Rachel Msetfi

Lives with Muffi & Zara, Rocky, Turbo & Tiger. Misses Yas & Sof, and is TheRealGrandMa of Sofia

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

Yesterday, as part of Maynooth University Research Week 2026, we held our Research Achievement Awards and Graduate Research Academy Awards, recognising the outstanding contributions of our researchers and research students.

These awards showcase the wonderful research taking place across Maynooth University, and recognised the enormous amounts of hard work that lie behind every achievement. Research requires not only curiosity and creativity, but also dedication, persistence and resilience, often over many years. It is particularly rewarding to recognise excellence at different stages of the research journey, and to see the many ways in which our research is making a difference.

Warmest congratulations to all our award recipients and nominees! 2026 staff awardees: Ian Marder, Conor Cahalane, Katriona O'Sullivan, Sadhbh Byrne, Máire Nic an Bhaird, and Rafael de Andrade Moral.

A special thank you to the Research Development Office and the Graduate Research Academy, Maynooth University for organising these events, and to everyone involved in supporting and recognising the achievements of our research community.

#MaynoothUniversity #ResearchWeek2026 #ResearchExcellence #ResearchImpact #GraduateResearch

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

A wonderful event this morning as part of Maynooth University Research Week 2026!

Congratulations to Professor Xu Wang and the Maynooth International Engineering College (MIEC) team for organising MIEC Research Connections, a series of fascinating lightning talks showcasing research across AI, robotics, photonics, wireless communications, sustainable technologies and biomedical engineering.

MIEC is our partnership with Fuzhou University in China and is a wonderful example international research collaboration. It was inspiring to hear about the excellent research being undertaken by colleagues and to see the opportunities for sharing knowledge, learning from one another and developing new collaborations.

A lovely reminder that research thrives through openness, exchange and collaboration across borders.

Many thanks to all the researchers who shared their work, and congratulations again to Xu Wang and the MIEC team!

https://t.co/EXD1FAtLYc

#MaynoothUniversity #ResearchWeek2026 #MIEC #InternationalCollaboration #Research

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

A fascinating discussion at Maynooth University yesterday on Creativity in the Age of AI, as part of Research Week 2026.

As AI becomes increasingly capable of producing creative content, it raises some fundamental questions: What makes human creativity distinctive? Can AI enhance our creative capabilities, or might we risk losing something important along the way?

I really enjoyed chairing a stimulating discussion that brought together perspectives from technology, education, cultural policy, human development and the creative industries. The conversation reinforced that this is about much more than technology. It is about how we value, develop and support human creativity in a rapidly changing world.

My thanks to our excellent panellists Brian Donnellan, Markus Helfert, Michael OReilly, Nadia Feldkircher and Fiach Mac Conghail, and to everyone who contributed to the discussion.

Special thanks to Victor Lazzarini and our colleagues in the Arts and Humanities Institute (AHI) at Maynooth University and the Innovation Value Institute for organising such a thought-provoking event!

#MaynoothUniversity #ResearchWeek2026 #ArtificialIntelligence #Creativity #ResearchInnovation

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

It was a pleasure to welcome researchers, health charities and civil society organisations to Maynooth University yesterday for Research Together 2026, now in its fifth year!

One of the messages I emphasised was that good research is not just about finding answers — it is also about asking the right questions, and recognising who should help shape them. Bringing together researchers, health charities and people with lived experience creates opportunities for more meaningful and impactful research.

This years event was particularly timely as we strengthen our commitment to engaged research through our new MU Futures Hub, supported by the Higher Education Authority, and our role as a full site in the national PPI Ignite Network.

Wonderful to see so many conversations and connections developing throughout the day. Sincere thanks to Health Research Charities Ireland, The Wheel, the Maynooth Futures Hub and Research Development Office for making the event such a success.

https://t.co/t9hJlZmxWD

#ResearchTogether2026 #MaynoothUniversity #EngagedResearch #PPI #ResearchImpact

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

Maynooth University Research Week 2026 starts today!

One of the highlights of the University calendar is Research Week, when we have an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary breadth, creativity and impact of research taking place across Maynooth University.

This year, we have more than 50 events taking place between 19 and 22 October, showcasing research from across our three faculties: Arts and Humanities, Science and Engineering, and Social Sciences.

What I particularly enjoy about Research Week is the opportunity to step outside our own disciplines, discover what colleagues are working on, hear new ideas and make connections that might not otherwise happen.

