Forest expansion and irrigated agriculture reinforce low river flows in southern Europe during dry years

This study analyses the evolution of annual streamflow across Europe between 1962 and 2017, focusing on the connection of streamflow trends with climate dynamics and physiographic and land cover characteristics and changes. The spatial pattern of trends in streamflow shows strong agreement with the spatial patterns of climate trends, suggesting a climate control of these trends. However, analysing temporal evolution at the basin scale shows that the strong decrease in streamflow in southern Europe cannot be directly associated with climate dynamic. In fact, a negative trend related to non-climate factors clearly emerges. Rather, we show that forest growth and irrigated agriculture are the leading drivers of negative streamflow trends in southern Europe, particularly during dry years due to the greater proportion of green water consumption compared to blue water generation. These findings have significant implications, particularly in the context of widely embraced nature based solutions for mitigating climate change, including carbon sequestration through forests and the planned expansion of irrigated agricultural lands in central and northern European countries as a response to rising crop water demands. These developments could potentially diminish water resources availability, leading to an increased occurrence and severity of low flow periods

Fault management in wave energy systems: Diagnosis, prognosis, and fault-tolerant control

Wave energy converters (WECs) are a promising technology to contribute to the mix of renewable energies in the pursuit of a cleaner energy future. However, the demanding environment in which WECs operate presents a challenge from reliability and economic perspectives. There is a high likelihood of fault occurrence on WEC components, especially in offshore locations. While the control technology field can enhance energy extraction from WECs, any fault compromises the performance of the system and, in the worst case, can halt energy production, directly impacting revenue generation. Dealing with unexpected faults leads to more frequent maintenance operations, resulting in higher operational expenses. Similarly, strengthening WEC components to withstand harsh conditions comes with increased capital costs. Thus, fault management becomes crucial, whether it involves avoiding operation and maintenance (O&M) entirely or transitioning O&M to planned activities through a fault management mechanism (condition monitoring, fault-tolerant control, etc.), whereby the WEC maintains a certain level of system performance (or prevents emergency shutdown), eliminating the necessity for immediate intervention while still generating energy. In this regard, this study explores WEC components that are most likely to fail, also comprehensively covering WEC fault diagnosis, prognosis, condition monitoring and fault-tolerant control methods covered in the literature. Additionally, unexplored possibilities are pointed out, and future directions are suggested

Hybrid Spaces, Healthy Places: Digital Placemaking as a Place Branding Strategy

Cities are increasingly disconnecting from nature, with decreased nature spaces while populations are discovering their surroundings through technological devices. This thesis aims to understand the dynamics involved in hybrid place experiences that combine physical and digital layers of meaning in public spaces through digital placemaking as a place branding strategy in nature for wellbeing. The thesis addressed gaps in current knowledge on hybrid space effects in community dynamics. Adopting a critical realism approach, the researcher aims to comprehend how the relationships between digital placemaking, nature and wellbeing are developed. A mixed methods study following a modified Delphi method gathered insights from 26 expert participants in digital placemaking and related fields. Data was collected through three rounds: qualitative semi-structured interviews, and two consecutive rounds of questionnaires to achieve consensus. The findings present and test a conceptual model of digital placemaking as a place branding strategy in nature for wellbeing. Drawing on place attachment theory, place branding, Social Identity Theory and nature connectedness, the model elucidates key dynamics involved in digital placemaking. Four propositions are confirmed: i) Social Identity Theory act as a binding agent, where online place attachment and community nature connectedness are interlinked; ii) place branding in digital placemaking is expanded, where marketing and communications shape place branding and identity; iii) inclusion and accessibility are essential to ensure the multiple identities of a community are considered; iv) digital placemaking fosters feelings of belonging with the place, with others and with nature supporting wellbeing, enhanced through place attachment, social identity and nature connectedness. The study advances understanding of digital placemaking’s conceptualisation, maturity and practical applications in nature for wellbeing. It confirms the role of hybrid spaces in reconnecting communities with nature and offers actionable insights for scholars and practitioners, particularly in using digital placemaking as a strategy to promote wellbeing

The Teresa Deevy Archive and the Development of Collections and Curation in Maynooth University Library: Critical Perspectives on Teresa Deevy

