A Little Light Listening is a podcast by IPIC and is funded by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, formerly Science Foundation Ireland. In our podcast we cover the latest developments in light-based science and technology. This regular podcast features STEM and non-STEM experts from Ireland and around the world. We explore a broad range of technology areas including how light is used in medicine, space and communications.
Written, produced and presented by David McGovern.
Music by Prof. Paul Townsend.
Team: David McGovern, Caitriona Tyndall, Elisabeth Wintersteller and Eamonn O`Sullivan.
Publisher
IPIC, funded by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, formerly Science Foundation
Dr. Stewart Reid discusses his physics background and current research within the CDT PIADS program, highlighting his interests in physics, engineering, and volunteer work, in this interview.
19 Dec 2024
*Christmas Special* - The Surprising History of Christmas Lights
Join host David McGovern and guests Dr. Niamh Wycherley and Jamie Malanowski as they illuminate the surprising history of Christmas lights, from medieval symbolism to dazzling modern displays.
22 Nov 2024
Shining a Light on Research with Dr. Mahrokh Avazpour
Dr. Mahrokh Avazpour shares her pioneering research on generating optical frequency combs using mode locked fibre lasers, illuminating new frontiers in optical communications.
25 Oct 2024
Shining a Light on Research with Serene Pauly
Serene is a final year Ph.D. candidate at Queen's University Belfast, specializing in the dynamic field of photonics and data storage. Serene`s research focuses on the intricate mapping of thermal variations on plasmonic nanostructures utilizing Scanning Thermal Microscopy (SThM) techniques.
Serene`s academic journey has been a diverse one, spanning continents and disciplines. With a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Glasgow and a Bachelor's in Biotechnology Engineering from India, Serene brings a unique blend of expertise to her research. This interdisciplinary background has equipped Serene with a holistic perspective, enabling her to tackle complex challenges at the nexus of science and technology.
Beyond academia, Serene is deeply committed to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange within the scientific community. Serene actively engages in initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, believing in the power of diverse perspectives to drive innovation and progress.
18 Oct 2024
Shining a Light on Research with Dr. Marcos Troncoso Costas
Marcos joined the PhD program in Electronic Engineering with the Radio and Optical Communications Lab at Dublin City University, under the supervision of Prof. Liam Barry and Francisco Díaz in May 2020 graduating with his PhD in July 2024. His current research field includes spectrally efficient modulation for optical communications through fiber and free space. Marcos has also worked on Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) and Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs).
11 Oct 2024
Shining a Light on Research with Dr Hemalatha Muthuganesan
"Someone considering a PhD? Yes definitely go for it. More than a technical degree I think it teaches a lot of things in life."
Hemalatha is a researcher in photonics, currently part of the opto-team in the EP-ESE group at CERN, focussed on developing radiation-hard optical links for high-energy physics using silicon photonics. Hemalatha`s role involves designing and characterizating radiation-insensitive optoelectronic devices.
4 Oct 2024
Shining a Light on Research with Dr Oisin McCormack
"If you are interested in doing physics research, even if that's in a company, having a PhD under your belt is a huge boon both personally and career-wise."
Oisin McCormack is an experimental physicist currently working in the field of nanophotonics and biosensors. Oisin is a MSCA Postdoctoral researcher in nanophotonics at Trinity College Dublin working on a project entitled "All-Dielectric Metasurfaces for Sensing Applications (MESA)" and has many areas of research interest including design, manufacture, and characterization of metasurfaces and nanostructures.
27 Sept 2024
Shining a Light on Research with Dr Imanda Jayawardena
"Consider what your motivations are for doing a PhD, not just doing something for the sake of it."
Dr Imanda Jayawardena is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Science Foundation Ireland Research Fellow at the Irish Photonics Integration Centre (IPIC). Her current research focuses on developing a bone-on-a-chip device for monitoring osteogenesis with the use of non-invasive, label-free, non-ionising spectroscopic techniques such as Raman and Diffuse Reflectance spectroscopy. This allows for longitudinal data acquisition from implants used for fracture healing, with minimal damage inflicted upon patients. It also enables gaining insight into bone formation mechanisms on hydrogel surfaces at a cellular level and surface properties of hydrogel substrates.
