IEEE Week 2024 | Public Engagement Event – Dublin

Name: IEEE Week 2024 | Public Engagement Event – Dublin
Start: 2024-10-04T14:00:00+01:00
End: 2024-10-04T17:00:00+01:00
Location: Trinity College Dublin

The IEEE UK and Ireland Section is organising a series of public and invitation only meetings during IEEE Week (30th September – 4th October 2024) where IEEE Volunteers, Members and the wider community will have the opportunity to hear from and engage with IEEE President Dr Tom Coughlin.

The IEEE Week 2024 Event in Dublin on 04 October is focused on Technology, Sustainability and Climate Change. Technological innovation has significant potential to make a positive contribution to achieving Sustainability and ameliorating the negative consequences of human contributions to Climate Change. Transitioning to a low-carbon economy is challenging both technically and economically, taking account of opportunities provided through sustainable technological innovation as well as current and future interests of key stakeholder groups.

This event is kindly hosted by Trinity College Dublin. The event commences at 2pm followed by the opportunity for networking among speakers and participants.

Program

14:00 – 14:05 Welcome, Dr Michelle Olmstead, Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer, Trinity College Dublin

14:05 – 14:10 Welcome and Introduction to IEEE UK and Ireland Section, Prof. Paul Cunningham, UK and Ireland Section Chair

14:10 – 14:15 Creating the Right Climate, Damien Owens, Director General, Engineers Ireland

14:15 – 14:30 Utilizing Technology for a Sustainable Climate, Dr Tom Coughlin, IEEE President

14:30 – 14:45 Sensing, and making sense of, biodiversity data, Prof. Yvonne Buckley, Co-centre for Climate+Biodiversity+Water, Trinity College Dublin

14:45 – 15:00 Upscaling and Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solutions in the Urban and Rural Fabric, Dr Fran Igoe, Local Authority Waters Programme

15:00 – 15:10 EEE Education and the E3 Initiative at Trinity, Prof Anil Kokaram, Head of Department, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Trinity College Dublin

15:10 – 15:25 Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund – Driving Innovation to Alter Markets, Dr Imelda Lambkin, Manager, Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, Enterprise Ireland

15:25 – 15:40 Decarbonisation Pathways and the Circular Economy, Fergal McParland, Chief Technical Advisor (Energy), Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

15:40 – 15:55 ESB Circular Economy, Resilient Infrastructure and Biodiversity Net Gain, Sean Mulvey, Manager Transmission & Distribution Delivery, ESB

15:55 – 16:15 Moderated discussion, Q&A

16:15 – 16:25 IEEE UK and Ireland Section Outstanding Volunteer Awards

16:25 – 17:00 Networking with light refreshments

Abstracts / Biographies

Welcome, Dr Michelle Olmstead, Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer, Trinity College Dublin

Biography

As Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer, Trinity College Dublin, Dr Michelle Olmstead is responsible for the strategic oversight of Trinity’s innovation and enterprise strategy, aligning closely with Trinity’s research and education.

Previously Michelle held positions at executive level in research universities including, Colorado State University, Global Campus, Oxford University (Press), and Leiden University.

She holds a Doctorate of Jurisprudence and a Master of Business Administration.

Welcome and Introduction to IEEE UK and Ireland Section, Prof. Paul Cunningham, UK and Ireland Section Chair

Prof Paul Cunningham will provide a brief introduction to IEEE and the activities currently being supported through the IEEE UK and Ireland Section.

Biography

Professor Paul Cunningham is a technology and innovation expert with over 25 years experience collaborating with national and international stakeholders in Europe and Africa, including governmental, industry, education and research and technology innovation and research funding organisations to support wider adoption of technological innovation to address societal challenges.

Paul has served in a volunteer capacity within IEEE at Director, Technical Activities Board, Member and Geographic Activities, Society, Region, Section and Chapter levels. He is a past Director, IEEE Division VI (2021 – 2022) and President, Society on Social Implications of Technology (2017-2018). He is currently serving in a number of volunteer roles including: Chair, IEEE UK and Ireland Section (2024 – 2025); Member, IEEE TAB Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (2023 – 2024); Member, IEEE MGA Geographic Unit Operations Support Committee – TAB Representative (2024); Member, IEEE TAB Finance Committee (2024 – 2025, 2022 – 2023) and Chair, IEEE Region 8 Committee on Climate Change (2023 – 2024).

Creating the Right Climate, Damien Owens, Director General, Engineers Ireland

Abstract

Damien will discuss the need to create the right climate for discussion and action on climate topics.

