This article explores the journey of Dr Merve Zeden, Research Ireland Pathway Fellow and Honorary Research Lecturer at University of Galway, from her time in London to setting up the Research Staff Network, and how she’s continued to thrive as a scientist and researcher here in Galway.

As summer winds down, parents, guardians, and educators prepare for primary and secondary schools to reopen. This makes for a particularly timely moment to review the recently published research by the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Ireland team, which highlights health and social behaviours of children and young people. The HBSC study is a cross-national research effort that monitors health behaviours, health outcomes, and social environments of school-age children. The study is carried out every four years in countries across Europe, Canada, and Central Asia in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe. The HBSC Ireland team is based at the Health Promotion Research Centre here at University of Galway.