IIEA Talks

This webinar features a keynote address by Professor Emily Shuckburgh, Director of Cambridge Zero, followed by a fireside chat with Dr Eileen Culloty, Deputy Director, DCU Institute for Media, Democracy, and Society. Together, they will discuss the persistence of climate change myths, the role of the media in shaping public understanding, and how fact-checking, improved communication, and public engagement can counter misinformation. The discussion will highlight how false narratives can undermine climate action, and how researchers, communicators, and the public can work together to build a more informed and constructive debate. This event is part of the IIEA’s REthink Energy series, organised in partnership with ESB. Professor Emily Shuckburgh CBE is a world-leading climate scientist and science communicator, who is the director of Cambridge Zero, the University of Cambridge’s ambitious climate change initiative. Prof Shuckburgh is a mathematician and Professor of Environmental Data Science at Cambridge’s Department of Computer Science and Technology. Dr Eileen Culloty is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communications, DCU and Deputy Director of the DCU Institute for Future Media, Democracy, and Society. Her work focuses on disinformation, media literacy education, and the future of public media.

According to Eddie Rish, CEO of the International Hydropower Association (IHA) sustainable hydropower is the ignored giant of renewable energy. Mr Rish provides an overview as to how it plays a pivotal role in enabling the global energy transition by providing secure, reliable, low-carbon electricity and flexible storage. This webinar explores how it’s different uses can help to provide clean, green, secure, flexible, and affordable energy systems. About the Speaker: Eddie Rish has worked on the role of corporates in international development for over 20 years. He was appointed CEO of IHA in 2019. Since then, IHA has repositioned itself as a values-based organisation that prioritises sustainable hydropower.” He was instrumental in the launch of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard in 2021 and the establishment of the influential International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower. In 2022, IHA was awarded International Association of the Year. Previously, Mr Rish was deputy head of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).His prior experience included working as the UK Government Department for International Development (DFID)’s representative to Angola and its deputy head in Kenya. He was also head of the DFID's corporate social responsibility team.

The geopolitics of the Middle East have entered a period of profound flux. In recent years, shifting alliances, contested interventions, and the rise of non-state actors have reshaped the region’s landscape. From the Iran–Saudi détente to the Abraham Accords, from the wars in Syria and Yemen to the conflict in Gaza, the stakes for regional and international order are considerable. In his remarks to the IIEA, Dr Hellyer offers a perspective from the region itself, exploring how Middle Eastern states interpret threats and opportunities, the changing role of global powers, and the prospects for a regional security framework less dependent on external actors. He also considers the implications for Europe and the wider international community. Speaker bio: Dr. H. A. Hellyer is Senior Associate Fellow with expertise in Geopolitics and Middle East Studies at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI), the world’s oldest defense think tank. He is also Senior Fellow in Geopolitics and Security Studies at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., which follows senior tenures in Washington at the Brookings Institution, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Brookings Institution, and the Atlantic Council. Dr Hellyer has advised the UK government on radicalisation and extremism in Europe, and is regularly called upon by the public and the private sectors for non-partisan expertise on Middle East developments. A frequent media commentator, he has provided analysis for CNN, the BBC, the Washington Post, and The New York Times. Dr. Hellyer has also held appointments at Cambridge, Harvard, Warwick, and the American University in Cairo. He is the author of ten books and hundreds of articles on the politics and security of the Middle East and Europe.

Franklin D. Kramer, a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council and former Assistant Secretary of Defense, delves into the private sector's pivotal role in modern warfare. He discusses how private firms act as a 'sixth domain' in kinetic operations, highlighting their contributions in cybersecurity, cloud services, and space technologies during the Ukraine crisis. Kramer emphasizes the need for effective integration into military strategies, stressing the importance of resilience and collaboration between government and private sectors for national security.

In this event Dr Ravi Iyer discusses how many people’s lives are increasingly being lived online, with significant implications for mental health. Dr Iyer discusses how many users encounter unwanted or disturbing content and experiences and how many people use digital services excessively with sometimes negative results for their well-being. Dr Iyer discusses how the design choices of online platforms contribute to these trends. He finally assesses how the negative consequences that can arise from this might be mitigated and the role that can be played by companies, governments, and civil society stakeholders in this regard. About the Speaker: Dr Ravi Iyer is the Managing Director of the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School’s Neely Center. Previously he spent over four years leading data science, research and product teams across Meta to improve the impact of social media on both society and individuals. He has a Ph.D. in social psychology from USC and has co-authored numerous articles on the psychology of values and well-being. He currently advises the UK Office of Communications, the Anxious Generation team, as well as several other jurisdictions on how to improve the societal impact of technology.

'How Might the US React to the Occupied Territories Bill Becoming Law?' Over the Summer many US politicians have been increasingly critical of Ireland’s moves to pass the Occupied Territories bill into law with many calling for Ireland to face sanction if it does so. To discuss the implications of these developments and what measures the US might take, Insights will be joined by Ilan Goldenberg, Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at J Street, who has previously served at the US State Department Department of Defense. Also joining the discussion is Eugene Kontorovich, Senior Research Fellow in The Heritage Foundation and professor at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, whose opinion article in the Wall Street Journal in early July advocated for a strong US response in the event of Ireland’s enactment of the Occupied Territories bill.