Biography

Damien Owens is the Director General of Engineers Ireland. An electronic engineer, Damien joined Engineers Ireland in 2010, serving as its Registrar and Chief Risk Officer. Damien has represented Engineers Ireland in both national and international matters and was elected president of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE) for the 2019-2022 terms and chair of the International Engineering Alliance for 2019-2023. In this role he put in place an agreement to incorporate the UN Sustainable Development Goals into the criteria for engineering degree programmes thus ensuring that generations of future engineers across the globe continue to deploy sustainable solutions for the benefit of society.

Previously he worked in a number of development roles with eircom/Telecom Éireann focusing on international services.

He is a former member of the Accreditation Board of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, a board member of the European Society for Engineering Education and a member of the Medical Devices Committee of Ireland’s National Office for Research Ethics Committees. Policy and Standards Committee of Quality Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and a member of the International Consultative Committee for the Chinese Society of Engineers. Damien is also chair of the Construction Industry Council a group that advocates for policy for the construction sector.

A native of Dublin, Damien graduated as an Electronic Engineer from Trinity College Dublin in 1983 and with a Masters in Engineering and an MBA. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland.

Utilizing Technology for a Sustainable Climate, Dr Tom Coughlin, IEEE President

Abstract

Today the world faces one of its largest modern-day threats: climate change. As the world’s largest organization of technical professionals, IEEE has significant resources, including scholarly publications, conference proceedings, and technical standards, to assist in organizing the response of engineers, scientists, and technical professionals across the world to address the causes, mitigate the impact, and adapt to climate change.

Biography

Dr Tom Coughlin, is the 2024 IEEE President and CEO. Tom has served in numerous IEEE volunteer leadership roles, including President of IEEE-USA, Director of IEEE Region 6, Vice President and Board member of the IEEE Consumer Technology Society, Chair of the Santa Clara Valley IEEE Section, and Chair of the Consultants Network of Silicon Valley. He is also active with the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) and the Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers (SMPTE).

Dr Coughlin is a digital storage analyst and business and technology consultant and is President, Coughlin Associates. He has more than 40 years in the data storage industry with engineering and senior management positions at several companies.

An IEEE Life Fellow, Dr. Coughlin has many publications and six patents. He is also the author of Digital Storage in Consumer Electronics: The Essential Guide, which is now in its second edition with Springer. Tom is a regular storage and memory contributor for forbes.com and media and entertainment organizations. Coughlin Associates consults and publishes books and market and technology reports, including The Media and Entertainment Storage Report and an Emerging Memory Report, and puts on digital storage-oriented events.

Sensing, and making sense of, biodiversity data, Prof Yvonne Buckley, Co-centre for Climate+Biodiversity+Water, Trinity College Dublin

Abstract

We are faced with multiple environmental crises and need to develop solutions that enable sustainable and fair transitions in our economies and societies. Advances in technology are expanding the ways that we can sense the living world which helps us to understand the problems and develop solutions that can be implemented and monitored over time. Nature-based Solutions to the interconnected crises of climate and biodiversity are being developed and deployed but there are gaps in our understanding of how these solutions are working in the environment. In the “Digitising Biodiversity” project we are using audio, video and radar sensors to monitor birds, bats and insects at windfarms. Data collected from the environmental sensors are transformed in different ways and analysed using AI algorithms to identify species and animal movement patterns. In the “FarmCredit” project we are using technology to monitor and verify environmental gains from climate and biodiversity actions.

While technological solutions are an excellent addition to our toolbox they complement traditional ecological modelling techniques which are still needed, particularly for some scales. Challenges remain in both data quality and in the interpretation of the data. To make sense of the more than human world we need to translate the signals from nature to digital representations and then to actionable information that people can use. The Digitising Biodiversity Project is investigating how we make sense of data from environmental sensors.

Biography

Professor Yvonne Buckley is an ecologist and the Professor of Zoology at Trinity College Dublin. She Co-Directs the international Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water which undertakes research across 14 institutions in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

She is a member of the Climate Change Advisory Council, a Member of the Royal Irish Academy and Academia Europaea. She was awarded Irish Research Council Researcher of the Year (2021), the British Ecological Society President’s medal (2021) and BES award (2022). She has highly cited papers in conservation, ecology, zoology, botany and agricultural sciences. She writes a monthly science column focusing on biodiversity and climate in the Irish Times.

Prof Buckley has expertise in environmental decision making, conservation, natural capital management and population ecology. She leads a team of researchers and students seeking to understand the fundamental drivers of animal and plant population processes in a rapidly changing world. She uses these discoveries to provide support for environmental decisions in the areas of biodiversity conservation, invasive species management, climate change and habitat restoration.

