REBOOT UL is the perfect place to disrupt computer UL LINKS “science education. It’s the upstart University! ul.ie/ullinks - John Collison, Stripe SUMMER 2021 PRESIDENT'S WELCOME 01 WELCOME TO THE SUMMER 2021 EDITION OF UL LINKS variety of some important stories from our community while also looking outside to the wider landscape. UL has been at the forefront of many developments at home and abroad and in this edition, we look at the next steps following the announcement of our new Immersive Software Engineering (ISE) programme. Partnerships with industry leaders such as Stripe and Analog have been added to and in all we note the addition of 36 partners and sponsors in total. Stripe co-founder and president, John Collison also offers his thoughts on the programme and its need for industry. Analog Devices CEO and president, but most of all UL Alum, Vincent Roche offers his viewpoint on the new ISE programme as well as his belief that the wider collaborations of research, education and industry will lead to the development of solutions to the world’s biggest problems. UL PhD student Mamobo Ogoro who is leading a national awareness campaign, talks to us on founding a multimedia platform to ‘dissect’ the social issues facing Ireland’s multicultural generation. We read about Dr Sean Redmond and the REPPP Greentown project based out of UL’s School of Law that is getting global attention. The online world has created ‘access to more affordable, equitable and timely’ treatment provision, according to Dr Pepijn van de Ven. He talks to us about the future of internet interventions. In this edition, we can also read about research that allows cars to be made from paper waste. Partnerships with industry to allow students recreate a lab o doubt like all of you, I celebrated the arrival of 2021 environment is the story behind the collaborative work done with the strong hope that we would all be together and between UL’s Department of Science and Engineering and N have returned to our lovely campus by now. Little did we Analog Devices to create the digital home lab for 400 first year know then that we were headed for further lockdowns and engineering students. public health restrictions. The reunion of our community this Extensive coverage is also given to UL Global’s engagements Vibrant city. year is still a very real aim for us all at UL and I really look in Africa and the potential for further collaborations as well forward to welcoming all the new members of our community as the international alumni ambassadors promoting UL to the both staff and students who have yet to have a physical in- world. person experience of UL. We hear from Wafa Rougab, a 26-year-old Algerian PhD Dynamic This past 18 months has been relentless. It has tested every student who is excelling on her own educational journey member of our community. Colleagues and students have lost despite the challenges of a visual impairment. loved ones, and have had to bear that grief in many cases Professor Eoin Devereux writes about how we are singing our cut off from family and friends. Parents and caregivers found cares away and later highlights the work of UL’s MA in Creative themselves with the hugely difficult task of simultaneously Writing. university. caring for young children, home schooling and working. Dr Catherine Norton talks about COVID and our love of Young people were isolated from their friends, their sport, their food while Dr Aileen Dillane and Dr Sarah Raine talk about Choose Postgrad, social circle and their wider families. The way we teach, learn, recalibrating music festival research during a pandemic. Choose Limerick, Choose UL research, support and work has had to become agile and There is so much more to talk about but I will let you discover responsive to an ever-changing set of circumstance. these gems for yourself. Yet what the UL community has achieved is simply I hope that between the covers of this quality publication, you extraordinary. Staff and students have volunteered to support get a sense of what we are in UL, dynamic, cutting edge and front line workers, our researchers have provided solutions, always innovative. innovations and expert guidance, our academic staff have Enjoy! ul.ie/postgrad reimagined course work and teaching materials to keep Professor Kerstin Mey students engaged online and our students have excelled. President, UL Within the pages of this Links magazine, we highlight a wide @ULPresident SUMMER 2021 | UL LINKS 02 CONTENTS CONTENTS 03 Acknowledgements UL Links Team Editors Andrew Carey Alan Owens Sheena Doyle Design Kerry Betts Imagery True Media, Alan Place & UL Global Contributors Dr Maura Adshead, UL Global, Professor Eoin Devereux, Bernal Institute, Dr Susan Daly, Jackie O, Dr Aileen Dillane, Dr Sarah Raine, UCH, Professor Nigel Healey, Harvey Duthie & Mary Harney Front cover image Patrick and John Collison Picture credit: Pamela Littky, CPi Syndication 10 12 20 29 30 32 36 46 22 UL Gobal