The Lunchtime Talk Series, organised by the Research Development Office continued in 2026 as a platform for researchers and academic staff to share research findings, experiences and emerging areas of scholarship with the wider university community. The programme supports MNU’s efforts to strengthen its research culture, encourage interdisciplinary learning and promote knowledge exchange across faculties, schools and centres.

Nine Lunchtime Talk sessions have been conducted so far in 2026, covering a diverse range of topics across education, sustainability, health, technology, water security, law and policing. The sessions have provided opportunities for researchers to present their work, engage with colleagues and discuss the wider relevance and application of their research.

Collectively, the sessions held so far demonstrate the multidisciplinary nature of research at MNU and its relevance to national development and sustainability challenges. The research presented contributes across several Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 5 – Gender Equality, SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13 – Climate Action,  SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

Through the Lunchtime Talk Series, MNU continues to provide an accessible forum for sharing research, encouraging scholarly dialogue and strengthening connections among researchers across disciplines. The 2026 sessions held so far reflect the University’s continuing commitment to research dissemination and research capacity development, while highlighting the contribution of MNU research to addressing educational, social, health and environmental priorities in the Maldives.

Details of the sessions are provided below: