THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY IS IRELAND'S LEADING BODY OF EXPERTS IN THE SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

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 RIA

Royal Irish Academy Discourse Series

The 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

News and Events

Featured Video: Highlights from the Academy Discourse Series 2018/19

Experts from last years series share their research and insights with Academy Members and the public.

The Royal Irish Academy Discourse Series is sponsored by Mason Hayes and Curran

Learn more about our sponsors

Watch Videos from the 2018-2021 Discourse Series

Listen to Audio from our 2020-2019 and 2019-2020 series

A collection of audio recordings of the Academy discourse series spanning from 2017 to 2019 is also available here

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