TU Dublin Celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025
TU Dublin Research and Innovation is proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS) with a focus on the theme ‘Closing the Gender Gap in Science.’ Our commitment to gender equality in science aligns with UNESCO’s global call to action, emphasising the need for stronger policies, investment in education, and the dismantling of barriers that hinder women's participation in STEM fields. By fostering an environment of inclusivity and opportunity, TU Dublin aims to empower more women and girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Please see some of our groundbreaking work led by female researchers at TU Dublin across various disciplines. These researchers and educators are paving the way for future generations of women and girls in STEM, and TU Dublin continues to champion gender equality through groundbreaking work!
Built Environment Research and Innovation Centre (BERIC) / CREATE Research Group
Úna is Head of Civil Engineering at TU Dublin, a member of BERIC and CREATE Research Group and a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers. Úna’s research focuses on engineering education and the first-year experience. Having worked as a Chartered Engineer in industry for 20 years before joining academia she has a broad understanding of the necessity to attract more women into the profession and to provide supports to them as they develop their careers. Úna’s research work has included organising summer schools for engineering students to highlight the importance of solving the SDGs with a focus on having a diverse team with excellent intercultural skills (PROFESS 12). The A-STEP 2030 project investigated what makes engineering attractive and to whom, to enable us to showcase the required competencies for engineering to the talent pipeline (A-STEP 2030). Her current project investigates the experiences of women and first-generation students in engineering programmes and designs interventions to support them in their first year (In-4-STEM).
School of Food Science and Environmental Health / Centre for AMR and One Health Research
Elena is an Assistant Lecturer in Food Safety Management and Regulatory Affairs at and a member of Centre for AMR and One Health Research at TU Dublin. She is an advocate for extracurricular activities for which she has been implicated in delivering several food science related activities across primary, secondary, high school, and special education settings. Her involvement spans events such as European Researchers' Night, SciFest, MicroMundo, Science Week, and STEM programs for which she has created educational content for social media, organising hands-on activities fun and engaging, thus encouraging children to explore the wonders of food science, especially food microbiology and its applications in everyday lives. For two years in a row, she engaged with secondary school students from Scoil Chiarain when she had the opportunity to speak about microorganisms, though tiny, that can play a significant role in our lives but also about consumers perception of different types of foods. On several occasions, presentations and workshops such as ‘Cooking science’, ‘Researching from home! Do we know what we eat’, ‘The world of monsters and wizards you can't see’, ‘Hand hygiene’ and ‘Ensuring food safety in the face of climate change‘ took place during Night of the Researcher, National Ploughing Championships and Science Week events. Additionally, she had the chance to participate in STEM Talent Girl, where she discussed a day in the life of a scientific researcher.
Faculty of Computing Digital and Data
Róisín is the Head of Research and Innovation for the Faculty of Computing, Digital, and Data. She is an active member of CSinc (Computer Science Inclusive), a national outreach initiative that promotes Computer Science education in schools and provides professional development (PD) for teachers. Róisín collaborates with the PDST (Professional Development Service for Teachers)now Oide, to support the rollout of training for the new Leaving Certificate Computer Science (LCCS) subject. She was also a contributing author to the forthcoming LCCS textbook, set for publication in summer 2020. With several recent publications in Computer Science education, Róisín has made significant contributions to the field. She is also a founding member of SIGSEire, the ACM Special Interest Group for Computer Science Education in Ireland. Róisín’s PhD research focuses on the development of professional development (PD) programs for teachers who are currently teaching or preparing to teach Leaving Certificate Computer Science. As many of these teachers do not have a formal computing qualification, targeted support is essential to help them build confidence and effectively deliver the subject in the classroom. The goal of this PD initiative is to enhance teachers' self-efficacy, ensuring they feel equipped to engage students in computing. Given the shortage of computing graduates in Ireland, this work ultimately aims to increase the uptake of Computer Science at the secondary level, encouraging more students to pursue the subject at university and contribute to the growing demand for tech professionals.
Radiation and Environmental Science Centre, Physical to Life Sciences Research Hub and School of Physics, Clinical and Optometric Sciences
Fiona is the Centre Manager of the Radiation and Environmental Science Centre (RESC). Fiona has 25 years research experience since attaining her PhD and has published 140 peer reviewed journal papers (65% open access), has a h index of 50 and 7500 citations. She has supervised 32 PhD students and 2 MPhil students to completion and has acted as mentor to 12 postdoctoral scientists and 3 MSCA Fellows. She has filed 4 patents and won the Enterprise Ireland ‘One to Watch’ award in 2011. She is a member of several professional bodies and has served as President of the Microscopy Society of Ireland, Chair of the Irish Radiation Research Society and President of the European Radiation Research Society and she is currently serving as Secretary Treasurer of the International Association for Radiation Research. She has hosted several national and international conferences. Fionas research is focussed on developing new light-based technologies for cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment. She has worked for many years on cervical cancer, a cancer that affects young women. She has mentored over 20 women in science as PhD students or postdocs.
