Póstaeir san Oireachtas gave undergraduate students and their supervisors the opportunity to showcase their research directly to politicians and policy makers in the Irish parliament. 30 students, nominated by 14 Higher Education Institutions from around the Island of Ireland pitched their research directly to over 40 politicians, Ministers, senators, civil servants and policy officials during a live two-hour poster showcase on the 12th Nov. The posters were on exhibition in Leinster house from the 7th to the 14th November 2025.
United under the theme Research for Change, students presented solution-orientated research directly to politicians, senators and policy makers, exploring current challenges in the areas of education; environment and sustainability; healthcare, nutrition and medicine; infrastructure; society and integration; technology; social media and artificial intelligence. Each presentation focused on delivering practical recommendations to strengthen public policy in Ireland. A one page synopsis of all 28 projects is available for download here.
Full details of all the research presented including each of the 28 research posters, research abstracts and short videos prepared by each PsO participant explaining their research impact in plain english, can be found on the Irish SURE Network PsO webpage.
You can find a summary of each PsO participants research and poster published in a special edition of the undergraduate research journal SURE-J (ISSN 2990-8167), details of which may be seen In the carousel below.
The PsO special edition of SURE J editor in chief was Dr Anne M. Friel, TUS, and guest editor Dr Brigid Hooban, ATU.
Dundalk Institute of Technology
Supervisor: Keren Goodman
National College of Ireland
Supervisor: Dr David Mothersill
"What I want TDs and policymakers to take away from the research I have conducted is that there needs to be an improvement in support services addressing loneliness among single parents. These supports should cater all single parents and should be tailored towards their lived experience."
Atlantic Technological University
Supervisor: Dr Brian P. McCann
"Small, evidence-based rail improvements can deliver real solutions to aid economic growth and reduce climate emissions. Policymakers should act on clear public demand and proven technical feasibility instead of waiting for large-scale."
Technological University Dublin
Supervisor: Dr Thoa Pham
"With hospitals operating at capacity and populations growing rapidly, AI offers a sustainable way to expand healthcare capacity without expanding infrastructure. Leveraging anonymous digital health data, AI can help optimize resources and improve patient flow."
University College Cork
Supervisor: Dr John Goodwin
Trinity College Dublin
Supervisor: Professor Aoife McLysaght
Queen's University Belfast
Supervisor: Dr Liam Sunner
Mary Immaculate College
Supervisors: Dr Clara Hoyne, Prof. Niamh Stack
Technological University of the Shannon
Supervisor: Dr Daniel Fitzpatrick
"By providing an alternative to pesticide use, this project bridges regulatory gaps in Irish agriculture."
Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Supervisors: Shirley Casey, Dr Hilary Kenna
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Supervisor: Karim Ladha
Atlantic Technological University
Supervisor: Martin Bradley
"Affordable technology can make livestock monitoring accessible to every farmer, improving animal welfare, reducing losses, and supporting more sustainable farming."
Trinity College Dublin
Supervisor: Dr Russell McLaughlin
"In an ageing population, the incidence of Motor Neurone Disease is rising. We need to emphasise fundamental scientific research in dealing with this problem, to provide the key knowledge we need to develop effective treatments for the root cause of disease."
Dundalk Institute of Technology
Supervisor: Dr Colletta Dalikeni
"In order to support male victims of domestic violence, support and resources need to be made accessible to break the stigma regarding men, highlighting that domestic violence is a human issue, not a gender issue."
South East Technological University
Supervisor: Dr Aisling McGrath
"Community-based health programmes can significantly improve older men’s physical, mental, and social wellbeing, but their success depends on long-term commitment. Despite proven benefits, a major gap remains between policy and practice, as such initiatives often lack core public funding."
South East Technological University
Supervisor: Dr Enda Dunican
"We can’t fix what we don’t measure - my project demonstrates how low-cost 3D scanning can map and assess Ireland’s hidden housing stock."
Atlantic Technological University
Supervisor: Martin Bradley
"To highlight the impact of diabetes in Ireland and show how non-invasive blood sugar monitoring can help people understand their diet’s effect on their bodies and take preventative action."
