IRELAND’S research agency is appealing to Donegal people to engage in a new national project.
The agency, called Research Ireland, was set up in 2024 through a merger of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC).
It funds academic research, innovation, and post-graduate talent across all disciplines.
The national research and funding agency today (Thursday) launched the Research in Ireland Barometer 2026, a new national project designed to “build a richer, more inclusive understanding of how people in Donegal and encounter, engage with, and experience research in their everyday lives”.
Research Ireland launches national project to understand how people across Ireland experience research.
A spokesperson said: “The Barometer focuses on capturing lived experience – the stories, contexts, and perspectives that shape how people relate to research.
“This reflects Research Ireland’s long-standing commitment to public engagement, comprising decades of nationwide outreach and education.
“The Barometer will serve as a baseline for the years ahead, offering a clearer picture of how research is understood, trusted, and encountered across different communities.
“At the same time, it reflects an ambition to broaden participation, ensuring that people of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances can contribute.”
Dr Ruth Freeman, who is Research Ireland’s director of research for society, said: “Barometer 2026 represents an important step in opening up conversations about research across society.
“We are taking a community-engaged approach to understand how people experience research in their everyday lives, from the decisions they make to the information they encounter and trust.”
Research Ireland is inviting everyone living in Ireland aged over 16 to take part in the Barometer project.
See the researchireland.ie website for more information.