In 2024, the ICI Young Chemists Network (to whom Joe is an Advisor) organised the Young Chemists for Change event at UCD, focussing on the role of equality, diversity and inclusion in the chemistry community in Ireland, the UK and further afield. A full report of the event is available in Irish Chemical Events. This event was supported by the RSC Inclusion and Diversity Fund. Recently a Forum Article about the event was published in RSC Sustainability.
The editor of the journal RSC Sustainability commissioned a collection of Forum articles highlighting impacts of the Inclusion and Diversity Fund, highlighting the relevance of culture in the chemistry community to sustainability more broadly:
“As a journal from the Royal Society of Chemistry, it is to be expected that most authors select one or more of the more obviously technical SDGs. However, it is vital that we remember the importance of societal changes to achieve the SDGs. These are made explicit in SDGs 5 (Gender Equality) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities), but we should also remember that there are other SDGs that have both technical and societal aspects. For example, it will be impossible to deliver SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) without accounting for unequal health outcomes based on sex and gender, race and ethnicity, poverty, geography, prior disability, and sexual orientation. I have always believed that the Chemical Sciences and Chemical Scientists can contribute to all of the SDGs and that RSC Sustainability should play its part in this.”
The Forum article presents demographic data, qualitative and quantitative analysis of responses from attendees at the event, and the impact EDI events can have on awareness and sense of belonging. Joe is a co-author of this article along with the main organisers of the event. The forum article can be read at https://doi.org/10.1039/d6su90043g
The Byrne Group were delighted to be awarded a Green Certification from MyGreenLabs, as part of Research Ireland’s Sustainable Laboratory Certification Pilot Programme. In Lab A2.01, we worked together with Tom Hooper’s and Andrew Phillips’ Groups to identify sources of waste, establish new recycling streams (e.g. for KimTech gloves), and pool resources where possible to limit duplication of purchases. It was a really worthwhile process and has made us more considerate of reducing negative environmental impacts of our research. Sophie Kavanagh joined a UCD-wide working group on wet lab practices as part of our actions, and we have participated in chemical swap days, further reducing wastage. We continue to meet and share ideas, which will hopefully keep us up to date with developments in this area
Marking the announcement of 72 Sustainable Laboratory Certifications awarded today to research spaces in 12 higher education institutions across Ireland were (left-right) Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD; Prof. Emmanuelle Graciet, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Maynooth University; and Dr Ciarán Seoighe, Deputy CEO, Research Ireland.
Announcing the awards, Minister Lawless said:
“Research involves more than exploration and discovery; it also demands attention to how we conduct our work and the impact it has on our communities and our planet. Research carries with it a responsibility to operate with integrity, to use resources wisely, and to ensure our pursuit of knowledge does not come at an unsustainable cost to the world around us. I warmly congratulate all the laboratory teams recognised today for their commitment to greener practices. This initiative, led by Research Ireland, marks a significant and encouraging step in placing sustainability at the centre of our national research system and signals Ireland’s intent to lead by example on climate-conscious innovation.”
Byrne Research Group 