Atlantic Technological University
Supervisors: Dr Sarah O’Donovan, Dr Lisa Ryan
"If we are serious about tackling chronic disease rates and healthcare costs, nutrition must move from the margins to the mainstream of Irish health policy. Investing in nutrition education and integration is investing in the nation’s future health."
Munster Technological University
Supervisor: Dr Martin Klepal
"AI-driven occupancy monitoring and prediction is a promising way to help Ireland meet its sustainability and energy efficiency goals. It is also practical and convenient to implement using existing infrastructure in modern buildings."
University of Limerick
Supervisor: Dr Vincent O’Sullivan
"Income inequality affects our beliefs, our opportunities, our politics, and our attitudes towards immigrants. Income inequality is a key driver in increased positive attitudes towards immigrants."
University College Cork
Supervisor: Prof. Aideen M. Sullivan
"People with Parkinson’s and their carers are struggling. There is an urgent need for targeted investment in support services beyond the capital, across the island of Ireland."
Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Supervisor: Robert Griffin
"Fast-paced social media measurably slows attention and reaction times. Users deserve platforms that protect, not exploit their focus through stronger digital literacy and public awareness initiatives."
Technological University Dublin
Supervisor: Dylan Kirby
University of Limerick
Supervisor: Professor Mairead Moriarty
Mary Immaculate College
Supervisor: Dr Cóilín Ó Braonáin
Queen's University Belfast
Supervisor: Dr Madjid Karimirad
Technological University of the Shannon
Supervisor: Prof. Clement Higginbotham
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Supervisors: Professor Mary Cannon, Dr Darren Roddy
Each project highlights the incredible potential of undergraduate research to inform policy and shape the future of Irish Innovation.
The projects covered fields from medicine to psychology and social care and topics such as the invisibility of male victims of domestic violence, the self-stigmatization of being a single parent, challenging accentism in Ireland and making primary and secondary education more inclusive as well as technical examples such as using AI to make buildings more sustainable and hospitals more efficient, or checking blood glucose levels without needles and creating more degradable, environmentally friendly plastic alternatives.
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“PsO gave me an invaluable opportunity to present my research and passion to national policymakers, including Minister James Lawless, Senator Ollie Crowe, Senator Shane Curley, and TD Albert Dolan and several other representatives, and to discuss the real gaps identified in nutrition care. The experience, along with follow-on opportunities such as speaking on Galway Bay FM, has strengthened my academic pathway and my goal of contributing to evidence-based policy and improved nutrition integration within the health system.”
The PsO event was a fantastic opportunity and a great honour to speak about my research into income inequality and attitudes towards immigrants. It provided me the opportunity to speak with peers, academics and politicians about a subject that I am passionate about, it afforded me the opportunity to dispell misinformation about immigrants and explain how inequality affects all of us throughout our lives. Having these conversations in nationally important places, such as the Oireachtas, is a key step in narrowing the gap between research and change.
It was a privilege to present my final-year research project in Leinster House as part of the inaugural Póstaeir san Oireachtas event. Standing alongside talented student researchers from across Ireland and discussing our work directly with TDs, Senators, and policymakers was an unforgettable experience.
The PsO event not only gave me the opportunity to present my research but it also enabled me to receive/share opinions and views of domestic violence towards men. Being able to do this has spread awareness surrounding this topic and hopefully being able to make a real difference.
The PsO event not only gave me the opportunity to present my research but it also enabled me to receive/share opinions and views of domestic violence towards men. Being able to do this has spread awareness surrounding this topic and hopefully being able to make a real difference.
The PsO event not only gave me the opportunity to present my research but it also enabled me to receive/share opinions and views of domestic violence towards men. Being able to do this has spread awareness surrounding this topic and hopefully being able to make a real difference.
Póstaeir san Oireachtas was a brilliant experience. It helped me see the real impact my research can have and pushed me to take it further. It’s opened doors I never expected.
The PsO process was an amazing experience, and I’ve taken a lot from it in terms of confidence and how I communicate my work. It genuinely feels like a badge of honour to carry with me going forward, both in my studies and in my career.
I learned many skills through this event and connected with other student researchers from various backgrounds
The PsO event was a great opportunity to showcase my research to politicians and policy makers involved in public health and diabetes. It allowed me to present the advantages of new technology in blood sugar monitoring that have the potential to drive policy change from the information I was able to convey to those who came and asked me about my research.
