The Royal Irish Academy

Turning research into action!

The Young Academy Ireland Sustainability Statement showcases how early-career researchers are tackling some of Ireland’s biggest challenges—biodiversity loss, clean energy, and the links between environment and health.

A strong reminder that collaboration and fresh thinking are key to creating a more resilient, fair and sustainable society.
Explore the statement: https://www.ria.ie/young-academy-ireland/young-academy-ireland-sustainability-statement/

Yesterday, the Royal Irish Academy officially launched the Waterford’s Transported Convict Women online exhibition, a powerful new resource exploring the lives of women transported from Waterford to Tasmania between 1788 and 1853.

Developed in collaboration with Waterford’s Transported Women, A Herstory, Grangegorman Histories, the Digital Repository of Ireland, South East Technological University Library and the RIA IT team, the exhibition brings together digitised archival records, descendant testimonies, poetry and handcrafted memorials to honour women whose stories have too often been overlooked.

A sincere thank you to our speakers, Lisa Marie Griffith, Ruth Hegarty, Kieran Cronin, Ann Fitzgerald and Joan Kavanagh, for their insightful contributions, and to all who participated in yesterday’s launch.

We were also delighted to welcome Chantelle Taylor of the Australian Embassy, Ireland and Councillor Ray McAdam, Lord Mayor of Dublin, whose presence highlighted the enduring historical and cultural connections between Ireland and Australia.

Read more about the launch: https://www.ria.ie/2026/06/03/the-royal-irish-academy-launches-online-exhibition-on-waterfords-transported-convict-women/

Panel Spotlight: Borders and Identity

What defines identity in a world shaped by history, culture, and globalisation? This panel brings together experts from across disciplines to explore how borders – both physical and conceptual – shape cultural expression and understanding.

Chaired by Dr Sorcha de Brún (University of Limerick), the panel features:
• Professor Steven Ellis, University of Galway
• Professor Jan Jedrzejewski, Ulster University
• Dr Lijuan Qian, University College Cork
• Professor Mairéad Nic Craith, UHI

Discussion themes include:
✔ Historical border formation and identity in Ireland
✔ The meaning and evolution of “national literature”
✔ Music as an expression of identity in border regions
✔ Rethinking cultural identity in an increasingly globalised world

Join us for this one-day conference and be part of the conversation.
View full programme and book your ticket now: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/royalirishacademy/2188532

Panel Spotlight: Planetary Boundaries

As we face accelerating environmental change, understanding the limits of our planet – and how to respond to them – has never been more urgent.

Chaired by Professor Sylvia Draper (Trinity College Dublin), this panel brings together leading experts to explore sustainability, climate science, and the role of imagination in shaping our future. Featuring:
• Professor Anna Davies, Trinity College Dublin
• Professor Barry McMullin, DCU
• Dr Julie Nekola Nováková,
• Professor Peter Thorne, Maynooth University

Key themes:
✔ Sustainable consumption and production systems
✔ Planetary boundaries and environmental thresholds
✔ Science fiction as a lens for scientific discovery
✔ Transboundary approaches to climate adaptation

Join us for this one-day conference and be part of the conversation.
View full programme and book your ticket now: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/royalirishacademy/2188532

Read Lia Marcal Alves Araujo Meirelles' article in the Irish Studies in International affairs journal, which explores the persistent under-representation of women in international politics through feminist perspectives in international relations: https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/423/article/991331/pdf

All research papers published in the RIA’s journals during 2026 will be freely available online, providing equitable open access for authors and readers, with no APCs charged.

This development was made possible by Project MUSE ’s Subscribe to Open initiative and ongoing support from IReL, the Irish Research eLibrary.

The 2025/26 RIA Discourse Series has officially wrapped up! Across six thought-provoking lectures, the series explored the many dimensions of Resilience from a range of perspectives. One of the events in the series, ‘The neuroscience of resilience: building brains to withstand life’, took place on 14 April 2026.

This Discourse offered insights into the brain’s capacity for adaptation, focusing on the neurological and psychological mechanisms that underpin emotional resilience.

Read the blog by Dr Joe MacDonagh, chair, RIA Life and Health Sciences Committee, and former president of The Psychological Society of Ireland, which reflects on this discussion: https://www.ria.ie/blog/discourse-series-the-neuroscience-of-resilience-building-brains-to-withstand-life/
Speaker: Professor George Bonanno, professor of clinical psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Respondent: Ian Robertson MRIA, professor emeritus and fellow at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and founding director of the Institute of Neuroscience at TCD and of the Global Brain Health Institute.

Panel Spotlight: Socio-political Borders

In an increasingly interconnected yet divided world, understanding socio-political borders has never been more critical. This panel brings together leading voices to explore how cultural, political, and structural boundaries impact equity and inclusion.

Chaired by Dr Cliona McGovern (University College Dublin), the panel features:
• Professor Kath Browne, University College Dublin
• Wigdan Gasmalla, Migrant Women's Health Officer, Akidwa
• Professor Cathal McCall, Queen's University Belfast
• Dr David Nyaluke, University College Cork

Key themes include:
✔ Challenging cultural divisions and rethinking social cohesion
✔ Access to healthcare for migrant communities in Ireland
✔ Geopolitical borders and divided societies
✔ Transforming curricula beyond Eurocentric frameworks

Join us for this one-day conference and be part of the conversation.
View full programme and book your ticket now: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/royalirishacademy/2188532

Táimid ag earcú / We are hiring!

Fáiltítear roimh iarratais ar an bpost mar Eagarthóir Coimisiúnaithe ag Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann.
Dáta deiridh: 15:00 ar an 18 Meitheamh 2026

Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil tabhair cuairt ar: https://www.ria.ie/about/careers/commissioning-editor-0-8/?lang=ga

Applications are invited for the position of Commissioning Editor based at the Royal Irish Academy (RIA).
Closing date: 15:00 on 18 June 2026

Visit our website for more information: https://www.ria.ie/about/careers/commissioning-editor-0-8/