Research 2021-2022
The University’s researchers were noted for their dynamic and effective responses to the Covid pandemic but, with the improvement of the public health situation, DCU’s research community began the academic year with renewed purpose and focus. Across the DCU’s faculties and centres, this research addresses a broad spectrum of societal and economic challenges.
In one of its first major research outputs, the newly created DCU Centre for Climate and Society published Environmental Justice in Ireland: Key dimensions of environmental and climate injustice experienced by vulnerable and marginalised communities. The report found that low-income communities and marginalised groups perceive themselves to be largely excluded from environmental and planning decisions. Legal costs and the lack of civil legal aid are significant barriers to public participation in environmental decision-making. The study was the first of its kind to investigate key concepts and debates in environmental justice and how they relate to Ireland.
A landmark study, which for the first time assessed the lived experience of Ireland’s intersex community, was published in April 2022. The research team highlighted that being intersex does not ordinarily impair a person’s life or physical health. However, some older interviewees told researchers about interventions that they were subjected to as babies and children, and how these have been the source of significant trauma in their lives. Another first-of-its-kind report by researchers at DCU highlighted the need to strengthen preparation for Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in Initial Teacher Education (ITE). The study found that almost two-thirds of student teachers perceived that they were not receiving enough input on RSE as part of their ITE programme. Teacher Educators emphasised the relevance of RSE but noted the lack of status and visibility of the subject across the levels of the education system, including teacher education. In November, DCU’s Educational Disadvantage Centre hosted a virtual event to launch ‘Reclaiming the Secret of Love: Feminism, Imagination and Sexual Difference by the late DCU academic Dr Ann Louise Gilligan. The book sets out her vision for human subjectivity and education on which much of her teaching and life's work was based.
In the field of human health, work began on the development of synthetic tendon and ligament implants. The team behind this transatlantic collaboration is investigating the creation of manmade implants modelled on embryonic tendons. Meanwhile, DCU researchers and colleagues at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, discovered a new method to prepare drugs with the potential to damage the DNA of cancer cells. The research aims to widen treatment options, particularly against difficult-to-treat cancers such as triple-negative breast cancer or glioblastoma multiforme. The long-term goal of the work is to provide effective personalised cancer treatments with lower side effects.
Some of the research outputs of the last year reflected the lasting influence of COVID-19. A study from the University’s School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health found that the pandemic had significant adverse effects for residents, family members and staff in residential care settings for older people in Ireland. Meanwhile, a study by DCU and
Dublin City Council examined the role of parks as social and recreational spaces during the pandemic. A survey by the researchers found a significant increase in park usage, with 9 in 10 of respondents agreeing the park helped to improve their physical and mental health, allowing them to ‘clear the head’ and ‘get out of the house’.
Research produced by DCU Business School over the past year covered a wide range of topics. DCU’s National Centre for Family Business released a study that showed companies who foster a compassionate and empathetic culture, and demonstrate a genuine concern for their employees, fare better during times of crisis and beyond. A new open-access book titled Digital Towns: Accelerating and Measuring the Digital Transformation of Rural Societies and Economies provided a first attempt at a comprehensive set of indicators for measuring digital town initiatives. It found that rural communities have lower digital competencies than their urban counterparts, which often results in them being left behind. Meanwhile, researchers in the Anti Corruption Centre (ARC) began work on an international study examining the negative impact of so-called sextortion on female entrepreneurship in developing economies.
It was a year marked by significant research output focused on children’s development and learning. A new study from the School of Language, Literacy & Early Childhood Education has found that infants aged nine months benefit from being read to and have significantly better expressive vocabulary skills by the time they are 3 years of age. Families who were more likely to report reading with children were those with higher educational attainment and those who reported a high-quality home language environment. Meanwhile, a landmark study by the Centre for Talented Youth Ireland (CTYI) found over 30% of gifted children reported having to hide their abilities to maintain friendships. The report found that gifted students do not feel challenged at school, are rarely offered any differentiated work, and most are frequently bored in the classroom.
DCU’s School of Inclusive & Special Education published research that found that nearly half of Deaf and hard of hearing children have significant socio-emotional problems. This has an impact on home life, classroom learning and the ability to get on with others. Only 14% of these, however, are currently receiving mental health or counselling supports. Work also began on a major new study looking at the physical activity levels among children who are blind or vision impaired.
Two significant new books examining the lives of major figures in Irish history and politics were published by DCU academics during the year. Dr Daithí Ó Corráin and Dr Gerard Hanley launched Cathal Brugha, 'An indomitable Spirit', their biography of one of the leading figures in the Irish independence struggle and the first high-profile fatality in the Civil War. Haughey, a landmark new biography of the former Taoiseach by Prof Gary Murphy was also published. Based on exclusive access to the Haughey archives, as well as extensive interviews, the book offers a new assessment of one of Ireland’s most significant and controversial politicians. Focusing on more recent events, The Law & Politics of Brexit Volume 3, edited by Prof Federico Fabbrini, was the first comprehensive academic analysis of the new terms of EU-UK relations post-Brexit.
The complexities and challenges of the digital communications were another focus of DCU research. A study conducted by the School of Communications found that the smartphone is now Irish adults’ main means of consuming news content in the morning. The finding was part of the Digital News Report Ireland 2022. The annual study is undertaken by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and is the largest ongoing comparative study of news consumption in the world. Meanwhile, experts from DCU and the University of Exeter launched a collaboration to track the spread of Incel ideology online, helping academics and practitioners better understand the spread of extremist ideologies and develop intervention measures.