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From March 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic revealed the inherent vulnerability of our modern society to emerging infectious diseases. Globalisation of products and high travel frequency contributed to the rapid spread of infection, and particularly in densely populated urban areas.

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso ao Programa de Pós-Graduação ILACVN-EAD da Universidade Federal Latino-Americana,como requisito parcial à obtenção do título de especialista em Gestão em saúde. Orientadora: Adriana Ribeiro Bessa.

Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell's 1970’s hit "Big Yellow Taxi" had the immortal lines: "don’t it always seem to go/That you don’t know what you got/'Til its gone". With our favourite watering holes absent from our lives since mid-March - and perhaps some not reopening after a five-month hiatus until mid-August - these lyrics may resonate with many in how much we have taken our pubs for granted. When regular pub-goers do take their first tentative steps towards a socially distanced rendezvous with their local pub, it’s a reunion that may be quietly savoured by some, but one that’s postponed by others, punters and publicans alike.

Blog post reflecting on Ireland’s National Marine Planning Framework through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic

With a mandatory mask rule now in effect in shops, shopping centres and other indoor settings, people's attention is drawn to how they will face this latest sartorial challenge. With supplies of surgical masks and N95s best left to healthcare professionals and essential workers, what other coverings are available? And with guidance on how to wear face masks to be found elsewhere, how has the fashion industry turned face masks into the latest must-wear fashion accessory?

The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility of Visual Programming (VP) and Generative Design (GD) in assisting employers review open plan office layouts against Ireland’s HSE guidelines implemented in May 2020 in response to Covid-19. The pandemic has affected all areas of life with workplace standards requiring a complete overhaul. This study will attempt to ascertain compliance with natural ventilation and social distancing requirements through the completion of an experimental research study, utilising Computational Design (CD) tools. A GD study will be undertaken to provide the designer with numerous office layout design solutions to evaluate and evolve. The findings will be examined through a semi structured focus group study with industry professionals. All visual programming algorithms shall be repeatable and adaptable to be utilised on an individual project’s unique situations. The author hopes this study will show that in theory, computational compliance checking, and computational design can be a viable workflow for designers.

A short on-line survey was undertaken by Fr Alan Hilliard, Coordinator of the Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Service at TU Dublin. Peer Mentors (second year students who volunteer to support first year students) were asked to reflect on their experiences of college life during lockdown. They were also asked their opinion on the challenges facing incoming first years. The findings have very specific insights that can assist us as we prepare to welcome our new first years and indeed all students back to college. The students surveyed are based in the College of Engineering and Built Environment. The paper is two thousand five hundred words and can be disseminated to students forming the basis of a facilitated discussions as we try to identify the unique challenges over these few months. ‘This is an important piece of work with key insights to help us and our students in what we know will be a challenging academic year. Therefore, in my opinion, we should disseminate it as widely as possible’. Prof. Mike Murphy, Director, Digital & Learning Transformation. TU Dublin ‘The survey makes for interesting reading. It really comes through that the online learning is having a huge impact on the socialisation aspect, and that face-to-face activities such as Peer mentoring and extra-curricular activities are difficult to replace with the virtual. The key messages on motivation and organisation, and the value of supportive staff, socialisation and the interactive environment are really important’. Dr Brian Gormley, Educational Developer - Student Success, National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

In this Decade of Health Ageing, participation in physical activity is hugey important and there is increasing evidence about the benefits of outdoor physical activity for ageing adventurers. Ireland is ageing and, while an ageing population is positive, the narrative is often negative and harmful, something which has been exacerbated by cocooning. An one-size-fits-all approach presumes that all over 70s are a homogenous group and such stereotyping perpetuates ageism and demotivates older people. Fortunately, as Cyndi Lauper might suggest these days, older people just want to have fun and will do so given the opportunity.

With the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine receiving emergency use authorisation in the United States, It shouldn’t be long until Europe follows suit. Now is a good time to have a look at this candidate and how it compares to the already approved Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines. This would potentially be the fourth vaccine to receive approval for use within Ireland.

When Covid-19 restrictions have finally been lifted, the walk and talk meetings made increasingly popular by iconic names such as Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg could become a new feature of organisational cultures right across the nation.