EMBRACE News

We recently hosted our inaugural EMBRACE-Mobility Workshop during the Civil Engineering Research in Ireland Conference (CERI2024) at the University of Galway. This event brought together bridge owners, local authorities, and technical experts to explore advancements in bridge maintenance and infrastructure resilience. During the workshop, we presented our decision support tool prototype, which integrates bridge condition data with socioeconomic and vulnerability information to ensure accessibility for rural communities in Ireland. Participants had the opportunity to engage in hands-on demonstrations and provide valuable feedback to shape the tool’s final development. We’re grateful for the insights shared and look forward to continuing our collaboration with stakeholders to enhance bridge maintenance solutions across Ireland.

We’re thrilled to announce our participation in the Civil Engineering Research in Ireland Conference (CERI 2024) at the University of Galway. Our team had the opportunity to present the latest developments from the EMBRACE-Mobility project, showcasing our innovative decision support tool for bridge maintenance and rural infrastructure resilience. The conference provided a fantastic platform to share our work, engage with industry experts, and gain valuable feedback to enhance our project. We’re excited to continue collaborating with the civil engineering community and contributing to advancements in infrastructure management.

We’re thrilled to announce our participation in the International Geographical Congress (IGC) 2024 this August in Dublin. With a packed agenda and diverse programme, this event promises to be a hub of exciting discussions around geography and its impact on society. Our team will be presenting key insights from the EMBRACE-Mobility project, focusing on infrastructure resilience and geographic considerations for rural communities. We look forward to engaging with the global geography community, exploring new ideas, and contributing to the dialogue on sustainability and infrastructure management.

Our team is excited to announce our participation in the 12th International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety, and Management (IABMAS 2024) in Copenhagen, Denmark. This prestigious event brings together experts to discuss critical topics such as bridge management systems, digitalisation, sustainability, and the future of infrastructure maintenance. We look forward to presenting our EMBRACE-Mobility project and sharing insights on sustainable bridge maintenance and resilience. IABMAS 2024 is a fantastic platform for knowledge exchange, and we’re eager to engage with industry leaders and contribute to advancements in the field.

Earlier this month, our team member, Amanda Trojan Fenerich, participated in the 27th International Conference on Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) in Hammamet, Tunisia. Amanda delivered two engaging presentations on the EMBRACE-Mobility project, which led to valuable discussions and exciting opportunities for future collaborations. We extend our thanks to the International Society on MCDM and the event organizers for creating such a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange and networking.

Our team is proud to celebrate the achievements and participation of our members in two significant initiatives promoting women in research. This week, our team lead, Dr. Myra Lydon, embarked on the prestigious SUSTAIN10 programme, designed to empower women researchers with career development workshops, peer networking, and one-to-one mentoring. Dr. Lydon was selected from a competitive pool of participants, and we’re excited to support her as she takes part in this transformative journey. Additionally, Dr. Amanda Trojan Fenerich attended a workshop hosted by the Promote Research project, aimed at advancing early-career female researchers. The event focused on critical areas such as networking, creating effective narrative CVs, and exploring diverse career pathways in research. We’re committed to supporting women in STEM and look forward to the lasting impact of these programmes on our team and beyond!

On May 14, 2024, the EMBRACE-Mobility team participated in an insightful Theory of Change training session, led by Jennifer Hanratty and Melanie Stone. Organized by SFI, this session built on our previous day’s learning, providing us with a comprehensive framework to map out our project’s impact pathway. What We Learned: Logic Model: We explored the logic model, gaining a clear understanding of how to structure our project’s inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes to achieve our desired impact. Identifying Outputs and Outcomes: The training emphasized the importance of distinguishing between outputs (results and activities) and outcomes (the short/medium/longer-term effects from our results or activities), ensuring we can measure our progress effectively. Barriers and Enablers: We learned how to identify potential barriers and enablers for our project, equipping us with strategies to overcome challenges and leverage opportunities. Looking Ahead: With the knowledge gained from this Theory of Change training, our team is well-equipped to refine our impact pathway, ensuring that every step we take is strategically aligned with our goals. We are excited to implement these new strategies and continue our journey towards creating meaningful, sustainable change through the EMBRACE-Mobility project. Stay tuned for more updates on our progress and the innovative solutions we are developing!