In recent years, increased attention is being paid to the importance of protecting offshore infrastructure from threats. Offshore energy and communications infrastructure, such as wind farms and subsea cables, are increasingly being viewed as targets by hybrid threat actors. Incidents such as the damage to the Balticconnector cable and Nordstream pipelines have heightened awareness of the threat to critical offshore infrastructure. In response, European states are increasing their cooperation to ensure that such infrastructure is secure. Against this backdrop, Ireland is drafting a National Maritime Security Strategy to consider how best to protect both existing, and planned future, infrastructure. In this panel discussion, experts will discuss the threats to critical offshore assets, and what we can do to better protect them from hybrid risks. This event has been organised in conjunction with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ireland. About the Speakers: · Commodore Eduard de van der Schueren, Programme Director for the Protection of North Sea Infrastructure at the Dutch Ministry of Defence · Vice Admiral (Ret.) Mark Mellett, Former Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces · Jacqui McCrum, Secretary General of the Department of Defence · Dr Camino Kavanagh, Senior Fellow with the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and a Visiting Senior Fellow with the Dept. of War Studies, King’s College London.

We have seen the turmoil and chaos that the Trump Administration’s tariffs have caused over recent weeks and months. Since President Trump’s trade announcements, countries have been rushing to make new trade agreements, find new markets for their exports, as well as prepare for possible trade wars. In her address to the IIEA, Cecilia Malmström discusses the effect that US trade policy has had on Europe and the wider world. She also explores the impact US tariffs will have on how other countries will conduct trade in the future. About the Speaker: Cecilia Malmström served as European Commissioner for Trade from 2014 to 2019, and as European Commissioner for Home Affairs from 2010 to 2014. She was a member of the European Parliament from 1999 until 2006. She was also Minister for EU Affairs in the Swedish Government from 2006 to 2010. As European commissioner for Trade, Ms Malmström represented the European Union in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international trade bodies. In this role, she was responsible for negotiating bilateral trade agreements with key countries, including agreements with Canada, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Vietnam, and the four founding Mercosur countries. Ms Malmström joined the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) as non-resident Senior Fellow in June 2021 and hosts the PIIE’s Trade Winds, a biweekly virtual event series. She is also a visiting Professor at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Gothenburg.

Digital infrastructure and high-speed connectivity are the backbones of Ireland’s digital economy – they are fundamental for innovation, economic competitiveness, and the wellbeing of Ireland’s population. As demand for digital services continues to surge, Ireland’s infrastructure faces increasing pressure. This event brings together an expert panel representing government, industry, regulatory authorities, and academics to discuss how investment and government policy can promote Ireland’s digital infrastructure and connectivity to secure the country’s competitiveness. This event is organised in collaboration with Vodafone Ireland. This event begins with a keynote address by Minister Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport. The panel for this event include: Joakim Reiter, Chief external and corporate affairs officer at Vodafone Group; Garrett Blaney, Chair and Commissioner at the Commission for Communications Regulation; and Dr Frances Ruane, Chair of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council.

Developing a Life Sciences Vision for Ireland: The EU Agenda examines how Ireland can position its national life sciences strategy in the context of the European Commission’s 2025 Strategy for European Life Sciences and other new EU initiatives. Drawing on national and EU-level experience, panellists discuss key developments in EU life sciences policy and what Europe is doing to strengthen its competitiveness, research capacity, and innovation ecosystem. The event will also explore how Ireland can secure and strengthen its own role as a key player in Europe’s life sciences landscape by aligning its policy ambitions with emerging European trends. This event is organised by the Institute of International and European Affairs in partnership with Johnson & Johnson. Panellists: Pilar Aguar Fernandez, Director at People: Health and Society at DG Research and Innovation, European Commission Anouk de Vroey, Head of Government Affairs & Policy at Johnson & Johnson EMEA Muiris O’Connor, Assistant Secretary at Department of Health, Head of Research & Development and Health Analytics Darrin Morrissey, CEO of NIBRT National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training Frances Fitzgerald, Former MEP and Tánaiste (Moderator) Ireland is home to a high-performing life sciences industry, offering major opportunities for both economic development and public health. Unlike other European countries, however, Ireland does not have a holistic vision for the future of the sector. This is set to change, as the Government has promised to develop a national life sciences strategy. Other European countries have already adopted ambitious strategies to secure the future of the industry and unleash its benefits, coordinating policy across a range of areas from enterprise and investment to research and healthcare. Across the European Union, Member States are aligning national policy with broader EU ambitions for health innovation, research, and industrial resilience. Under initiatives such as Horizon Europe, the European Health Union, and EU4Health, the EU is already providing an increasingly integrated vision. In addition to this, this summer, the EU Life Sciences Strategy has been adopted by the Commission, while a new Critical Medicines Act and Biotech Act are expected soon. What will these new policies mean for Europe? And how should they be reflected in Ireland’s national strategy?