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Muireann Irish
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<h2 id="career">Career</h2> <p>Irish works on the loss of empathy during dementia.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> She says she is "interested in how we remember the past and imagine the future. The relative frequency and ease with which we engage in those forms of thought belies their incredible complexity." Her career has explored how memory and imagination are changed during neurological conditions including Alzheimer’s disease.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> She has been awarded both Discovery Early Career Researcher and Future Fellow awards from the ARC.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> Irish's work on <a href="/facts/Neurophysiology/XLkEyW8c">neuropsychology</a> has been discussed on the ABC<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> and her experiences of the L'Oreal Rising Talent award were described in <i>Nature Jobs</i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>Irish has given science communication talks on the importance of day dreaming.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="diversity-in-science">Diversity in science</h2> <p>Irish has advocated for diversity in science on many platforms, and she "is committed to the promotion and retention of women in science". She was named as one of the inaugural 30 ‘Superstars of STEM’, part of a growing movement with the goal of providing positive role models to young girls and minorities to pursue a career in science.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> Irish is one of a growing number of academic women in STEM who are committed to retaining women in science.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="select-publications">Select publications</h2> <ul><li>Irish, Muireann; Bunk, Steffie; Tu, Sicong; Kamminga, Jody; Hodges, John R.; Hornberger, Michael; Piguet, Olivier (2016). <a href="https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/56193/1/MIrish_Manuscript_R2_final.pdf">"Preservation of episodic memory in semantic dementia: The importance of regions beyond the medial temporal lobes"</a> (PDF). <i>Neuropsychologia</i>. 81: 50–60. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.neuropsychologia.2015.12.005">10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.12.005</a>. <a href="/facts/PMID_(identifier)/JlHAvMHt">PMID</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26683384">26683384</a>. <a href="/facts/S2CID_(identifier)/ldJsHa2Y">S2CID</a> <a href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:220988">220988</a>.</li> <li>Piguet, Olivier; Hodges, John R.; Addis, Donna Rose; Irish, Muireann (1 July 2012). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fbrain%2Faws119">"Considering the role of semantic memory in episodic future thinking: evidence from semantic dementia"</a>. <i>Brain</i>. 135 (7): 2178–2191. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fbrain%2Faws119">10.1093/brain/aws119</a>. <a href="/facts/PMID_(identifier)/JlHAvMHt">PMID</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22614246">22614246</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="awards">Awards</h2> <p>Irish has received a number of international awards. </p> <ul><li>2020 – The Gottschalk Medal is awarded by the Australian Academy of Science <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></li> <li>2019 – Young Investigator Award, from the Cognitive Neuroscience Agency <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></li> <li>2019 – British Neuropsychological Society – Elizabeth Warrington Prize.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></li> <li>2017 – L’Oréal–UNESCO International Rising Talent Award.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></li> <li>2017 – Superstars of STEMM.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></li> <li>2016–2020 – ARC Future Fellow.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></li> <li>2016 – NSW Premier's Prize – Early Career Researcher of the Year</li> <li>2015 – L’Oreal–UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a></li> <li>2014 – NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award.</li> <li>2013 – Laird Cermak Award for Outstanding Research in Memory presented by the International Neuropsychological Society.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></li></ul> <p>Irish is a Fellow of the <a href="/facts/Royal_Society_of_New_South_Wales/DR3ylecR">Royal Society of New South Wales</a> (FRSN)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> and was elected a Fellow of the <a href="/facts/Academy_of_the_Social_Sciences_in_Australia/qmnv5a8f">Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia</a> in 2023.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="media">Media</h2> <ul><li>Irish's work has been described on <i><a href="/facts/The_Conversation_(website)/Tz3zxIxq">The Conversation</a></i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a></li> <li>Her work provided insight into why time flies as one gets older<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> and why we day dream.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a></li> <li>The ABC described the neuroscience work conducted by her and her team.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a></li> <li>Dementia Australia described her work on dementia.