News

Professor Frances Fahy and Dr Kathy Reilly have won the ‘Spotlight on Sustainability’ national award from Fáilte Ireland for their work organising EUGEO 2019, an international geography conference that attracted more than 500 delegates from over 25 countries to University of Galway campus. Further details available here. In addition to this national recognition, Professor Fahy and Dr Reilly were honoured as Fáilte Ireland National Conference Ambassadors. The event was held on Wednesday November 22nd at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin.

Congratulations to  Prof Frances Fahy, winner of the 2023 IRC Research Ally Prize Award for supervision and mentorship. The awards were announced at the SFI Awards Ceremony in Cork on November 20th 2023.

Countermapping the Sperrins by V'cenza Cirefice published in counter/cartographies the 2023 issue of "you are here: a journal of creative geography"  [Read]  

Dr Eugene Farrell was invited to present his research on 'coastal community resilience' to the European Marine Board webinar series on November 16, 2023. The presentation is available to view on the EMB youtube channel.  The research highlights the enablers and barriers for coastal communities trying to manage their coastlines and is featured as a case study in the EMB Position Paper 27.

University of Galways Geographer Dr Eugene Farrell is co-author on the new European Board Board Position Paper 27 ' Building Coastal Resilience in Europe'. The paper provides an overview of concepts and frameworks for building coastal resilience, a six-step approach for their use in coastal management, and an overview of key pressures facing European coastal social-ecological systems and their impacts.  Read more here:  https://www.marineboard.eu/publications/building-coastal-resilience-europe

Geography PhD student Mr. Daithí Maguire (supervised by Dr Eugene Farrell) presented the final results his research at the TerraSAR-X / TanDEM-X Science Team Meeting at the German Aerospace Center (Oberpfaffenhofen) on the 19th October 2023. His presentation entitled “A Sigma0 Percentile Approach for Monitoring Shoreline Change” detailed a new approach for monitoring coastal erosion using satellite-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR). 

Dr Benjamin Schmid attended the General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research ECPR in Prague on behalf of the EnergyPROSPECTS project. In a section on Energy Politics, he presented the paper “Qualitative Comparative Analysis of the conditions for energy citizen initiatives to contribute to a more sustainable and democratic energy system”.

Prof Frances Fahy and Dr Ben Schmid (EnergyPROSPECTS European Project) from Geography at University of Galway, in collaboration with colleagues from Maastricht University and the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris hosted a policy-makers workshop on ‘Energy Citizenship in Ireland’ in Dublin, last month. With a group of 14 participants representing communities, local and national authorities and academia, the workshop examined the role that citizens can play in Ireland's energy transition and how the transformative impact of energy citizenship can be enhanced. Key themes that emerged included: ·       Importance of institutional anchoring of energy citizenship in public policy and policy cohesion ·       Risk of energy citizenship and transition becoming exclusively a middle-class concept ·       Need for tailored messaging to different societal groups and avoidance of overly technical language ·       Criticism of offloading too much risks onto citizens and energy communities ·       Potential to improve procedures and costs of grid connection and remuneration for medium-scale renewable energy projects

Dr Karen Taylor has been awarded an SFI-IRC Pathway research grant to establish a long-term record of natural climate variability to inform future climate predictions for Ireland. The CORE project is co-funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and Met Éireann. The four-year project is hosted by the Palaeoenvironmental Research Unit (PRU), School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, in collaboration with Dr Aaron Potito, Dr Karen Molloy and Jacob Nguyen. In the press release on Friday the 3rd of November 2023, the Director of Met Éireann, Eoin Moran, welcomed the announcement, adding: “Met Éireann is also proud to support talent in partnership with the SFI-IRC Pathway Programme. We are delighted to fund research which will help us ‘make Ireland weather and climate prepared’. As we develop climate services to indeed help the country prepare for resilience in a warming world, we look forward to co-funding the project to better understand our past climate’s variability to inform future climate predictions.” For more details see the press release. [READ]

Dr Rachel McArdle represented the University of Galway at the ENLIGHT workshop, ‘A Just Sustainable City’ at the University of Uppsala in October 2023. 

Dr Rachel McArdle and Dr Mike Hynes recently brought the first year BASS students on a fieldtrip to Roundstone, Connemara, stopping at Recess on the way. We had a lovely sunny day and the students enjoyed walking and getting to know each other as well as the landscapes of Co. Galway.  

Professor Seamus Grimes deliveres talk titled 'China's evolving positioning within the semiconductor global value chair' in Shanghai on Thursday 26th October, 2023 

Dr. Marie Mahon and Dr. Therese Conway last week received an Irish Planning Institute Award. This award was for a project delivered in partnership with students from the University of Galway MA Rural Futures Planning and Innovation, Neil Galway, Queen's University Belfast, and students from MSC Planning and Development, Planners in Galway County Council (Brendan Dunne, Brian Corcoran, Liam Ward), their counterparts in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council & Craigavon Borough Council and teachers and students from Presentation College Athenry; Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew; New-Bridge Integrated College, Loughbrickland, Banbridge; Royal School, Armagh. The project was funded by SCoTENs (Standing Committee for Teacher Education North and South).  This project develops empirical and practical applications of geographical knowledge in solving spatial planning problems through a practice-based approach whereby students are co-creators of knowledge with the planning authority. It gives students a sense of ownership of planning strategy and outcomes that have implications for the places that they themselves are from. It allows them to reflect on the contribution of their geographical knowledge and skills to local spatial planning development and problem-solving.  The Award was sponsored by the Office of the Planning Regulator 

MA in Intl Development Practice Students went on a field trip to the Ploughing Championship on 21st of September 2023, and met with NGOs, Irish Aid and others to ask about how they view the SDGs. MIDP students also met the MSc in AgriFood Sustainability & Technology class from the University of Galway

Dr. Una Murray and PhD student Tomy Ncube recently attended a research conference in London, Brighton. Tomy presented a poster titled "Digitalising Social Protection Systems for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: Insights from Zimbabwe". [Further Info]

John Morrissey has been appointed to the IAP Panel on Human Security, which is currently working with the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security and World Academy of Art and Science on a global campaign to promote Human Security For All (HS4A). The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) is a global organization that produces evidence-based statements and reports examining major priorities for sustainable development, and provides independent and authoritative advice to national governments and international institutions including the UN. It is also an observer organization of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Belmont Forum.

Geography PHd student Yuhan Zheng will take part in the coming BRICS youth energy summit. [Further Info]

The 54th Conference of Irish Geographer was hosted in Wexford (Ireland) and the main theme for this year’s conference was ‘Resilience`. PhD student from the Geography Department, Silvia Cascone, presented her recent research findings in the session titled “Climate, Coasts and Communities: Nature-Based Solutions at the Nature-Society Nexus” focusing on the utility of coastal dune vulnerability indices for Nature-based Solutions implementation in Ireland.

PhD Researcher Chris Stewart (advised by Dr Gordon Bromley) recently presented a poster on his work at INQUA Roma 2023 (https://inquaroma2023.org/). His research focuses on recreating the deglaciation and environment of western Ireland since the Last Glacial Maximum; this is the first official publication of his PhD work to date.

PhD Students from School of Geography, Archaeology, & Irish Studies participated the 54th Annual Conference of Irish Geographers held in Wexford from the 16th to the 19th of May 2023 supported by Prof. Frances Fahy. Komang Trisna Pratiwi Arcana, the first year PhD student had the opportunity to speak in front of geographers about her ongoing research project on rural tourism businesses and the future of rural tourism development in the emerging tourism destinations of Bali, Indonesia, supervised by Dr Therese Conway and Dr Maura Farrell.

PhD student Maeve McGandy recently presented findings from her current research on community led climate adaptation planning at the 54th Conference of Irish Geographers in Wexford. As chair of the Postgraduate and Early Career Network of the Geographical Society of Ireland, Maeve also presented the award for GSI’s annual postgraduate poster competition to Geography’s own Lisa Coleman.

Dr Kevin Lynch and Maeve McGandy recently led a one-day field visit for students on the ENLIGHT summer school on Equity in Sustainability Transitions. Visiting students from universities across the ENLIGHT network were introduced to two unique coastal sites, in Galway City and County Mayo, where they analysed, discussed and evaluated two distinct experiences of climate adaptation planning at the community scale.

Professor Janet Stephenson, Otago University, New Zealand  2pm Wednesday July 12th, AC113 Geography Seminar room      How does culture relate to sustainability? Janet Stephenson draws from her new book Culture and Sustainability to show how cultural analysis can help with sustainability endeavours in research and policy.  She introduces the cultures framework, a well-tested approach for analysing culture at any scale and in any context.  Using examples of its diverse applications around the world, Stephenson illustrates how culture can in some circumstances be highly resistant to change, and in other circumstances can change rapidly. Cultural analysis can assist with policy development and reveal why some policy interventions have unintended consequences. Understanding sustainability problems through a cultural lens can bring new insights into the potential for transformational change. [further info]

University of Galway's Discipline of Geography has announced the successful accreditation of its one-year MA Rural Futures Planning and Innovation by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI). This accreditation will mean students of the programme can become chartered members of the SCSI through their planning and development APC pathway. The SCSI is an affiliate of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) meaning graduates may apply for a globally recognised and respected professional qualification. Currently, in Ireland, there is a lack of planning graduates coming through postgraduate programmes and there is an abundance of surveying and planning vacancies across the country. This programme is now creating professional graduates that can pursue these career opportunities. Graduates of this degree are qualified to work with contractors, sub-contractors, local authorities, government departments or as a consultant in a private practice. The School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies are currently accepting applications for the next programme starting in September. For further information on the MA contact Programme Director Therese Conway on 091 493510 or therese.conway@universityofgalway.ie

In May 2023 Dr Eugene Farrell travelled to the Salton Sea in California to participate in USA NSF funded field experiments led by Prof Douglas Sherman (University of Alabama, USA) to test the potentially paradoxical or enigmatic role of granular electrification in modifying wind-blown sand transport rates from those associated with wind forcing alone. 

First, Dr Mike Hynes will be presenting a paper entitled ‘Eco-Apps for Change? Evaluating the use of mobile apps to promote and support sustainable lifestyles changes’ at the SCORAI-ERSCP-WUR Conference in Wageningen, Netherlands in early July. This paper stems from research undertaken as part of the Climate CAMPAIGNers EU Horizon 2020 project, and is co-authored with Prof Frances Fahy and Dr Kathleen Stokes. More information is available here: https://www.scp-conference-2023.com/web

Dr Eugene Farrell and Dr Kevin Lynch delivered two fieldtrips (Grattan Beach; Silverstrand) to celebrate ‘Love Your Beach Week 2023’ - a series of community focused events organised by Galway City Council. They had lively discussions with members of the public on why coasts are valuable and the different options we have to protect our coast.

Geography's Kathleen Sokes recently published the article ‘Doing the work: Locating labour in infrastructural geography’ in Progress in Human Geography with co-author Alejandro De Coss-Corzo (University of Edinburgh), which can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1177/03091325231174186

The Mary Robinson climate conference will take place 6-7th July 2023 in Ballina.  For further info please see QR Code

MIDP students Xurxo Alonso Vázquez, Mai Ditie and Evench Gomez received a Certificate from the UN’s Food and Agriculture (FAO) Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Training at UCC in April. Also in the photo is Jannie Armstrong, from FAO's Global Support Unit who conducted the training. Following a study of the IPC technical manual, this training is supporting Xurxo, Evench and Mai to have a food security focus in their Research Projects for their MIDP Dissertations.

A team from Galway attended the First ENLIGHT European Dialogue in Uppsala University May 11th and 12th. The theme was sharing ideas on methodology for collaboration projects between universities and cities. Dr. Mark Justin Rainey, from Geography presented work on Community Conversations on Creative Space with a focus on Nuns Island and Dr. Una Murray attended to meet colleagues on ENLIGHT’s equity workpackage. Presentations from the event are available on the ENLIGHT Youtube channel and slides are published on the ENLIGHT website. 

Prof Frances Fahy and Dr Benjamin Schmid are in Berlin this week to meet with partners of the Horizon 2020 EnergyPROSPECTS project, led by the University of Galway. The partner meeting kicks off the final year of the project, which is investigating different forms of energy citizenship and the corresponding policy frameworks across Europe.

Dr Eugene Farrell is lead author on a research report 'Planning for change: coastal management abd climate adaptation in Derrynane, Co. Kerry'. The community participation workshop was done in partnership with the MSc Coastal and Marine Environments class, OPW and Vincent Hyland (Wild Derrynane). [Read]

Professor John Morrissey and Dr Una Murray from the Discipline of Geography, University of Galway, at the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) Annual International Affairs Conference on “Human (In)Security in an Unsettled World” on May 2nd. Prof. Morrissey was the conference organiser and one of the speakers. Both university academics are members of the RIA’s Standing Committee for International Affairs. The conference plenary address was given by Pedro Conceição, Director of the Human Development Report Office at the UNDP, who discussed the key global challenges of human security and human development the world faces today. The keynote was given by the Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, who outlined how Ireland is approaching its relations with China.  [Read]

Dr Eugene Farrell edited a new special issue in the world leading geomorphology journal Earth Surface Processes and Landforms with colleagues from the UK (Prof Irene Delgado-Fernandez; Dr Thomas Smyth), China (Dr Bailiang Li) and USA (Dr Christy Swann). This volume contains 25 manuscripts providing a unique snapshot into the state-of-knowledge of coastal dunes. On the back of this very successful two year long initiative, Dr. Eugene Farrell was invited (and accepted) to be an Associate Editor for the prestigious journal ESPL for the next four years. [Read more here]. 

Dr Eugene Farrell is lead author on a research report 'Planning for change: coastal management abd climate adaptation in Derrynane, Co. Kerry'. The community participation workshop was done in partnership with the MSc Coastal and Marine Environments class, OPW and Vincent Hyland (Wild Derrynane). [Read]

Prof Frances Fahy and Dr Emily Gray attended the Shared Green Deal Clean Energy Training in Vienna, Austria, 26-27th April 2023.

The Bsc. Social Sciences students recently visited Barcelona on their fieldtrip. Some of the themes we covered included: living cities, creative cities, the right to the city, housing and politics. Dr. Rachel McArdle, Dr. Kathleen Stokes and Dr. Mike Hynes led the fieldtrip.  

The 33rd Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium (Environ 2023) was hosted in Letterkenny (Donegal) at the beginning of April. The conference was organised by the Atlantic Technological University (Letterkenny) and the Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland (ESAI). Two PhD students from the Geography Department returned to Galway with different prizes. Silvia Cascone got the prize for the “ESAI Best Overall Poster Presentation” with her poster titled “Coastal Dune Vulnerability Assessment as a Proxy for Nature-based Solution in Ireland” and Elena Aitova got the prize for the “Best Natural History Presentation” with her presentation titled “Carbon Balance of a Restored Irish Raised Bog: Comparing Model to Estimate GHG Emissions”.

The public are being urged not to walk on the dunes at Bertra beach this summer. The dunes at the popular beach overlooked by Croagh Patrick, located between Westport and Louisburgh, are being eroded for a number of reasons but primarily due to climate change and overuse. [Read]

The public are being urged not to walk on the dunes at Bertra beach this summer. The dunes at the popular beach overlooked by Croagh Patrick, located between Westport and Louisburgh, are being eroded for a number of reasons but primarily due to climate change and overuse. [Read]

Members of the Irish Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) Secretariat visited Maharees, Co. Kerry to get a guided tour of work done by a local volunteer group and Dr. Eugene Farrell. The CCAC learned how current government agencies are not set up to nimbly react to needs of coastal communities and how communities can identify their specific needs and articulate their own vision for a sustainable future in their area. The visit was highlighted in an opinion piece in the Sustainability and Climate Change Hub of the Irish Examiner [Read] 

A number of BSc Social Sciences students have published in the recent Mnágazine- International Voices on a number of topics including social media, friendship, sport and other topics. This magazine was created as part of the 2023 European Women's Studies class and includes articles, puzzles, poetry and more. This magazine includes many inspirational stories about women from across the world. Happy International Women's Day! 

Dr Kathleen Stokes, and co-author Dr Mary Lawhon (University of Edinburgh) have recently published a new research article “What counts as infrastructural labour? Community action as waste work in South Africa” in Area Development and Policy.

The Planning and Sustainability research cluster in Geography at University of Galway was delighted to host Leon Hirt, researcher at the Renewable Energy Systems group in the University of Geneva, this week. Leon presented an overview of Socio-technical theories and a case study of ST transition dynamics of solar PV in Switzerland.

