The Royal Irish Academy/Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann champions research. We identify and recognise Ireland’s world class researchers. We support scholarship and promote awareness of how science and the humanities enrich our lives and benefit society. We believe that good research needs to be promoted, sustained and communicated. The Academy is run by a Council of its members. Membership is by election and considered the highest Academic honour in Ireland.
Read more about the RIAThe Academy’s discourses are the oldest and most renowned series of talks in Ireland. The first discourses were presented in 1786. Historically, Academy discourses were the occasion reserved for the most distinguished academics to first reveal and discuss their work in public. Robert Mallet revealed his pioneering work on earthquakes and William Rowan Hamilton talked about quaternion algebra at Academy Discourses. Recent speakers have included Nobel Laureates, Venki Ramakrishnan, Amaryta Sen, William Campbell and Sir Paul Nurse. Other distinguished speakers were Mary McAleese, Catherine Day and Sir Stephen O’Rahilly.
The purpose of the Academy discourse series is to bring thought leaders to the Academy to discuss important contemporary issues.
The Royal Irish Academy Public Discourse Series is sponsored by Mason Hayes & Curran Solicitors
Listen to neuroscientist Eleanor Maguire discuss memory failure as part of her Discourse, The Anatomy of Memory followed by respondent Shane O'Mara MRIA, Professor of Experimental Brain Research, Trinity College Dublin
Listen to Professor Brigid Laffan MRIA discuss how membership of the EU has become Ireland’s geopolitical anchor.
If you missed our Academy Discourse where Professor Emma Teeling, MRIA talks about her research into what bat genetics can teach us about human disease and aging, you can hear it now.
Philip Lane MRIA, European Central Bank will be in conversation with Alan Barrett MRIA, Director, ESRI.
This Academy Discourse by international cultural heritage expert Dr Mounir Bouchenaki is the fifth in the 2019-20 Discourse Series sponsored by Mason Hayes & Curran.
This must-see set of talks brings the very best and brightest minds of our age to a public audience.