Scholarships strengthen ties with Irish universities 

This year, the Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF)) introduced the De Chastelain Scholarship Programme, aimed at strengthening academic ties and research collaboration between Canada and Ireland. 

The program is rooted in more than 180 years of historic ties, notably shaped by Irish immigration. At the time of Confederation in 1867, Canadians of Irish descent already made up one of the largest population groups in the country. The two countries established official diplomatic relations in 1939. 

The program is named after Canadian General John de Chastelain, who played a pivotal role in the disarmament of paramilitary forces in Northern Ireland. According to James Kelly, Executive Director of the ICUF, General de Chastelain remains a highly respected figure in Ireland, where people still spontaneously come up to thank him whenever he visits. 

The foundation wished to honour this legacy by supporting research activities that foster a more peaceful and sustainable future. 

“Our core mission is to connect leading thinkers from Canada and Ireland and give them opportunities to work together to forge a better future,” said Mr. Kelly. “We believe that all academic disciplines have a role to play in building a more resilient and harmonious future.” 

Guided by this vision, the program will award more than 50 scholarships over three years, divided equally between scholars from Canada and Ireland. Research visits last from three to six weeks and benefit from up to $16,500 in joint funding from Global Affairs Canada and Ireland’s Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The program also receives support from private partners. 

Research visits are already underway for scholars in the inaugural cohort. 

From Quebec City to Belfast 

Law professor Fannie Lafontaine, from Université Laval, is headed to Queen’s University Belfast, in Northern Ireland, to study universities’ role in documenting human rights violations.  She will work with digital evidence experts to establish long-term research collaborations. 

“Justice is often central to reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts,” she explained. “We tend to think of trials and legal proceedings, but one aspect that may receive less attention in these cases is documentation, or how the truth is established.” 

Queen’s University Belfast is home to a specialized digital evidence lab and a transitional justice research team, which align closely with Professor Lafontaine’s work at Université Laval. 

“I hope this will lead to other joint projects and longer-term partnerships,” she added. 

Professor Philippe Van Cappellen, from the University of Waterloo, is visiting Trinity College Dublin to establish an international collaboration on blue carbon — the carbon captured and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems. Along with his colleague David O’Connell, he is developing a research project to better understand the role of these ecosystems in mitigating climate change, protecting coastlines and strengthening community resilience. 

He believes that nature-based solutions can also play an indirect role in conflict prevention, given that climate change can exacerbate social tensions and the strain on natural resources. 

“Canada and Ireland are both maritime nations with strong coastal identities, making this a natural partnership,” said Professor Van Cappellen. “There’s no substitute for being in the same room together, discussing ideas, writing, and looking at maps, rather than relying on email or platforms like Teams.”