UrbanLab Galway invites you to our Speak Out sessions where citizens present key issues and concerns about local development and discuss the future of Galway and the wider region. How can we make a better place? Let's hear what you have to say. If you wish to present or share your thoughts contact UrbanLab Galway via email at urbanlab@universityofgalway.ie   Galway Speakout Wednesday 22 March 2023 7.30 - 9.00 pm Upper Floor, Mick Lally Theatre Druid Lane Galway   Gort Speakout Thursday 23 March 2023 7.30 - 9.30 pm WB Yeats Room, Lady Gregory Hotel Ennis Road, Gort County Galway  H91 KN2N  

Associate Professor Maura Farrell was invited by the European Commission to Brussels on the 28th November to speak at the European Startup Village Forum. Maura presented on the University of Galway led, FLIARA (Female led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas) project. 

Human (In)Security in an Unsettled WorldIn our unsettled world of intersecting human and environmental crises, an urgent global governance challenge lies in actioning new visions and strategies of overlapping human and environmental security. This year’s RIA Standing Committee for International Affairs conference takes up the challenge of envisioning a wider discourse of global security, and setting out how to address the planet’s overlapping insecurities more holistically. It aims to attract papers that reflect on the multiple (in)securities of our contemporary moment, how they intersect in complex ways, and how more effective security responses can be achieved. Further details are available here. For additional information, please contact Prof. John Morrissey.Conference Website 

Dr Eugene Farrell is lead author on a new research report with colleagues from SFI MaREI. The project identified key institutional barriers (governance; legal responsibility; stakeholder forum; tourism) and technical barriers (climate adaptation; funding; environmental designation; lexicon of climate resilience and sustainability; erosion and flooding; seasonal tourism) to coastal communities building resilience to climate change. The results illustrate the importance of empowering and resourcing local authorities and communities to manage their own coastlines and an urgent need to develop a coherent national policy that prioritises erosion and flood risks. [Read]

Dr Eugene Farrell was invited to present his Marine Institute funded project ("Increasing Coastal Resilience Using Terrestrial & Ocean Based Nature Based Solutions"; 2022-2026) to the marine team in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (January 2023).  Ireland has made a commitment under the newly developed Marine Strategy Framework Directive Programme of Measures to ‘Develop Nature based Solutions to conserve and restore estuarine, coastal and marine habitats'. Dr Farrells ongoing and future research programmes with colleagues in Geography, Civil Engineering and Earth & Ocean Sciences in the University of Galway will help deliver a roadmap to identify these solutions.

As Davos 2023 opened this week, Professor John Morrissey published a critique of neoliberalism in The Conversation that makes a plea to leaders to place human and environmental security ahead of endless profit.

Dr Eugene Farrell and leaders of the local voluntary group (Maharees Conservation Association) hosted the Climate Change Advisory Council secretariat and climate adaptation expert Karen Lavin (manager, New Zealand Climate Change Commission) last week to discuss the challenges of community-led coastal adaptation and climate actions in Ireland. 

Dr Eugene Farrell delivered a 1-day workshop for Engineers Ireland on 'Coastal processes and risk management'. The workshop focused on coastal protection in Ireland and future options linked to new technologies, new monitoring programmes and Nature-based Solutions.

MA in International Development students attended the Development Studies Association DSA Ireland Conference in the University of Limerick on November 17 which focused on Critical Perspectives on Sustainable Development. In the photo we have Olasunkanmi Akindele (Nigeria) Mai Ditie (Mali) Julieth Kweka  and Jackson Buzingo (Tanzania).

Congratulations to PhD student Chris Stewart who was awarded two 14C dates through the Bill Watts 14CHRONO Award from IQUA. These dates will be used on the lacustrine core retrieved from Glencullin Lough in County Mayo, helping constrain the timeline of sedimentation/environmental change since the Last Glacial Maximum in that locale. More information on IQUA awards can be found here: http://iqua.ie/awards/

After a series of six heats, 12 finalists have been chosen as contestants for the finale on Thurs 1st December at 5pm in the O'Donoghue Theatre. They will share the story of their research using three presentation slides, in three minutes, in front of three judges.  Finalists are from a variety of disciplines.  From Geography, Georgia MacMillan will be taking part and presenting her research on Dark Skies.   Tickets are free via Eventbrite - [more information]

Prof Frances Fahy, Lead Coordinator of the EnergyPROSPECTS European research project, was in Brussels this week with representatives from the EC to discuss the current status of the policy framework for Energy Citizenship.

Prof Frances Fahy and her SHARED GREEN DEAL team at Geography University of Galway are offering local/regional authorities and not-for-profit organisations the opportunity to partner with us to run social experiments focused on the following six priority Green Deal topics: Clean Energy, Circular Economy, Efficient Renovations, Sustainable Mobility, Sustainable Food, Preserving Biodiversity. SHARED GREEN DEAL will provide financial support of up to EUR 22,000 to run each local social experiment for one year from spring/summer 2023. In total, 24 European locations will be selected to run the social experiments (4 locations per stream).  See project website for more details: https://sharedgreendeal.eu/local-expt-call

“Benjamin Schmid, together with EnergyPROSPECTS partner Karin Thalberg (Jacques Delors Institute), participated in the 14th Citizens' Energy Forum, held in Dublin on 24 November. The Forum engages citizens’ interest groups, wide range of stakeholders including NGOs, businesses, as well as policy makers (ministries and regulators) on energy consumer issues in the context of the current energy crisis.” Link to event: https://ec.europa.eu/info/events/14th-citizens-energy-forum-2022-nov-24_en “

Dr Liam M. Carr was recently published in Coastal Environments in the West of Ireland: Sea, Land, and Spirit. His chapter, 'Can Knowledge Save Salmon? A Question of Consensus Ethics' examines the cultural and socioeconomic relationships between Atlantic salmon and coastal communities along the west of Ireland as a means of encouraging salmon conservation and restoration. The book is edited by Dr John Roney and Mark Beekey, both of Sacred Heart University. Dr Roney is Director of Sacred Heart's Irish Culture campus in An Daingean.

Dr. Rachel McArdle’s community mapping work with Pavee Point and TravAct Coolock is now published, and details of the launch are available here. 

PhD student Geoggia McMillan, last month,  presented as part of a panel at the Czech Republic Light Pollution workshop in Brno recently.  As her role is employment based, the main focus was on the work towards light pollution legislation, Georgia also got to include UG on the slides and reference the IRC position.   [Further info]

Associate Professor Maura Farrell provided the Keynote address for the recent EU CAP Network Rural Gender Equality event in Andolsheim, France. The event on the 15th November explored the crucial role of women in the economic and social development of rural areas. 

Dr. Una Murray attended the COP27 Climate Summit in Egypt as a member of the Irish Government Delegations Party Overflow. Una followed the COP27 Pavilion discussions on migration and displacement and attended Plenaries on Loss and Damage. The importance of keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees high on the Cop27 agenda was reiterated, along with need for a funding mechanism on Loss and Damage for those who already experience displacement due to climate change. Una met with Minister Eamon Ryan as part of the Irish delegation. 

New publication by Geography PhD student Yuhan Zheng, Deciphering the spatial and temporal evolution of urban anthropogenic resilience within the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration [Read]

A recent tourism publication to which Prof Mary Cawley contributed with colleagues in SEMRU (Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit), in the Whitaker Institute. Deely, John; Hynes, Stephen; Cawley, Mary (2022) Overseas visitor demand for marine and coastal tourism, Marine Policy, 143, 105176[Read]

In his column ‘Another Life’ in the Weekend Review of The Irish Times (Saturday, 5 November 2022), Michael Viney weaves a story around bog-deal (pine) in ancient & recent times in Ireland. The piece includes an iconic painting of pine stumps in west Mayo by Viney. Research carried out on bog-pine and oak in the Palaeoenvironmental Research Unit, University of Galway, is featured as well as related research on bog-oak and tephra (volcanic shards) carried out by palaeoecologists in Queen’s University Belfast and elsewhere in Europe and USA. See: Another Life: Connacht’s bog-deal - a gift of fierce fuel?https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/2022/11/05/another-life-connachts-bog-deal-a-gift-of-fierce-fuel/ The illustration used here shows a pine stump from Derryeighter bog, west of Oughterard, Co. Galway that was sampled for dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating. The ring-width pattern of this long-lived bog-pine, which started life over 5300 years ago and died about 360 years later, is shown (red curve). Further details regarding this and other fossil pine timbers in the region are available in: O’Connell, M., Jennings, E., Molloy, K. 2021. Holocene vegetation dynamics, landscape change and human impact in western Ireland as revealed by multidisciplinary, palaeoecological investigations of peat deposits and bog-pine in lowland Connemara. Geographies, 1 (3), 251–291. https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7086/1/3/15 ‘The Other Clare’ that Viney refers to is the current volume (vol. 46, 2022). The article he refers to is available at: https://aran.library.nuigalway.ie/handle/10379/17199.

On the 21st of October 2022, BSc Social Sciences students were given a talk from Kenneth Deery, CEO of Galway Chamber, and discussions included what the future of Galway will and should look like. 

Dr. Una Murray’s work as editor for the FAO UN Report on the State of Land and Water in the Near East ad North Africa Region is published. Link to the Report is [here]

One of the MA in International Development Practice Students, Jackson Buzingo from Tanzania, attended the 50th Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FA) in between 10 to 13 October 2022.

Students from the new MA in Geography (International Development Practice) are settling in well to college life and study. Photo shows them at a lecture with visitors from Makerere University School of Law, Uganda, who talked about refugees and trafficking. 

Prof Cathal O’Donoghue published a major Forestry Economics Report during the Summer, which was presented to a cross-party Oireachtas Committee [Read]

Páraic Mac Donnchadha of Grid International ran a very engaging training workshop with our Geography Master’s cohort – 30 students from all around the world. In a world where multi-disciplinarity demands us to work in ‘Teams’ on a daily basis, Páraic and colleague Marion demonstrated through practical activities the value of utilising all the synergies that are possible when working in teams. The full-day workshop gave students training in teamwork skills where both concern for results and for people go hand in hand to achieve outputs that exceed those achievable by individuals. It was a challenging and rewarding day for us all. 

On Monday 24th October, students in the Geography and Geosystems BSc programme had a field trip to Connemara in conjunction with local community organisations. The aim was to perform a baseline ecological study of a degraded blanket bog to determine the status and condition for future restoration efforts.

Gordon Bromley is heading a new collaborative project, funded by Geological Survey Ireland (Short Call 2022 programme), entitled ‘A multi-proxy geology approach to resolving critical uncertainties in Irish cosmogenic nuclide geochronology. Involving partners at UCD, University of Maine, and Maynooth University, this Galway-led 14 month-long investigation will combine cosmogenic geochemistry and traditional techniques such as 14C and U-Th dating, along with Quaternary geomorphology, to constrain in detail the demise of the last Irish ice sheet and help calibrate the cosmogenic technique for improved application throughout Ireland.

MA-ESD Programme Director, Prof. John Morrissey, and MIDP Programme Director, Dr Una Murray, have been appointed to the Royal Irish Academy’s Standing Committee for International Affairs for a 4-year term.

On Friday 20th 2022, students from the first year BASS social sciences course had a fieldtrip to the Burren with Burrenbeo, led in part by Áine Bird, Geography PhD student.

When: Thursday 27 October 2pm-4pmWhere: Zoom - Register hereUniversity of Galway's Rural Voices Seminar Series is collaborating with the RURALIZATION Horizon 2020 Project to co-host the project’s final national conference in Ireland. This 2-hour online conference, taking place via Zoom, will engage with the issue of farm generational renewal and the wider question of facilitating new generations in rural areas. You can find more information and the draft conference agenda [here]

Are you a young person interested in the future that exists for you in a rural area? Then join us for an afternoon of tea and chat exploring different visions for a sustainable rural future.  Date and time: Thursday 22 September 2022, 3-5pmLocation: THB-G011 Seminar Room, Hardiman Research Building, University of Galway This event is targeted at young adults aged approximately 18 to 30. Registration is required – register [here] to save your place.  As part of the RURALIZATION project the Rural Studies Research Cluster explored the visions held by youth for their ideal or ‘dream’ future in a rural area in 2035. During this meet-up we will discuss what the research found and debate the wider challenges to realising these future visions.  You can also find out more [here]

Prof Frances Fahy represented the University of Galway at the Green Deal Arena in Brussels. In the event, which is part of the SharedGreenDeal project, future images and transition paths in the areas of energy, circular economy, renovation, mobility, food and biodiversity are being discussed.”

Prof. Lorraine Elliott (Australian National University), hosted by John Morrissey and the Geopolitics and Justice Cluster, presented a talk on Sept. 7th on ’the centrality of justice in pathways to low carbon economies’, as part of this year’s welcoming event for all new postgraduate students”. [More information]  

Researchers from NUIG (Dr. Terry Morley, Geography) along with Údarás and the local Arts community are hosting a public event this Saturday (27th August) in Connemara to launch part of the MultiPeat project. This aspect of the project will involve community-led restoration of degraded blanket bog habitat. [Read]

Dr. Terry Morley’s research project using the Bog Commissioner’s Maps (1814) as proxies for historical peatland extent was highlighted in the Silicon Republic  and Agriland recently.  https://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/peatlands-ireland-data-climate-research https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/repeat-project-200-year-old-maps-helping-to-direct-our-climate-change-path/

Between July 18 and July 22 Geography staff and students participated in the UGI—IGU Centennial Congress, including: Liam Carr, Mary Cawley, Bronagh Dillon, France Fahy, Kate Flood, Rachel McArdle. The congress was a great chance to learn from the organisers before the 35th International Geographical Congress is held in Dublin in 2024 by the Geographical Society of Ireland. Please follow @IGC2024Dub for more updates. 

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a fully-funded (fees and stipend), full-time PhD position at Ollscoil na Gaillimhe - University of Galway. The University of Galway is ranked within the top 1 % of higher education institutions world-wide. The project aims to develop a better understanding of the role of culture and creativity in the development of places (namely cities in the peripheral European context). You will be part of a team tasked with the delivery of UrbanLab Galway's commitments as part of its role in the IN SITU project which brings together leading approaches to investigating economic evolution and diversification in considering the future of place development in the urban context of six partner EU regions.   Funding Agency:  The project is funded by Horizon Europe under its Research and Innovation Actions.   Qualifications / Expertise:  The candidate should have a 1st or 2:1 Bachelor’s degree and/or a Master’s in human geography, sociology, economics or in a related social science area. The ideal candidate should have experience in as many of the following techniques: quantitative research skills; data mapping; data mining; database construction; literature review. The candidate should have excellent communication and organisational skills; be highly motivated and passionate about developing new products; and have strong written, oral and interpersonal skills. The candidate should be able to work independently and as a part of team.   Duties:  The successful candidate will be involved in: the surveying of partner regions and the identification of key challenges in developing urban areas in peripheral regions. This will involve mapping data and collating information of the key socioeconomic characteristics of each region. Key will also be an investigation into the role of the cultural and creative industries in addressing the development challenges faced by each region. Other duties: Conference and Meeting attendance and participation; Report and paper writing; Participation to training courses; Undergraduate teaching and/or laboratory demonstrations; Travel to project partners’ institutes; Other duties relevant to the post.   Start Date:  October 2022.   To Apply:  Applicants should submit a cover letter outlining their suitability to the post, a detailed CV, transcripts and the contact details of three referees. The application pack should be emailed to Dr. Pat Collins (p.collins@nuigalway.ie). Closing date for receipt of applications is 12:00 on Thursday, 15th of September 2022.   Fully funded (fees and stipend), full-time PhD position. The project is funded by Horizon Europe.   Dr. Patrick Collins Lecturer in Economic Geography School of Geography, Archaeology & Irish Studies UrbanLab Galway NUI Galway @galwaylab     Recent article: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/2022/07/20/galway-is-well-able-to-carry-the-cultural-weight-of-the-nation-both-officially-and-unofficially/

Dr Eugene Farrell and Mr Brandon Taylor (2022 MSc Coastal and Marine Environments) successfully deployed Irelands first CoastSnap station in Derrynane, Co. Kerry in partnership with the OPW. The hugely successful worldwide CoastSnap project was designed in Australia. The Derrynane station stemmed from a student-led NUI Galway Explore project with Ms Emily Rick (2019 MSc Coastal and Marine Environments) and Dr. Farrell. [Further Info]

Seán Binder is a certified rescue diver who has spent years of his young life rescuing migrants from the sea at Lesbos in Greece. He now faces the threat of 25 years in prison, following charges by the Greek government of people smuggling and espionage. Seán joins John Morrissey in conversation at the O’Donoghue Centre on Saturday July 16th (2pm) for ‘Drowning’, an event that makes a stand for humanitarian, solidarity and human rights in protecting the most vulnerable. [Further info]

19-23 July Photovoice Exhibition of V'cenza Cirefice's research project exploring resistance to extractivism in the Sperrins. At the Playhouse Derry, opening night with artist talk on 21st July 7pm. All welcome. [further info]

Mars is the latest artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram.  Measuring seven metres in diameter, the artwork features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface. At an approximate scale of 1:1million, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 10 kilometres of the surface of Mars.  Urban Galway together with Galway international arts festival invites you to join us July 14th - 17th on Peresse's plaza Nuns Island.  [further info]

Geographers Prof Frances Fahy and Dr Gary Goggins discuss tackling energy consumption in the most recent edition of Cois  Coiribe [Read]

Maeve McGandy, PhD student in Geography, presented her current research at the International Summer School of Political Ecology at the University of Ljubljana this week. The theme of the week was 'new concepts for just transitions'.

