My name is Emilio Colella, and I am a predoctoral research fellow at the University of Bologna. In January 2025, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks in Dublin as part of the Transnational Access Visit (TAV) program of COORDINATE. Thanks to this experience, I gained access to the "Growing Up in Ireland" survey data to conduct independent research.
My research focuses on the trade-off between screen time and physical activity in children. The goal is to understand the socioeconomic determinants of children's digital behaviour, the role of parent-child relationships, and how these early-life conditions influence future living outcomes. With the support of TAV, I was able to study the survey documentation, select the most relevant variables, and assemble two datasets for the study cohorts, right in the very place where the data was collected.
During my stay at the Geary Institute of University College Dublin (UCD), I had the opportunity to experience the academic environment of UCD by participating in seminars and engaging with researchers from various disciplines, including psychology, sociology, and education. Being in such an interdisciplinary environment greatly enriched my research perspective, providing me with new insights and valuable suggestions for my project. Moreover, I formed friendships with colleagues from across the world, sharing both work and enjoyable moments together
Beyond the academic aspect, the experience of living in Dublin for two weeks was equally exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed the city's cultural richness, visiting monuments, museums, historic buildings, and parks. Dublin is a vibrant city, full of music and traditions, and I’m glad I had the chance to live in its atmosphere for two weeks.
Thanks to this study period, I built the datasets that I will use for my analysis, and I aim to complete the draft of my first paper within the year. I would like to thank COORDINATE for the financial support that made this experience possible and everyone I met for making it truly unique.
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