TU Dublin Marks World Water Day 2025: Advocating Glacier Protection and Water Innovation
TU Dublin’s researchers and innovators commemorates World Water Day 2025 on Saturday 22nd of March, focusing on this year’s theme: Glacier Preservation. Glaciers, which provide crucial freshwater sources for millions worldwide, are disappearing at an alarming rate. Their loss threatens drinking water supplies, agriculture, clean energy production, and global ecosystems. Through cutting-edge research and industry collaboration, TU Dublin is committed to tackling these challenges head-on.
One of TU Dublin’s leading researchers in environmental protection, Dr Michelle Giltrap, has dedicated her career to the conservation and protection of freshwater and coastal water bodies. Her research is grounded in the development of advanced tools to assess pollution and climate pressures on aquatic ecosystems. Dr Giltrap’s expertise in ecotoxicology and pollution monitoring plays a vital role in understanding the biological effects of contaminants on aquatic life.
Dr Giltrap remarked:
With increasing amounts of contaminants from human activities entering our ecosystems, there is a pressing need to quantify, assess, manage and mitigate cumulative effects which could result in detrimental effects to our environment.
Using sentinel aquatic organisms as indicators, her work provides critical insights into ecosystem health and functioning after short-term and long-term exposure to contaminants from both natural and anthropogenic sources. By bridging fundamental research with applied solutions, Dr. Giltrap’s work supports legislative frameworks such as the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which are the key water policy legislations governing the sustainable use of our freshwater and marine water bodies.
Dr Giltrap’s extensive contributions to environmental science are evident in her 19 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and consultancy work with national and international bodies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Marine Institute, and Marine Scotland. Her research has attracted over €600,000 in funding, reinforcing her leadership in the field. Through her ongoing collaborations, she continues to pave the way for innovative solutions that mitigate pollution and enhance ecosystem resilience in a rapidly changing climate.
As glaciers retreat worldwide, local and global strategies must prioritise conservation efforts and sustainable water management. TU Dublin stands at the forefront of this movement, leveraging scientific research to drive awareness and policy change. Dr Giltrap and her colleagues are committed to expanding research that supports climate adaptation, pollution mitigation, and responsible water stewardship.
By investing in scientific research and sustainable innovations, we can work together to preserve glaciers and safeguard the future of our planet’s most precious resource—water. For more information about TU Dublin’s research and initiatives, visit www.tudublin.ie/research-innovation.