Kathleen Stokes participated the 8th Antipode Institute for the Geographies of Justice in Barcelona this June. Hosted by Antipode Foundation, the UCLA Institute on Inequality and Democracy and La Hidra Cooperativa, the institute brought together movement-based and university-based scholars to consider housing justice, mutual aid and solidarity, and academic power and precarity.

Representing the NUIG-led Energy PROSPECTS project, Dr Benjamin Schmid spoke on “Energy Citizenship; Ideals, Ideology and Ideal types in the Energy Transition” at the 3rd International Conference on Energy Research & Social Science, held June 20-23 in Manchester [More information]

Dr Eugene Farrell writes about the potential benefits of coastal and marine Nature-based Solutions to build climate resilience and tackle key societal challenges in Ireland. Cois Coiribe is a platform for views and opinions from some of our university’s top academics and researchers, demonstrating impact through powerful stories. [Read]    

Postgraduate researchers from across the School of Geography, Archaeology & Irish Studies enjoyed a hybrid writing workshop led my Dr Irina Ruppo from the Academic Writing Centre at NUIG. Great day working through writing challenges with fellow postgrads.

NUIG led Energy PROSPECTS H2020 held it's project meeting and international expert panel workshop on energy citizenship in ULB Brussels from May 29th - June 1st.  Pictured here are NUIG Geographers Prof Frances Fahy and Dr Ben Schmidt

Dr Gary Goggins, Adjunct Lecturer in Geography was an invited speaker at EUGreen Week this May, presenting the Wild Atlantic Nature project.

Dr Eugene Farrell was invited to present his community-based research on 'SDG13 - Climate Action' to the prestigious EuroCoast Zoominar series on Friday 27th May. The lecture ‘Building coastal resilience: one local community directing national policy’ is based on his ongoing research in Ireland and within the European Marine Board working group on 'Coastal Resilience'.

Congratulations to Dr Rachel McArdle and Kate Flood who both won travel bursaries from the GSI to travel to the IGU in Paris in July 2022

Maeve McGandy was awarded a GSI Postgraduate Fieldwork Travel Award at the 2022 Conference of Irish Geographers. This award will support Maeve’s PhD fieldwork in Mayo this summer.

Congrats to Dr Gary Goggins (Adjunct Lecturer in Geography), Prof Frances Fahy and their co-authors on their new publication in the international journal Energy Policy (Citescore 10.1, Impact 6.1):  The role of culture in advancing sustainable energy policy and practice. Link to the article is here.

“We know that Ireland doesn’t have the money to defend the whole coastline and the reality is that the social fabric of rural communities – already tearing at the seams – will break down completely as areas are left to fend for themselves and are eventually abandoned for higher ground,” says Dr Eugene Farrell [Read]

Thanks to our colleagues in UL for hosting a great CIG in Limerick last week. Many of our postgrads and post docs presented this year, and for many the event was their first face to face conference in years!

Dr Kathleen Stokes, Dr Aurianne Stroude and Prof Frances Fahy - present their research findings and hosted workshops with 13 lighthouse cities from across Europe exploring governance and sustainable lifestyles (15-18th May 2022)

A team from Galway attended the First ENLIGHT European Dialogue in Uppsala University May 11th and 12th. The theme was sharing ideas on methodology for collaboration projects between universities and cities. Dr. Mark Justin Rainey, from Geography presented work on Community Conversations on Creative Space with a focus on Nuns Island and Dr. Una Murray attended to meet colleagues on ENLIGHT’s equity workpackage. Presentations from the event are available on the ENLIGHT Youtube channel and slides are published on the ENLIGHT website

Dr Kevin Lynch and the Bertra Connected group are busy this week with Biodiversity Week events. The group has secured Heritage Council funding to develop stewardship of this Natura 2000 site. They will be developing a long term vision by collaborating with all stakeholders in the area, as well as those with interest from further afield. Get involved Events running all summer. Instagram, Facebook & Twitter @bertraconnected

Dr Maura Farrell was one of two Keynote Speakers at the Irish Rural Link 30th Anniversary Conference in Athlone on Friday, 6th May. The conference explored changes in Rural Ireland, past, present, and future and was opened by the Minister Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural and Community Development. 

Four students (Julia Maine, Ben Ryan, Carlotta Schwoerbel, Brandon Taylor) from MSc Coastal and Marine Environments did a networking event with the Offshore Wind Energy Development Team at Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions at Trinity College on April 21st. As part of the day, the students led a round of the MSP Challenge Game, which invites players to take on various stakeholder roles while working collaboratively to reach important sustainability targets as they plan the future use of their marine and coastal environments. 

As NUI Galway is named the number one university in Ireland for Sustainable Development in Times Higher Education’s (THE) Impact Rankings 2022, and fifth in the world for Responsible Consumption and Production, we take a look at some of the projects leading the way in sustainably at the university. [Read]

Congratulations to BASS student Elizabeth Hunt, of NUI Galway, was named Editor of the Year Award for her work on Ethereal Magazine, the first time the award was given to a magazine editor. [Read]

Ireland is the only island nation without an integrated national coastal plan, and this creates barriers on the ground for communities in dealing with climate change, explains Eugene Farrell. [Read]

The Human Development Report Office of the UNDP published in February this year its Special Report on Human Security: New Threats to Human Security in the Anthropocene (https://hdr.undp.org/en/2022-human-security-report). This major report of 188 pages sets out the intertwined threats of human and environmental security the world is facing. Professor John Morrissey was one of the contributing authors. You can watch a summary of the report here. On 12 April 2022 (2-4pm), the Human Development and Capability Association (HDCA) will hold a webinar on the report, which will feature presentations from the report team leader at the UNDP, Dr Heriberto Tapi, and three of the authors: Andrew Crabtree (Copenhagen Business School) Oscar Gómez (Asia Pacific University) John Morrissey (National University of Ireland, Galway) Webinar registration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/webinar-on-the-2022-undp-hdro-special-report-on-human-security-tickets-311330336417

You can now watch the 3rd session of NUI Galway's new Rural Voices Seminar Series on the Rural Studies Centre YouTube Channel. Please see: https://youtu.be/01Nv0i0tt5c   This session, entitled 'Exploring social enterprises as rural development actors – potential and limits of their engagement with their places', featured Dr Lucas Olmedo from the Department of Food Business and Development, Cork University Business School, University College Cork and Dr Mara van Twuijver from the Utrecht School of Economics, Utrecht University, Netherlands, who highlighted the potential of rural social enterprises as contributors to rural development through their research analysing the engagement of such enterprises within their local contexts and reflecting on the benefits and limitations of rural social enterprises as partners when contributing to sustainable rural development.   Registration details for the next session, taking place on the 27th of April from 3-4pm, will be released soon.

Participating in a side event panel at the UN Commission on the Status of Women on March 16, Dr. Una Murray spoke about promoting gender-equitable norms to advance women’s empowerment in the context of climate change.  [Further info]The photo includes Minister Roderic O'Gorman, The Irish Ambassador to the UN, Geraldine Byrne Nason, and Marta Lucía Ramirez, Vice President of Colombia and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, with Una in the bottom right of the photo. OECD’s twitter card highlighted the new Masters in International Development Practice available here.

On Friday March 25, Dr Eugene Farrell presented to over 5000 school children aged between 8-12 years in over 250 classrooms around Ireland. The "Meet the Scientist" webinar initiative is part of the START (Schools Teaching Awareness of Randomised Trials) Competition led by Prof Declan Devane and his team in NUI Galway and the Health Research Board-Trials Methodology Research Network. The school children got to learn what geography is, what geographers do and why coastal dunes are important.

Dr Gordon Bromley, supported by Dr Liam Carr, returned to An Teallach in the Scottish Highlands, to continue his research recording the retreat of Scotland’s last ice sheet 17-21k years ago. Over the space of 4 days and 50km, rock samples were collected for further lab analysis back in the PRU. 

As part of International Women's Day, Dr Una Murray and Dr Maura Farrell were featured in interviews in the Irish Farmers Journal and via a Podcast connected to the Journal's Irish Country Living Podcast Series.  The feature explored the gender aspect of agriculture both in Ireland and from an international development perspective.  The podcast can be accessed via the following link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/irishfarmersjournal/the-good-room-2

Helena Tatgenhorst and Katie McGovern, students in the MSc in Coastal and Marine Environments went to Inis Mór to collect data for Helena's thesis. A gorgeous three days was had on the island.  Quadrats were taken at two intertidal sites that are hand harvested by local seaweed harvesters. Helena will return throughout the semester to collect additional quadrat and drone data.

The new five-year Shared Green Deal is funded through the EU’s Horizon2020 scheme with researchers working with families in fuel poverty, schools, housing associations and businesses to cut carbon emissions. The overall project involves 24 separate social experiments - taking place in neighbourhoods across Europe - looking at how organisations and individuals can work together to make daily lives more sustainable. Prof Fahy's team is leading the Clean Energy strand of experiments. The research is intended to assist the EU in reaching the target of carbon neutrality by 2050 and to create change at the local level. [Further info]

Even though we all love our trips to the beach, we seldom give a second thought to how the beach is feeling (stick with me this is going somewhere!). Until that is, we can clearly see the beach or dunes are in a bad state, stressed and battered by winter storms maybe, or just looking a bit dishevelled and in need of some care. While they may not have feelings we can certainly think of them in the sense of being healthy or in bad health. As coastal scientists we try to better understand how they work: what are the factors that support healthy growth, or the causes of deterioration over time. [Read]

Professor John Morrissey was one of the contributing authors to the newly published UN strategy report on human security, New Threats to Human Security in the Anthropocene: Demanding Greater Solidarity. The report sets out the intertwined threats of human and environmental security the world is facing, and the urgent need for global solidarity in the Anthropocene. More from UN News, US Homeland Security, NHK World Japan, Saudi Gazette, Zee News India and Modern Diplomacy, or watch a summary on the report here.

NUI Galway Geography is hosting the Care Peat Peatland Management and Restoration Conference on the 28-29th of April. The conference will demonstrate the state of knowledge and science on peatlands from a policy, management, and restoration perspective, and will bring peatland experts from across the EU. Further information can be found HERE with links to register and submit abstracts.

Drawing on work from environmental education, evaluation, and practitioner research, this paper presents a discussion of programme evaluation practices from the practitioner’s perspective. This paper serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners as it provides a framework to support future evaluations led by practitioner evaluators. [Read]

  The next session of NUI Galway's Rural Studies Centre Seminar Series will feature John Daly, Economist at the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) who will present an overview of NWRA's recent report entitled 'Regional Vacancy and Dereliction Analysis', which has identified just over 44,000 properties that were either vacant or derelict in the Northern and Western Region, accounting for 37% of all empty properties in Ireland.  Date: Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 Time: 15.00-16.00 Please register in advance for this Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/NUIGSeminar

Gordon Bromley has been awarded a Franklin Research Grant by the Americal Philosophical Society to explore the terrestrial impact of abrupt climate change in Ireland. This project combines cosmogenic geochronology and glacial geomorphology to test how the last glaciers in Kerry (a proxy for temperature) responded to rapid jumps in North Atlantic circulation at the end of the last ice age. 

Dr. Eugene Farrell (with partners Dr Steven Nash, Civil Engineering and Ms. Sheena Fennell, Earth & Ocean Science) received c.€400,000 funding from the Marine Institute to conduct a four-year investigation of the potential benefits of ocean-based NbS in Ireland on mitigating storm impacts by adapting existing wave-morphological models within the Brandon Bay Research Hub. The project also uses the extensive coastal community network available to the team to co-design low-cost citizen science monitoring programmes to systematically monitor coastal changes (topography; vegetation cover; biodiversity richness) in the vicinity of beach-dune NbS’s. 

Dr. Una Murray, Geography is evaluating a UN environmental governance project in support of the SDGs in 5 South-East European countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia).

You can now watch the opening session of NUI Galway's new Rural Voices Seminar Series, launched by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, on the Rural Studies Centre YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/jeUcd8FyyCY President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, delivered the opening address at this event, attended by 94 people, followed by a presentation from Dr Andrew Forde, Head of Rural Strategy and Social Enterprise at the Department of Rural and Community Development. Registration details for the next session, taking place on the 23rd of February from 3-4pm, will be released soon.

Despite Extractivism Exhibition Launch Thursday 20th January. V'cenza Cirefice's visual research on resistance to extractivism is part of this online exhibition and event series exploring the ways in which care, creativity and community persist, exist and resist despite - or because - of extractivism. The Despite Extractivism online exhibition assembles expressions of care, creativity and community from diverse sites of extraction and geographical contexts.   

V'cenza Cirefice and Patrick Bresnihan give the Seminar "The Spatial Injustice of Extractivism in the Sacrifce Zones of Ireland" for the Landscape, Law and Spatial Justice Seminar Series, UCD Sutherland School of Law from 12 noon- 1.30pm on Thursday 27th January. L106 Harty Boardroom. 

The opening session of Rural Voices, the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Centre Seminar Series 2022, established in conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD), will feature Dr Andrew Forde, who leads on the development and oversight of the implementation of Our Rural Future. This session will focus on the national rural development policy context, the relationship between rural development and Ireland’s economic and social recovery, and the critical importance of prioritising a sustainable rural development agenda against a backdrop of mega trends such as climate change.   Date: Wednesday, January 26th, 2022 Time: 15.00-16.00   You can freely register in advance for this Zoom meeting here

Geography is proud to share that our very own Professor Michael O'Connell has been awarded the 2021 Frank Mitchell Award for Distinguished Service to Quaternary Research and Teaching by the Irish Quaternary Association (IQUA). Named for one of the leading figures in Irish Quaternary studies, Michael's award was announced during the IQUA Autumn Symposium (26th November) by his long-time colleague, Walter Doerfler, after which Michael was presented with a magnificent (and heavy!) sculpture of 5000-year old bog yew set upon engraved stone. Congratulations, Michael, and here's to many more years of Quaternary science!

A new white paper on Carbon Credits and Ecosystem Services has been jointly launched by the EU Carbon-Connects & Care-Peat projects. The analysis found that with the right framework in place it should be possible to finance the restoration of damaged peatlands, implement sustainable/alternative practices on peat soils, significantly reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions and provide a good living for farmers all at the same time. The report includes an analysis of a number of existing Peatland Carbon Credit schemes and accreditation standards and explores the potential of using Carbon Credits and other Ecosystem services to fund Peatland Restoration across Europe on a very large scale. The report also compares incomes from various types of farming common on peatlands across Europe with potential incomes from the sale of Carbon Credits and Ecosystem Services such as water storage and water purification. Download the White Paper Care Peat Website 

Brilliant to see the excellent work of so many of our geographers featured in the University Sustainability Report 

Congrats to Dr Eugene Farrell and all colleagues involved in the Coastal Atlas of Ireland which has just won theJournal.ie 'Best Irish Published Book of the Year 2021

Congratulations to Prof Cathal O'Donoghue, jointly awarded awarded the Miriam Hederman O’Brien Prize for 2020 for research on fiscal policy by the Foundation for Fiscal Studies.

