Dr Catherine Bates

Dr Catherine Bates is Research Engagement Lead in TU Dublin, supporting researchers and non-profit partners to collaborate on projects for societal impact. She has a PhD in Sociology and an MA and BA in Design. From 2008-23, Catherine set up and managed TU Dublin’s Programme for Students Learning With Communities, supporting Community Engaged Research and Learning within the curriculum.

Catherine led TU Dublin’s involvement in four EU-funded projects supporting community engagement in research: TOGETHERNESS (2025-8), CIRCLET (2019-22), EnRRICH (2015-8) and PERARES (2010-4). Catherine previously lectured in design theory and worked as an adult education coordinator in the community sector.