2024 Scratch Competition now open

The 2024 Scratch Competition is now open. Run by the Irish Computer Society (ICS) and supported by Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software, the Scratch Competition promotes computing and software development at both primary and secondary school levels. Since the inception of the Scratch competition in 2010, coding has become one of...

Invited Talk : Detecting Process Smells: A Deep Dive into Improving Efficiency in Software Development Workflows

Date / Time: Wednesday 29th November, 2023, 15:00 Zoom link: https://dcu-ie.zoom.us/j/97663630288 Abstract: In the dynamic landscape of software development, the emphasis on efficient processes has never been more critical. This talk consolidates observations and analyses of three key process domains: Code Review, Bug Tracking, and Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD). Understanding and identifying ‘process smells’...

Lero and Johnson & Johnson honour Women in STEM

Johnson & Johnson, in partnership with Lero, announcedthis year’s recipients of its prestigious Women in STEM2D (WiSTEM2D) Undergraduate Awards at the first ever national event held in Thomond Park Stadium, Limerick. Lero supports the programme in University of Limerick, one of five universities involved in the awards. A total of 62 students from Trinity College...

Science Week Technology Showcase in Lero

Come along to Science Week Technology Showcase in Lero. We will have a number of workstations set up where you can learn and play with different tools and technologies including Spheros, Lego WeDo 1.0, Micro:bit and VR. All attendees will get the opportunity to write a software program. Tuesday 14th of November Thursday 16th of...

Dr Abeba Birhane appointed to UN advisory body

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of former Lero PhD student Dr Abeba Birhane of Trinity College Dublin to a new UN AI Advisory Body. The new body will support the international community’s efforts to govern artificial intelligence. “For developing economies, AI offers the possibility of leapfrogging outdated technologies and bringing services...

First ever study of wartime deepfakes reveals their impact on news media

A first ever study of deepfake videos reveals their impact on news media and outlines implications for social media companies, media organisations and governments. Deepfakes are artificially manipulated audio-visual material. Most deepfake videos involve the production of a fake ‘face’ constructed by Artificial Intelligence, that is merged with an authentic video, in order to create...

New Director to Lead Lero

Leagan Gaeilge A leading Canadian academic has been appointed to a key role at University of Limerick and Lero, the world leading Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centre for Software hosted by UL. Professor Lionel Briand, who has 30 years of experience on trustworthy software and AI research, has been appointed to the role of...

Lero leads national University Open Source Software project

Lero’s Dr Patrick Healy (University of Limerick) will lead one of 13 new consortia-based projects designed to advance the implementation of the National Action Plan for Open Research 2022-2030 and to build national capacity and infrastructure for open research. The project, Managing Open Source Software in Irish Universities [MOSS-I], is valued at €100,000 and funded...

Dublin and Sligo students release ‘smart’ pebbles to track climate change impacts

Primary- and second-level students are this week placing 300 specially adapted RFID-enabled pebbles at Killiney Beach (Dublin) and Raghly Beach (Sligo) in a project to track coastal erosion. The innovative project aims to strengthen coastal communities’ ability to deal with the impacts of climate change using digital technologies. Led by Dr Chiara Cocco and Dr...

Professor Brian Fitzgerald honoured to receive Professor Rory O’Connor Prize for Outstanding Service to Lero

Professor Brian Fitzgerald, Director of Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software, was presented with a special award in recognition of his contributions to the Centre at the Lero Summit in Athlone.  A further nine researchers from three leading Irish universities were awarded Lero Director’s Prizes at the ceremony.  Professor of Software Engineering...