The Moses research team at NUIG, Desiree Farrell, Dr Liam Carr, Prof Frances Fahy and Prof Stephen Hynes featured on RTE this week for their work on the Wild Atlantic Way [Read]

Dr. Terry Morley has recently been awarded a joint DAFM and EPA funded project in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin. The project, called RePEAT will digitise and geo-reference Irish peatland maps from the early 1800’s in order to allow for land use change and emission inventories and explore early environmental histories. The project runs for three years and will support one PhD and RA at NUI Galway and one post-doc at TCD. Further information can be found here

Dr Eugene Farrell received funding from the Office of Public Works to conduct a 12-month coastal research project within the Derrynane Seashore Nature Trail, Co. Kerry in partnership with the local community. The multi-disciplinary study will measure shoreline change in response to storms and biodiversity conservation response to local management interventions within the dune ecosystem. The project will support student dissertations in the 'Coastal and Marine Environments' MSc programme

New blog by Dr Kevin Lynch with videos and links to material to print to help you protect your beach and dunes. [further info]        

Prof Cathal O’Donoghue of the Discipline of Geography and ILAS  has been appointed to World Health Organisation panel of experts for its Well-being Economy Initiative - Fostering a culture of health for all in government recovery plans – building a healthier and fairer future for all. The expert panel will develop a strategy for the WHO in association with its European member states for a post-COVID world.  [Further info}

Congratulations to Prof. Chaosheng Zhang for the “Distinguished Service Award” from International Medical Geology Association (IMGA) in 2021, for exemplary service to IMGA and to Medical Geology. IMGA aims to provide a network and a forum to bring together the combined expertise of geologists and earth scientists, environmental scientists, toxicologists, epidemiologists and medical specialists, in order to characterise the properties of geological processes and agents, the dispersal of geological material and their effects on human populations.

Dr. Una Murray is currently working with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (UN FAO) Near East and North Africa (NENA) Office on their first edition of a NENA FAO flagship publication on Land and Water Resources, which covers how climate change coupled with the complexities of an increasing urban population is a particular challenge to agri-food systems.

View the Discipline of Geography timetable and year handbooks for 2021/22 here.

Congratulations to our first graduates of the social science programme on their graduation today 24th August, 2021.

We have a new part time vacancy (0.8 FTE, 4 days p/w), an exciting opportunity to work with and international team of leading energy researchers on the H2020 EnergyPROSPECTS European project. If you are a researcher with experience in energy social sciences, energy citizenship, and/ or energy governance, this could be the job for you! This position is funded by the European Commission through the EU’s Horizon 2020 Programme and is available from November 1st 2021 to contract end date of April 30th 2024. Download the full application here. Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm September 8th, 2021. [Further Info]‌

Dr. Eugene Farrell featured in a Sunday Times article (by Ms. Sadbh Cox and Ms. Valerie Flynn, 15 August) asking experts how climate change will impact Ireland.

Dr. Eugene Farrell has multiple contributions in the 'The Coastal Atlas of Ireland' released this week by Cork University Press, 912 pp (€59). Dr. Farrell wrote on themes such as the impact of tides on Irelands coasts, maërl, catchment science and a case study on coastal management via community-led climate actions (Maharees, Co. Kerry).

Dr Terry Morley, Care-Peat Project, NUIG, will lead a site visit to the Care-peat restoration works at Cloncrow, Cloneyheigue and explore the processes involved in Peatland Restoration on a degraded section of raised bog. Saturday 21st August @ 3pm [Further Info}

Explore the wonders of Cloncrow Bog and Village, a rail led by Nuala Maddigan, Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Wednesdaty 18th August 7.00pm at Tyrrellspass Castle [Further Info]‌

Dr Shane Conway, Researcher in the Discipline of Geography’s Rural Studies at NUIG joined Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, James Claffey, National Rural Network Manager and Eileen Delaney from the EIP-AGRI Division of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) at the FarmPEAT #EIPAgri Project launch that took place on the 29th of July 2021 at Clara Bog Visitor Centre. This project is developing a locally-led, innovative, results-based farm scheme for farmers who manage farmland surrounding some of Ireland’s finest remaining raised bogs. More info here. 

Dr Maura Farrell was recently invited to join the Royal Dublin Society Rural Affairs and Community Inclusion Working Group.  The goal of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is to promote best practice and efficiency in farming to ensure farm household profitability and sustainability in Ireland.

Undergraduate Kineshia Nic Eiteagáin has published a portion of her dissertation research in RTÉ Brainstorm. The work examined levels of optimism within the Wild Atlantic Way business community at key points throughout the pandemic. Her work was supervised by Dr Liam Carr. [Read]

Dr Eugene Farrell contributed to a radio documentary 'Our Place - A Short Documentary On The Conservation of Maharees" by Ms Linda Fitzgerald that aired on Radio Kerry on July 17th. [Listen]

The Western Development Commission (WDC) have today published summary data from the recent survey of Creative Economy SMEs in the Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon counties. This sector survey was commissioned by the WDC and undertaken by Dr Patrick Collins NUIG (School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies and the Whitaker Institute), under the auspices of the West Regional Enterprise Plan[1]. The survey gathered responses from over 140 Creative Economy businesses and sought to identify and examine the challenges and opportunities they faced during the Pandemic. {Further info}

Prof. John Morrissey has published a new paper in the Journal of Human Security that draws upon the work of Judith Butler in conceptualizing the key challenges of global securitization in the aftermath of COVID-19. The paper theorizes a conjoined sense of human-environmental well-being, and sets out the import of tackling the overarching precarities of our ecologies and societies in strategies of securitization.  

Lalrremorii Alloway,Coastal and Marine Environments MSc student, currently in the field conducting a rapid habitat assessment of lowland hay meadows along the Shannon Callows SAC using scorecards with fellow student Chris Stewart as field assistant.

Geography is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Gary Goggins, Public Awareness Manager, LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature; Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as an Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies for a period of three years, commencing on September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2024.

Dr Una Murray (Geography) recently presented at a UNICEF Global Webinar, the results of a formative evaluation she led for a UNICEF programme on migrating children in the Horn of Africa. More details are available here. The webinar was recorded and is available here.

Fixed-term lectureship post in NUIG (Social Geography) Closing date: 5pm on Monday 12th July 2020 {Further Info}]

Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography’s Rural Studies Unit was recently elected to the International Farm Transition Network’s (IFTN) Board of Directors. Dr Conway is the only member of this board based outside the U.S.A., that includes representatives from the University of Missouri, South Dakota State University, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Founded in 1990, the IFTN is a network of service providers from different professional backgrounds working to assist farm businesses with their successful transition to an identified successor(s). More information can be found here.

A PhD Scholarship is available for four years to further our understanding of how beach-dune systems may be utilised as a nature-based solution for coastal protection.  Closing date for applications: 5pm, Wednesday, 30 June 2021. See full detail here https://mooreinstitute.ie/read/news/.

The European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) held a workshop entitled ‘LEADER – 30 years and preparing for the future: Delivering LEADER’s unique added value’ on the 3rd of June 2021. Dr Shane Conway was invited to speak at the plenary session of this meeting, where he highlighted the LEADER Programme's leading role in supporting community-led local development & innovative bottom-up actions at local level over the past 30 years, and how lessons learned from this successful Programme can help enhance the viability, sustainability and importantly vibrancy of rural Europe moving forward. More information about this workshop can be found here. 

The Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway have produced a new policy brief on a recent paper from the Rural Studies Unit published in the Journal of the European Society for Rural Sociology, Sociologia Ruralis, entitled ‘Going Against the Grain: Unravelling the Habitus of Older Farmers to Help Facilitate Generational Renewal in Agriculture'. This policy brief can be viewed/downloaded here.

The International Farm Transition Network (IFTN) based in the U.S.A. was held their annual conference from the 8th to 10th of June 2021. Dr Shane Conway was invited as a keynote speaker at this event, and presented his research to attendees on the social and emotional issues affecting farmers in later life. The IFTN is a network of service providers from different professional backgrounds across America (e.g., accountants, lawyers, farm managers, ag lenders, extension educators, etc.) working to assist farm businesses with their successful transition to an identified successor(s). More information about this conference can be found here.

Prof Frances Fahy has just been awarded a 5-year H2020 project under the New Green Deal for Europe Call. The Social sciences & Humanities for Achieving a Responsible, Equitable and Desirable GREEN DEAL (SHARED GREEN DEAL) project brings together 22 leading organisations from across the EU including 9 universities, 2 research institutions, 8 network organisations and 2 SMEs. The network partners cover core elements on the European Green Deal cross cutting priorities such as civil society, democracy, gender, energy, environment, circular economy and innovation. NUIG is leading the work programme on 'clean energy' specifically, working with local authorities across Europe to explore and develop community visions of successful and just energy transitions. The project aims to share actions, understandings, evidence, insights, responsibilities and benefits across stakeholders including policymakers and civil society. Issues of inclusivity and diversity are at the heart of the project to particularly account for disadvantaged and vulnerable social groups. This 5 million Euro project is the 4th European project that Frances has been awarded this academic year. 

Dr. Una Murray has completed an evaluation for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on their institutional response to address the migration, environment and climate change nexus. The IOM is the leading UN organization in the field of migration. Dr. Murray’s review was on how the IOM has impacted on and contributed to global and regional policy development including the UNFCCC, as well as examining organisational and cultural changes within IOM with regard to addressing climate change and migration. 

The Fenit Town Hall Dunes Action Group (DAG) was delighted to co-host a World Biodiversity Day Event May 22nd 2021 at the Fenit Island Tombolo. The event was in conjunction with Coastwatch Ireland. [Read]

Congratulations to Dr Chaosheng Zhang, School of Geography, Archaeology & Celtic Studies, who received Mayor’s Award under the category of “Arts, Culture, Heritage & Cúrsaí Gaeilge”. The award was announced by The Mayor of Galway City, Cllr. Mike Cubbard in a virtual ceremony held in the evening of May 26.  The annual awards formally recognise the outstanding contributions that local volunteers, community groups and voluntary organisations have made in supporting the residents of Galway City during the past year.  This significant recognition is made to Dr. Zhang for his beautiful photography over the past 12 months capturing Galway at its best & for his kind and generous approach to sharing his creative talent for free with the people of Galway.

New York Times article, A Temporary U.S.-China Trade Truce Starts to Look Durable. Last year’s deal could set the rules for global commerce for years to come, leaving the door open to lavish Chinese subsidies and unilateral American tariffs. [Read]

Congratulations to Frances Fahy and the ENERGISE team on their new publication ‘Challenging practices: experiences from community and individual living lab approaches’ based on the final outputs of their H2020 project. Their open access article published in the May 2021 issue of the international journal Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy and is available to read here: https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2021.1902062

John Morrissey has been appointed International Consultant and Policy Advisor on Human Security in the Human Development Report Office (HDRO) of the United Nations. John will help lead an extension of the UN’s human security strategy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic by linking overlapping environmental and social justice concerns in a new vision for human development and global security.

Frances Fahy of NUI Galway's School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies is leading and coordinating the three-year project, EnergyPROSPECTS, exploring the various and challenging aspects of energy citizenship across Europe. Frances welcomed the 9 European partners to the kick off meeting on Wednesday 12th of May and more information on the project is available here.

Prof Frances Fahy and Dr Mary Jo Lavelle have published a Whitaker policy brief arguing that the concept of ‘consumption corridors’ provides a timely lens to initiate discussion and critically consider the potential of ascertaining maximum levels of consumption across Ireland. See full brief here.

John Morrissey writes in RTÉ Brainstorm on how the pandemic has highlighted the strengths of our students: “Students have the ability to passionately critique the world. In the throes of COVID-19, that they can do so from virtual portals in their family homes and student accommodations, denied the intellectual and social currents of everyday university life, is inspiring”.

Congratulations to our colleague Dr Kathy Reilly on her award for the 2020 Teaching Hero Awards. Award winners were announced at the Student Achievement Awards Ireland event on 29 April 2021 [Watch]

The idea that the public should have a say in large scale projects that involve the environment has been around a while. Since the 70s issues like nuclear energy, large dams, pesticide use (to name but a few) have pushed the demand for more public involvement in decision-making. Yet here we are in 2021 and a disgruntled public are still ‘up in arms’. Blog by Dr Kevin Lynch and Axel Leahy, Geography, NUI Galway.  [Read]

RTE Brainstorm article by Dr Kevin Lynch, Geography, NUI Galway. As the Government recently announced the return of inter-county travel from May 10th and is continuing to advise against international travel, it is inevitable that this summer will see an internal migration en masse to our coasts. It is a good time to think about how we might staycation in a more responsible manner this summer [Read]

Dr Gordon Bromley is leading new collaborative research with Dr. Maggie Jackson (Trinity College Dublin) and Dr. Pierre-Henri Blard (Université de Lorraine) that seeks to quantify the effects of geomagnetic variability on cosmogenic nuclide production. The overarching objective of the project is to refine the cosmogenic surface-exposure dating technique that is employed increasingly in cutting-edge palaeoclimate and geomorphic research. This project has been awarded funding by the European Commission's Europlanet programme.

Dr Eugene Farrell presented his research in the Hazard, Risk and Disaster (HRD) Research Lecture Series 2020-21 at Bath Spa University on April 14, 2021. The lecture on "Enablers and barriers to building resilience: a coastal community perspective" is based on Dr Farrell’s experiences working with coastal communities in Ireland and his work within the European Marine Board expert working group tasked with writing a position paper on ’Coastal Resilience’. [Read]

New article by Dr Michael O'Connell 'Advances in the study of post-glacial environmental change with particular reference to western Ireland' [Read]

Congratulations to all our students who were recognised with a Lá na nGradam Scholarship for their academic performance. Within our first year BASS programme (46 students) we had 13 awardees (i.e. just over 28%). Congrats to all involved. https://www.nuigalway.ie/conferring/la-na-ngradam/.

A new research exploring how sustainable practices change the way we relate to the world is being launched by Dr Aurianne Stroude, a postdoctoral researcher at NUI Galway. Participants are asked to do a 4 week journaling (15min each week) & 1 hour interview.  Further info : https://research-relatetotheworld.com/

The NUIG MOSES research team - Liam Carr, Frances Fahy, Desiree Farrell (Geography) Rebecca Corless, Stephen Hynes and Daniel Norton (Economics) - is pleased to announce their latest publication, a Case Study Booklet and Policy Brief - ‘Blue Growth Pathways for Marine and Coastal Tourism Trail Development in the Atlantic Area’, which is available to download from the MOSES website: http://mosesproject.eu/project_outputs/#Reports  

"Maintaining a culture of collaboration will help rural tourism businesses recover after Covid 19" Dr Therese Conway recently featured in Agriland, Irelands Largest farming news Portal. [Read]  

Dr Maura Farrell, took part in the Final Plenary Session of the European Network for Rural Development’s (ENRD) 'Rural Vision Week: Imagining the future of Europe's rural areas'. This online event, supported by the European Commission (DG AGRI), took place from the 22nd to 26th of March 2021. More information about this event, as well as links its various sessions can be found here.    

Dr. Terry Morley (Geography) was recently awarded additional funding for the EU INTERREG Care Peat project as part of a Call For Capitalisation initiative (total ERDF €444,964; Geography: €156,205). The capitalisation project will work toward the development of a unified methodology to assess greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands and engages directly with farmers to develop economically viable rewetting techniques.

Desiree Farrell (PhD researcher under advisement of Dr. Liam M. Carr and Prof. Frances Fahy) presented her work at the 2021 Donegal Marine Tourism Conference. For her doctoral research, Desiree has been exploring how the community and cultural identity of Ireland’s west coast is shaped through the lens of tourism. Her work within the community of Rathmullan, Co. Donegal, is part of the Interreg Atlantic Area Project MOSES examining Blue Growth strategies along Europe’s Atlantic Arc. Her presentation can be seen here

Frances Fahy is presenting the results of the MOSES European project at the 5th International Symposium on the Oceans in National Income Accounts taking place in NUI Galway this week. As the three-year MOSES INTERRG project is drawing to a close in July 2021, Frances’ presentation will explore ‘Blue Growth Pathways for Marine and Coastal Tourism Trail Development in the Atlantic Area’. Presenting on behalf of the NUIG research team – Frances Fahy, Desiree Farrell, Liam Carr (Geography) Rebecca Corless Stephen Hynes and Danny Norton (Economics), the research draws on the case study of the Wild Atlantic Way and presents a community-generated collaborative framework which can assist overcoming barriers and maximise opportunities in sustainable coastal tourism trail development.

Dr Shane Conway’s recent Geographical Society of Ireland (GSI) Doctoral Research Award 2020 for his PhD research completed in 2017 that explored the human dynamics affecting intergenerational farm transfer in later life was recently featured in the Irish Farmers Journal and That's Farming.  An NUI Galway press release on this award can also be found [here].

