Each year we welcome thousands of our alumni back to campus, for Mentoring events, Reunions, Choral Scholars or Symphony Orchestra performances, Spoken Word events, Alumni Awards and the UCD Festival, or simply to pay a nostalgic visit to relive those great memories of student days.
We are delighted to welcome you back and are always looking for ways of improving and evolving our event programme to make sure we have something for everybody.
We will keep you informed about our events as they happen. Make sure to update your details with us at the link below to ensure that you receive email updates and that you’re not missing out on that special event!
Global Perspectives: London - 14 May 2022
To celebrate the return of the UCD Festival, our London-based alumni enjoyed The Emerald City Walking Tour hosted by our London Chapter Reps and local guide Tony McDonnell.
The group rediscovered the city they call home as they walked from St Paul's Cathedral to The Royal Opera House, along Fleet Street, taking in tales of Parnell, Wolfe Tone, Goldsmith, Saint Bridget, Yeats & Oscar Wilde.
UCD College of Science Alumni, Friends & Staff BBQ - 13 May 2022
The UCD School of Environmental Science and the School of Earth Sciences along with UCD Alumni Relations were happy to welcome alumni, friends & staff back onto campus to celebrate 58 years of research and education in the College of Science.
The evening was kicked off by the university's Acting President, Prof. Mark Rogers. Followed by a short tour of the UCD O'Brien Centre for Science, which opened in 2014, including a trip down memory lane to Science West, which has changed little since the mid 1960's.
A lovely evening spent with friends, colleagues, classmates and staff while reminiscing about time spent here and sharing of stories over a BBQ.
Ransomware: The current and evolving threat landscape
Ransomware attacks have been part of the global landscape for a while now and cost the global economy $20B in 2021. The victims of ransomware today are not only individuals, but also industries and governmental agencies, causing significant financial losses for them. In addition, cybercriminals have evolved their tactics and are becoming extremely aggressive, requiring a change to cybersecurity strategies.
Join our expert speakers Robert McArdle, Prof Darren Hayes, Victoria Baldie, and Dr Nhien An Le Khac to learn about Ransomware.
Borders & Rights: Migrant Journeys
Over the last decade, the spectre of the ‘migrant crisis’ has dominated international social, political and legal discourses. Within Europe, the ‘migrant crisis’ starts with journeys from Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, most recently Ukraine, and further afield. Such journeys by migrants commence for a variety of reasons: war, discrimination, persecution, economic betterment, and at times an intermix of all of these.
This webinar provides an overview of some key issues emerging from such journeys – crossing borders, deflection of migrants, human rights law and policy. Sinéad Gibney, Sally Hayden, Bulelani Mfaco and Jack Pope provide differing experiences and perspectives on journeying across borders for migrants.
Women in Leadership 2022
The Arthur Cox UCD Women in Leadership conference took place on 22 and 23 March 2022, and we were thrilled to welcome back our UCD community to O’Reilly Hall and the UCD University Club and to meet our attendees at our online mentor circles on 23 March.
Thank you so much to our inspiring speakers who took part over the two days and to our corporate sponsors – Arthur Cox, KPMG, ESB, Aldi, Jaguar Land Rover and Abbott – without whom, the conference would not be possible.
View more photos from The Arthur Cox Women in Leadership conference 2022 here.
Why is Ending Hunger so Difficult?
The risks of food insecurity have increased exponentially in the wake of a global pandemic. More than enough food is produced to feed the global population—but millions of people still go hungry. After steadily declining for a decade, world hunger is now on the rise again. Why do people still go hungry when we have “enough” food? Why is so much food wasted? What are the challenges of enabling productivity and profitability through sustainable systems of food production?
Join our host, UCD Earth Institute Director, Professor Tasman Crowe, and expert panelists Dr Aifric O’Sullivan, Professor Jim Kinsella and Professor Dolores O’Riordan as they discuss progress being made on Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger both in Ireland and further afield.
This event took place within the framework of UCD’s membership of United Nations Academic Impact. UNAI aligns institutions of higher education with the United Nations in supporting and contributing to the realisation of UN goals and mandates, including the promotion and protection of human rights, access to education, sustainability and conflict resolution.