‘The Teresa Deevy Archive and the Development of Collections and Curation in Maynooth University Library’ outlines the traditional library role and approach to archival collection of Maynooth University Library (MUL) in the context of Maynooth University (MU) and Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth (SPCM). It argues that, in recent decades, MUL has developed curatorial holdings and special collections to better reflect a long-standing commitment to scholarship and activism in areas of social justice, focussing particularly on the theme of the outsider. The chapter reflects on the evolution of this collections development strategy and positions the Teresa Deevy Archive as a case study of sorts, exemplifying current collection policy orientation and practice. Focusing on collection management since the beginning of the twenty-first century and identifying the advantages of a planned strategic approach to collection management, the chapter considers how MUL’s special collections evolved and the identification of the multidisciplinary theme of ‘The Outsider’—a categorisation left deliberately loose to encompass individuals whose work or social and/or political contribution was either marginalised, or considered marginal, within their lifetime or after their death. Teresa Deevy’s life and work and the value of her archive is considered in this light, and the story of how her archive came to be held and conserved by MUL and some of the curatorial decisions made are in relation to it are detailed. The challenges and impacts of curatorial decisions and practice are illustrated through this narrative as are the complexities of where and how scholars access the Teresa Deevy Archive, in particular, and archives, generally. The chapter concludes asserting the importance of stakeholder involvement in matters of special collection acquisition, curation, and access and the ironic success in identifying the theme of ‘The Outsider’ in relation to improving engagement with the archives of figures such as Teresa Deevy

Relationality, recognition and reward at the margins: Teachers’ experiences of mature student access courses in Irish higher education

This is a study of higher education teachers’ experiences of teaching on mature student access courses (MSACs) in Irish higher education. This qualitative research is an exploratory case study and is based on semi-structured interviews carried out online with nine MSAC teachers in two higher education institutions in Ireland. MSACs are long-standing operational elements of Irish higher education equity of access strategy and teachers’ experiences of teaching on these courses has been largely absent from Irish research literature up to now. The aim of this study is to present these educators’ perspectives of their work in this contextualised teaching space and thus to offer insight into the personal and professional meaning and value of this teaching in higher education. These teaching roles are analysed against a backdrop of neoliberal practices and dominant academic cultures in higher education and participants’ experiences are explored through the interconnecting conceptual lenses of relational pedagogy and recognition. The study is significant from the perspective that the MSACs are located on the periphery of higher education institutions’ organisational structures and academic cultures, yet these educators are responsible for supporting non-traditional students to prepare for and successfully progress to higher education under a national equity of access remit. This is a core higher education mission which is central to institutional strategy, as well as to evaluation of institutional and higher education system performance at national level. My findings suggest that at the micro and meso levels MSAC teaching is highly rewarding, professionally developmental work for my participants when considered through a relational lens, however that my participants experience a lack of recognition of this work and of their own professional status as teachers in higher education at a more macro, institutional level. For some, this impacts on their self-esteem and on their capacity to commit on a long-term basis to critical equity of access work in higher education. A key argument of this thesis is that engaging in relation-centred education is as important for teachers’ growth and development, and for their institutional sense of belonging, as it is for students, and that an access course is a key site within higher education that offers this kind of experience and opportunity. In these teaching contexts a pedagogy of relation is also a pedagogy of recognition and thus this thesis argues for the need to create and promote opportunities to prioritise relational teaching within the dominant teaching-research dualism of higher education and to explicitly recognise the value and place of relation-centred teaching spaces, practices and teachers

The Long‐Term Effects of In Utero Exposure to Rubella

A rubella infection in early pregnancy poses a significant risk of damage to the foetus. In this paper, we examine the later‐life impact of a rubella outbreak that occurred in Ireland in 1956. Matching the outcomes of individuals born in 1954–1957 in the 2016 Irish Census of Population to the county‐level rubella incidence rate that was prevailing when respondents were in utero in early pregnancy, we find that one extra rubella case per 10,000 population is associated with between 0.4% and 1.2% point increases in the probability of having lower levels of educational attainment, being in poor health and having a disability in later life

