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To mark International Women’s Day 2017, the Irish Research Council has highlighted seven Irish research projects that are making a difference here today.
International Women’s Day (March 8) has become one of the biggest events on the sci-tech calendar in the last few years, as the need to bridge the chasm between women and girls with STEM roles becomes paramount.
Taking examples from Ireland, recent events such as the naming of NUI Galway’s engineering building after Alice Perry, or initiatives such as Teen-Turn, show that the right steps are being taken.
The Irish Research Council (IRC) is marking International Women’s Day in its own way with an infographic highlighting seven research projects that are currently underway in Ireland, aimed at improving women’s lives.
The projects featured in the infographic include Deirdre Daly’s research on maternal health and maternal morbidity.
Her work found that many first-time mothers experience health problems three months postpartum, long after free maternity care ends.
Variety of topics
Also included is researcher Katherine O’Donnell’s study of the history of the Magdalene Laundries, which played a role in Enda Kenny’s formal apology to the Magdalene survivors in February 2013 and the establishment of a redress scheme.
Commenting on this year’s campaign, Dr Eucharia Meehan, director of the IRC, said: “There is interesting and groundbreaking work being carried out by many of our researchers on topics ranging from maternal health and women in politics to breast cancer recovery.
“International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate and showcase the work and achievements of our researchers who are making a difference to the lives of women through their studies.”
Infographic: IRC
