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Why Research Matters: ATU launches new Research Commentary Series
Discover ten research commentaries exploring the challenges, ideas and real-world issues being tackled by researchers at ATU.
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has launched the first compilation of the ATU Research Commentary Series, a new initiative presenting research from across the university.
The inaugural collection brings together ten Research Commentaries produced during the 2025/2026 academic year, showcasing the breadth and diversity of research taking place across ATU’s four faculties, including AI in healthcare, nutrition, coastal sustainability, rural development, remote working, and community wellbeing.
Developed under RISE@ATU by the ATU Research Coordinator team in collaboration with the Communications Office at ATU, the series forms part of a wider suite of communication and dissemination initiatives being developed to strengthen the visibility and reach of research across ATU.
The Commentary Series complements traditional academic publishing by providing a platform which maintains academic rigour and the researcher voice while allowing researchers explain to explain why their work matters and to outline its potential relevance and impact beyond academia.
Each Research Commentary is published through Zenodo, the European Commission-supported open-access research repository, giving it a permanent Digital Object Identifier (DOI) so it can be easily accessed, shared and cited.
Communicating why research matters
There is a growing emphasis, especially across the European research landscape, among research funders and institutions, on research impact, knowledge mobilisation and evidence-informed decision-making for the benefit of policy, practice and society.
Dr Shane Conway, Research Coordinator at ATU and Editorial Coordinator of the series, explains:
This changing research landscape requires us to think beyond academic publication alone. ATU has a strong culture of applied, engaged and impactful research, but the value of that research is maximised when the knowledge generated reaches those who can use it.
“The Research Commentary Series helps bridge the gap between research and wider engagement, connecting knowledge with real-world challenges and helping to ensure its relevance and potential impact are understood beyond academia”, added Shane.
This focus on making research accessible to wider audiences is supported through close collaboration with the Communications Office at ATU.
Aidan Haughey, Communications Manager at ATU, adds:
“Research has a story to tell, but reaching audiences beyond academia often requires us to think differently about how that story is presented.
“Working with the Research Coordinator team, we’re looking at how storytelling and digital formats can make research more accessible and engaging. This matters not only for how we communicate ATU’s research, but for how that research can reach journalists, policymakers, industry and the wider public,” he adds.
Each commentaries align with priority sectors identified within the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) for the Northern and Western Region, as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating how ATU researchers are generating new knowledge, addressing societal challenges and contributing to regional, national and international priorities.
Explore the collection…
Collectively, the commentaries provide a snapshot of ATU’s growing research culture and demonstrate the breadth and relevance of research taking place.
The collection is available to read as a citable, open-access publication through Zenodo.
Communicating Research for Impact – ATU Research Commentary Series, Vol 1, Academic Year 2025-2026Download
Have a research story to tell?
As part of the wider programme of activity under RISE@ATU, researchers across ATU’s faculties and campuses are invited to contribute to future editions of the Research Commentary Series.
If you have research that you would like to communicate to a wider audience, the series provides an opportunity to explain what you are researching, why it matters and its potential relevance and impact beyond academia.
For further information, contact Dr Shane Conway, Research Coordinator and Editorial Coordinator of the series, at shane.conway@atu.ie.
Commentary to Story
Three research commentaries shaped into research stories.
The ATU Research Commentary Series is funded by RISE@ATU. RISE@ATU is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021-2027.