Congratulations to Dr Mary Jo Lavelle and Prof Frances Fahy on their recent publication in the international journal, Sustainability, Science and Policy. The paper aims to address the dearth of discussion around the concept of maximum levels of consumption. The article proffers that the concept of ‘consumption corridors’ provides a timely lens to initiate discussion and critically consider the potential of ascertaining maximum levels of consumption across Ireland. Consumption corridors demarcate the space for sustainable consumption by defining minimum and maximum consumption standards that permit individuals to satisfy their needs and to live a life they value without impairing the possibility of a good life for other people. The article is open access: Lavelle, M.J. and Fahy, F. (2021) Creating Context for Corridors of Consumption: A case study from Ireland Sustainability, Science and Policy Vol. 17 (1) 62-76 

A new European project exploring sustainable lifestyles across Europe is starting in Geography at NUIG in May 2021. Prof Frances Fahy (Geography, NUI Galway) is the lead Social Scientist on the CAMPAIGNers (Citizens Acting on Mitigation Pathways through Active Implementation of a Goal-setting Network) project which is a new three-year European study which aims to develop a ground breaking new approach that enables citizens to gain real-life experiences with low-carbon behaviours in various domains (e.g. transportation, energy, IT, banking, insurance, food, clothing, etc.). The CAMPAIGNers’ innovative approach will implement a ‘goal-setting network’, where over 100,000 citizens receive and create challenges to try out tailored adaptations to their daily routines. Their responses to these challenges, associated treatments, and short questionnaires will deliver unprecedented data of behavioural processes, (local) barriers to change, and motivators, allowing for empirically-based scientific support of cities in crafting policies to encourage low-carbon lifestyles. Together with local, national and EU policy makers insights are analysed regarding the ‘right-level-to-act’ and policy-ready recommendations are jointly derived. 

Geography at NUI Galway is pleased to announce that two new research posts are currently being advertised on two new exciting H2020 European Research projects: EnergyPROSPECTS and CAMPAIGNers, led by Prof Frances Fahy. More information on the posts can be found at:  https://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/jobs/researchjobs/

NUI Galway, Geography climate action project to feature as part of Mayo PPN's going Green for St Patrick's Day. Murrisk local Niall Kelly talks about concerns for Bertra Beach and Dunes. He discusses its erosion due to climate change & storm damage. Niall is part of the local action group Bertra Connected (@bertraconnected) who are working with NUI Galway (@ilikedunes), Mayo Co Co, and the NPWS to find ways we can keep Bertra from disintegrating completely. [Further info]‌

A series of webinars providing an introduction to Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for coastal community groups involved in climate adaptation. [Further Info]

Congratulations to Dr. Chaosheng Zhang’s research group for the publication of a paper in a high-impact factor journal Environment International (Impact factor 7.577 in 2019). Title: Discovering hidden spatial patterns and their associations with controlling factors for potentially toxic elements in topsoil using hot spot analysis and K-means clustering analysis. Authors: Haofan Xu, Peter Croot, Chaosheng Zhang.

The Geopolitics and Justice Cluster in Geography and the Irish Centre for Human Rights are hosting an open access webinar from Dr Craig Jones from the University of Newcastle on Thursday, March 25th. Craig will be presenting a talk based upon his new book, The War Lawyers: The United States, Israel and Juridical Warfare(Oxford University Press).  Join Zoom Meeting: https://nuigalway-ie.zoom.us/j/94467296106?pwd=SU82VDhqUzRsZzRyT0VKSVZUM3dhQT09Meeting ID: 944 6729 6106Passcode: 853601

Dr Maura Farrell was an invited speaker at the Leitrim Community Development, Online Community Platform on Wednesday 24th February.  Dr Farrell delivered a presentation related to depopulation issues impacting rural areas.   

Dr. Audrey Morley will be participating as a panel speaker for the IIEA and Department of Foreign Affairs’ public webinar on “Ireland and the Arctic Council” on Monday, 1st March from 2:00 – 3:30 pm.  Web link to register [here].

New publication by Dr Pat Collins, Geography NUI Galway and Dr Dominic Power, Stockholm University titled 'Peripheral visions: the film and television industry in Galway, Ireland' [Read]  

Prof. John Morrissey has published a new paper in Irish Studies in International Affairs that draws upon the work of Michel Foucault on governmentality to critically examine the language of emergency in progressively framing climate security discourse.

Congratulations to Prof Frances Fahy and her colleagues in the University of Helsinki on their new international publication 'The role of practice-based interventions in energy transitions'. The paper outlines a framework for work to scale up practice-based interventions. Published this month in the international journal Energy Research and Social Sciences, the article is available to read here.

Geography at NUIG is the home to a new European H2020 project. Commencing on May 1st, Prof Frances Fahy will lead 9 partners across Europe on the 3 million Euro project EnergyPROSPECTS (PROactive Strategies and Policies for Energy Citizenship Transformation). This new 3-year project will work with a critical understanding of energy citizenship that is grounded in state-of-the-art SSH insights.

Dr Kevin Lynch has started a new Blog. In his own words “I am just going to throw out some ideas from my experiences looking at coastal issues and climate action. There’ll be some updates on projects too, including: Bertra Strand, Mayo; Grattan Beach, Galway; Achill Island's beaches”. [Blog]

Congratulations to the ENERGISE research team led by Prof Frances Fahy on another international publication from the H2020 project results. The paper ‘ Alternative energy imaginaries: implications for energy research, policy integration and the transformation of energy systems’ examines the shortcomings in the contribution of qualitative social sciences and humanities research to tackling challenges connected with energy and climate change. It is published in the March 2021 issue of Energy Research and Social Sciences and is available here.

The Discipline of Geography is delighted to welcome Bronagh Dillon to our team. Bronagh is a researcher with the international CCC -Catapult research team investigating educational, worldview and intercultural influences in young people’s climate and environmental literacy. She is undertaking a PhD in Geographies of Education under the supervision of Dr Kathy Reilly and Prof Frances Fahy. Prior to commencing this PhD, Bronagh completed a MSc in Education, Training and Management (Leadership) in 2020 from DCU. The title of her dissertation was Teachers’ Perceptions of Climate Change Education in Irish Primary Schools. Email address: B.Dillon10@nuigalway.ie

The second lecture of the Spring Lunchtime Lecture Series 2021 will take place Thursday 11th February, 2021.   The lecture will be delivered by Dr Shane Conway, Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway and titled 'Blinkered Vision: Generational Renewal in Agriculture at the Expense of the Older Farmer?'  To join the lecture on Thursday please click this link:  https://nuigalway-ie.zoom.us/j/95579895418

Dr Maura Farrell, recently presented and Chaired, The Embassy of Ireland in Mexico’s ‘St Brigid’s Day: A Celebration of Women in Agriculture in Ireland and Mexico’ webinar. The event took place online to a large audience in both Ireland and Mexico  [further info]

The first lecture of the Spring Lunchtime Lecture Series 2021 will take place Thursday 4th February, 2021.   The lecture will be delivered by Dr Mark Rainey and Dr Pat Collins, Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway and titled 'Imaging Galway: A Look through its Urban Past' [further info]

Dr Maura Farrell featured on RTE’s Eco Eye programme on the 5th of January speaking about the key opportunities and challenges facing rural Ireland.  The programme raised many issues regarding future planning issues relevant to rural Ireland, matters which are key to the MA in Rural Future Planning and Innovation:   [further information on this MA]

The research forms part of the ENNET Project which explores the role of networking and social capital in rural communities.  Following the publication of the article Dr Therese Conway was invited on the Joe Finnigan Show to discuss the impact of Covid 19 on Rural Areas further.  Podcast available here.

Dr Eugene Farrell and colleagues in NUIG (Ms Sheena Fennell, EOS; Dr Stephen Nash, Civil Engineering) have partnered with the Marine Institute and SEAI to deploy a long term wave monitoring buoy in Brandon Bay, Co. Kerry. Dr Farrell states "We want to improve existing coastal change models by developing better insights into why does change occur and how much change will occur if we dial up climate projections for rising sea levels and storminess. To answer these questions we require process-response coastal models and these are only possible if nearshore observations from wave buoys such as the one in Brandon Bay are deployed over long time periods to capture all the seasons." [further info]  

Congratulations to Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Unit at NUI Galway, who was recently announced as the winner of the Geographical Society of Ireland's Doctoral Research Award 2020 for his widely published research on the human side of farm succession and retirement in later life.

A new video by the European Commission's EIP-AGRI Service Point features Dr Shane Conway, Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Unit at NUI Galway and the Irish National Rural Network (NRN), speaking about the value of the EIP-AGRI model's multi-actor approach in helping to bring about innovation and sustainability at farm level. This video was released at the 7th Rural Networks Assembly meeting on the 4th of December 2020.  You can view the video here.

Gordon Bromley is part of a new project led by former NUIG Geography postdoc, Maggie Jackson (TCD), that has been funded by Geological Survey Ireland (Short Call 2020 programme) to establish a high-resolution record of cryospheric change in the Wicklow Mountains during the last glacial-interglacial transition (or ‘termination’). This project, titled ‘Abrupt Climate Change in Ireland: Redefining our climate future through a lens of high-resolution glacial reconstruction’, will employ cosmogenic-nuclide dating of glacial deposits (to be conducted at NUIG and UMaine) and snowline reconstruction to quantify past abrupt climate shifts, providing data that, ultimately, will be used as targets for model simulations of Ireland’s future climate. 

MA-ESD Graduate, Matina Granieri, has begun a new role in Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability, leading an innovative environmental and climate justice program for the city. Matina won the Neil Smith Award on the MA-ESD and returned to her home city of Philadelphia in 2019. She recently wrote to MA-ESD Programme Director, John Morrissey, to say a lovely thank you to all colleagues who supported her on her Masters in Galway: “I’m humbled by the opportunity to help shape Philadelphia’s new environmental and climate justice programme. I find myself frequently falling back on what I learned on the MA-ESD program to guide my decisions, and feel well equipped with the critical mindset needed to engage with government systems while attempting to center human well-being. So, I'm sending many thanks for all the foundational materials you shared and the critical thinking you asked of us”.

Gordon Bromley is heading a new collaborative project, funded by Geological Survey Ireland (Short Call 2020 programme), entitled ‘Quantifying Ireland’s Dust Bowl: An interdisciplinary assessment of potential loess genesis, deposition, and dynamics in the Burren’. Involving partners at Uppsala University, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, and NUIG (Geography and EOS), these 14 month-long investigations will employ geochemistry, geochronology, and geomorphology to explore the origins and climatic significance of wind-blown sedimentary deposits in the Burren, Co. Clare. This is part of a larger ongoing project into the terrestrial manifestation of abrupt climate change in the North Atlantic basin.

Geography’s I Like Beaches project has been busy during the current COVID-19 restrictions. It has led 12 ‘outdoor classroom’ events on the beaches of Salthill, with nearly 150 students from 4 local schools learning about beach and dune process, and how these may contribute to climate change adaptation. The socially-distanced activities will continue after the Christmas break, drawing in a wider range of interested stakeholders as the year progresses. (Contact: kevin.lynch@nuigalway.ie) 

On Monday December 14th from 2.00pm to 4.15pm the RURALIZATION conference ‘Facilitating our Future Farmers: National and International Perspectives’ will be held online via Zoom. Among the aims of the four-year RURALIZATION project is to identify and assess innovative ways to facilitate new entrants into farming, succession and access to farmland. Most farmers in the EU are aged over 55 and only a small proportion are below age 35. Supporting generational renewal is one objective of the CAP post 2020. There are however many complex issues impacting generational renewal, such as farm viability, ease of farm transferability, the need for greater succession planning, access to farmland and the human dynamics involved. This conference brings together researchers and practitioners to explore how we can enable our future farmers gain access to farmland and the farming sector.  This online conference is co-hosted by the RURALIZATION project at NUI Galway Rural Studies and the National Rural Network.  The RURALIZATION project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 817642.  Find Our MoreRegister

A research team from the Discipline of Geography at NUI Galway is part of a consortium that have won a competitive international research funding award of €1.38 million under the JPI Climate SOLSTICE initiative to explore how young people across Europe experience the climate crisis. [Further Info]

Eugene Farrell is part of an NUIG team that received €29,909 funding from Geological Survey Ireland (Short Call 2020 programme) for a 14 month project titled “Linking ocean model predictions with coastal impacts using a low cost, time-lapse camera shoreline monitoring system”. Eugene and the team(Dr Stephen Nash, Civil Engineering; Ms Sheena Parsons EOS)  that will test a low-cost shoreline monitoring system using fixed, time-lapse cameras in Brandon Bay, Co. Kerry. Images will be captured at high frequency (every 10 mins) and analysed to determine wave run-up and shoreline elevation changes. The results will be used to validate a coupled tide-wave-morphological modelling system that is under development in a separate project.

Dr Eugene Farrell was recently invited to be part of the European Marine Board (EMB) Working Group on ‘Coastal Resilience’. The EMB is the leading European think tank in marine science policy focussed on advancing marine research and bridging the gap between science and policy. The Working Group is tasked with writing a position paper during 2021 to provide an overview of the current state of the art in methods and tools for coastal resilience and identify knowledge gaps for future challenges. The research will inform EU policy and promote science-based decision making in coastal conservation, restoration, habitat and biodiversity management.

Coastal Change, Climate Adaptation and Mitigation, Free 3-day webinar on the 17th-19th November, See here: [Programme] [Registration]  

Dr John Morrissey has published a new paper with Yairen Jerez Columbié in Territory, Politics, Governance on climate resilience and human security in the Caribbean. By analysing the climate security practices of Cuba, and by interrogating the genealogy of the broader Caribbean’s hurricane culture, the paper shows how an effective human security vision for climate justice and resilience can be achieved by recognizing and integrating the valuable forms of locally attuned knowledge that continue to emerge and coalesce in vulnerable geographies.

Dr Kathy Reilly has published a new book working with co-editors Dr Lisa Moran (Edgehill University, UK) and Dr Bernadine Brady (School of Political Science and Sociology, NUI Galway). This new volume draws together scholarly contributions from diverse, yet interlinking disciplinary fields, with the aim of critically examining the value of narrative inquiry in understanding the everyday lives of children and young people in diverse spaces and places. Incorporating insights from sociology, geography, education, child and youth studies, social care, and social work, the collection emphasises how narrative research approaches present storytelling as a universally recognizable, valuable and effective methodological approach with children and young people. The chapters point to the diversity of spaces and places encountered by children and young people, considering how young people ‘tell tales’ about their lives, highlighting the multidimensionality of narrative research in capturing everyday lived experiences. [Read]

The European research project MOSES involving NUIG Geographers Desiree Farrell, Liam Carr and Frances Fahy seeks to understand and quantify the sustainability dimension of Blue Growth with respect to the potential environmental impacts of key strategic marine sectors across the EU Atlantic Arc member states.  The project is now in the final year and as part of the dissemination of results the team has organised an international Webinar series. Each participating country will host a webinar and NUI Galway is hosting the first in the series on Tuesday 17 November at 1pm  via Zoom.   The webinar will include presentations on: An Introduction to the Wild Atlantic Way -Daithí Gallagher, Fáilte Ireland Wild Atlantic Way tourists: A survey of spending, activities and attitudes - Daniel Norton, NUI Galway Building a sustainable marine tourism trail through community voices: Rathmullan, Co. Donegal - Desiree Farrell, NUI Galway  The MOSES Project is funded by the EU INTERREG Atlantic V Programme (2014 to 2020), Priority 4 Enhancing Biodiversity and the Natural and Cultural Assets

Congratulations to Dr. Chaosheng Zhang, who is featured on Galway Advertiser’s ‘Galway Entertainment Guide’ on October 22, 2020. In an interview with Galway Advertiser, Dr. Zhang talked about his experience of linking geography and photography. “To take good photos, you need to learn geography! This is my personal experience,” Dr. Zjhang says. “Geography is about people and space, as well as time. First and most importantly, you need to know where you can find beautiful sceneries,” and then “you need to be at the right place at the right time, and this is really challenging!”  Click here for the link to the full article in Galway Advertiser.

The MSc in Coastal and Marine Environments spent two successful days aboard the RV Celtic Voyager, conducting preliminary research on Galway Bay water quality and searching for microplastics. The annual cruise, now in its 6th year, is supported by the Marine Institute.

Dr Shane Conway, Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Unit at NUI Galway chaired a session at this year’s Burren Winterage School AIP-AGRI Symposium on the solutions tested and lessons learned from Ireland's innovative EIP-AGRI projects to date. The use of these EIP-AGRI learnings to inform the new CAP Strategic Plan was also explored at this event, held virtually via Zoom on the 21st of October 2020. More information about the Burren Winterage School can be found here.

Congratulations to Dr. Chaosheng Zhang who is having a photo exhibition in Eyre Square Shopping Centre in Galway City, organized by Galway City Council. This is the first in a series of exhibitions under the Government’s art and culture ‘Getting Through Covid-19 Together’ campaign opens from October 15. Since 2017, Dr. Zhang has been taking photos of the city and around the NUI Galway campus. His photos have been used in various publications at the university and by business groups, and are also widely shared on social media.