On May 13, 2024, our EMBRACE-Mobility team had the pleasure of participating in an enriching Design Thinking training session, our third engagement in this powerful approach during the Sustainable Community Challenge, organized by Science Foundation Ireland, SFI. Expertly facilitated by Sean McNulty and Lorraine O'Rahilly, this session provided us with invaluable insights and practical tools to enhance our problem-solving and innovation capabilities. What We Learned: Ideation Process: We delved deep into the ideation process, learning how to generate and refine creative ideas effectively. Creative Brainstorming: Techniques like creative brainstorming allowed us to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. Café Style Brainstorming: This collaborative method encouraged open dialogue and diverse perspectives, fostering a rich exchange of ideas. Storytelling: We explored the power of storytelling as a tool to communicate our ideas compellingly and connect with our audience. Prototyping: Hands-on activities enabled us to create prototypes, bringing our ideas to life and allowing us to test and iterate on our solutions. We are excited to implement the strategies and insights gained from this training to drive positive change and improve our impact pathways. This session has equipped us with a robust framework to tackle complex problems and develop sustainable, user-focused solutions. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey and the transformative initiatives we are undertaking at EMBRACE-Mobility!

We are thrilled to announce that our EMBRACE team members, Dr. Myra Lydon and Dr. Amanda Trojan Fenerich, will participate in the upcoming College of Science and Engineering Research and Innovation Day 2024, scheduled for Thursday, 9th May 2024, at the prestigious Galmont Hotel in Galway City.  The aim of the event is to stimulate future idea generation and to provide an opportunity for our research community to showcase their excellent research and innovation activities across our strategic research pillars of Curiosity and Discovery, Innovation for Health, Decisive Data, and Sustainable Futures.  In addition, we will have a number of external stakeholders contribute to the Panel and parallel sessions.  This event provides an opportunity also for PhD students across the College to present their research work and to interact with other students and researchers beyond their own research area.  'The theme of this year's Research and Innovation Day is all about the lived experience of researchers at different career stages, from PhD to independent researcher/innovator, which will form the basis for two separate panel/Q&A sessions. This will be complemented by thematic tracks showcasing research across all of the College's strategic pillars - Curiosity and Discovery, Innovation for Health, Decisive Data, and Sustainable Futures - through presentations and poster exhibits.' This event, open to all staff, research personnel, and postgraduate students, is a celebration of cutting-edge research and innovation across strategic pillars:  Curiosity and discovery: Nurture curiosity, fundamental discovery and high-risk blue sky research Innovation for health: Accelerate understanding of disease and provide disruptive solutions for health   Decisive Data: Develop innovative data-driven approaches to inform decision making and benefit society Sustainable Futures: Lead the transition to a sustainable future through innovation solution development EMBRACE-Mobility's participation will involve a presentation within the Decisive Data thematic track, showcasing our dedication to creating innovative solutions for sustainable mobility. Our project proposes to connect existing bridge condition data with regional socioeconomic information to enable local authorities to identify key vulnerabilities within their networks and make informed decisions on future investments to ensure critical accessibility routes are secured for all communities. We invite you to join us at this exciting event to network, exchange ideas, and witness groundbreaking research across the College's strategic pillars. Don't miss the opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives and contribute to shaping the future of research and innovation. Stay tuned for more updates on the composition of panels and the final agenda. We look forward to seeing you there! For more information about EMBRACE-Mobility, contact us on our LinkedIn page! #NationalChallengeFund #NextGenerationEU #ScienceFoundationIreland #EmbraceMobility

EMBRACE team lead, Dr. Myra Lydon, had the honour of participating in the Research Forum event hosted by the Royal Academy of Engineering in London last Wednesday, the 17th of April 2024.  The Research Forum is a platform that showcases engineering breakthroughs supported by our research programs. It's a fantastic opportunity for our awardees and stakeholders to come together and celebrate successful engineering research and collaboration. Myra's participation underscores our commitment to dissemination and collaboration in the engineering field. We're proud to be part of such impactful events that drive progress and excellence in research and innovation. For more information about EMBRACE-Mobility, feel free to reach out to us on our LinkedIn page! #NationalChallengeFund #NextGenerationEU #ScienceFoundationIreland #EmbraceMobility

We are thrilled to announce that EMBRACE-Mobility will be participating in the Transport Research Arena (TRA, 2024), taking place in Dublin, Ireland from Monday 15 to Thursday 18 April. TRA is the foremost European transport event that covers all transport modes and all aspects of mobility. It is the largest European research and technology conference on transport and mobility. This prestigious exposition provides an ideal platform for us to showcase our work in the EMBRACE-Mobility project. At our stand, located at the Innovation and Incubation hub area, you'll have the opportunity to engage with our team and learn more about EMBRACE-Mobility and how you can help us shape our solution for a bridge management decision support tool with a focus on the accessibility for rural communities in Ireland. Whether you're a professional in the transportation industry, a researcher, or simply curious about the future of infrastructure management, we invite you to visit us and explore ideas for our project. Stay tuned for live updates from the event, including insights, highlights, and valuable takeaways from our experience at Transport Research Arena 2024. We look forward to welcoming you to our stand and sharing our passion for innovation in bridge management. For more information about Transport Research Arena and our participation, feel free to reach out to us on our LinkedIn page! #NationalChallengeFund #NextGenerationEU #Science Foundation Ireland #EmbraceMobility