Nuacht

Two University of Galway academics have been awarded the 2025 ENLIGHT Impact ambassador award for their research endeavours. Dr Pádraig MacNeela and Dr Muriel Grenon have been honoured as part of the University’s membership of the ENLIGHT European university alliance involving 10 research intensive universities. The ENLIGHT Impact Ambassador Awards were bestowed at the ENLIGHT Impact Conference which took place at the University of Groningen. Dr MacNeela and Dr Grenon were recognised for their impactful projects, highlighting the significant positive change their research brings to society and their endeavours in planning for and achieving impact.  Dr MacNeela and the team involved the Active* Consent programme were recognised for their work on consent, sexual violence and harassment. Dr Muriel Grenon and team were recognised for their work on widening participation in STEM with science outreach. Alex Metcalfe, Vice-President for International, University of Galway, said: “These ENLIGHT Impact Awards are a well-earned recognition of the meaningful societal change being driven by the research of Dr Pádraig MacNeela and Dr Muriel Grenon. Their work on consent education and widening participation in STEM exemplifies how thoughtful, committed research can make a difference in people’s lives. Their success reflects the strength of our research community and the University’s commitment to impact across Europe and beyond.” University of Galway had three nominations, including one for Dr Jessamyn Fairfield and her team with their research-led project ‘We Built this City on Rock & Coal’. ENLIGHT includes University of Galway; Comenius University, Bratislava (Slovakia); University of Groningen (Netherlands); University of Bern (Switzerland); University of Bordeaux (France); Ghent University (Belgium); University of Tartu (Estonia); University of Gottingen (Germany); University of the Basque Country (Spain); and Uppsala University (Sweden). The project is supported by the Government and the European Commission. The aim is for the alliance to develop as a platform for the creation of a new type of European university campus where students and staff have increased opportunities for international study, training, teaching, research and sharing of services. ENLIGHT aims to collaboratively transform higher education, addressing societal challenges and promoting equitable quality of life, sustainability and external engagement with the communities of the partner universities. Ends