Dr Maura Farrell was an invited speaker on the 13th October by the European Commission during the European Week of Regions and Cities to a session on the Long Term Vision of Rural Futures 2040.  Maura presented on Socially Inclusive Rural Futures.  In the afternoon, Maura was invited to take part in an open on-line discussion with EU Vice- President, Dubravka Šuica (Democracy and Demography); Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski (Agriculture and Rural Development) and Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (Cohesion and Reforms).  The sessions were moderated by the European Network for Rural Development. 

John Morrissey has published his fifth book, Haven (Edward Elgar 2020). It presents a transformative understanding of security in responding to the Mediterranean refugee crisis by drawing critically on the UN concept of ‘human security’. From a range of Arts, Humanities and Social Science disciplines, and through case studies incorporating key governmental, NGO and refugee perspectives, the book critiques the major geopolitical, economic and social issues of the crisis. It documents the prioritisation of population management techniques that are underpinned by conventional territorial logics of security, before considering the alternative priorities of human security that can facilitate an active human rights framework and a more holistic and humanitarian interventionism. In advancing a human security approach to the crisis, the book interrogates the human consequences of conflict and displacement, challenges the impoverished thinking of statist security agendas that divide the world into zones of sanctuary and abandonment, and reflects critically upon our interconnected global sense of precarity, particularly so in our COVID-19 world.

Congratulations to Dr. Chaosheng Zhang, who is the winner of the Photography Competition of ‘Best Things in Life are Free’ organised by Galway Advertiser. The competition was launched on World Photography Day, August 19th, and ran until 17th September. There were over 600 competition entries and the stunning photo of the sunrise on the Long Walk from Dr. Zhang is the winning photo. The photo is published on Galway Advertiser of October 1.

Dr Maura Farrell was recently appointed to the European Network for Rural Development Thematic Group, which will contribute to developing the EU 'Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas' announced by the President of the European Commission

Press release recently published by the Marine Institute, that summarizes Dr Audrey Morley's survey in the Nordic Seas on the Celtic Explorer [Read].   Please see here a video compilation of the survey.

Dr Shane Conway, Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Unit at NUI Galway presented how lessons learned from Ireland's existing 23 EIP-AGRI Operational Groups are helping to build future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) interventions in an Irish context on the final day of the EIP-AGRI online seminar on 'CAP Strategic Plans: the key role of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems in Member States'. EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, also spoke at this seminar that took place from the 16th to 18th of September 2020. The programme for this event can be viewed/downloaded here.

Dr Eugene Farrell and Ms Sheena Fennell (Senior Technician, Earth & Ocean Sciences NUIG & Ryan Institute) deployed an AWAC and ADCP in nearshore (15m) Brandon Bay Co Kerry last week as part of the ongoing coastal monitoring programme that focuses on The Maharees. The ocean observations are in partnership with the Marine Institute. The wave and current data will assist in validating a numerical model of the hydrodynamics of the bay which in being developed by Mr Andi Egon (PhD candidate) in Civil Engineering NUIG with Dr Stephen Nash. The model will support coastal erosion management decisions. Sincere thank you to Dr Martin White (EOS)  for loaning the sensors to the project. 

This paper presents the longest terrestrial record of ice sheet volume on the Antarctic continent yet constructed. We used multiple cosmogenic nuclides to date relict moraines in the Transantarctic Mountains to show that the massive East Antarctic Ice Sheet has persisted on the landscape in more-or-less its current configuration for at least 15 million years, and may have been thicker than present during periods of relatively warm climate. [Read]  

An infographic of Ireland's 23 EIP-AGRI Operational Group projects, produced by the NRN team at NUI Galway, Dr Shane Conway and Dr Maura Farrell, is featured in the 7th edition of the EIP-AGRI Service Point's Agrinnovation magazine (p.6). This new publication also includes a piece from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) about how these projects are supporting the design of future policy measures. You can view/download this magazine here.

Dr. Chaosheng Zhang had an online photography exhibition during NUI Galway Virtual Summer Festival, August 23-26, 2020 (www.nuigalwayevents.ie).  Dr. Zhang’s photography was featured in the newspaper Galway City Tribute dated August 28, 2020.  From 2017, Dr. Zhang has been taking beautiful photos Galway and campus of NUI Galway. His photos have been used in various publications at the University and widely shared on social media. Four calendars have been published based on his photos. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Zhang made 10 of his photos publicly available via social media for free downloading.

Congratulations to Dr. Chaosheng Zhang!! Two photos taken by Dr. Zhang were used by Irish television TG4 in the weather forecast program on September 1, 2020. One photo was reflections of sunrise over the Claddagh, Galway, and the other one was Dunquin Pier of Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry. [Photos]

Dr. Chaosheng Zhang and his PhD student Haofan Xu published a paper titled ‘Investigating spatially varying relationships between total organic carbon contents and pH values in European agricultural soil using geographically weighted regression’ in Science of the Total Environment. The journal is an internationally famous journal in environmental sciences. [Read]

Most recent Irish Quaternary Association (IQUA) Newsletter (No. 64: 08/2020) now available here: Included is a list of recent publications relating to the Quaternary in Ireland. Congratulations to Adrienne Foreman who is mentioned as Eileen Reilly IQUA award recipient.

Dr Eugene Farrell and Ms Emily Rick (MSc student in Coastal and Marine Environments 2019-2020)  published a review in Ocean Focus (Summer 2020 edition - available via subscription). The article "Kelp: a nature-based solution for coastal protection?" examines if the unique traits of kelp (durability, size, age, resilience and biomass density) make it suitable as a potential long-term coastal protection strategy in Ireland. They also discuss "the driftweed dilemma" which describes ongoing conflicts between beach users of how to manage the large volumes of discarded and living kelp washed onshore during storms. [Read]  

Evolution of Ireland’s Industrial, Science and Technology Policy examines the evolution of industrial, science and technology policy from a small country perspective. In particular, the monograph focuses on the evolution of Irish industrial development, the develop of Irish industrial cluster with a distinct focus on the case of the medical technology cluster in the West of Ireland. The monograph reflects on the future industrial, science and technology policy considerations that Ireland as a small open economy needs to focus on in order to evolve, maintain, and grow its international industrial, science, and technology reputation and standing. 

"Extracting Us" is an online exhibition and conversation on the feminist political ecologies of extractivism, going live on the 3rd August.  A launch event takes place on the 13th August.  V'cenza Cirefice, PhD in the geography department, is featured in this exhibition. 

Dr Eugene Farrell was part of two special reports in the Irish Examiner as part of Ocean Week 2020. The reports describe the work of coastal communities in Kerry and Cork to combat erosion and the challenges of implementing new climate action policies within existing planning structures. [Read article 1]  [Read article 2]

Dr Shane Conway, Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Unit at NUI Galway, was recently featured in the Irish Farmers Journal (23rd of July, 2020) advocating for the social and emotional needs of the older generation of the farming community to be taken into account in light of calls for a new Early Retirement Scheme for farmers. Dr Conway also condemns the previous scheme in 2007 requesting older farmers to ‘cease agricultural activity forever’ in this piece. [Read] 

The winners of the President’s Awards for Teaching Excellence 2020 were announced last week and our colleagues, Dr Therese Conway, Dr Mike Hynes, and Professor Frances Fahy won the Team Teaching Award. Congratulations to the all the nominees and award winners.

The NRN team at NUI Galway, Dr Shane Conway and Dr Maura Farrell, ran a ‘LEADER Programme Promotion Week’ on the NRN's social media channels from the 29th of June to the 5th of July 2020. This pioneering initiative provided rural communities and entrepreneurs with an in-depth insight into the LEADER Programme 2014-2020, and also helped future applicants conceptualise their ideas and see what is possible through LEADER’s unique ‘bottom up’ community-led approach to rural development, particularly as they prepare to rebuild, redevelop and re-energize as part of Ireland’s Covid-19 crisis recovery response. Please click here for further info.

Dr Gordon Bromley and Dr Maggie Jackson have been awarded a higher education teaching grant by the European Geophysical Union for their project 'The Great Irish (Virtual) Glacial Tiki Tour'. This project will deliver a teaching package comprising virtual tours of glacial geomorphological features and the impact of glaciers in Ireland. [Further info]

'Imposing a Lockdown is much easier than lifting one'    Galway Film Fleadh animated film by Dr Pat Collins, Geography, NUI Galway. [watch]

Dr John Morrissey, Geography NUI Galway, writes on the global governance challenge of human security in our COVID-19 world. [Read]

Jeffrey Black, Dakota Holmes (both 2017-18 MSc graduates) and Dr Liam Carr have published their research, 'A Geography of Marine Plastics' in Irish Geography. The paper reviews the geography of marine plastics research, and the pervasive and persistent effects of plastic on the marine system to aid the discussions of comprehensive mitigation measures. The discussion points raised in this paper highlight the need for a global systems perspective that considers geography, environmental impacts, and sources in order to develop effective mitigation responses to marine litter Dakota is currently a Hardiman Phd Scholar under the advisement of Audrey Morley, while Jeffrey is beginning his doctoral studies at Colorado State University with Dr Rebecca Gruby, focusing on marine conservation and governance in the global tropics.

Geography at NUI Galway is delighted to welcome Dr Aurianne Stroude to the Discipline. Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, Dr Stroude will be working with Professor Frances Fahy on an 18 month research project focusing on sustainable practices with a view to understanding how they contribute to transforming the relation to the world of the people performing them. According to Aurianne ‘my idea is to analyse the different elements of specific social practices (food consumption, mobility and zero waste living) and to analyse their effects on the way people experience the world (passive relation) and the way they appropriate it or assimilate it (active relation)’. Welcome to Geography at NUI Galway Aurianne!

Congratulations to all of our students who recently received awards in the post from the University, as the 2020 NUI Galway Lá na nGradam(Awards Day) ceremony had to be cancelled this year. 16 of the 38 students about to embark on the 4th year of the new Applied Social Science Degree and 9 of the 41 students about to enter 3rd year BASS were honoured for their first class performances in the previous year of the BASS Programme - a remarkable achievement, congrats to all!

Dr John Morrissey, Geography, NUI Galway, was commissioned to write a political ecology critique of the COVID-19 pandemic in Transforming Society, one of the UK’s biggest lobby forums endeavouring to bring expertise and ethics to UK government policy. [Read]

This year the Burrenbeo Trust Learning Landscape Symposium is going online from 8th - 11th July. Addressing the theme of 'the importance of valuing your local place in a post-Covid world', some of the leading experts who will speak at the event include Richard Louv – journalist and author of Last child in the woods; Katalin Czippán – deputy chair of Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) of the IUCN; David Sobel – author and environmentalist who pioneered the Place-Based Education movement; and, Paddy Madden – educationalist, author and founder member of Engage with Nature.  [Further details]  [Register free]  

New publication by Dr Pat Collins,Geography, NUI Galway in Sciendo [Read]

Ongoing research collaboration between Geography at NUI Galway (Dr. Liam Carr and Desiree Farrell) and the community of Rathmullan, Co. Donegal has been featured on Highland Radio. The radio interview represents an example of community stakeholders demonstrating ownership in the research process. The study is nearing its final phase, and has been examining the impacts of the Wild Atlantic Way on the community of Rathmullan. [listen] 

Looking for new ways to keep the kids occupied during the COVID lockdown? Check out the The Ryan Institute Nature at Home series (@NatureAtHomeIE). Learn through simple exercises about about birdsong, pond life & bugs [here], and if you have a beach near by, about beach erosion [here].

The Rural Studies Cluster is part of the RURALIZATION Horizon 2020 project.  RURALIZATION is based around the idea that a process of ‘ruralisation’ can change development patterns in rural areas overcoming population and economic decline and generating new opportunities. To foster the ruralisation process across Europe, we need new policy-relevant knowledge, which the RURALIZATION project will generate. For updates on the project, check out the latest newsletter [here]  

Dr Shane Conway and Dr Maura Farrell in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Unit have produced a new Video Blog (Vlog) series on behalf of the Irish National Rural Network (NRN) featuring farmers who are participating in Ireland's 23 EIP-AGRI projects located throughout the country. You can view the video here.

During this time of disruption, widespread suffering and elevated outrage about the racial and economic injustices of our societies, the SCORAI community will be coming together this week (June 10-12th) for the 4th International SCORAI conference focusing on Sustainable Consumption and Social Justice in an Urbanizing World.  Chaired by Prof Frances Fahy from NUI Galway and Prof Jennie Stephens from Northeastern University Boston, this virtual conference provides us with a valuable opportunity to share ideas and catalyze transformative change:  https://cssh.northeastern.edu/scorai2020/  We have an inspiring program that will engage directly with the transformative moment we are in.  The conference will open on Wednesday June 10th with a keynote reflection by Esteban Kelly, a visionary leader of the solidarity economy and Executive Director of the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives. This will be followed by a keynote presentation by Sherilyn MacGregor from Manchester University on integrating social justice into sustainable consumption work to set the stage for the rest of the conference.  The exciting conference program then has multiple parallel sessions on a wide diversity of issue areas, additional inspiring keynotes, yoga classes for all conference participants each day, and an art exhibit that critically examines issues of consumption.  With over 340 researchers, activists, and practitioners already registered from 33 countries, and 6 continents, the conference has representatives from all the SCORAI hubs across the globe.  More information is available here: https://cssh.northeastern.edu/scorai2020/

Dr John Morrissey’s piece in ZNet, one of the biggest e-magazines on the Left in the US, on the origins of COVID-19, the excesses of late modern capitalism and how we might govern and live differently [Read].

Research by Dr Shane Conway in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Unit on the various emotional and social factors governing the behaviour patterns and attitudes of older farmers facing the ‘twin processes’ of farm succession and retirement has recently been featured on the International Farm Transition Network (IFTN) website based in the U.S.A.  You can read this article here.

Research carried out on the human side of farm succession and retirement in later life by Dr Shane Conway, Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Research Cluster at NUI Galway has recently been featured in the Agricultural Economics section of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln website in the U.S.A. Please see: https://agecon.unl.edu/international-perspectives-farm-succession-and-retirement-later-lifeThis research gives voice to the older farmer's position in the Generational Renewal narrative.As demographic trends in many parts of the U.S.A., Europe and beyond reveal an inversion of the age pyramid with those aged 65 years and over constituting the fastest growing sector of the farming workforce, the recommendations set forth in this research from NUI Galway are equally as applicable and relevant in the U.S.A. as they are in an Irish context

Join us for NUI Galway's Virtual Open Day today! It is the perfect opportunity to talk us about studying Geography at NUI Galway. Join us live from 12-3pm at www.nuigalway.ie/opendays #NUIGalwayLive

Now entering the end of year one, the Horizon 2020 RURALIZATION project General Assembly meeting was held online on April 22nd and 23rd. The Rural Studies Cluster lead work on the project’s research and innovation framework. Dr Aisling Murtagh and Dr Maura Farrell led the session to evaluate current work and future steps related to the research and innovation framework. The meeting also included a dedicated session on the consequences of COVID-19 for the project’s work and future research focus. Find more information here. You can also stay up to date with the project by signing up the newsletter.

Dr Shane Conway, Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Unit has recently been selected as Ireland's National Expert on a new two and a half-year project supported by the European Commission (DG AGRI) entitled 'Smart Rural 21'. This project aims to promote and inspire villages to develop and implement smart village approaches and strategies across Europe, and to draw conclusions and support future CAP interventions on smart villages. 17 villages are selected across Europe to receive guidance and technical support through the project. 5 villages have already been selected in Ireland (Dingle, Co. Kerry), Finland, France, the Czech Republic and Greece, and a further 12 villages will be selected up until the 5th of May 2020.   Rural communities can submit their expression of interest to participate in this project here.

