Start Talking About Research Today: European Researchers' Night at Trinity College Dublin

2026-07-22

European Researchers’ Night events have been held at Trinity College Dublin every year since 2013. Each year has seen a growth in the number of Trinity researchers taking part, and in the levels of engagement with the general public. Previous iterations of European Researchers’ Night at Trinity have been coordinated by an individual school, usually in collaboration with Science Gallery Dublin. In a radical departure, the Office of the Dean of Research in partnership with the British Council Ireland, will host START as part of European Researchers’ Night 2020. Based on the idea Start Talking About Research Today, Trinity will create an innovative city-wide event that will activate various sites around Dublin to highlight the fact that research takes place all over our city and takes many forms. START will provide an opportunity for the general public and researchers to engage with each other in new ways. Through a combination of activities, demonstrations, tours, talks and more, START will promote the idea that research is a living, fundamental part of our society that impacts on and involves everyone. START will work to achieve a number of specific goals: 1. Create new dialogues between researchers and the general public that will lead to a deeper, more profound and sustained engagement with each other; 2. Raise awareness of research and research careers as positive forces in our society; 3. Highlight the role of the European Union in supporting research and discovery. Public engagement and communications workshops will be offered to all MSCA-funded researchers, as well as other participants in the events on the Night. A series of activities and showcases will be conducted to raise awareness in the months preceding European Researchers’ Night. Trinity has a wealth of talent and experience in public engagement activities including previous ERN events, and the project team will draw on this expertise to ensure that START is grounded in best practice.

Ireland

2026-03-01