About

Welcome to the Institute for Lifecourse and Society, a specially designated research institute in applied social sciences in University of Galway. Here at ILAS, we are really interested and focused on research that positively affects people’s lives. We want to advance people’s lives in Ireland and internationally who face issues and challenges across the course of their lives, and who can experience marginalisation and vulnerability in social and other contexts. The research at the Institute is undertaken by academic staff and researchers who are committed to making a difference in practice and policy through excellence in research, and innovation in community engagement.

Our mission is to impact positively on knowledge, attitudes, policy and practice by contributing scientific and practical awareness of human capacity and potential across the lifecourse. Within this mission, how individuals and groups can participate as full members of society throughout their lives is a core consideration, with a particular focus on enabling and supporting major life transitions for different sections of the population, and potentially marginalised groups.

The research at the Institute is underpinned by academic staff and researchers who are keen the work we do makes a difference. Our research environment is conducive to that end and enables you to contribute in whatever way you can to this broader collective effort. We foster excellence in research and education that prepares our students and researchers to be policy entrepreneurs and to make a positive contribution. We create valuable space for critical reflection as well as fruitful interaction between all the stakeholders. We encourage you to take full advantage of what we and the broader academic community at The University of Galway have to offer.