25 Sept 2024
Season 2 of a Little Light Listening launches on the 27th September!
Coming Soon!
Season 2 of a Little Light Listening launches on the 27th September.
This season we explore what is a researcher, the winding paths to becoming researchers and the rewards.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
#STEM #Podcast #ResearchStories
20 Oct 2022
Light Saving Lungs
In this episode we discuss how the use of a light is helping doctors to understand how the lungs of premature babies are functioning in way that can be done using a harmless light source, can be continuously so you can keep an eye on this at all times and which can help ultimately bring better outcomes for these babies futures. The technique this is all based on is as in Scattering Media Absorption Spectroscopy (GASMAS) and in this podcast we learn more about this novel technique.
Hosted by David McGovern. Special thanks to our guests Stefan Stefan Anderson-Engels and Hanna Sjöström.
This podcast is created by Irish Photonic Integration Centre in partnership with Science Foundation Ireland. Special thanks to our producer Kieran Hurley from University College Cork UCC 98.3FM radio.
For more information visit our website https://www.ipic.ie/engagement/podcast/.
10 Oct 2022
Shining a Light on Space - Part 2
In this episode we discuss with Alfredo Carpineti about how light has enabled us to communicate and display images to each other across continents, locate yourself to within a few metres anywhere on earth and to look back in time and see images across the depths of space including black holes which were imaged for the first time in 2019.
Hosted by David McGovern. Special thanks to our guest Alfredo Carpineti.
This podcast is created by Irish Photonic Integration Centre in partnership with Science Foundation Ireland. Special thanks to our producer Kieran Hurley from University College Cork UCC 98.3FM radio.
For more information visit our website https://www.ipic.ie/engagement/podcast/.
4 Oct 2022
Shining a Light on Space Part 1
In this episode we discuss how light has enabled us to communicate and display images to each other across continents, locate yourself to within a few meters anywhere on earth and to look back in time and see images across the depths of space including black holes which were imaged for the first time in 2019. Find out the answers and much more here!
Hosted by David McGovern. Special thanks to our guest John Mackey.
This podcast is created by Irish Photonic Integration Centre in partnership with Science Foundation Ireland. Special thanks to our producer Kieran Hurley from University College Cork UCC 98.3FM radio.
For more information visit our website https://www.ipic.ie/engagement/podcast/.
14 Apr 2022
Quantum Worlds
This special episode celebrates the World Quantum Day, April 14th, and will delve into what Quantum Technologies are, how they will impact our future and the quantum landscape in Ireland.
Hosted by David McGovern with special guests Prof Seamus Davis from UCC, Prof Elena Blokhina from UCD and Dr. Emanuele Pelucchi from IPIC & Tyndall National Institute.
This podcast is created by Irish Photonic Integration Centre in partnership with Science Foundation Ireland. Special thanks to our producer Kieran Hurley from University College Cork UCC 98.3FM radio.
For more information visit our website https://www.ipic.ie/engagement/podcast/.
13 Apr 2022
LiDAR
In this episode we discuss LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging technology. How is LiDAR used in many aspects of everyday life including self-drive vehicles, land mapping, meteorology or looking back in time at how ancient civilizations lived? Find out the answers and much more here!
Hosted by David McGovern. Special thanks to our guests Peter O`Brien and Nick Hogan.
This podcast is created by Irish Photonic Integration Centre in partnership with Science Foundation Ireland. Special thanks to our producer Kieran Hurley from University College Cork UCC 98.3FM radio.
For more information visit our website https://www.ipic.ie/engagement/podcast/.
Who has been a guest on A Little Light Listening
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dr Stewart Reid
Dr. Niamh Wycherley
Jamie Malanowski
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
37,069
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 29 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
15
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
32
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Guest appearances
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