New Whitaker Policy Brief by Dr Liam Carr & Eoin ÓFátharta. Discipline of Geography, 'The Economic Value of Outdoor Recreation on a Coastal Beach and Dune System in Ireland’s Southwest'  [Read]

Brainstorm article from Geography staff and students highlighting the value of the Irish coastal ecosystem & need for a coherent national investment policy for communities along the Wild Atlantic Way. [READ]

Nominees for this year's National Farming for Nature Awards have just been released. This inspiring initiative is now in its third year and aims to source and share stories of farmers across Ireland who are adjudged to be managing their land and livestock in a way that really benefits nature in their area. Dr Shane Conway, Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Unit is on the judging panel for this award.  You can read a short extract about each of the nominees here

Congratulations to Galway Doctoral Research Scholar Adrienne Foreman who received the Eileen Reilly research award. The award is for postgraduate members of IQUA in memory of Eileen Reilly, an Irish Quaternary scientist, for training courses, conference attendance, laboratory analysis or fieldwork. Adrienne will be using the award for laboratory analysis (cosmogenic nuclide surface exposure dating)  

A virtual seminar was held on the coronavirus crisis in the Moore Institute on Thursday 3rd April.  The speakers were Dr John Morrissey (Geography), Dr Nessa Cronin (Irish Studies), Dr Kevin O’Sullivan (History) and Dr Pádraic Moran (Classics). It was streamed live on Facebook [watch]

A consortium of 23 organisations, led by the Greifswald Mire Centre, National University of Ireland Galway (Dr. Terry Morley and Niall O’Brolchain) and the Wetlands International European Association, call on the preservation of peatlands in the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy. The position paper, part of an INTERREG NWE Project: Care Peat draws on the links between climate change, agriculture and peatland conservation. As agriculture is one of the main causes for peatland drainage, the paper focuses on the potential of the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to reduce this degradation.[further info]

In June 2020, Prof Frances Fahy will be Co-Chairing the 4th International SCORAI conference on sustainable consumption on behalf of the international Sustainable Consumption Research and Action Initiative (SCORAI) and Northeastern University in Boston. The theme for the 4th International SCORAI conference is Sustainable Consumption & Social Justice in an Urbanizing World. The world has changed dramatically since we began planning this conference many months ago, and we have shifted the conference format to be online only. We are grateful to have the opportunity to transition to a fully digital conference format that will reduce our collective consumption while preserving vitally important sharing of ideas.For more details and to register for this conference please visit our website

A short peice by Dr. John Morrissey as part of the Haven Project, ‘We are all waiting now: the new global sense of precarity’    [Read] 

Frances Fahy’s research focuses on sustainable consumption and along with 7 of her international colleagues (in Canada, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, the UK, Mexico, Hong Kong and the USA) she has established a new research project - Consumption and wellbeing in the time of Covid: We are living in interesting times. The Coronavirus is changing the way we interact, teach, study, work and consume. In response to this, Frances is working with 1st and 3rd year BASS students, inviting them to reflect on changes that are taking place in their everyday lives. In this process they are bringing together students from around the globe who may be living similar experiences. They hope that through this experience they can learn together how our consumption is changing, how our views of the world are changing, and what this means in relation to our wellbeing.  For more information or to join the study please email frances.fahy@nuigalway.ie

Read the Geography Newsletter, 30th March, 2020

Read the Geography Newsletter, 23rd March, 2020

Congratulations to Dr. Chaosheng Zhang, who has recently been appointed as an Associate Editor of Journal of Geochemical Exploration. The journal is dedicated to the publication of research studies that cover new developments in the application of analytical geochemistry and geoinformatics. Dr. Zhang already holds three other editorial positions: Section Editor of Data in Brief, Coordinating Editor of Environmental Geochemistry and Health; Editorial Board member of The Science of the Total Environment.

Congratulations to Natasha Keenaghan who successfully defended her PhD thesis in February 2020. Drawing from perspectives in geography and media studies Natasha’s thesis examines the role of NGOs in changing public attitudes towards distant humanitarian crises. Natasha’s thesis was examined by Professor Rob Kitchin (Maynooth University) and was supervised by Dr Kathy Reilly (Geography, NUIG)

Dr Maura Farrell and Dr Shane Conway presented the aims, objectives, practices and progress of Ireland’s 23 locally-led EIP-AGRI Operational Groups to a group of students from the University of Paris Seine and the University of Cergy-Pontoise in France, studying a Master's degree in European and International Studies who recently visited NUI Galway. This is another example of the Rural Studies Unit's continued efforts to increase the impact and international awareness of research projects being carried out in the Discipline of Geography at NUI Galway. 

Read the Geography Newsletter, 9th March, 2020 [download]

Read the Geography Newsletter, 2nd March, 2020 [download] 

On Friday, 28th February 2020, Dr Audrey Morley and Dakota  Holmes went to the Iveagh House in Dublin to launch the Network of Arctic Researchers in Ireland (NARI) with the Marine Institute and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. [further info]    

This Saturday 29th February,  Dr Pat Collins, Geography, NUI Galway wil take part in Ireland’s Edge which  returns to Ballina bringing together a compelling range of voices that span diverse disciplines, sectors and industries to discuss Ireland; where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we want to go. [Further Info]

Read the Geography Newsletter, 24th February, 2020 [download]

Learn more about the RURALIZATION Horizon 2020 project in its first newsletter. This includes a special feature on the Rural Studies Cluster who are part of the project.  [Read]

Read the Geography Newsletter, 17th February, 2020 [download]

Sunday Independent article: "Analysis confirms north Mayo Ceide Fields dates back 6,000 years, making it older than the pyramids" [READ][READ]

Dr Eugene Farrell was interviewed by Finnish journalist Mr Hannu Taavitsainen on coastal research he was conducting in Ireland last summer. Hannu has written a short article for the Finnish Association of Science Editors and Journalists. The finnish journalist was very interested in learning about Dr Farrell’s experience with coastal communities and the search for management solutions (e.g. dune fencing in article picture). Hannu was also very impressed with the CIG 2019 / EUGEO conference organised by staff members Dr Kathy Reilly and Dr Frances Fahy. [Read]

Dr Shane Conway, Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Unit featured in a recent episode of RTÉ’s Ear to the Ground, where he discussed the importance of part-time farming, not only to the survival, continuity and future prosperity of the Irish agri-food industry, but also to the broader sustainability, viability and vibrancy of rural society, by incentivizing such farmers and their families to live and work in their local community.  You can view a clip of Shane discussing the intrinsic link between farming and rural sustainability here.  The full version of this particular episode of Ear to the Ground can be found on the  RTÉ Player (Season 27, Episode 11).

Intergenerational Considerations for Generational Renewal Policy Strategies' research by Dr Shane Conway Dr John McDonagh and Dr Maura Farrell in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Research Unit at NUI Galway is featured in a recent ARC 2020 (Agricultural and Rural Convention) Rural Dialogues publication (p.38-40). [Read]

Publicationby Porf. Michael O'Connell, Dr Karen Molloy and Dr Eneda Jennings, Palaeoenvironmental Research Unit, School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, NUI Galway on the stone-wall fields at Céide Fields, Co. Mayo. [download]

NUI Galway is making great strides in the area of sustainability and has plans for further work as outlined in this new article published in Ireland’s Yearbook of Education co-authored by Prof Frances Fahy.  [Read]

Steering Demand? New energy geographies publication by Dr Mary Greene and Prof Frances Fahy examines the intersections of policy, practice and lives in energy-systems-change. [Read]

Read the Geography Newsletter, 4th February, 2020. [download]

Dr Pat Collins recently published a Whitaker Institute Policy Brief titled Planning for a better Ireland: Trusting in the wisdom of crowds. The policy brief can be read in full here.

Adrienne Foreman, PhD student at the  Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway,  takes us through a typical day and what it’s like to be a Palaeoclimatologist.[download]

Professor Ulf Strohmayer, (Geography, NUI Galway) takes us through a typical day and what it’s like to be a Urban Geography  [download]

  Read the Geography Newsletter, 4th February, 2020.

Labhair an Dr. Eugene Farrell ag féile Éigse na Bríde 2020 i gCiarraí Theas. Chuir an Dr. Farrell fadhbanna agus réitigh ar athrú aeráide ar fáil do phobail chósta in Éirinn.

Are you a woman in the natural/geosciences in Ireland?  If so, we want to know whether you think academic lifestyles are attractive. If you have a PhD and are interested in participating please register for: February, 18th, UCD Dublin February, 19th, NUI Galway  

Congratulations to Professor Frances Fahy  on her recent appointment as Personal Professor at NUI Galway.  Wishing you continued sucess Frances.

Read the Geography Newsletter, 20th January 2020.

Stories exploring the past, present and future of Abbeyleix Bog will be shared at a community mapping workshop in the town on Saturday 25 January.  For further information please see here

Dr Aaron Potito (Geography, NUI Galway) takes us through a typical day and what it’s like to be a Palaeoecologist. [download]

[READ] Geography Newsletter, January 2020.

Daithí Maguire presenting his PhD research while attending the Geological Remote Sensing Group's 30th Anniversary AGM at the European Space Agency's Centre for Earth Observation in Frascati in December. Funding for his trip was provided by the Marine Institute

Together with the Marine Institute and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the launch of the NARI, the Network of Arctic Researchers in Ireland

Dr Gary Goggins was recently invited to write a contribution for the journal One Earth on how we can transform society's food choices. This short reflection piece focused on the role of large organizations in the food system. To read this and other contributions to the debate, click here.

Dr. Chaosheng Zhang attended ARC 2019 Asia Resilience Centre Conference at Korea University in Seoul during November 10-13, 2019 as an invited speaker, with the flight and local costs covered by the local organiser. Dr. Zhang made a presentation titled “Exploration of spatially varying relationships in environmental geochemistry in the big data era”.

Dr Maura Farrell attended the Volunteer in Sport Awards ceremony in Farmleigh House, Dublin on the 12th November as a member of the judging panel appointed by the Sports Council of Ireland.  Other members of the judging panel present: Paraic Duffy, Trevor Ringland, Maura Farrell, Joanne O'Riordan, Keith Kelly, Mary Knowlan Hickey, Shane O'Connor, Benny Cullen, Michelle Dwyer, Des Fitzgerald, Jimmy Deenihan and Nina Arwitz

Letter to the irish times on "Restoring geography as a compulsory school subject" [READ]

The Royal Irish Academy Oireachtas Science Pairing Scheme was officially launched on Monday, November 18th, by Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, at Academy House in Dublin: https://www.ria.ie/oireachtas-science-pairing-scheme. The scheme is a collaborative project between the RIA and the Houses of the Oireachtas to enable expert research on a range of AHSS and STEM themes to positively impact in the political sphere. Three colleagues from Geography have been chosen for the scheme: Dr Marie Mahon and Dr Maura Farrell will be working with Deputy Declan Breathnach and Deputy Fiona O’Loughlin on the topic of rural sustainability; and Dr John Morrissey will be working with Senator Ivana Bacik on human security and Ireland’s international development policy.

Prof. Seamus Grimes was a guest lecturer at the East China Normal University Humanities and Social Sciences, Huashi city on November 13th, 2019, hosted by the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of East China Normal University, the 146th "Educational Lectures on Humanities and Social Sciences of East China Normal University" hosted by the School of Urban and Regional Sciences The 539 meeting room of the school's Zihuan Building was held as scheduled. [further info]

Professor Mary Cawley of the Population and Migration research cluster, will be presenting on Diasporic links and on-going transnational relationships in migration and return, on Wednesday 13th November at 1pm.   All are welcome to attend. For more information click here.

Our MSc graduate Dearbhla Jordan (now of the Climate Action Regional Office) will appear on The RTE Documentary ‘Will Ireland Survive 2050?’ Article link, RTE, Monday 11th Nov @ 9.30pm.   Meteorologist Gerald Fleming and climate activist Dr. Cara Augustenborg examine the disturbing consequences of extreme global weather, with the programme featuring the plight of Bertra Strand, Co Mayo, where staff and students of Geography’s MSc have been working for a number of years.

As the ENERGISE project is soon to be concluded, the project team is happy to share a project summary video on the ENERGISE website and youtube about the project methodology, implementation process and outcomes.  The main project results were also shared with policy-makers, businesses, NGOs, academics and others at a final conference held in Barcelona on October 15th, and with a more general audience through a press release that you can read online, with links to more ENERGISE materials, including detailed research findings.   More information on ENERGISE is available on the project website, and you can join us on Twitter and Facebook as well.You can also contact the project coordinators:  frances.fahy@nuigalway.ie or gary.goggins@nuigalway.ie

The Third Arctic Award – an award which highlights successful and impactful development projects from Arctic areas - was granted to the BuSK project (Building shared knowledge capital to support natural resource governance in the northern periphery), coordinated by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) with NUI Galway as a research partner. [Read More]

Research by Dr Shane Conway, Dr Maura Farrell and Dr John McDonagh in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Research Unit at NUI Galway, focusing on 'Intergenerational Considerations for Generational Renewal in Agriculture Policy Strategies' has recently been featured on the ARC 2020 (Agricultural and Rural Convention) platform. ARC 2020 is a multi-stakeholder European Union wide platform that involves over 150 civil society networks and organisations (from 22 EU Member States) all working on issues affected by the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).  Please see here.  

The NRN team at NUI Galway, Dr Shane Conway and Dr Maura Farrell, we have designed and produced an Irish language version of a booklet highlighting and promoting Ireland’s 23 EIP-AGRI Operational Group projects funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020. This publication was officially launched by Dr Conway at an EIP-AGRI workshop at this year’s Burren Winterage School on the 24th of October 2019 in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare. A piece about this launch and a link to the booklet can be found on the NRN website, please see here. 

Dr Eugene Farrell was invited to give a public lecture to the Galway Geological Association on the 22nd of October. The lecture focussed on the environmental monitoring programmes conducted by Dr Farrell in partnership with staff and students in NUIG. Observations collected during field experiments are critical to understanding how coastal system behave today but also how they will respond to changing boundary conditions such as rising sea levels and extreme water levels. Contemporary process-response models are an important part of the long term trajectory of mapping geomorphic systems evolution.

A new book co-edited by Frances Fahy, Gary Goggins (NUIG) and Charlotte Jensen (Aalborg University) was officially launched last week in Barcelona at the European Roundtable for Sustainable Consumption and Production (ERSCP) Conference by Dr Sylvia Lorek, Sustainable Europe Research Institute, Germany. The book, 'Energy Demand Challenges in Europe', examines the role of citizens in sustainable energy transitions across Europe. The book was published by Palgrave MacMillan as part of the Palgrave Pivot series and is free to download.

3rd year Geography students visited Athenry  as part of their Field Based Learning, module. They visited @teagasc and @galwayruraldev where they heard about agri sustainability and rural development measures. The students are currently undertaking a SWOT analysis of of Athenry.

Dr Eugene Farrell held fieldtrips this week at Grattan Beach in Galway City with second year students registered in the Earth Surface Processes and Landforms module. Students assessed if Grattan Beach fulfilled all the criteria for a  Blue Flag designation. These criteria include: Environmental Education & Information, Water Quality, Environmental Management, and Safety and Services. The students also investigated for visible pressures (climate and human) on the coastline. Each team of students had to design long term coastal management strategies for the area spanning the spectrum of resistance to adaptation. The fieldtrips were supported by Geography staff and postgraduate students.

The School of Geography & Archaeology is a wonderfully vibrant and inspiring place to work and study, and this edition of Gortsceala captures some of our core passions: fieldwork, public scholarship and making critical knowledge count. 

Teagasc's 'TResearch Autumn 2019' quarterly magazine features research published in the International Journal of Agricultural Management on the topic of ‘Generational Renewal in Agriculture’ by Dr Shane Conway, Dr John McDonagh and Dr Maura Farrell in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Research Unit at NUI Galway calling for policy makers to understand the 'language of farming', and also to value the older generation of the farming community's 'way of life' on their farms in later life when devising future farm transfer strategies (p.32-33). A piece by Dr Brian Leonard and colleagues at NUI Galway and Teagasc exploring farmer perceptions of risk in farm succession is also featured in this edition (p.34-35).

The 2019-20 MSc class in Coastal and Marine Environments spent three days on Inis Mór learning about life and livelihoods in the Aran Islands. As part of their visit, the students spent an afternoon with David OHalloran of Bláth na Mara (Flower of the Sea), learning about traditional seaweed harvesting techniques and how Bláth na Mara is establishing new markets for four different types of seaweed that grow locally. Learn more of their story at blathnamara.ie

Open Care_Peat Meeting Ireland, 27th September, 2019.  Two days of interesting speakers, discussions, workshops and site visits, together with the partners and other peatland organisations. For further info: @INTERREG_NWE

Dr Kathy Reilly has been invited to join Focus Ireland’s Research Committee. Focus Ireland works with people who are homeless or who are at risk of losing their homes across Ireland. The central function of the Research Committee is to provide guidance and advice in the planning and delivery of the organisation’s research and evaluation programme, within the context of Focus Ireland’s organisational strategic plan. This invitation is based on Dr Reilly’s current work exploring homeless experiences in Ireland, funded by the Irish Research Council’s Research for Policy and Society Scheme.

Dr Gary Goggins recently published a Whitaker Institute Policy Brief which looks how we can best design and implement initiatives aimed at sustainable transformation of household energy use. The policy brief can be read in full here.

The latest peer-reviewed article from the H2020-funded ENERGISE project has just been published in the prestigious journal Energy Policy. The paper examines the importance of how energy demand problems are understood and framed, and what this means for the type of solutions that are proposed. The work is a joint publication between researchers at NUIG (Gary Goggins and Frances Fahy) together with their colleagues from Aalborg University. The Open Access article is available to download in full here.

