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New UCC research projects demonstrate the power of interdisciplinary collaboration
Developing a framework to guide healthcare organisations in using artificial intelligence (AI) safely, exploring how bilingual children鈥檚 language skills influence their ability to solve mathematical problems, and understanding how cities can improve the well-being of their communities in a digital world are the 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork (UCC) projects to receive funding under the Research Ireland Collaborative Alliances for Societal Challenges (COALESCE) programme.
The COALESCE programme supports research addressing national, European and global challenges by fostering collaboration between researchers and partners across government and policy, enterprise and civil society. The scheme aims to strengthen the connection between robust research evidence and public policy, to create lasting links between the research system and policy makers.
All projects are led by an Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) researcher, working in close collaboration with a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) researcher, bringing novel interdisciplinary approaches to solving complex societal challenges.
The projects, which commenced in March 2026, mark the final group supported under the 2025 COALESCE programme. Among the new research projects totalling 鈧�660,000 that will be funded at 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork are:
ABACUS: Analysing the Bilingual Advantage in mathematical Cognition 鈥� exploiting the UnSeen
Funding Amount: 鈧�219,846
(Lead Researcher), UCC School of Education; (Co-PI), INFANT Research Centre.
The ABACUS project will study how speaking two or more languages (bilingualism) supports children鈥檚 thinking skills and enhances their learning in mathematics. To investigate this, ABACUS will study 8-10-year-old children, comparing those in Irish-medium schools (Gaelscoileanna) with children in English-medium schools. Over the course of a year, the project will follow children鈥檚 development in thinking, language and mathematics through classroom observations and the use of innovative tools, including portable brainwave scanners (mobile EEG), to see how children think during maths problem-solving. This research is unique because it combines insights from neuroscience, psychology, and education in real-world classrooms, and will provide new evidence on how children learn mathematics in bilingual classroom contexts. The findings will support teachers in developing more effective strategies for bilingual learners and inform policy on creating more inclusive and responsive education systems.
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GATES - Global AI Governance, Trust, and Ethics for Sustainable Health
Funding Amount: 鈧�219,463
(Lead Researcher), Cork 深夜亚洲福利久久 Business School; Professor Mark Ledwidge (Co-PI), UCD.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising healthcare by potentially improving diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes. However, the use of AI in healthcare comes with significant risks, such as potential harm to patients, unfair decision-making, and data privacy concerns. To address these challenges, this research focuses on developing a comprehensive framework to guide healthcare organisations in using AI safely and responsibly. This framework will be designed to translate high-level regulatory requirements into actionable guidelines and assessments, supporting healthcare providers in implementing AI systems that are safe for patients, protect their data, and promote trust. To evaluate this framework, the researchers will run two use cases (including national and international) which enable healthcare organisations to assess AI governance strategies in a controlled environment before implementing them in real-world situations.
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RADIUS: Regional Analytics for Digital Inclusion and Urban Sustainability
Funding amount: 鈧�219,958
(Lead Researcher), Cork 深夜亚洲福利久久 Business School; Professor Ashish Kumar Jha (Co-PI), Trinity College Dublin.
How can cities improve the well-being of their communities in an increasingly digital world? The RADIUS project tackles this challenge by developing a new digital tool to help Irish city councils measure and enhance both economic well-being and digital inclusion in their communities. At present, information about economic well-being (such as employment and income) and digital inclusion (such as internet access and digital skills) typically sits in separate systems, making it hard to see how the two interact. RADIUS will create a digital platform that brings these strands together, making it easier for city councils to make informed decisions about the policies and services that shape community life. This tool will help councils not only see current conditions but anticipate where targeted action will have the greatest impact, aligning local decisions with Ireland鈥檚 Well-Being Framework, the OECD well-being approach and the UN Sustainable Development Goals on decent work and sustainable cities.
, UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation, said: "I would like to congratulate our researchers at UCC who will lead a COALESCE Programme award. Interdisciplinary and engaged research are at the heart of UCC鈥檚 research ecosystem, and these awards will further strengthen UCC鈥檚 position as a leader in these areas by bringing together diverse disciplines, communities, and policy partners to address key societal challenges."