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a></li> <li>Her career path was described in Careers with STEM.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Dr Muireann Irish, cognitive neuroscientist, Neuroscience Research Australia/UNSW, Sydney". www.forwomeninscience.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://www.forwomeninscience.com.au/news/dr-muireann-irish-cognitive-neuroscientist-neuroscience-research-australia-unsw-sydney" target="_blank">https://www.forwomeninscience.com.au/news/dr-muireann-irish-cognitive-neuroscientist-neuroscience-research-australia-unsw-sydney</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Young Investigator Award". Cognitive Neuroscience Society. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://www.cogneurosociety.org/young-investigator-award/" target="_blank">https://www.cogneurosociety.org/young-investigator-award/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Dr Muireann Irish". AIPS. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://www.aips.net.au/AIPS-retired/tall-poppies/nsw-tall-poppies/past-nsw-tall-poppy-winners/2014-nsw-award-winners/dr-muireann-irish/" target="_blank">https://www.aips.net.au/AIPS-retired/tall-poppies/nsw-tall-poppies/past-nsw-tall-poppy-winners/2014-nsw-award-winners/dr-muireann-irish/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Reflections on the L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science program : Naturejobs Blog". blogs.nature.com. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2017/06/16/reflections-on-the-loreal-unesco-for-women-in-science-program/" target="_blank">http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2017/06/16/reflections-on-the-loreal-unesco-for-women-in-science-program/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"The enigma of time". Radio National. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/the-enigma-of-time-repeat/10266928" target="_blank">https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/the-enigma-of-time-repeat/10266928</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Reflections on the L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science program : Naturejobs Blog". blogs.nature.com. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2017/06/16/reflections-on-the-loreal-unesco-for-women-in-science-program/" target="_blank">http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2017/06/16/reflections-on-the-loreal-unesco-for-women-in-science-program/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Muireann Irish". Raising the bar. Retrieved 16 August 2019. <a href="http://www.rtbevent.com/muireann-irish" target="_blank">http://www.rtbevent.com/muireann-irish</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Australia, Women in STEMM (7 March 2018). "STEMM Profile: Associate Professor Muireann Irish | ARC Future Fellow | Brain and Mind Centre and School of Psychology | The University of Sydney | Sydney | NSW". Women in STEMM Australia. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://womeninscienceaust.org/portfolio/stemm-profile-associate-professor-muireann-irish-arc-future-fellow-brain-and-mind-centre-and-school-of-psychology-the-university-of-sydney-sydney-nsw/" target="_blank">https://womeninscienceaust.org/portfolio/stemm-profile-associate-professor-muireann-irish-arc-future-fellow-brain-and-mind-centre-and-school-of-psychology-the-university-of-sydney-sydney-nsw/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Reflections on the L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science program : Naturejobs Blog". blogs.nature.com. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2017/06/16/reflections-on-the-loreal-unesco-for-women-in-science-program/" target="_blank">http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2017/06/16/reflections-on-the-loreal-unesco-for-women-in-science-program/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Reflections on the L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science program : Naturejobs Blog". blogs.nature.com. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2017/06/16/reflections-on-the-loreal-unesco-for-women-in-science-program/" target="_blank">http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2017/06/16/reflections-on-the-loreal-unesco-for-women-in-science-program/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Australian Academy of Science". www.science.org.au. <a href="https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/awards-and-opportunities/gottschalk-medal" target="_blank">https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/awards-and-opportunities/gottschalk-medal</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Young Investigator Award – Cognitive Neuroscience Society". Cognitive Neuroscience Society. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://www.cogneurosociety.org/young-investigator-award/" target="_blank">https://www.cogneurosociety.org/young-investigator-award/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Sydney neuroscientist honoured by the British Neuropsychological Society". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://sydney.edu.au/science/news-and-events/2019/04/30/sydney-neuroscientist-honoured-by-british-neuropsychological-society.html" target="_blank">https://sydney.edu.au/science/news-and-events/2019/04/30/sydney-neuroscientist-honoured-by-british-neuropsychological-society.