The Department of Psychology, University of Limerick recently celebrated their 10 year anniversary with events under the name of Psych10.
Psych10 celebrations in UL to mark 10 years of the Department of Psychology
by ilovelimerick correspondent Chloe O’Keeffe
The Department of Psychology at the University of Limerick (UL) marked their 10-year anniversary with #Psych10 Celebrations on Wednesday, April 18, opened by the Head of Department, Dr. Patrick Ryan. The first of three-days of Psych10 events to mark the establishment of the Department of Psychology at UL 10 years ago kicked off with an afternoon event, attended by staff and students of the university, UL President Professor Des Fitzgerald, the Mayor of City and County Limerick, Councillor Stephen Keary, and Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Limerick, Councillor Sean Lynch.
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During the afternoon, attendees were treated to, “The Story of Psychology at UL,” by the Founding Chair, Professor Orla Muldoon, in an engaging and riveting chronology of how the department was established, how it has grown, and developed over 10 years, and its importance today in a thriving Faculty of Education and Health Sciences. Prof Muldoon moved from Queen’s University in Belfast, to establish the Department of Psychology at UL in 2007. It grew from a staff of just two people to a thriving department of 19 full-time members of staff, now offering three undergraduate programmes, three masters programmes, and two doctoral programmes.
Over the Psych10 events, the Department of Psychology cemented its mission statement to be a department of psychology that aims to ensure its work addresses contemporary social issues.
During the day, attendees heard about the impact of both teaching and research within the department, the University, locally, nationally, and internationally. Past and current students contributed to discussion panels examining the impact teaching and research has had on their careers, alongside staff members of the Department, and external stakeholders such as Dr. Ed O’Dea, Principal Psychologist-Manager in the HSE. Overall, attendees heard about the ongoing and engaging programme of research, informing policy and practice, not just nationally, but internationally. Dr. Frederieke van Dongen, a Ph.D. graduate from the Department, outlined how her studies at UL inform her work today as a lead of psychology health for refugee aid in Greece. Locally, we heard from department staff member, Dr. Ronni Greenwood about her EU-funded project in tackling homelessness, a social issue right on our doorstep.
Over the Psych10 events, the Department of Psychology cemented its mission statement to be a department of psychology that aims to ensure its work addresses contemporary social issues, not just locally, but nationally and internationally. With such a high level of growth and development over the past 10 years, one can only imagine where this thriving department will go in the next 10. The department is delighted that a group of their undergraduate students is marking their event with a fundraising Black-Tie Event in the Clayton hotel on Thursday 19th April. Proceeds from the fundraiser, currently totaling €5000 will go towards Pieta House in the mid-West.
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