Ó An Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today published the outcomes from Creating Our Future, a unique national brainstorm that received more than 18,000 ideas on how to create a better society.
The diverse breadth of public submissions on where research should be focused ranged from ideas on the environment, mental health, food and sustainable and green living, to housing, health, the arts, digital challenges, learning and development, and nurturing community.
The campaign asked the Irish public to submit research ideas based on a flexible, open-ended question: ‘Tell us your idea for what researchers in Ireland should explore to create a better future?’
Some responses included:
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
“The Creating Our Future campaign was launched to bring research and the public together; to unite everyone in a shared project to allow us to better understand how research can work for the Irish public and shape a better Ireland.
“We wanted to open a discussion to everyone, to discover what was important to people, to find out what they would like to explore to create a better future for all.
"The campaign aimed to democratise research – everyone can have a good idea; the campaign was open to everyone, and I am glad to say that we received research ideas from every county in the country.
“The Expert Committee Report analysing the submissions paints a very interesting picture of the thoughts and concerns of the Irish public at a unique point in time. Their findings, alongside all the submissions, now form a valuable and unique digital book of inspiration.
“The database of ideas will serve as an enduring source of insight and will help to inspire future research in Ireland. I would like to sincerely thank each person that submitted an idea to the Creating Our Future campaign.
“In one way, it feels like we are at the finish of Creating Our Future but in another, we are really only at the beginning. The public has done its part, it is now up to Government and its agencies to implement the recommendations in both the Campaign Report and Expert Committee Report.
“The research ideas have already been aligned with a number of ongoing and upcoming programmes and will inform research through a variety of initiatives over the coming years.
“I would like to thank all of those involved, the Ambassadors, Advisory Forum Members and Members of the Expert Committee and Working Groups, and Science Foundation Ireland, it was through this combined effort that we have ultimate success.”
Creating Our Future was the first of its kind public engagement dialogue to be undertaken in Ireland. All 18,062 ideas submitted by the public during 2021 were considered by an independent Expert Committee and grouped under 16 thematic areas.
The outputs and recommendations from Creating Our Future are integrated into the government’s new national research and innovation strategy Impact 2030, and will inform the National Challenge Fund, as well as being aligned with future public engagement campaigns such as Science Week.
Look through the ideas submitted in the digital Book of Inspiration.
The Creating Our Future campaign ran over 5 months from July to December 2021. People of all ages, from different sectors and communities across Ireland and further afield, made submissions via an online portal and various in-person events, including roadshows and group brainstorms.
From science, the environment, health and education to poverty, the arts, diversity, and inclusion – all ideas submitted will provide researchers with inspiration to make a better future for Ireland.
The campaign asked the Irish public to submit research ideas based on a flexible, open-ended question: ‘Tell us your idea for what researchers in Ireland should explore to create a better future?’
The submissions were grouped under the following 16 thematic areas:
Inclusive dialogue was a fundamental tenet across all aspects of the campaign. The campaign was designed to create a space for those that would not, in usual circumstances, have an opportunity to engage with, or influence, research decisions.
The Creating Our Future roadshow visited every county in Ireland at least once. Forty roadshow events were held and 36 stakeholder information and campaign support events were facilitated. In total, over 1,500 online and in-person brainstorms and events were held to gather ideas. The engagement campaign was supported by an Advisory Forum chaired by Julie Byrne, Global Head of Nokia Bell Labs External Collaboration Programs.
An Expert Committee consisting of 9 experts across various research disciplines, supported by 7 working groups with over 50 domain experts, were responsible for reviewing the submissions, synthesising the findings and making recommendations. The Expert Committee was chaired by Professor Linda Hogan, Trinity College Dublin.