Ask the Vet: Your Dog and its Health
Owning a dog is a big responsibility and comes with a longtime commitment. If you have recently welcomed a furry friend into your life or are considering it in the future, join Kevin Murtagh (Assistant Professor at UCD School of Veterinary Medicine) and Rory Breathnach (Clinical Director at UCD Veterinary Hospital) as they discuss the key aspects for ensuring your dogs health and wellbeing. Topics include vaccinations, worming, common illnesses and more. All the important areas of care that you need to be aware of to ensure your dog is living their best life!
Building a Sustainable Future with Business
It is essential that all businesses consider their impact on society and the environment over profits. Increasingly, organisations are obliged to incorporate sustainability into their business strategies. As companies come under increased pressure to meet their Environmental, Social & Governance goals, how can we know they are truly complying? In this episode, we discuss the shift successful organisations have made and the challenges of corporate citizenship. We also discuss how industry leaders can embrace sustainability to ensure the longevity of the planet; the practice of greenwashing and sustainability lip-service and how to combat it.
Join our host, UCD Earth Institute Director, Professor Tasman Crowe with Ali Sheridan, Senior Sustainability and Climate Advisor and Laura Costello, Strategy Director; Thinkhouse. This conversation was led by UCD Vice-Principal for Research & Innovation – College of Business, Professor Donna Marshall.
Responding to the Climate Crisis
Climate change presents the single biggest threat to current and future generations, and its widespread, unprecedented impacts disproportionately burden the poorest and most vulnerable. Following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change starkest warning yet, urgent action to combat it and minimise its disruptions is integral to the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the future of the planet.
Join our host, UCD Earth Institute Director, Professor Tasman Crowe and expert panelists John Bell, Director Healthy Planet, DG Research & Innovation at European Commission and Sadhbh O’Neill, Lecturer in Climate Policy and former Policy Coordinator for the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition In Conversation with Dr Andrew Jackson. Jackson is an environmental and planning lawyer, UCD Sutherland School of Law.
Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change starkest warning yet, urgent action to combat climate change and minimise its disruptions is integral to the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the future of the planet. With the Development Goals 2030 deadline looming, explore what exactly these goals are; if we are globally on schedule to succeed in their implementation; how that can happen and what role Ireland plays in their development and adoption.
Join our host, UCD Earth Institute Director, Professor Tasman Crowe and expert panelists Professor Patrick Paul Walsh, Professor of International Development Studies, UCD School of Politics and International Relations, David Donoghue, Former Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Dr Orla Kelly, Assistant Professor in Social Policy at the UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice.
UCD Alumni Awards 2021
The UCD Alumni Award winners are an inspiration to us all and continue to lead the way and make a global impact. In conversation with broadcaster and UCD alumnus Pat Kenny, this year we celebrated creative and sporting legends, global business leaders, human rights advocates, transformational change makers, and real life healthcare superheroes!
London Lord Mayor Show - 13 November 2021
UK alumni chapter representatives, David O'Reilly, Eoin Lyons and Jeremy Boles were honoured to celebrate the appointment of Vincent Keaveny as the 693rd Lord Mayor of the City of London, serving as the elected head of the City of London Corporation and a global ambassador for the UK-based financial and professional services industry until November 2022.
A group from the UK Alumni Chapter attended The Lord Mayor's Show in The City of London on November 13th with everyone proudly wearing their finest UCD colours to cheer and wave at the New Lord Mayor as he passed by their viewing perch next to Saint Paul's Cathedral at midday.
Following the conclusion of the show, the group hosted a buffet lunch for the Lord Mayor's Show guests afterwards in the nearby Livery Company Hall of the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries. The Chapter Reps were delighted to be joined by the Immediate Past Master of The Worshipful Company of Educators, Mr Richard Evans, to further cement the strong ties between The City of London and UCD and its extensive alumni network in the UK.
Rising Energy Costs and Blackouts. Are Data Centres to Blame?
There are 70 Data Centres in operation across Ireland, with 54 in Dublin alone; making it the Data Centre capital of Europe. Learn about their impact on energy consumption, bills, power outages and Ireland’s ability to achieve its emissions and renewable targets by 2030.
Join our expert panelists, Professor Andrew Keane, Director of the Energy Institute at UCD and Director of the SFI Energy Systems Integration Partnership Programme (ESIPP), Garry Connolly, Founder of Host in Ireland, and Associate Professor Damian Dalton from UCDs School of Computer Science.
What it Takes... to network like a pro
Join this worthwhile conversation with Dr Martin Russell, Advisor at The Networking Institute, and Siobhán McKenna, Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at the Public Appointments Service, to discover essential skills and practical tips you can try today to network more effectively.
Learn how you can:
– Adjust your approach to get the most from professional relationships
– Hone skills to have constructive online (e.g. LinkedIn) and in person interactions
– Share ideas and insights to build valuable long-term connections
Climate Neutral Dairy Farming
Agriculture accounts for 35.3 percent of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions, of which 95 per cent are emissions associated with livestock agriculture.
Join Professor Kevin O’Connor, Dr Fionnuala Murphy and Enda Buckley, Director of Sustainability at Carbery, for a stimulating discussion on the Farm Zero C Project, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions, which has received €2m in SFI funding to help it deliver climate-neutral dairy farming by 2027.
What it Takes… to thrive in global teams
Join dynamic young alumni Nicai de Guzman, Content Marketer Specializing at Wolfgang Digital, Emmet Daniels, Business Development Representative at Hubspot, and expert in the field Dr Linda Yang, Programme Leader, Intercultural Development Programme at UCD, as they share their experiences and offer advice on how you can learn to thrive in multicultural environments.
Learn how you can:
– Identify and improve key skills to help you in your career now and in the future
– Enhance your ability to navigate potential challenges in teams
– Stand out among others in front of current and future employers
What it Takes… to excel in the hybrid workplace
Learn from UCD alumnae Criona Turley, CEO at Capella Workplace Solutions, and Dr Ellen Brady, Talent and Organisation Strategy Manager at Accenture as they share insights on:
– Resetting habits for the future of work
– What to expect from employers during this transition
– How to navigate career changes, progression & promotions
This valuable conversation offers expert advice and suggestions on how to achieve the healthy blend between the office office and your home office while aspiring to hit professional goals in this ever changing environment.
UCD Golden and Diamond Jubilee Reunion 2021
Join alumni from the classes of 1961 & 1971 as we mark this milestone anniversary.
Featuring alumni from the Classes of 61 and 71 in conversation and reminiscing with former broadcaster and arts manager, Doireann Ní Bhriain (BA 1970, HDip Ed 1971), widely known for presenting the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981 amongst many other presenting and broadcasting roles. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane with: Dr Tony Scott & Charles Lysaght from the Class of 1961, and Éanna Ní Lamhna, Class of 1971, as well as messages from Frances Fitzgerald MEP, Class of 1971 and Dr Desmond Green, Class of 1961.
Enjoy a showreel of alumni memories and hear from UCD President, Professor Andrew J Deeks who joins the celebration.
Cybercrime causes, trends and prevention
Cybercrime is one of the fastest evolving and expanding criminal areas globally, with law enforcement and other defence entities often lacking the necessary resources and research to keep up. 3.96 billion people use social media, so it’s inevitable that identity theft, cyberstalking, cyberbullying and, sadly, child predators will be a reality for some.
Join our panel of experts, Cliona Curley, Cybercrime Analyst and Co-Founder of CyberSafeKids, Paul Darcy, Digital Forensic Specialist and Cindy Murphy, President and Founder of Tetra Defense, a US-based Digital Forensics, Incident Response and Cyber Risk Management company.
Ireland’s Housing Crisis
Housing in Ireland continues to be a headline topic across the media as more people feel the dream of owning a home seems ever out of financial reach. With a younger generation unable to afford a property of their own and another older generation facing an impending insecure retirement paying rent, what’s the reality behind the headlines and what we can do to make a change?
Cian O’Callaghan, Social Democrat TD and UCD alumnus, Michelle Norris, Director, at the Geary Institute for Public Policy at UCD and Aidan Regan, Associate Professor, UCD School of International Politics and Relations appear in this episode of UCD in Conversation.
