Over 250 researchers gather in Dundalk for landmark ENVIRON 2026 conference

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) recently welcomed over 250 researchers, students and industry experts for ENVIRON 2026, Ireland’s largest annual environmental research conference.

The three-day event explored how people and communities can adopt more sustainable habits to protect the environment, under the theme Habits and Habitats: Adapting Sustainable Practices for Environmental Protection.

The conference theme reflected the need for evidence-based action on environmental change. It also recognised the role of education, public engagement, research, policy and applied solutions in protecting natural systems.

Over three days, attendees discussed major environmental challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, water quality and renewable energy. The programme featured more than 100 presentations, showcasing research from across Ireland and beyond.

The final programme featured 106 oral presentations and 38 posters across a broad range of environmental research themes. Delegates presented work spanning monitoring and observation, laboratory and field research, technical innovation, ecological restoration, habitat protection, pollution control, wastewater management, renewable energy and sustainable practice. Many presentations also linked local environmental issues in Ireland to global priorities, including the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Highlights included practical workshops, a tour of DkIT’s landmark wind turbine — the first of its kind on a college campus — and the national launch of Meadow Magic, a short film celebrating youth action on biodiversity.

Speakers included Dr Noeleen Smyth from UCD, Collie Ennis from Trinity College Dublin, Aoibheann McCann, and Prof France Lucy, ATU Sligo. The conference also included talks from national and European environmental leaders, alongside sessions for early-career researchers.

Day 2 began with welcome addresses from DkIT leadership and conference organisers, alongside ESAI Chairperson Dr Niamh Power. The plenary programme included contributions from Dr Darragh O’Neill, Senior Manager for Research Strategy at the Environmental Protection Agency Ireland, and Dr Brian MacSharry from the European Environment Agency. Dr MacSharry presented the launch of the EEA’s five-year State of Europe’s Environment Report.

The final day opened with a debut ENVIRON conference session on Environmental Education. This session featured plenary talks from DkIT experts Dr Caroline Gilleran Stephens, Environmental Education Lead at the Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, and Virtual Labs research leads Dr Sinead Loughran and Dr Bernard Drumm from the School of Health and Science. Further parallel oral presentation sessions and a dedicated networking and poster session followed.

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The event closed with student awards recognising outstanding research, with over €2,500 in prizes awarded. These included Best in Conference, DkIT CFES Best Water-related Presentation, and DkIT CREDIT Best Renewable and Sustainable Energy Presentation. The awards recognised the quality of student research and the strong contributions of early-stage researchers to the ENVIRON community.

The conference was convened by Dr Sarah Murnaghan, DkIT, and Dr Hammond Antwi Sarpong, DkIT, who led the ENVIRON 2026 programme on behalf of the DkIT Organising Committee.

Speaking on behalf of the organising committee, Sarah said: “Thank you to all the staff and student volunteers, sponsors, delegates, speakers, session chairs, workshop facilitators, public seminar contributors and everyone who helped make ENVIRON 2026 such a memorable event. The event strengthened DkIT’s role as a centre for environmental research, education and public engagement.

“The conference created space for new collaborations, practical knowledge exchange and focused discussion on sustainable practices for environmental protection. It also highlighted the value of bringing together science, education, policy, community action, and the arts to address environmental challenges at local, national, and international levels.”