I'm also delighted that so many events are open to the wider public. Universities have an important responsibility not just to generate knowledge, but to share it and create opportunities for people to engage with research that matters to them.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in organising this years programme and to all our researchers who are sharing their work!

Full programme: https://t.co/6udKTFsavu

#MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchWeek2026 #ResearchImpact #ResearchExcellence

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

On Friday evening, I attended the launch of Fictions, Frictions amp; Evictions in Dublin 8, an exhibition emerging from the European Research Council-funded Data Stories project, led by Professor Rob Kitchin at Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute.

It was thought-provoking, powerful and parts were deeply emotional. The exhibition explores Irelands housing emergency through research, art, film, installation and community activism. What struck me was how effectively it brought together the evidence of the housing crisis with the human experiences behind it. Behind every statistic about homelessness, displacement or housing insecurity are people, families and communities whose lives are profoundly affected.

There was also a powerful underlying message about the role of evidence itself. We often assume that better data will lead to better decisions. But what happens when the data are incomplete, when certain experiences are overlooked, or when the evidence is available but fails to translate into meaningful action? These are uncomfortable but important questions, and the exhibition doesnt shy away from asking them.

For me, this was a wonderful example of the power of research to engage with some of the most pressing challenges facing our society. It also demonstrated what can happen when researchers work with artists, activists and communities to communicate their findings in ways that reach beyond academia, challenge our assumptions and make us think differently. This is research impact in a very real and meaningful sense.

Congratulations to Rob, curator Brendan Fox, the artists, collaborators and everyone involved in bringing this remarkable exhibition together. It is a fantastic achievement and something Maynooth University can be very proud of.

Fictions, Frictions and Evictions runs until 24 October at The Bank, 85 Jamess Street, Dublin 8. I would strongly encourage anyone with an interest in housing, public policy, art or social justice to visit.

https://t.co/55Cdt2WBEc

#MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchImpact #Housing #SocialJustice #EvidenceBasedPolicy

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

I'm really delighted to see our colleagues at Maynooth International Engineering College (MIEC) contributing to Maynooth University Research Week 2026 with a Research Connections Webinar on Thursday, 22 October.

Maynooth International Engineering College, Fuzhou University is our joint international engineering college with Fuzhou University in China, and this event offers a fantastic opportunity for colleagues across Maynooth University to learn more about the exciting research taking place there. Under the theme Showcase. Connect. Collaborate., the webinar will feature a series of five-minute lightning talks showcasing research across artificial intelligence, optical communications, renewable energy systems, extended reality, intelligent devices and much more.

What I particularly like about this initiative is the emphasis on making connections. Research collaborations often begin with something very simple: discovering that a colleague, perhaps in another discipline or on another campus, is working on something that resonates with your own interests.

Our partnership with Fuzhou University creates opportunities to build precisely these kinds of international research connections, bringing together expertise, ideas and perspectives across institutions and disciplines. I'd really encourage colleagues across Maynooth University to join the webinar, whether your research interests are directly related to engineering and technology or you are simply curious about the possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Congratulations to Professor Xu Wang, Dr Xiaoyu Du and all our MIEC colleagues for organising this initiative. I hope it will be the beginning of many new research conversations and collaborations!

📅 Thursday, 22 October 2026🕘 9:00–10:30 am (Irish time)
💻 Online via Microsoft Teams
👉 Register here: https://t.co/R5k2CXfAdx

#MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchWeek2026 #InternationalCollaboration #ResearchCollaboration #MIEC

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

It was a privilege to be at the Central Criminal Court today for the launch of important new research by my Maynooth University colleague Dr Sinéad Ring, from the School of Law and Criminology Maynooth University.

Sinéad's research, funded by Research Ireland, examines the use of sexual experience evidence in rape trials and asks an important question: how do the legal safeguards governing the admission of this evidence actually operate in practice?

Drawing on interviews with 21 key stakeholders, the research examines the operation of Section 3 applications, including questions of relevance and credibility and the potential for assumptions and rape myths to influence how sexual experience evidence is approached.

The report was launched by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, with a response from Professor Vanessa Munro of the University of Warwick and a fascinating panel discussion.

One message particularly stayed with me: changing legislation is only part of the story. We also need research that examines how law is understood, interpreted and applied in practice.

