Researchers need greater freedom to develop solutions, says academic

Researchers need to be given greater freedom to develop new and creative solutions and avoid the danger of group think, a leading academic has said.

Royal Irish Academy professor Luke Drury urged the Government to make greater use of the resources available to it in the academic community.

“At a time when trust in public institutions has been greatly undermined, we need reassurance that government is receiving good advice on what it should do and how it should do it.

“The State can, and should, turn to the academic community, for expert advice, at far less cost than commissioning expensive consultants, and thereby support genuinely independent and occasionally critical voices.”

The professor was speaking at the enrolment of five UCD scholars into the academy. One of these was UCD professor of animal reproduction, Patrick Lonergan of the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science.

Prof Lonergan is part of a dynamic group working on various aspects of cattle fertility. His main research interests are in factors affecting oocyte competence and embryo development and understanding the maternal embryonic dialogue associated with successful establishment of pregnancy.

He has served on the boards of the International Embryo Transfer Society and the European embryo Transfer Association and was elected president of the society in 2009.

The other four UCD scholars enrolled were professor of meteorology, Peter Lynch; professor of history, Robert Gerwarth; professor of political science, Richard Sinnott and professor of politics, John Coakley.