A tree-mendous rollout
A Cork project which saw a university campus turn into a living classroom is set for a nationwide rollout.
The Tree Explorers project at UCC involved the development of tree tours around UCC’s campus along with workshops, public talks, educational materials, a self-guided map and a series of videos.
Led by Dr Eoin Lettice, Dr Barbara Doyle Prestwich and Prof. Claire Connolly of UCC, the Irish Tree Explorers Network (ITEN) has now received funding from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) to take what has been learned from the project’s success in Cork and bring it to a national audience.
Dr Lettice said: "We are excited that SFI continue to see the value in our work and have awarded significant funding to bring the 'Tree Explorers' concept to a much wider audience. Increasingly, trees and nature in general are being recognised for the host of economic, biodiversity, health, and social benefits that they bring.
“ITEN is an opportunity to engage even more people with the importance of our trees and the tangible benefits that they can provide - whether that is tackling climate change, increasing biodiversity or adding to the beauty of our urban and rural landscape.”
ITEN is 1 of 4 UCC projects that have this week been awarded a joint €451,000 in funding from the SFI Discover Programme. Monday’s announcement represents funding in four projects which will deliver impactful research that aligns to the UCC Futures framework, provides opportunities for deep public engagement, and supports and develop STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.
Prof. John F Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation, said: “Congratulations to the 4 researchers on their funding awards which will provide opportunities to less-represented voices and groups in key STEM disciplines. Inclusion and diversity are at the heart of what UCC represents and incorporating these into research areas such as sustainability and humanities aligns with our UCC Futures Framework and the strategic plan for the university.”