Upscaling and Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solutions in the Urban and Rural Fabric, Dr Fran Igoe, Local Authority Waters Programme

Abstract

The recent publication of the Water Action Plan 2024 (as required under the EU Water Framework Directive) highlights urban runoff as an increasing pressure to water quality in Ireland. Nature-based solutions can provide an effective approach to mitigating some of these challenges and bring wider co-benefits to society (including climate adaptation, better place-making and wellbeing, increased biodiversity etc).

Internationally Ireland has lagged behind many other countries in the management of urban rainwater runoff using nature-based solutions. Efforts to catch up and learn from experiences elsewhere, to upscale and mainstream nature-based solutions commenced, in 2019. The Local Authority Waters Programme in response to representation from engineers and planners, have been working with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to not only develop a national strategy, but to animate and action this strategy. This includes intensive consultation across the sectors, professional bodies and agencies, development of guidance and training in partnership with Engineers Ireland.

A series of demonstrator projects in partnership with the Local Authorities are being rolled out to show case the practical implementation of nature-based solutions suitable for the Irish environment. Development location, context (constraints such as underground services, space etc) and public participation are also key to this process. Ultimately winning hearts and minds and developing the necessary skills and political and public buy-in are needed. Therefore, research and monitoring needs be expanded on to demonstrate their effectiveness and efforts are taking place develop these areas. A similar approach is being taken by LAWPRO in the rural sector through the Farming for WaterEIP project.

This presentation will outline the process in working to upscaling and mainstream nature-based solutions in the urban and rural fabric in Ireland.

Biography

Fran is the South Eastern Regional Coordinator with the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) in Ireland. LAWPRO is a Local Authority shared service working with local communities, relevant stakeholders including industry and state agencies to support and implement River Basin Management Plans in Ireland, as required under the EU Water Framework Directive.

Since 2020, in response to requests from Local Authority planners and engineers he has worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage and the wider professional community to develop a practical approach to the management of surface water in the urban environment using nature-based solutions. These nature-based solution concepts are transferable and the approach now also underpins many of the measures of the new €60m WaterEIP Agri-environment scheme transferring the learnings to the rural environment.

Previously Fran worked in rural development and was the lead in the development of the large-scale catchment-based river restoration programmes MulkearLIFE, DuhallowLIFE (SAMOK 09) and RaptorLIFE. He also worked with Inland Fisheries Ireland for 15 years, in river restoration, research, catchment management and enforcement and was the lead author in the Inland Fisheries Ireland Guidelines for “Planning for Watercourses in the Urban Environment”.

EEE Education and the E3 Initiative at Trinity, Prof Anil Kokaram, Head of Department, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Trinity College Dublin

Abstract

The E3 Initiative at Trinity College connects the Schools of Computer Science and Statistics, Engineering and Natural Sciences under the themes of Engineering, Environment and Emerging Technologies. https://www.tcd.ie/e3/

A challenge facing Electronic and Electrical Engineering is how to adapt its curriculum given the landscape of emerging aspects in the Energy, Environmental Sustainability and Device Manufacturing sectors.

In this short talk we discuss responses to this challenge.

Biography

Professor Anil Kokaram graduated in 1993 with the PhD in Signal processing from the Cambridge University Engineering Department, UK. He is now Professor and Chair of Electronics at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

From 2011-2017 he was the lead of the Media Algorithms Team at YouTube/Google. Before that he founded a media DSP group at Trinity www.sigmedia.tv working in the broad areas of DSP for Video Processing, Bayesian Inference and motion estimation.

He has published over 200 refereed papers in these areas. He was a former Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Video Technology and IEEE Transactions on Image Processing and currently serves as Senior Area Editor. He was founder of a company (GreenParrotPictures) producing video enhancement software that was acquired by Google in 2011.

In 2007 he was honoured with a Science and Engineering Academy Award from the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his work in video processing for post-production applications.

Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund – Driving Innovation to Alter Markets, Dr Imelda Lambkin, Manager, Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, Enterprise Ireland

Abstract

The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million challenge-based fund established under Project Ireland 2040. It is one of four funds set up under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027. It is managed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and administered by Enterprise Ireland.

To date, over €371 million in funding has been awarded to 104 projects involving companies and academic researchers. The objectives of the Fund, its focus on industrial research collaborations of scale and the trends observed to date will be described. Specific project examples will illustrate the development of disruptive technologies in energy, climate and food sectors.

The Fund is currently open for new applications. The requirements of the funding call, how applications will be scored and tips for successful evaluation will be outlined.

Biography

Dr Imelda Lambkin is the Manager of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund at Enterprise Ireland. She is responsible for promoting the Fund to SMEs, Mid-Caps, Multinational Corporations and Research Performing Organizations as well as designing and implementing the Calls for funding. Imelda manages the portfolio of projects (currently €365 million of funding) which is focused on industrial research collaboration predominantly led by SMEs. She has led the Knowledge Transfer Ireland initiative, helping business to benefit from access to Irish expertise and technology by making it simpler to connect and engage with the research base.

