A major new Centre that will harness Artificial Intelligence to transform weather forecasting, supporting Ireland’s preparation for growing risks posed by climate change, was launched at University College Dublin today.
The AIMSIR Centre for AI in Meteorological Services, Innovation and Research at UCD is the first of its kind in Ireland.
Established with a €5 million investment from Met Éireann, the Centre is hosted in UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics, in conjunction with the UCD Earth Institute. AIMSIR will focus on developing AI-driven forecasting tools to improve the accuracy of predictions for extreme and multi-hazard weather events, along with the development of weather and climate services, with the aim of directly strengthening Ireland’s national forecasting capability.
AIMSIR Centre Director and Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics Principal Investigator Prof Andrew Parnell said: ‘This new research centre will provide incredible opportunities for our students to develop the next generation of advanced weather forecasting models which will be vital for our society as we move into an unprecedented period of climatic change. AI is already revolutionising weather forecasting and we will position UCD and Met Éireann at the forefront of that change.’
Director of Met Éireann, Eoin Moran said: Met Éireann’s mission to protect life and property and to promote societal wellbeing, is grounded in world-class science and innovation. The establishment and funding of an AI Professorship in partnership with one of Ireland’s leading research institutions marks a major milestone in advancing that mission.’
