Last week, I had the privilege of speaking to a group of exceptional undergraduate students participating in Póstaeir san Oireachtas (Posters in Parliament, Ireland), a new initiative led by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and supported by 14 Higher Education Institutions across the country.
The programme is part of a broader EU-funded Erasmus+ partnership, with sister initiatives in Austria, Germany, Lithuania, and Luxembourg. Together, they're laying the groundwork for Posters in Brussels—a unified European research showcase set to take place in the EU Parliament in 2026.
But last week, the focus was firmly on home soil—and on how students can bring their research directly to the people who shape policy.
In my presentation, extracts below, I shared practical strategies to help them communicate with politicians. My message was simple: you don't need to be a seasoned lobbyist to make an impact. Parliament is not just accessible—it’s one of the most direct and effective routes to changing the world around us.
This year’s Posters in Parliament event, themed Research for Change, will bring 27 selected students and their poster presentations into the Irish Parliament this November. Each student is receiving summer training on science communication and pitching—skills that will serve them far beyond this event— and I’m proud to support the team in this powerful initiative. Because at its heart, Posters in Parliament is about more than posters—it’s about preparing the next generation of changemakers.
Well done to all the students and organisers involved. Ireland’s policy future is brighter when research and democracy walk hand in hand.
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