As the National Director for FP7 and Horizon 2020 at Enterprise Ireland, Imelda led the national effort to optimise Ireland’s participation in the European Framework Programme.

Imelda qualified in Medical Laboratory Science at Dublin Institute of Technology and has an MSc and PhD in Medical Microbiology from University College London. She has worked in industrial research at Elan Corporation and in policymaking at Forfas. Imelda actively influences national research and innovation strategy, contributing to Impact 2030, Ireland’s strategy for 2023-2030 which is putting research and innovation at the heart of addressing Ireland’s social, economic and environmental challenges.

Decarbonisation pathways and the Circular Economy, Fergal McParland, Chief Technical Advisor (Energy), Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Abstract

Complimentary policy developments across climate and energy are designed under CAP24 to support a sustainable decarbonisation transition. Increased access to Ireland’s circular economy potential is an important and an emerging part of the success of this transition. New decarbonisation pathways linking circular economy potential to our climate action goals and energy transition are required: Energy infrastructure linking industrial waste usage and decarbonisation is central to Irelands Built Environment policy on District Heating.

Ireland has set a target of 2.4 TWh from District Heating by 2030; delivering on this target is inter-dependent on the identification and reuse of industrial waste energy sources. In addition, Irelands recent policy on Biomethane provides a central role for farmers and local communities in the establishment of new biogas industry which aims to deliver 5.7 TWh of indigenous biomethane by 2030. These and related policy developments offer multiple circular economy pathways in support of a sustainable and fair transition. They place the innovative adoption of low carbon technologies at the heart of an optimised net zero pathway.

Biography

Fergal McParland is Chief Technical Advisor for Energy at the Irish Government’s Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC).

Fergal has over twenty years experience in the energy sector. Prior to his role as CTA, Fergal held a number of roles at EirGrid Group across ICT, Grid Development and Interconnection. He has extensive experience in the development and design of European energy markets and previously held the role of chairperson of the Board of the Joint Allocation Office (JAO) in Luxembourg. JAO is responsible for the sale of cross border energy forwards contracts across Europe and for the clearing and settlement of a range of cross border energy balancing products.

Fergal was also previously a member of the GB Steering Committee designated by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) in UK with responsibility for oversight of post Brexit cross border interconnector trading arrangements between the UK And EU.

Fergal holds an MSc in electrical power systems from University of Bath, an MBA from the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and a Diploma in Financial Management (Dip FM) from ACCA.

ESB Circular Economy, Resilient Infrastructure and Biodiversity Net Gain, Sean Mulvey, Manager Transmission & Distribution Delivery, ESB

Abstract

ESB’s Networks for Net Zero strategy is the corner stone of our ambitious Net Zero target for 2040. This presentation describes three of the key components among others to fulfilling our goal, which are, Circular Economy, Resilient Infrastructure and Biodiversity Net Gain. The Circular Economy strategy has been adopted across all business units however for Transmission and Distribution Delivery (TDD) in Engineering and Major Projects (EMP), our Overhead Lines (OHL) section has been at the forefront of this for several years by way of critically examining the existing OHL assets and how to extend the life span of the assets whilst maintaining asset integrity. Resilient Infrastructure is the next area where TDD has adopted and implemented intelligent control and protection schemes to insure the integrity of the asset infrastructure during a storm event whilst ensuring renewable energy is exported onto the grid. The final section of the presentation is how ESB has embarked upon and huge Biodiversity enhancement programme and how ESB has development tools to measure the effectiveness of this and how this programme will be built into future asset development projects from now.

Biography

Sean Mulvey is the Senior Manager for the Transmission & Distribution Delivery (TDD) Group in Engineering and Major Projects (EMP) at ESB. TDD are responsible for the detailed design and commissioning of the Transmission & Distribution Overhead Line Assets, the Transmission & Distribution Substation Assets and the Transmission Underground Cable Assets.

With a group of 250 Civil and Electrical engineers and other disciplines, TDD collaborates closely with ESB Networks Customer Delivery and EMP Networks Project Delivery who are responsible for the construction of the asset base for ESB Networks.

Sean holds a Masters in Engineering Management from University College Dublin and is committed member of CIGRE where he has had to opportunity to be part of several study committees working groups over the past 10 years.

Queries

Any queries as well as accessibility challenges or dietary requirements can be submitted as part of the Registration Form.

We look forward to your active participation in IEEE Week 2024 Activities of our IEEE UK and Ireland Section.