School of Food Science and Environmental Health / Nanolab Research Centre
Azza has played an active role in promoting science to children and young adults. She was a speaker on the RTEjr podcast "Sense of Science" wherein by discussing carbohydrates and proteins, she aimed to ignite curiosity in young listeners and future food scientists. Her mentorship of two young female innovators from TU Dublin, led her to be awarded Enterprise Ireland’s Commercial Feasibility Funding for research on cosmeceutical ingredients, showcasing successful female-led innovation. Engaging with young audiences, she participated in a Bio-economy event and the National Ploughing Championships to inspire school children towards technical education. Furthermore, she interacted with primary school students at Scoil Chiarain to explore the benefits of home-cooked food versus store-bought options, encouraging a hands-on approach to learning food science. At TU Dublin, she has been hosting young female researchers from Europe on Erasmus exchange programs.
School of Computer Science / Digital Futures Research Hub / CSinc
Svetlana is a passionate advocate for women in ICT and has actively supported numerous projects that empower females in STEM. She was the TU Dublin lead for the CodeFirst:Girls, an initiative designed to teach coding to female students, and an academic facilitator for the ESTeEM project. Additionally, she has participated in events such as SciFest and Science Blast. Currently, Svetlana is affiliated with the CSinc Research Centre, where she focuses on computer science outreach for primary and secondary school students, as well as professional development for teachers. As an active member of several communities, including Women in Technology United (WITU), Women in Technology and Science Ireland (WITS), EUGAIN, and the Informatics Europe Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, she continues to work to improve gender balance in the ICT sector.
School of Mechanical Engineering / Towards People Oriented Technology Research Centre
Claire’s research focuses on the development of a new treatment for children with congenital heart defects who need replacement heart valves. While existing treatments unquestionably save lives, they do have limitations such as their inability to grow with the child. This is where the TU Dublin’s research team including Ms Eleana Kostopoulou, a PhD student at TU Dublin, can make a difference. Using tissue engineering techniques, they have found a way of developing human heart valve tissue in a lab setting. Using materials which are naturally found in the body, such as collagen and elastin, they have developed heart valves that show great promise as a future treatment for children with congenital heart defects. The vision is that these valves would grow with the child’s heart, eliminating the need for future interventions. While there remains a large body of work to be completed before this research finds its way into clinical practice, Claire’s Research Ireland funded work is helping to make that dream a reality.
Faculty of Sciences and Health / Nanolab Research Centre / Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences Committee of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA)/ Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Christine is the Head of Research and Innovation for the Faculty of Sciences and Health and encourages staff and colleagues to collaborate with enterprise and apply for prestigious fellowships. She has been funded through Teagasc Walsh Fellowships, FIRM, SFI and IRC awards. Her formal students and graduates are the top researchers in pharmaceutical companies, Dairy products, Meat and Whiskey industries and academies around world. Christine is an active researcher in the areas of inorganic/ bioinorganic chemistry, waste valorisation and bioactive analysis, and trace chemical analysis in food products. She has also a depth of experience in curriculum design and has been working with developing countries on course design at undergraduate and postgraduate third level Universities. Christine is a member of the Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences Committee of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA). She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and current chair of the RSC All Ireland Steering Committee.
School of Transport & Civil Engineering / BERIC Research Centre / RDS Science & Technology Committee Member
Rachel is a lecturer in the School of Transport & Civil Engineering in TU Dublin and is a member of the RDS Science and Technology committee. Rachels’ PhD research focused on addressing the STEM gender gap in Ireland by building STEM capacity and skills through the development of spatial ability – a key cognitive skill for success in STEM. This was achieved by developing a suite of activities that were spatially enhanced, based on the most up to date research practices for supporting spatial ability development in the science classroom. She worked with six second level schools in Ireland to introduce spatial-focused STEM activities within the current Junior Cycle science curriculum. Findings showed a significant increase in spatial ability and scientific reasoning for participating students’ post-instruction.
School of Food Science and Environmental Health
Gisele is a technical officer and a dance instructor of European folk dances in Brazil, Canada, France and now in Ireland since 2013. She leads a team of instructors and coaches to use music and dance through arts to promote culture and mental health for females and young adults from the local community around Grangegorman. On 8th March 2024, she actively supported secondary school students from St. Aidan’s Community School, St Mark’s Community School, and Colaiste Pobal Fola in the Inspiring the Future STEM workshops in TU Dublin. Gisele brings her talents to enhance creatives of final year research projects students on TU882, TU875, TU869 and TU881 Programme in TU Dublin. She also has a project on her Youtube channel with lab tutorials for students. Five final year projects students have present at SURE conferences 2022-2024 and published over 5 Journal papers in the peer reviewed journals in the past 3 years.
School of Computer Science / Digital Futures Research Hub / Towards People Oriented Technology (tPOT) Research Centre
Mariana focuses on the use of technology for making maths and computer science more inclusive. Her research in game-based learning aims to alleviate mathematics anxiety among primary school students, a condition that disproportionately affects girls and can deter them from pursuing STEM careers. Mariana is a key member of the Happy Maths project, which develops educational games designed to enhance problem-solving skills and reduce math-related anxiety. Mariana is also a co-Principal Investigator in the Access2CS project, aiming to create an inclusive environment for students with diverse abilities. The initiative focuses on transforming modules, improving facilities, and enhancing teaching practices to support students with disabilities in successfully completing their studies.