Report: The ERC DANCING Final Conference

This report gives an account of the DANCING Final Conference, which was held on 19 and 20 June 2025. The conference presented the main findings and results of the European Research Council-funded project ‘Protecting the Right to Culture of Persons with Disabilities and Enhancing Cultural Diversity through European Union Law: Exploring New Paths – DANCING’, led by Professor Delia Ferri (Professor of Law at the School of Law and Criminology of Maynooth University). The DANCING Final Conference aimed to reflect on the key achievements of the project, but also to explore future directions for research, policy, and practice related to European Union (EU) disability law and the right to cultural participation of persons with disabilities. The conference brought together academics, policymakers, persons with disabilities, artists, and other stakeholders. Over two days, participants engaged in thematic panels and roundtables. The DANCING project, running from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2025, pursued three main objectives: to identify barriers and facilitators to cultural participation by persons with disabilities (experiential), to explore how EU law can promote disability rights and cultural diversity (normative), and to offer a new theorisation of cultural diversity in EU law (theoretical). All three objectives were discussed throughout the conference. The first day focused on the research findings and academic contributions of the project, while the second day turned to policy implications and ‘Tools for Change’, including the launch of a Policy Brief – comprising recommendations for European Union and national policymakers and a Toolkit for cultural stakeholders. Notably, the conference was opened by a video message from Professor Adam Bodnar, Minister of Justice of Poland, on behalf of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (1 Jan 2025 – 30 Jun 2025). Two keynote speeches – respectively from Professor Bruno De Witte (Emeritus Professor at Maastricht University and Member of the Advisory Board of the DANCING Project) and Ms Inmaculada Placencia Porrero (Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Senior Disability Expert at the European Commission) – marked the two days. A keynote dialogue led by Professor Mark Priestley (Emeritus Professor at Leeds University and Member of the Advisory Board of the DANCING Project) concluded the second day of the conference. The DANCING Final Conference also included two side events that marked the artistic collaborations deployed during the course of the project. The first was the unveiling of the artwork ‘Odisseo-Ulysses’ created by artist Tiziano Pantano. The second was the premiere of the documentary ‘Steps to Change: Following the DANCING Project 2020 – 2025’ produced by Feenish Production Ltd. and directed by James Kelly. Besides discussing the conference content and its most significant moments, the report outlines key organisational aspects with a focus on how accessibility was planned and delivered throughout the event, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and DANCING’s own accessibility strategy. Strategic planning was vital to ensure venues were accessible to wheelchair users, but also suitable for people with a range of disabilities. Accessibility measures further included provision of Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation throughout, alternative formats (Braille, large print, digital soft copy) of the programme and relevant documentation of the conference, as well as the embedding of accessibility features in the documentary and the artwork. On the whole, the DANCING Final Conference showcased the cross-cutting nature of the interdisciplinary research conducted, but also highlighted the project’s commitment to bridging academic research with practice and to ensuring that persons with disabilities are active participants in shaping inclusive cultural spaces across Europe

Lucas Clements Estate Collection

The abstract is included in the text

Metropolitanization, civic capacity and metropolitan governance: Ireland in the metropolitan century

The dynamics and politics of metropolitanization in Ireland have received limited attention, attributed in part to Ireland’s historic culturally embedded urban–rural divide. The publication of the National Planning Framework (2018) demonstrates an effort by the Irish government to centre spatial thinking on Ireland’s five major cities. However, despite evidence of enhanced civic engagement, the Irish case demonstrates the challenges of creating a metropolitan state-space in a country with a traditionally strong rural identity. Drawing on Nelles’ concept of civic capital and the importance of mobilizing a metropolitan identity, in this paper we draw attention to four factors that constrain the formation of the metropolitan civic identity necessary for spatial planning efforts to succeed: the lack of an urban identity, discordant temporalities, the absence of key enablers and misaligned governance structures. Our study adopts an exploratory research design using critical discourse analysis of key documents, participant observation, semi-structured interviews and survey methodology to further the understanding of metropolitanization processes, provide insights into alternative forms of metropolitan governance and discuss the limits of civic capital. We conclude that it is critical to understand the nature of the state in order to understand the accumulation (or not) of metropolitan civic capital

A review of energy storage systems for facilitating large-scale EV charger integration in electric power grid

The swift increase in electric vehicle (EV) into modern power grids presents both significant opportunities and challenges, particularly in maintaining power quality (PQ) and managing peak loads. This review synthesizes current research, providing a comprehensive analysis of the pivotal role of energy storage systems (ESS) in enabling large-scale EV charger integration while addressing critical PQ issues. A key contribution is the comparative evaluation of various ESS typologies—battery ESS (BESS), hybrid ESS (HESS), and distributed ESS (DESS)—each offering distinct advantages in mitigating PQ challenges such as harmonic distortion, voltage regulation, and peak demand control. Ensuring compliance with IEEE-519 standards is emphasized as vital for maintaining grid reliability and high PQ standards. This review paper further examines the diverse impacts of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) on power grids, including their charging and storage characteristics, which influence grid stability and efficiency. It highlights the transformative potential of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which facilitates bidirectional power flow to support grid stabilization, energy balancing, and ancillary services. Additionally, it addresses the mitigation of harmonic distortion from PEV charging, preserving transformer performance and lifespan, and explores strategies to manage large-scale PEV integration through predictive and adaptive control techniques. This study introduces innovative approaches to improving grid recovery following disturbances and evaluates the synergistic integration of renewable energy sources with PEVs to foster sustainable energy systems. Models for PEV interaction with microgrids are also discussed, emphasizing their role in enhancing energy resilience and grid flexibility. This paper underscores the critical role of advanced energy management strategies (EMS) in optimizing EV-grid integration and improving overall system efficiency. These strategies include rule-based EMSs employing fixed rules, fuzzy logic, and wavelet transforms; optimization-based EMSs utilizing techniques such as dynamic programming, genetic algorithms, model predictive control, and particle swarm optimization; and intelligent EMSs leveraging neural networks and reinforcement learning for adaptive and predictive control. By outlining innovative solutions and highlighting the importance of strategic collaboration among utilities, policymakers, researchers, and technology developers, this review provides a comprehensive roadmap for overcoming the technical, economic, and regulatory challenges associated with EV charger integration, laying the groundwork for a reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy future