Research
Research focused on advancing opportunities for women and girls in technology, driving inclusivity and innovation
Upcoming Research
Parenting in a Digital Age – A Narrative Review
March 2025
A review of available evidence for understanding the extent and nature of the problem of digital parenting, including evidence concerning the mental wellbeing and mental health effects of digital technology on school-going children, how this links to the digital skills of parents, and the effectiveness of potential interventions for parents and their children.
Authors: ESRI on behalf of BlockW. Dr Celine Fox, Dr Deirdre Roberston, Professor Pete Lunn
Handbook Chapter: Redefining Learning: Blockchain & Education
June 2025
This chapter explores the integration of blockchain and emerging technologies in education, covering decentralized learning platforms, metaversities, peer-to-peer learning, and their role in globalizing education. It also examines self-sovereign identity, blockchain-based credentials, and immutable research records, enabling continuous learning and secure student data management.
Authors: The Education Working Group, INABTA, Chiara Ventura, Nicole Gani, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Katarina Krüger, Prof. Joyce O’Connor, Magdalena Hristova, Dr. Izzat-Begum B. Rajan.
Recent Research
Block W strives to highlight innovative solutions and emerging trends shaping the future of technology and education for women and girls
May 2023 | Adapt and Flourish Report
Web 3.0 Utility and Skills for Success. A thought experiment on a hypothetical citizen centric web 3.0 world and its skills requirements.
This report aims to indicate to individual citizens how blockchain can be useful for them and what skills they need to acquire to benefit from the new blockchain landscape. By using PBP (Public Permissionless Blockchains), the authors of this report believe in enabling greater democracy without relying on large tech giants and their services.”
Authors
International Association for Trusted Blockchain (INATBA) Education Working Group.
- Wim Stalmans
- Chiara Ventura
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Katarina Krüger
- Prof Joyce O’Connor
- Simone Ravaioli
- Prof. Lisa Short
- Dr. Lorena Stanesca
- Prof Roberto Tonelli
- Prof. Dr. Dr. Stefan Brunnhuber
- Dr Almudena de la Mata
- Prof. Paolo Giudici
- Dr Gustavo Prieto
- Dr Inon Schenker
- Mar Meneses.
April 2024 | Adapt and Flourish Report
Web 3.0 Utility & Required Skills for Individuals. Why should I care about Blockchain?
- For Citizens
This is the first of three information sheets focused on blockchains role for citizens in areas including information, provenance, medical records, health and jobs. It is based on the CHAISE (EU Blockchain Skills for Europe) project and the Adapt and Flourish Report.
Authors
International Association for Trusted Blockchain (INATBA) Education Working Group.
- Chiara Ventura
- Nicole Gani
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Katarina Krüger
- Prof Joyce O’Connor,
- Simone Ravaioli
- Prof. Lisa Short
- Wim Stalmans
- Dr. Lorena Stanesca
- Prof Roberto Tonelli
- Prof. Dr. Dr. Stefan Brunnhuber
- Dr Almudena de la Mata
- Prof. Paolo Giudici
- Dr Gustavo Prieto
- Dr Inon Schenker
- Mar Meneses
- CHAISE (EU Blockchain Skills for Europe)
April 2024 | Adapt and Flourish Report
Web 3.0 Utility & Required Skills for Individuals. Why Should I Care About Blockchain for my jurisdiction?
- For Public Sector
This is the second of three information sheets focused on blockchains role for the public sector in relation to the younger generation, reskilling and upskilling the current workforce and in assisting underprivileged or under-represented citizens access opportunities. This information sheet is based on the CHAISE (EU Blockchain Skills for Europe) project and the Adapt and Flourish Report.
Authors
International Association for Trusted Blockchain (INATBA) Education Working Group.
- Chiara Ventura
- Nicole Gani
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Katarina Krüger
- Prof Joyce O’Connor,
- Simone Ravaioli
- Prof. Lisa Short
- Wim Stalmans
- Dr. Lorena Stanesca
- Prof Roberto Tonelli
- Prof. Dr. Dr. Stefan Brunnhuber
- Dr Almudena de la Mata
- Prof. Paolo Giudici
- Dr Gustavo Prieto
- Dr Inon Schenker
- Mar Meneses
- CHAISE (EU Blockchain Skills for Europe)
April 2024 | Adapt and Flourish Report
Web 3.0 Utility & Required Skills for Individuals. Why should I care about Blockchain?
- For Businesses
This is the third of three information sheets focused on blockchains role for business in relation to understanding decentralised technologies and how to leverage them, looking at how decentralised technology will impact legacy information systems and new roles within the sector.
Authors
International Association for Trusted Blockchain (INATBA) Education Working Group.
- Chiara Ventura
- Nicole Gani
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Katarina Krüger
- Prof Joyce O’Connor,
- Simone Ravaioli
- Prof. Lisa Short
- Wim Stalmans
- Dr. Lorena Stanesca
- Prof Roberto Tonelli
- Prof. Dr. Dr. Stefan Brunnhuber
- Dr Almudena de la Mata
- Prof. Paolo Giudici
- Dr Gustavo Prieto
- Dr Inon Schenker
- Mar Meneses
- CHAISE (EU Blockchain Skills for Europe)
May 2022
Blockchain jobs: what policymakers need to know. Produced for circulation to all members of the Oireachtas.
Authors
- ESRI
- CHAISE (EU Blockchain Skills for Europe)
- Economic & Social Research Council
- University of Sussex Business School
- Blockchain Ireland Education Working Group (Chaired by Professor Joyce O’Connor, BlockW)
- CPI- Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training.
July 2022
Submission on Blockchain Skills to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Authors
- Professor Joyce O’Connor, Co Founder and Chair BlockW;
- Dr Susan Rea, Director of Research, Nimbus Centre MTU, Academic Advisor Group BlockW.
June 2022
Ireland's Economic and Social Research Institute Blockchain Skills Conference Creating Ireland as an International Blockchain Hub
Presenter
- Prof. Joyce O Connor (Chair of the Education, Skills and Innovation Working Group at Blockchain Ireland) Co Founder & Chair BlockW
March 2022
Developing Educational Awareness of Blockchain
A Student-Led Blockchain Research Fellowship Examining EU Developments in Blockchain and DLT. 4 th British Blockchain Association Conference, March 14th, 2022. A BlockW and Atlantic Technological University funded scholarship.
Authors
- Dominic Allen
- Dr. Trevor Clohessy
- Professor Joyce O’Connor.