School of Informatics and Cybersecurity and Director of HPC Nexus Lab at TU Dublin
Tania is a Computing Lecturer and founding Director of HPC Nexus Lab. She completed her PhD in High Performance Computing (HPC), a tech field highly dominated by males. As the only female in her research group, she experienced firsthand the challenges faced by women in STEM and committed herself to advocating for students and women in the field. Since then, she has been dedicated to supporting women in ICT, promoting gender diversity, and mentoring future female leaders in STEM. She is a mentor in the UCD alumni volunteer Career Mentor Program, a member of the TrailblazHER™ community at TU Dublin, and an active mentor in there MentorHER Programme, guiding female-identifying STEM students in their final year at TU Dublin. She also involved in various organizations advocating for gender diversity in technology, including Women in High Performance Computing (WHPC), Women in Technology and Science Ireland (WITS), Women Leaders in Higher Education (WLHE), Women in Technology United (WITU), and Women in Tech, actively participating in organizing events and talks under these initiatives. Tania is also a committee member of the recently established Women in High Performance Computing Ireland chapter (WHPC-Ireland), formed in collaboration with ICHEC and NI-HPC, and her HPC Nexus Lab at School of Informatics and Cybersecurity TU Dublin.
School of Architecture & Built Environment / CREATE Research Group
Sandra is a PhD student at Technological University Dublin. Her main research interests are in higher education, collaborative learning strategies, and women in STEM. She is particularly interested in issues concerning inequality and intersectionality in engineering education. Her research methods are based on phenomenological analysis. Sandra’s PhD research explores the lived experiences of female students in collaborative learning during undergraduate engineering programs at TU Dublin. It examines the challenges these women have faced in the male-dominated field of engineering, the strategies they have developed to navigate these challenges, and how these experiences have shaped their engagement and sense of belonging in engineering.
Faculty of Computing, Digital and Data / CSinc
Karen is a Computing Lecturer and the Academic Lead of TU Dublin’s Computing Learning Centre. Before transitioning into academia eight years ago, she spent 15 years working as a Software Developer in the industry. She previously Lectured in the School of Enterprise Computing & Digital Transformation before moving into her current role at the University’s newly established Computing Learning Centre. Karen is an active member of the Computer Science Inclusive (CSinc) research group and centre, which runs various outreach initiatives aimed at promoting Computing nationally. These initiatives, each with distinct objectives, are completely free for students, teachers, and schools. One of the longest-running programs is an inclusive Computing outreach model that engages a wide range of schools and student demographics. This initiative delivers a two-hour, in-person introductory Computing session designed to challenge and improve perceptions of the subject. To date, it has been delivered to over 10,000 Irish primary and secondary school students. Another key project, CSLinc, is a funded initiative that provides equitable online Computer Science curricula, ensuring sustained exposure to CS for students in primary and secondary schools across Ireland. The latest initiative, EDTips (Enabling Digital Technologies in Primary Schools), focuses on developing interactive, age-appropriate lessons for the new Primary STEM curriculum. This project also includes professional learning resources to help teachers confidently integrate digital technology into their classrooms. Karen is currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science Education, with her research titled: "K-12 Computer Science in Ireland – Factors that Affect and Influence Students in Formal and Informal Curricula."
School of Food Science and Environmental Health / Nanolab Research Centre
Furong is the director of the Nanolab Research Centre and a lecturer at the School of Food Science and Environmental Health. She inspired her research innovation impact through education. From 2016 to 2019, she used microscopy techniques to measure the size of mammalian and plant cells to enable understanding of dimensions for learners at Larkin College. In spring 2024, she engaged in balloon twisting and made balloon sculptures to engage children in learning about microplastic pollution. She applied for educational funding in Chemistry from the Royal Society of Chemistry for Broombridge Educate Together National School. Further for STEM week 2024, she trained school children to use portable microscopes to observe materials and textures.
Office of the VP for Sustainability / School of Civil & Transport Engineering / Bio- and Circular Economies Research Group
Aimee is currently working in the Office of the VP for Sustainability as Sustainability Education Lead and is supervising Masters and PhD students in the School of Civil & Transport Engineering. Aimee’s research has centred on sustainable buildings since 2009. This spans from retrofit to new material development, building energy performance to circular construction detailing and practices. She has experience in lab and in-situ monitoring and analysis, prototyping, structural and thermal testing, developing verified dynamic models, and conducting occupant, stakeholder and policy-maker surveys and interviews. She is currently on the Board for DYNASTEE, the EU network for 'DYNamic Analysis, Simulation and Testing applied to the Energy and Environmental performance of buildings'. She has acted as PI on multiple national and international projects including SAOLWood (looking at the use of Irish timber in construction), BIO-RACE (which is developing new bio-based modular panels) and PREDICT (examining the energy performance gap in buildings). Aimee also leads the Bio- and Circular Economies Research Group at TU Dublin which has a membership of over 40 from multiple disciplines across the University.