Ten undergraduate students from around the world joined researchers in the School of Natural Sciences in Trinity College Dublin to research environmental projects with a theme of Integrating Ecology and Evolution in a Changing World.

The summer school, supported by Science Foundation Ireland’s UREKA (Undergraduate Research Experience & Knowledge Award) programme, endeavoured to encourage undergraduate students in the biological sciences to consider taking their research to postgraduate level.

During the ten week programme, students were given the opportunity to work on laboratory research projects to gain a better understanding of the complex issues facing the world’s ecosystems. Focusing on how changes in land use such as pasture to forest, pasture to cereals and pasture to energy crops effects soil microbial activity.

The summer research programme combined specialised workshops, field trips and events designed to expose students to new ways of thinking about the global challenges facing society. The students, who hail from Canada, Germany, Ireland, Taiwan, Turkey, the UK, Channel Islands and the USA, worked together using the knowledge of their different backgrounds and experiences to address global challenges.

Speaking about the summer school, Dr Daniel Kelly, TCD Programme Director, said: “The UREKA programme has provided a wonderful opportunity for gifted students to get hands-on experience of real scientific research.”

To learn more about studying in Ireland, read the Ireland editorial of i-studentadvisor, available at: www.i-studentadvisor.com/ireland