€1m Funding Announced For Geoscience Research Projects

The Government has announced funding of €1 million for a number of geoscience research projects in 2016.

A total of 41 research projects will benefit from the newly announced funding.

Welcoming the announcement, Koen Verbruggen, Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, said: "We are funding a very wide range of applied projects, from using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for coastal mapping to landslide monitoring and 3D modelling of shipwrecks. We also have projects on groundwater drinking supplies, recycling of mine waste, geotourism, geothermal energy and seismicity in Ireland.

"The outputs of these projects will go a long way to help the country understand and manage its often hidden natural resources. The short turnaround of these projects will also mean the impacts for society will occur quickly. The standard and quality of the applications received have proven that Irish geoscience researchers, both in industry and third level can compete at the highest level and can directly support geoscience industries in Ireland."

On release of the details of the successful awardees, GSI Research Manager Dr Aoife Braiden, said: "By making the funding available to both SME and academic partners, we have seen an increase in participation from industry in research activities and a welcomed increase in collaborations between the public and private sector in terms of geoscience research. We hope that funding such as this will help to grow and strengthen the valuable geoscience sector in Ireland and answer real problems for both industry and the relevant authorities."

(MH/LM)