Rathlin Community Leads the Way in Green Research

Rathlin, Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island, is set to expand its pioneering green research with the launch of the second phase of the Future Island-Island project.

Led by Ulster University in collaboration with Queen’s University, the Glasgow School of Art and University of the Arts London, the project works directly with the Rathlin community to explore how island-led innovation can shape sustainable solutions locally and beyond.

Dr Clare Mulholland, Co-Director of the project, said the new funding “gives us the chance to build on the creativity of Rathlin’s community and share those lessons with other coastal and island regions.”

Professor Justin Magee, Project Director, added: “This extension strengthens our ties with Rathlin while connecting new island communities across Ireland, Scotland and the Nordics.”

Future Island-Island is one of four UK Green Transition Ecosystems funded through the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The initiative uses design thinking and community insight to add value to waste, preserve heritage through digital tools, develop new materials, and reimagine education and policy-making for a greener future.