I learned many skills through this event and connected with other student researchers from various backgrounds
It has genuinely inspired me to integrate clinical practice with policy development as I move forward in my career which is something I had never considered as it isn’t covered in our curriculum at the undergraduate level, but is hugely important. The PsO is an enlightening experience for any student who will be working with the public, and I strongly encourage everyone to partake in this!
PsO was an unbelievable opportunity to speak with like-minded individuals about how our research could make a difference and I am so thankful that I was chosen to take part in this event.
Prior to the event each of the 30 PsO participants were awarded a PsO 2025 certificate, signed by the four event speakers Minster James Lawless, Deputy Erin McGreehan, ATU president Dr. Orla Flynn and PsO national lead Dr. Therese Montgomery.
Speaking at the event, Minister James Lawless, TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, said:
“Events like PsO showcase the quality, creativity, and impact of student research happening every day across Ireland’s world-class academic institutions, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. PsO is helping to bring the depth and excellence of Irish research directly into the policy process, where it matters most, in the Houses of the Oireachtas”.
PsO 2025 was sponsored by Deputy Erin McGreehan, Cathaoirleach of the Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
Speaking at the event Deputy McGreehan stated:
“In a world where misinformation moves quickly, where the loudest voices are not always the most informed, the ability to communicate research clearly and confidently is a civic act. It strengthens our democracy, and it ensures evidence and expertise are part of all policy decisions,” she said.
PsO was championed by ATU president Dr. Orla Flynn.
Reflecting on the importance of teaching through research from day one in Higher Education, Dr. Flynn stated:
“As we consider the sudden arrival of immersive user friendly GenAI, it is more important than ever to nurture a strong research culture across all levels at our academic institutions. To ensure the preservation of key graduate skills such as innovation, problem solving and a questioning mindset, we must find new ways to incentivise research active teaching staff and establish clear career pathways across the Technological University Sector in Ireland”
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The event was opened and closed by Posters is Brussels Irish lead, PsO National lead and Irish SURE Network chair, Dr. Therese Montgomery.
Dr Montgomery thanked the Irish national PsO organising committee, The Oireachtas public engagement team, Mr. Denis Naughten (PsO parliamentary and engagement advisor) and the PsO institutional contacts from 14 different Higher Education Institutes all of whom worked closely together to make the inaugural PsO event a success.
“PsO has been designed to empower our students, promoting critical thinking, innovation and civic engagement whilst building political awareness, thus providing students with the skills required to enact real change in society. Through this initiative we wish to bring research into Leinster House to inform policy, and to bring politics out to reach as many young people as possible.”
Each Higher Education Institute (HEI) across the island of Ireland was invited to nominate five candidates to take part in PsO 2025. To be eligible for selection students must have completed a significant piece of independent, original and applied research in the past year.
PsO Institutional contact points were elected to facilitate the nomination process within their own HEI.
Students were selected whose research projects demonstrated significant excellence in original undergraduate research, and whose research had the potential for tangible socioeconomic, technological, health, sustainability or environmental impact in the future.
PsO poster presenters attended three live online training sessions on poster design, video design, political engagement and project pitch delivered and designed by the national PsO committee and facilitated by Mr. Denis Naughten, Irish parliamentary and public engagement expert. Each presenter received individual feedback on all aspects submitted. Upon completion of the programme PsO participants received a dedicated Digital Badge, verified by the SURE Network and designed by Dr. AnneMarie O’Brien, Technological University of the Shannon.
Led by Atlantic Technological University (ATU), PsO 2025 was organised by the Irish PsO National organising committee (pictured above on the plinth in front of Leinster House); a subcommittee of the Irish SURE Network featuring membership from five different Institutes of Higher Education across Ireland – ATU, Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Dundalk IT and South East Technological University (SETU).
You can read more about the successful PsO event on the ATU press release.
PsO was one of five Posters in Parliament events running across Five European countries in 2025/26. The Irish PsO event was attended by Posters in Brussels Project lead: Dr. Susanne Haberstroh, University of Oldenburg and Project Scientific advisor: Prof. Dr. Harald Mieg, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, as well as national project leads, Agnes Darabos from the University of Luxembourg and Femi Odebiyi from the University of Lithuania.
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