Aidan O'Sullivan/Department of Archaeology: UCD is a marvellously exciting and rewarding place to work. There is a great sense of energy and change around the place and there are always new challenges.
What's it like to work in UCD?
In a typical week, I might be lecturing to undergraduates, co-ordinating MA seminars, leading archaeological field trips, working on research projects or dealing with the public and fellow professionals - there's always something to be doing.
How does this job compare to your last?
I previously worked in The Discovery Programme, the State-funded archaeological research institute - which was great. However, I find that there is an even stronger research and publication ethos in the university. I have also found that the intrinsic links between university teaching and research mean that every day we are faced with the challenge of interpreting recent research in our teaching - you're always rethinking your ideas.
What's the best part of your job?
Without a doubt, it has to be the daily encounters with colleagues and students, whether in lectures, seminars or even conversations in the corridors. The students are always interested and inspiring, and they often come up with insights that can be startling and original.
What's the hardest part of your job?
The fact that there are only 24 hours in the day. Like most lecturers, I'm in early and leave late and my teaching responsibilities are combined with year and course administration and helping students. When I can, I try to do some research or finish writing books (whose deadlines are now themselves ancient history!) I make a list of tasks every morning, and try to get through as much as I can during the day.
Where's the best place in UCD to retreat to when you need a break?
I go for a stroll around the lake, watch a hurling match on the sports pitches, drink too much coffee in the staff common room or disappear to the library for an hour to read something new. Otherwise, it's off home for a jog, cycle or a night watching The West Wing on DVD.
Who's your education idol?
The people who particularly inspire me are my colleagues. Everybody is making a strong effort to be innovative in their courses, and we are putting more and more emphasis on active learning, group tasks and teaching through fieldwork. Once you start teaching like this, you want to do more of it.
If you could change one thing about UCD, what would it be?
It is difficult to get a sense of what people are doing in other departments and faculties. This is particularly a problem for archaeology, which is such an interdisciplinary subject that is partly within the humanities, social sciences and the earth sciences. Hopefully, the introduction of modularisation in 2005 will help break down barriers and I'm looking forward to teaching students from botany, biology, medicine, sociology, agriculture, etc.
What's unique about UCD?
Its scale. Most Irish people come from essentially small places; families, rural communities or urban villages. A university as large as UCD gives you a real sense of the potential diversity and breadth of human experience and knowledge.
