The Brain – Past, Present & Future
The Robert Boyle Winter School happened at the RDS Dublin, on the 25th of January 2025 from 9:30 am – 4 pm.
Taking place at the Minerva Suite at the RDS in Dublin, this year’s Winter School addressed the topic of The Brain – Past, Present & Future.
Curious about this theme? You can watch the lectures back at the bottom of the page!
For full biographies of our invited speakers and chairs, please click on their names.
Programme
Dr Rachel Harding, RDS Science Committee
Welcome
Dr Rachel Harding is a lecturer in the School of Transport & Civil Engineering at the Technological University Dublin and is a member of the RDS Science and Technology committee. Rachel’s research interests in STEM / Engineering Education focus on gender differences in spatial visualisation skills.
Morning Session, Chair: Dr SHEILA DONEGAN
Dr Sheila Donegan is a lecturer in Chemistry at SETU and co-director of CALMAST. She is a passionate advocate of STEM and holds many national positions in this area. She also co-founded Maths Week with Eoin Gill – the leading festival of its kind in the world – which attracts over 520,000 participants each year across the island of Ireland.
Eoin Gill, Co-Director of CALMAST, SETU
Introduction
Eoin Gill is a founder of the Robert Boyle Summer School. An environmental engineer by profession, his research and professional interests span sustainability and climate action, to the Arts, Philosophy and History of Science and Technology. Eoin has over 25 years experience developing and delivering STEM and STEAM festivals and activities across the Higher Education, Science and Arts sector in Ireland and beyond.
Watch his introduction here.
Prof. Pat Guiry, School of Chemistry, University College Dublin
Remembering Prof Dervilla Donnelly
Pat Guiry is Professor of Chemistry at University College Dublin (UCD). His research interests include the design, synthesis and application of novel ligands in asymmetric catalysis, natural product synthesis and medicinal chemistry. Since 2023, he has been President of the Royal Irish Academy, and since 2022 he has been President of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland and President of the Division of Organic Chemistry of the European Chemical Society.
Watch his presentation here.
Brian Trench, Writer, editor, and former lecturer in science communication and cultural history, Dublin City University
Boyle Medalists of 1910s
Brian Trench is a writer, editor and lecturer in science communication and cultural history. He is a former science and technology journalist, and senior lecturer and Head of School of Communications, Dublin City University, Ireland. He is the immediate past president of PCST (2014-21), the global network for science communication.
Watch his presentation here.
Prof. Richard Roche, Department of Psychology, Maynooth University
Irish Pioneers of Neuroscience: A Hidden Legacy
Prof. Richard Roche is a professor of psychology at Maynooth University. His research interests include memory, spatial representation, psychosis, stroke and decision making. He also established Ireland’s first high-density electroencephalogram (EEG) laboratory. He has been a strong supporter of neuroscience advocacy, outreach and public engagement over the last number of years.
Watch his presentation here.
Afternoon Session, Chair: DR NORA SALABERRY
Dr Nora Salaberry is a STEAM Festival and Engagement Executive who creates new, fun and engaging STEAM resources and helps to manage CALMAST events. She holds an MSc and a PhD in Biology – specialising in Neurosciences, both from the University of Strasbourg in France.
Prof. Dara Cannon, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Galway
Imaging and Imagining: How imaging the brain is transforming our understanding of emotion
Prof. Dara Cannon is a professor of neuroscience at the University of Galway on the west coast of Ireland. Prof Cannon’s research laboratory focuses on the biological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders including analyses using brain imaging, genetic, cognitive and life context with a teaching focus on gross anatomical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based neuroanatomy and neuroimaging.
Watch her presentation here.
PANEL DISCUSSION, CHAIR: KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
Kevin O’Sullivan is an Environment and Science Editor and former editor of The Irish Times. Kevin is from Tramore, County Waterford and holds a BSc from University College Dublin and a Diploma in Journalism from Dublin City University.
Institute of Neuroscience, University of Galway
School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin
For full biographies of our invited speakers and chairs, please click on their names.
Recordings of the presentations
This event was organised by Calmast, South East Technological University’s STEM Engagement Centre in partnership with the Royal Dublin Society, Science Foundation Ireland and Lismore Heritage Centre.
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