engagement in Africa 46 Antony Foley's memory lives on at University of This magazine is fully recyclable and Limerick following generous donation printed on PEFC certified paper, sourced CONTENTS UL-Lero Research: video game skills enhanced by 26 from Sustainable Forest Management. EMerge at UL: Offering virtual peer support for early training 10 minutes a day 47 For more information see: www.pefc.org and Mid-career academics 01 President’s welcome message 27 Conor Cantwell: UL student never put any limits on his Please recycle once finished reading. Dr Sarah Hayes: The transformative power of Immersive Software Engineering (ISE): UL is rewriting potential 48 04 Education the rulebook in computer science education 28 Dr Elaine Kinsella: UL Research given as expert evidence to UK Parliamentary group 49 SSPC: Education and Outreach during COVID-19 08 Vincent Roche: ADI chief says UL is most progressive University in Ireland 29 Professor Eoin Devereux: Singing all our cares away 50 Professor Paul Burke: Stronger links between hospital groups and universities lead to better healthcare 10 Mamobo Ogoro: UL PhD student leading awareness 30 Wafa Rougab: PhD student is living her Joycean dream campaign found multimedia platform to 'dissect' the at UL 51 Network to promote public and patient involvement in social issues facing Ireland's multicultural generation health research 31 Doctorate launched in response to support academic @UL @UofLimerick @UniversityOfLimerick 12 Dr Sean Redmond: Greentown research leads the way needs of professionals 52 The show goes on for University Concert Hall in examining effects of crime networks 32 Dr Catherine Norton: Covid and our love affair with 53 Professor Nigel Healey: An unexpected silver lining in @university-of-limerick @UniversityOfLimerick 14 Dr Pepijn van de Ven: The future of internet interventions food the COVID-19 pandemic 15 Norma Bargary appointed Professor of Data Science 34 Global Alumni ambassador programme increases 54 Professor Ursel Bangert: A simple twist of fate @UniversityOfLimerick @UofLimerick and Statistical learning engagement 55 UL@Work to future proof digital learning environment 16 Dr Maurice N Collins: Cars made from paper waste, 35 UL shorts: Bernal scientists & Poem by Jackie O UL research project harvesting sustainable carbon fibre 56 Covid Co-operative: Languages alumni step forward 36 Dr Aileen Dillane & Dr Sarah Raine: Recalibrating to pay back 17 UL partners with industry innovators for Digital Home music festival research in the time of Covid The opinions and views in this publication are those of the Lab 58 SingStrong can help self-manage chronic respiratory contributors and interviewees and are not necessarily shared by 38 UL Profile: 50th overall in the Times Higher Education conditions University of Limerick researchers discover previously University of Limerick. While every care has been taken to ensure 18 (THE) Impact rankings 2021& QS Five star rating accuracy in the compilation of this magazine, UL cannot accept unidentified disease 60 The future of Bernal: emerging researchers speak to UL 40 TRIDENT: Revolutionary battery technology to be Links about their path to science responsibility for any errors or omissions or effects arising thereof. 19 University of Limerick on a mission to transform developed at University of Limerick All material is copyrighted. UL Links is a magazine published by education and support active citizenship 62 Grow more Beans! Adding more legumes to agriculture University of Limerick. Contributions in the form of feature articles, 41 UL the first University to offer a level 10 Apprenticeship has nutritional and environmental benefits news items, letters and photographs are welcome. 20 Dr Sarah Guerin: Eco-friendly device developed at UL can detect real-time pipe damage 42 Professor Eoin Devereux on leading Creative Writing in 63 UL shorts: Professor Gavin Walker & Professor Luuk van the Community de Wielen We would also be delighted to recieve your comments and 21 UL Shorts: UL-RESTART & The Well-Being Way ideas for future editions - please email: [email protected] 44 Researcher resilence: International insights in 64 UL FIFTY: Reflecting - Connecting - Transforming COVID-19 Ireland UL LINKS | SUMMER 2021 SUMMER 2021 | UL LINKS 04 FEATURE FEATURE 05 beating talent on this small island when it comes to developing innovative best-in-class solutions to incredibly thorny problems UL REWRITES THE RULEBOOK IN using the very best software engineering practices and tech. It is also a recognition that UL is the kind of University to take a risk on a brand new kind of course, with a new approach to teaching computer science. COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION Commenting on the programme’s deep innovation, Co-Director Prof. Tiziana Margaria said “ISE is all about innovation, about ISE: next steps for the new flagship software relevance to the students and the profession from day one.