This report provides a powerful example of Maynooth University's Society & Public Policy Research Beacon in action – rigorous research engaging directly with practitioners and civil society on an issue of significant public importance.

Congratulations to Sinéad on this important work, and to Rape Crisis Ireland for supporting the research and organising todays symposium which brought together such a rich range of perspectives on evidence, justice and survivors rights.

The QR code on the report provides access to the full research report.

#MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchIreland #ResearchBeacons #PublicPolicy

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

What if a computer could simply drift towards the right answer?

That is the fascinating idea behind new research published in Nature by Professor Damien Woods and colleagues at the Maynooth University, demonstrating a fundamentally different approach to computing using DNA.

Why does this matter? As demand for computing grows, so too does the energy required to power it. This research explores whether computation itself can work differently — with a physical system designed to naturally move towards the correct result.

And it works! The team demonstrated 10 different programs across more than 700 computations, including a 100-bit computation, with smaller computations completing in under a minute.

There is a long way to go from a molecular computer in the laboratory to future computing technologies, but this work opens up exciting possibilities for fundamentally new approaches to computing.

Huge congratulations to Damien Woods and the entire team on this Nature publication, a fantastic contribution to Maynooth University's Data Science & Digital Transformation Research Beacon!

#MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchBeacons #DNAComputing #DataScience

https://t.co/tc71EvsmUY

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

Graduation week is one of my favourite times of the year at Maynooth University!

Walking across campus today, what struck me was the sense of joy everywhere. Graduates dressed for one of the biggest days of their lives; families and friends gathered around them; handshakes, hugs and photographs; and some truly enormous bouquets of flowers being carried across campus!

A graduation ceremony marks an academic achievement, of course, but seeing everyone together shows that there is so much more wrapped up in that moment.

Behind every graduate is a story of hard work, resilience, learning and growing. So many other people are part of the story too: parents, partners, children, friends, lecturers, supervisors and colleagues who have encouraged, supported and celebrated them along the way.

Warmest congratulations to all of our Maynooth University graduates, and to the families and friends celebrating with them. I hope you enjoy every minute of it — including the flowers! 🎓💐

#MaynoothUniversity #Graduation #MUGraduation

[MU Library Cat @MULibraryCat]

well, I was having a lovely day being fawned over by graduands (congrats BTW!). And then the storm came. And the thunder...

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

Great to hear Professor Jennie C. Stephens of Maynooth University on RTÉ Radio 1’s Today with David McCullagh, alongside climate and environmental researcher Sadhbh O’Neill, discussing El Niño and the increasingly turbulent and unstable climate.

Jennie spoke about the growing risks associated with a changing climate, and the importance of both preparing for its impacts and strengthening efforts to reduce future climate disruption.

One thing that particularly resonates with me is the importance of not becoming overwhelmed by the scale of the challenge. We need to be realistic about the changes that are already happening and prepare for them, but that doesn't mean accepting that the future is already determined. There is still so much that can be done, both to reduce future impacts and to build more resilient communities and societies. Good research helps us understand the risks, but crucially, it can also help us understand what we can do about them.

Listen here: https://t.co/RXzHtTruqC

#MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchBeacons #ClimateChange #Sustainability #EnvironmentalResearch

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

I spotted two familiar young faces in Research Ireland’s launch of Science Week 2026!

The two young scientists helping to launch this year’s programme are Jack and Geordie the sons of my colleague Dr Noreen Lacey, Manager of the Maynooth University Futures Hub which makes this photograph particularly appropriate.

Noreen has herself secured Research Ireland funding for Science Week 2026 for H2O: Humanity 2.0 – Reimagining Water Futures for Society, Science and Sustainability, an exciting Maynooth University initiative inspired by this year’s national theme, “Water – From Molecule to Ocean.”

Led by the MU Futures Hub in collaboration with Maynooth Green Campus, H2O: Humanity 2.0 will bring researchers together with schools, community organisations, policymakers and the wider public to explore one of our most fundamental resources from many different perspectives.

And there is plenty to explore. From the molecular science of water and hydrogen as a potential clean energy source, to flooding and drought, pollution and public health, biodiversity, climate resilience and the future of our communities, water connects an extraordinary range of research and societal challenges.

What I particularly like about the project is that it isn’t simply about communicating science to people. Through interactive workshops, science cafés, hands-on demonstrations and community dialogue, it is designed to create conversations between researchers, communities and policymakers — bringing different forms of knowledge and experience together to think about our shared water futures.