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Australia, Women in STEMM (7 March 2018). "STEMM Profile: Associate Professor Muireann Irish | ARC Future Fellow | Brain and Mind Centre and School of Psychology | The University of Sydney | Sydney | NSW". Women in STEMM Australia. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://womeninscienceaust.org/portfolio/stemm-profile-associate-professor-muireann-irish-arc-future-fellow-brain-and-mind-centre-and-school-of-psychology-the-university-of-sydney-sydney-nsw/" target="_blank">https://womeninscienceaust.org/portfolio/stemm-profile-associate-professor-muireann-irish-arc-future-fellow-brain-and-mind-centre-and-school-of-psychology-the-university-of-sydney-sydney-nsw/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"2017 Superstars of STEM Archives". Science and Technology Australia. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/list/2017-superstars/" target="_blank">https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/list/2017-superstars/</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>"Associate Professor Muireann Irish". Science and Technology Australia. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/profile/aprof-muireann-irish/" target="_blank">https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/profile/aprof-muireann-irish/</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"Dr Muireann Irish, cognitive neuroscientist, Neuroscience Research Australia/UNSW, Sydney". www.forwomeninscience.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://www.forwomeninscience.com.au/news/dr-muireann-irish-cognitive-neuroscientist-neuroscience-research-australia-unsw-sydney" target="_blank">https://www.forwomeninscience.com.au/news/dr-muireann-irish-cognitive-neuroscientist-neuroscience-research-australia-unsw-sydney</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Schoenfeld, Davis. "Laird S. Cermak Award Recipients". The International Neuropsychological Society. Retrieved 15 August 2019. <a href="https://www.the-ins.org/about-ins/ins-awards/laird-s-cermak-award-recipients/" target="_blank">https://www.the-ins.org/about-ins/ins-awards/laird-s-cermak-award-recipients/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>"Fellows - The Royal Society of NSW". www.royalsoc.org.au. Retrieved 1 October 2019. <a href="https://www.royalsoc.org.au/about-us/fellows" target="_blank">https://www.royalsoc.org.au/about-us/fellows</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>"The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia welcomes 21 new Fellows". Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023. <a href="https://socialsciences.org.au/news/celebrating-excellence-21-new-fellows-inducted-into-the-academy-of-the-social-sciences-in-australia/" target="_blank">https://socialsciences.org.au/news/celebrating-excellence-21-new-fellows-inducted-into-the-academy-of-the-social-sciences-in-australia/</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>"Muireann Irish". The Conversation. Retrieved 16 August 2019. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/muireann-irish-104604" target="_blank">https://theconversation.com/profiles/muireann-irish-104604</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Irish, Muireann; Ahmed, Rebekah. "Still Alice: a rare look at how dementia steals memories from millions". The Conversation. Retrieved 16 August 2019. <a href="https://theconversation.com/still-alice-a-rare-look-at-how-dementia-steals-memories-from-millions-36421" target="_blank">https://theconversation.com/still-alice-a-rare-look-at-how-dementia-steals-memories-from-millions-36421</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>O'Callaghan, Claire; Irish, Muireann. "How did it get so late so soon? Why time flies as we get older". The Conversation. Retrieved 16 August 2019. <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-did-it-get-so-late-so-soon-why-time-flies-as-we-get-older-44296" target="_blank">https://theconversation.com/how-did-it-get-so-late-so-soon-why-time-flies-as-we-get-older-44296</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>Irish, Muireann. "Daydream believer: why your brain is wired to wander". The Conversation. Retrieved 16 August 2019. <a href="https://theconversation.com/daydream-believer-why-your-brain-is-wired-to-wander-18881" target="_blank">https://theconversation.com/daydream-believer-why-your-brain-is-wired-to-wander-18881</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>Hermant, ABC News: Norman (11 March 2018). "Dr Muireann Irish with her team". ABC News. Retrieved 16 August 2019. <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-11/dr-muireann-irish-with-her-team/9523190" target="_blank">https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-11/dr-muireann-irish-with-her-team/9523190</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>Australia, Dementia (6 February 2018). "Muireann Irish". www.dementia.org.au. Retrieved 16 August 2019. <a href="https://www.dementia.org.au/research/our-researchers/muireann-irish" target="_blank">https://www.dementia.org.au/research/our-researchers/muireann-irish</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:27"><p>"Cognitive Neuroscientist & Superstar of STEM | Muireann Irish". Careers with STEM. Retrieved 16 August 2019. <a href="https://careerswithstem.com.au/profiles/cognitive-neuroscientist/" target="_blank">https://careerswithstem.com.au/profiles/cognitive-neuroscientist/</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>