Borders and boundaries: an interdisciplinary exploration

One-day public conference exploring the theme of ‘borders and boundaries’ from multiple interdisciplinary perspectives.

Co-programmed and co-organised by the RIA’s ten multidisciplinary committees, this event will comprise four panels structured around the following topics:

• Disciplinary borders
• Socio-political borders
• Planetary boundaries
• Borders and identity

The conference aims to critically examine how ‘borders and boundaries’ shape human experience, inform knowledge systems, and frame socio-political discourse. It will feature contributions from scholars and practitioners across the Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences, each offering a disciplinary perspective and contributing to panel discussions that explore borders and boundaries both as research areas and as lenses for understanding interdisciplinary societal challenges.

Through an interdisciplinary exploration of this theme, the conference will consider ideas around research disciplines, real and imagined frontiers, sovereignty, social constructs, thresholds, and geographical and environmental territories.

This event is aimed at anyone with an interest in culture, identity, research, and society.

Programme

9:30-10:00 – Registrations and refreshments

10:00–10:10 – Opening Remarks: Professor Dan Carey, President, Royal Irish Academy

10:10–10:30 – Keynote: Lynn Scarff, Executive Director, Royal Irish Academy

10:30–11:45 – Panel One: Disciplinary Borders

Chaired by Dr Karen McCarthy, IP Commercialisation Case Manager at UCC Innovation, University College Cork (Member RIA Life and Health Sciences Committee)

• Dr Ruth Freeman, Director, Science for Society, Research Ireland – Irish research ecosystems
• Professor Mary Horgan, Interim Chief Medical Officer and Professor of Infectious Diseases at UCD and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital – Transcending disciplinary borders in health research
• Dr Justin Tonra, Associate Professor of English, University of Galway – Disciplinary interfaces in digital humanities research
• Professor Nessa Lynch, Matheson Professor in Law, Innovation and Technology, University College Cork – Legal boundaries and emerging technologies

11:45–13:00 – Panel Two: Socio-political Borders

Chaired by Dr Cliona McGovern, Head of Subject for Forensic and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, University College Dublin (Member RIA Ethical, Political, Legal and Philosophical Studies Committee)

• Dr David Nyaluke, Education for Sustainable Development Officer, University College Cork – Transforming the Eurocentric curriculum
• Wigdan Gasmalla, Migrant Women's Health Officer, AkiDwA – Access to Healthcare in Ireland for Migrant Communities: FGM as a Lens on Equity and Service Access
• Professor John Nagle, Professor of Sociology, Queen’s University Belfast – Refusing the Border Within: Non-Sectarianism and Power-Sharing in Northern Ireland
• Professor Kath Browne, Professor of Geography, University College Dublin – Social divisions without social polarisations: reconsidering cultural barriers

13:00–14:00 – Lunch

14:00–15:15 – Panel Three: Planetary Boundaries

Chaired by Professor Sylvia Draper, Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Trinity College Dublin (Member RIA Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences Committee)

• Professor Barry McMullin, Emeritus Professor, School of Electronic Engineering, Dublin City University – Planetary boundaries and environmental threshold
• Professor Peter Thorne, Professor of Physical Geography (Climate Science), Maynooth University – Transboundary climate adaptation
• Professor Anna Davies, Professor of Geography, Trinity College Dublin – Sustainable consumption and production
• Dr Julie Nekola Nováková, Outreach & Science Communication Officer, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences – Understanding life beyond our planet through science fiction

15:15–15:30 – Break

15:30–16:45 – Panel Four: Borders and Identity

Chaired by Dr Sorcha de Brún, Associate Professor, School of English Irish & Communication, University of Limerick (Member RIA Coiste Léann na Gaeilge agus an Léinn Cheiltigh)

• Professor Steven Ellis, Professor of History, University of Galway – The development of the English Pale in Ireland
• Professor Jan Jedrzejewski, Professor of English and Comparative Literature, Ulster University – What is a "national literature"?
• Dr Lijuan Qian, Associate Professor in Music, University College Cork – Sounding ethnic identities in China’s borderlands
• Professor Mairéad Nic Craith, Professor of Public Folklore, Institute for Northern Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands – Cultural identity and the “Flat World” fallacy

16:45–17:00 – Closing remarks: Professor Linda Hogan, Secretary, Royal Irish Academy

Hybrid Tickets

This is a hybrid event, meaning attendees can join online or in person at the Royal Irish Academy. You can select your ticket preference when booking. The webinar link will be shared the day before the event. Please note that questions from online attendees will not be facilitated.

About the Royal Irish Academy

The Royal Irish Academy (RIA), established in 1785, is an all-island, independent learned society and academic body that champions research by supporting and promoting scholarship in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. Its elected membership of approximately 680 individuals and 80 staff represent Ireland internationally, provide expert advice to government, carry out research, administer research grants, organise conferences and public lectures, publish academic books and journals, and maintain a research library.

Eolas faoi Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann

Is cumann léannta neamhspleách, uile-oileáin é Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann, a bunaíodh sa bhliain 1785. Tacaíonn an tAcadamh le scoláireacht agus taighde sna heolaíochtaí, sna daonnachtaí agus sna heolaíochtaí sóisialta. Tá tuairim is 680 comhalta tofa ann agus 80 ball foirne, agus déanann siadionadaíocht ar son na hÉireann go hidirnáisiúnta, cuireann siad comhairle shaineolach ar fáil don rialtas, déanann siad taighde, déanann siad deontais taighde a riaradh, eagraíonn siad comhdhálacha agus léachtaí poiblí, cuireann siad leabhair agus irisí acadúla i gcló, agus déanann siad cúram de leabharlann taighde.

Tabhair faoi deara:

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Please note:

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Riachtanais rochtana

An bhfuil riachtanais rochtana de chineál ar bith agat? An bhféadfaimis cuidiú leat tairbhe iomlán a bhaint as an imeacht? Bí i dteagmháil, roimh ré, le hoifigeach rochtana an Acadaimh, accessofficer@ria.ie

Access requirements

Have you got any access requirements that we can assist you with, so that you can fully engage with our event? Please let us know by contacting our access officer in advance of the event by email: accessofficer@ria.ie