Ireland Awards
This project seeks to address the challenges trainee teachers face in delivering inclusive education during placements. Researchers will develop an immersive virtual classroom with interactive simulations, allowing pre-service teachers to practise inclusive teaching strategies in a controlled, low-pressure environment. The project brings together experts in virtual reality, inclusive education, and teacher training, aiming to improve how inclusive skills are taught in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes.
Researchers: Dr Trish Morgan and Dr Shirley Coyle
Strand: Research Ireland Awards
The SEED project addresses the gap between the abundance of environmental data in Ireland and the public’s ability to engage with it meaningfully. While data visualisation is common, the project will explore multi-sensory methods, such as touch, sound, smell, and taste, to present environmental data in creative, tangible ways. These sensory artefacts will help foster public understanding of environmental pressures such as air and water pollution, climate change, and land use.
In design and behavioural science, multi-sensory engagement has been shown to enhance memory, emotional response, and decision-making. By applying this to environmental data, the SEED project taps into a growing global movement that uses art, design, and immersive experiences to convey climate change in more personal, relatable ways.
Examples from around the world include:
Soundscapes of deforestation that translate tree loss into audio signals.
Wearable technology that mimics rising temperatures or pollution levels.
Edible installations that represent climate data through taste and texture.
SEED brings this same philosophy to Irish environmental data, using creative outputs to provoke reflection and conversation.
Researchers: Professor Hamsa Venkatakrishnan (DCU) and Dr Lynn Bowie (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa)
Strand: Better World Awards (funded by Irish Aid)
This international collaboration focuses on developing mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT) among primary teachers in South Africa, where there are widespread concerns about the quality of math instruction. The team will design and study a WhatsApp-based hybrid professional development programme, leveraging the near-universal cellphone access in South Africa to overcome challenges posed by limited access to laptops and tablets. The programme will also support youth facilitators in educational roles.
These projects reflect the strength of interdisciplinary and international collaboration and show how academic research can be applied to real-world challenges, from mental health and education to environmental awareness and international development. Each initiative brings together diverse stakeholders, researchers, educators, policymakers, and communities, to co-create impactful solutions.
Dublin City University’s success in securing funding for four projects under the Research Ireland COALESCE programme illustrates its leadership in tackling urgent societal issues through collaboration. From the mental well-being of farming families to immersive teacher training and sensory engagement with environmental data, these projects underscore the power of research to drive positive change, locally and globally.
As these projects progress, they will offer valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and communities alike, helping to shape more inclusive, informed, and sustainable futures.
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