The project will work with Kildare County Council Climate Action Office, Maynooth Sustainable Energy Community, Maynooth Tidy Towns, local schools and community organisations, alongside colleagues from across Maynooth University.
Congratulations to Noreen and everyone involved in developing this wonderful initiative. I am really looking forward to seeing H2O: Humanity 2.0 come to life during Science Week in November.

And congratulations also to Noreen’s two junior colleagues on doing such an excellent job representing Science Week nationally! ☔🔬🌊

https://t.co/1qe3sazprI

#ScienceWeek2026 #ScienceWeek #ResearchIreland #MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #PublicEngagement #Sustainability #ClimateAction #ResearchImpact

[Prof Linda Connolly now lindaconnolly.bsky.social @Linda__Connolly]

The book is about to enter into the world. A labour of love, a “silence breaking” project long in the making. Available for preorder here: https://t.co/VyJ3ewcObF

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

It is great to see Professor Jennie C. Stephens bringing her research on climate obstruction to a wider audience in The Irish Times.

Jennie is a lead author, with Sharon Yadin, of a chapter in the recent Oxford University Press volume Climate Obstruction: A Global Assessment. Their chapter examines the role of civil society and non-state actors in confronting efforts to delay or block action on climate change.

In The Irish Times article, Jennie draws on a wide body of research to consider how climate obstruction is changing, and why responses to climate change continue to fall short despite the increasingly visible impacts of a changing climate.

Research such as this is an important part of understanding not only the science of climate change, but also the societal, organisational and policy factors that shape how we respond to it.

This work connects strongly with Maynooth University's Sustainability & Climate Change Research Beacon and its focus on interdisciplinary approaches to global environmental challenges.

Congratulations to Jennie on bringing this research into the public conversation.

Read the article here: https://t.co/Xq2vvhIuiy

Read the chapter here: https://t.co/39o48qvthA

#MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchBeacons #ClimateChange #Sustainability #EnvironmentalResearch

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

We’re recruiting at Maynooth University for an Institutional Research & Rankings Officer! This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong data analysis, insight and stakeholder engagement skills to contribute to the University’s work on institutional performance and global university rankings.

The successful candidate will work at the intersection of data, strategy and institutional research — analysing complex datasets, benchmarking performance, supporting engagement with major global ranking systems, and translating data into clear insights to inform strategic decision-making across the University.

A strong understanding of the higher education sector, institutional research, performance metrics or university rankings would be particularly valuable, alongside excellent analytical, data visualisation and communication skills.

If you enjoy turning complex data into actionable insight and would like to contribute to an important and evolving area of university strategy, I’d encourage you to take a look.

📌 Institutional Research & Rankings Officer
📍 Maynooth University
💶 €47,387–€67,129
📅 Closing date: 30 August 2026
🔎 Vacancy ID: 043503

Full details and applications:
https://t.co/ECLgHrct9A

Please feel free to share with anyone who may be interested.

#MaynoothUniversity #HigherEducation #InstitutionalResearch #UniversityRankings #DataAnalytics #HigherEducationJobs #ResearchStrategy #DataInsights

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

In celebration of the one and only Seamus, the @MaynoothUni @MULibraryCat he has his own documentary! https://t.co/lE4CaUyZPH via @YouTube

[Rachel Msetfi @MsetfiLab]

It was great to see Professor Peter Thorne, Director of the ICARUS Climate Research Centre at Maynooth University, once again speaking on CNN about the impacts of climate change and the wildfires affecting France and Spain.

One of Peter's comments was particularly striking:

"...this is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, peacetime forced relocations of people in Europe... this is not a future problem; it's a now problem."

Climate change is often discussed in terms of temperatures, emissions and extreme weather. But at its heart, it is about people. More frequent and severe climate-related events are disrupting lives, damaging homes and infrastructure.

Research by Professor Thorne and colleagues at the ICARUS Climate Research Centre is deepening our understanding of climate systems, improving climate observations, and providing the evidence needed to inform policy, strengthen resilience and support effective adaptation. Their work is making an important contribution to addressing one of the defining challenges of our time.

Congratulations to Peter on continuing to bring evidence-based climate science to an international audience.

🎥 CNN interview: https://t.co/dJXwXkAem9

#MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchBeacons #ClimateChange #Sustainability #EnvironmentalResearch #ClimateAction