Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development Martin Heydon T.D. visited Trinity College, AMBER and CRANN on Tuesday 15th November 2022 as part of Science week 2022 (13th – 20th Nov).
Minister Heydon was given an update on various Department of Food and Marine funded research projects being run in Trinity College and AMBER Centre and in collaboration with various Universities, Industry Partners and State Bodies.
Prof. Michael Morris (Chemistry & AMBER Director) gave an update on NXTGENWOOD an AMBER research program and network for delivery of next generation wood products and increased economic return for Irish wood products. This was followed by a Tour of laboratories in CRANN TCD where AMBER is hosted and a demonstration in one of the labs of a microscope image of delignified wood
Prof. Jane Stout (Botany & VP for Biodiversity & Climate Action, TCD Provost’s Office) also gave an update on FORES Prof. Trevor Hodkinson (Botany) gave a presentation on NEXCELSIOR and a fascinating walk through of the Department of Botany, the Herbarium and molecular laboratory.
Hosted by TCD Dean and Vice President of Research Prof Wolfgang Schmitt, Minister Heydon was shown the value and societal impact that Department funded research can bring. AMBER’s NXTGENWOOD project seeks to harness wood materials as an alternative to glass making its a Circular Economy focused project. Trinity College Botany’s NEXCELSIOR project is seeking a solution to ASH Dieback through research and resistance. These was also an opportunity to highlight ongoing work in advanced materials for CO2 capture which seek to contribute solutions to the climate crisis.
AMBER has a strong emphasis on collaboration. Central to AMBER’s research remit are collaborative projects performed with industry partners, and working with academic, industry and wider stakeholder on international and national research programmes.
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