Bertra Strand and its dunes are in a precarious state. It has been pounded by series of storms in the past decade with dire consequences.  An integrated vision is needed for the future welfare of the whole coastal landscape, where the natural environment is inextricably linked to that of the local communities of Murrisk, Lecanvy and Belclare. To kickstart local climate action an event is being run by the EU Aelclic Project.  The event on Tuesday Oct 1st at 7pm in The Tavern, Murrisk, Co Mayo, will hear of international experiences from Prof Enzo Pranzini (University of Florence), Prof Bas Pedroli (Wageningen University) and Dr Maura Farrell (NUI Galway).  Hearing of good practices from Ireland and abroad will demonstrate that solutions do exist that can be beneficial to the communities and the natural environment at the same time. The outcomes of the event are expected to be, a greater awareness of possible solutions and a solid commitment from those interested to work together to take action. [Further Info]

Dr Eugene Farrell was an invited speaker to Edge Hill University Liverpool for the International Workshop on Coastal Resilience and Adaptation. The two day event included a field visit to Sefton Dunes and Formby where scientists met with managers from The National Trust and English Nature to discuss short and long term management practices and challenges. The team included members from the NERC funded Thai Coast Project. Items discussed included blowout mobilization to increase biodiversity; impacts of invasive species on habitats of natterjack toad and sand lizards; impacts of humans (visitors; pine plantations; Industry pollution); and community engagement.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a fixed-term position as a Postdoctoral Researcher with the Department of Geography at the National University of Ireland, Galway. This position is available from November 1, 2019 for 12 months.  [Further Info]

NUI Galway was recognised as one of the co-organisers in two international conferences: ISEG 2019 The 11th International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry held in Beijing during Aug. 7-10, 2019; MEDGEO 2019 The 8th International Conference on Medical Geology of International Medical Geology Association (IMGA) held in Guiyang during Aug. 11-15, 2019. Dr. Chaosheng Zhang served as co-chair for these two international conferences. 

During August, Dr. Chaosheng Zhang gave keynote talks at 3 international conferences: ICEPH 2019 The 5th International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Health held in Harbin during August 4-6, 2019; ISEG 2019 The 11th International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry held in Beijing during Aug. 7-10, 2019; MEDGEO 2019 The 8th International Conference on Medical Geology of International Medical Geology Association (IMGA) held in Guiyang during Aug. 11-15, 2019. Dr. Zhang also acted as one of the workshop leaders for Medical Geology Short Course on provided on Aug. 11 during MEDGEO 2019.

Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Research Cluster at NUI Galway, spoke to Ella McSweeney on RTÉ Radio One's Drivetime show last week.  You can listen to this RTÉ Brainstorm Podcast piece here (@10.20):

Visiting researcher Dr Russell Prince from Massey University in New Zealand is enjoying his time working in Geography at NUI Galway and explains the purpose of his research stay:    ‘I'm a political and economic geographer with particular interests in policy mobility, which refers to the movement of policy from one place to another, and the geographies of market and economy-making. My current research is trying to combine these trajectories with a historical study of New Zealand's adoption of statistical methods in the middle decades of the twentieth century and the related invention of the New Zealand economy as an idea in itself. While I'm visiting here at Galway I'm spending my time taking advantage of the broadband to trawl through the many historical documents from the period that the New Zealand national library has made available through their digitisation project.’

Another great publication from the Energise research team: Dr Gary Goggins and Dr Frances Fahy have published a new paper exploring the Characteristics and governance of urban-based energy initiatives across Europe in the top ranked Journal of Cleaner Production. You can read the open access article here.

Congrats to our former PhD Graduate and Colleague Dr Mary Greene on her recent appointment as Assistant Professor at the Environmental Policy Unit at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Best wishes in the new post Mary!

Professor Ulf Strohmayer spoke to RTE1 Drivetime this week on 'Reclaiming the streets from the car' [Listen] 

Dr Eugene Farrell participated in a field excursion to Inis Mór (Inishmore) Aran Islands to examine large boulder deposits that have been moved by storm waves. Previously it was thought that only tsunamis had the power to move these giant boulders - the largest recorded to have moved exceeds 600 tonnes! The decade long research is being conducted by Prof Ronadh Cox (Williams College, Massachusetts, USA)  who visited NUIG Geography in Spring 2019. The fieldtrip – led by Prof Cox -  was attended by geographers, geomorphologists, oceanographers, geologists, and geophysicists. [More Info]

Farmers in the south-east are fighting a losing battle against the impact of coastal erosion. Dr Eugene Farrell featured in an article in the Independent Farming feels that farmers will find it hard to "fight the economics of coastal erosion". It's very expensive to protect farmland from coastal erosion, especially if it will have to be replaced every few years. Authorities have to make decisions about who to protect. He explains that a number of farmers also feel very threatened by the loss of their land and that it is also impacting them emotionally. 

Geography PhD student Helen Maguire speaks to the Irish Independent after comments by Stella Mc Cartney regarding laundry, see article here

The National Rural Network (NRN) team at NUI Galway, Dr Maura Farrell and Dr Shane Conway, recently organised a national seminar on the EU Action for Smart Villages Initiative in Ireland, entitled ‘Smart Villages and Rural Towns in Ireland: Revitalising Rural Areas through Community-Led Innovation’ on behalf of the NRN and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD). This event took place in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone, on July 4th, 2019. This seminar was structured to build a greater knowledge base around the EU Action for Smart Villages initiative, and demonstrate how it can be planned, implemented and realized in an Irish context, particularly in the context of the design of the LEADER Programme post 2020. Dr Farrell also presented at this event on the topic of 'Rural Ireland: Embracing a ‘Smart’ Concept', while Dr Conway chaired proceedings. [READ]

Research carried out by Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography’s Rural Studies Research Cluster on the topic of ‘Generational Renewal in Agriculture’, calling for farm transfer policy makers to understand the 'language of farming', and also to value the older generation of the farming community's 'way of life' on their farms when devising future policy was recently highlighted in the Irish Farmers Journal. [READ]

Recommendations set forth in a recent study published in the International Journal of Agricultural Management by Dr Shane Conway, Dr John McDonagh and Dr Maura Farrell in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Research Cluster at NUI Galway have been featured the Connacht Tribune (cover page & p.68-69). These policy recommendations are aimed at allowing older farmers to maintain and sustain existing activities and daily routines on their farms in later life, whilst also ‘releasing the reins’ to allow for the necessary delegation of managerial responsibilities and ownership of the family farm to their successors, in order for generational renewal in agriculture to occur. [READ]

Geography is delighted to welcome Dr Aisling Gallagher and Dr Russell Prince, visiting researchers from Massey University New Zealand who will be hosted by Dr Frances Fahy and Dr Kathy Reilly this July and August - we are really looking forward to the summer collaboration.

Galway Convention Bureau is looking for champions in Galway to attract further conference investment in our city. In their recent communication Dr Frances Fahy and Dr Kathy Reilly’s hard work on the very successful EUGEO recently held in NUIG (attracting 450 delegates from 37 countries) was recognized in the Sunday Business Post last week.

An article about the impact and success of the Irish NRN' interactive LEADER and EIP-AGRI Project Storyboard databases  as a good practice dissemination model to communicate the success of the objectives set out in Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) is featured in the Spring/Summer 2019 edition of the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) Rural Connections magazine (p.36-37). This article was produced by the NRN team at NUIG, Dr Maura Farrell, Dr Shane Conway and Dr Aisling Murtagh. Please see here.  

An update on the current LEADER budget allocated to Ireland, funded through the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP), was featured recently in the Irish Farmers Journal. This article featured insights from Dr Maura Farrell, Lecturer in the Discipline of Geography at NUI Galway and Lead Researcher with the National Rural Network, Over 2000 projects, valued at €69 million have been approved for LEADER funding so far under the current programme.

Research carried out by Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography’s Rural Studies Research Cluster on the topic of ‘Generational Renewal in Agriculture’, specifically as it relates to the senior generation of the farming community has recently been published in the International Journal of Agricultural Management (please see: https://bit.ly/2x5OfPz). Globally the policy mantra about the survival, continuity and future prosperity of the agricultural sector, traditional family farm model and broader sustainability of rural society seems ultimately to depend on an age-diverse farming population.

MSc student Jack Workman is working with Dr Eugene Farrell to test the application of multispectral (MicaSense RedEdge) and RGB images to map dune vegetation and habitats (e.g., the rare Natterjack toad) in The Maharees using UAV technology. Their research is illustrating the great potential of high-resolution UAV data and photogrammetric techniques in coastal science and related disciplines. UAV mapping represents a faster, more reliable, and cost-effective approach in landscape assessment for scientists and managers.

Dr Therese Conway, Discipline of Geography, is hosting Trevor Noon a student from Harvard travelling through Ireland in July.  Trevor is travelling to Ireland through the Henry Russell Shaw Purposeful Travel Fellowship. During his time in Ireland Trevor will be interviewing Therese for a documentary that seeks to explore the relationship between rural and urban populations

Dr Eugene Farrell recently worked with Fingal County Council, An Taisce, and local coastal communities to identify the need for a  ‘best practice’ guide for beach cleaning in County Dublin. Public concerns of the dumping of the cleaned beach litter back on the dunes (containing plastics, wipes, faeces, etc.) need to be addressed with short- and long-term solutions. Dr Farrell’s role was to provide a scientific basis for beach-dune management and encourage local communities and local authorities to work together to adopt management plans that are sustainable and strike a proper balance between conservation and use of the beach and dune systems during the busy summer bathing months.

Article by Professor Ulf Strohmayer, Discipline of Geography, NUIG for RTE News Brainstorm [READ]

MSc student Eoin ÓFátharta is in the Maharees this week, conducting visitor surveys as part of his dissertation research on recreational values of dune systems. His work is supporting ongoing local efforts led by the Maharees Conservation Association, and is being assisted by Jack Workman, Daithí Maguire, Drs Eugene Farrell and Liam Carr.

On May 09th 2019 Axel Leahy presented his views on policy challenges facing the European Union in relation to “Climate Action and Sustainable Development” to five Joint Oireachtas Committees - see video clip here (1hr 58mins into the May 9th recording).  The Ceann Comhairle organised the special joint sitting of five Joint Oireachtas Committees, the Joint Committee on Climate Action included. The session engaged with younger citizens in relation to key policy issues facing the European Union.  It is highly likely that the views aired on the day contributed in some way to the Government’s new climate action plan, with Tánaiste Simon Coveney saying a permanent Oireachtas committee dedicated to climate change is to be set up under the plan. 

Dr Sara Hannafin was conferred with her PhD on 11th June 2019 at NUI Galway. Seen above with her supervisors Dr Nessa Cronin, Centre for Irish Studies and Professor Mary Cawley, Geography and the Whitaker Institute. Congratulations, Sara! Sara’s thesis is entitled  Coming ‘home’: place, belonging and the return migration of the second-generation Irish from Britain

Congratulations to Dr Brian Leonard (PhD) on graduating with his PhD in NUI Galway on Tuesday 11th June.  Brian's thesis is entitled: Irish farm succession and inheritance: an examination of farmers’ economic decision-making strategies as socially-constructed risk assessment.  Well done also to his supervisors in Geography, Dr Maura Farrell and Dr Marie Mahon, and the Dean of Arts, Professor Cathal O' Donoghue and Anne Kinsella (Teagasc). 

A new book 'Energy Demand Challenges in Europe: Implication for policy, planning and practice', co-edited by Dr Frances Fahy and Dr Gary Goggins, has just been published by Palgrave MacMillan as part of the Palgrave Pivot series. This open access book examines the role of citizens in sustainable energy transitions across Europe. It explores energy problem framing, policy approaches and practical responses to the challenge of securing clean, affordable and sustainable energy for all citizens, focusing on households as the main unit of analysis. The book revolves around ten contributions that each summarise national trends, socio-material characteristics, and policy responses to contemporary energy issues affecting householders in different countries, and provides good practice examples for designing and implementing sustainable energy initiatives. Overall, the book is a valuable resource for researchers, policy-makers, practitioners and others interested in sustainable energy perspectives. The book is a key output from the H2020 ENERGISE project (GA number 727642) and is free to download.

A very successful and enjoyable day was had by members of the Geography Department at the Ryan Institute Research Day 2019 on Friday 31st of May.  The discipline had great representation at the lunch-time poster session, and even won some prizes with Marta Cabello taking first prize for the Energy and Climate Change research theme and Megan Murphy O’ Connor winning second prize in the Marine and Coastal research group. Congratulations!

The role of EIP-AGRI Operational Groups in protecting biodiversity and tackling climate change was discussed on RTE Radio One’s Drivetime Programme on Wednesday the 29th of May 2019. Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography’s Rural Studies Research Cluster at NUI Galway and the National Rural Network was interviewed at the Irish Rural Link annual conference in Athlone on the 27th of May 2019 about this initiative along with EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan. The segment runs from 2:18:25 to 2:24:15 and you can listen back here.  

A new booklet on Ireland's locally-led EIP-AGRI Operational Group Projects, produced by the National Rural Network team at NUI Galway, Dr Shane Conway and Dr Maura Farrell in the Discipline of Geography’s Rural Studies Research Cluster, was launched by Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Andrew Doyle TD, in the Department of Agriculture and Food, and the Marine offices at Johnstown Castle Estate, Co. Wexford on the 16th of May 2019. Shane also spoke at this launch about the NRN’s role in inspiring people in the farming community and rural areas to maximize the success of the objectives set out in Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020.  You can find and download this freely available booklet on the NRN website.

The Rural Research Cluster at the Discipline of Geography are delighted to be part the new 4 year RURALIZATION project. The research team are Dr. Maura Farrell (Principal Investigator), Dr. Aisling Murtagh (Post-Doctoral Researcher), Dr. Marie Mahon, Dr. Therese Conway, Dr. John McDonagh and Dr. Shane Conway.   The project started on May 1st and the kick-off meeting was held on May 15th and 16th in Barcelona. The project develops knowledge and supports policy making focused on access to land, youth visions for rural futures, newcomers to rural areas and new entrants to farming.   Follow RURALIZATION on Twitter @Ruralization_EU and more information is available via the CORDIS Fact Sheet

Congratulations to Geography PhD student Michelle Curran on winning the Postgraduate & Early Career Network (PECN) of the Geographical Society of Ireland (GSI)  poster contest at EUGEO2019

Dr Gordon Bromley, School of Geography and Archaeology, NUI Galway speaks to RTE Radio 1 on climate and biodiversity emergencyand  global warming [listen]

Delighted to welcome Dr. Larissa Naylor (Reader for Physical Geography at the University of Glasgow) for our Keynote lecture this evening. Larissa is an international expert in climate change adaptation, rock coast morphodynamics, ecological enhancement and greening of hard infrastructure and navigating the science-policy-practice interface. Larissa helped establish the UK’s Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership, and has reviewed the coastal chapter for the IPCC.

NUI Galway will host the 7th EUGEO (Association of Geographical Societies in Europe) Congress in conjunction with the 51st Conference of Irish Geographers from 15-18 May. The theme for this year’s event is ‘Re-imagining Europe’s Future Society and Landscapes’. [full article]

The  EUGEO 2019 has delegates from over 35 countries attending..... Talk about international collaboration  !!!

Looking forward to our opening Keynote address this evening by Dr. Michele Lancione (Senior Research Fellow and Director of ECR Development in Sheffield University).  Michele is an urban ethnographer and activist and his Keynote lecture will focus on the theme of Homelessness and governmentality.

Delighted to welcome almost 500 delegates from 37 countries to the EUGEO 2019 Congress which commences today in Bailey Allen Hall on NUIG campus. Dr Kathy Reilly EUGEO Co-Chair, Prof Lokesh Joshi (NUIG VP for Research) and Prof Zoltan Kovacs will officially launch the Congress at the Welcome reception at 5.30pm on Wednesday 15th of May in Bailey Allen Hall. 

The School of Geography and Archaeology at NUI Galway is proud to jointly host the 51st Conference of Irish Geographers 2019 and the EUGEO Congress 2019. The conference one of the largest European gatherings of geographers, will take place over four days (May 15th – 18th 2019)

Congratulations to Dr Liam Carr who was recently elected as Secretary for the Irish Fulbright Alumni Association at their AGM I’m Boston College on May 3rd

Rory O’Callaghan of Seasearch Ireland will present a talk on the unique challenges of recording in marine inshore waters, the work of Seasearch Ireland and some of the amazing life lying just below the surface of Galway’s marine waters, including photographs and videos of these unique habitats.  Galway's Hidden Gems Talk, 9th May, 7:00 PM.

A public exhibition of Ireland’s 23 locally-led EIP-AGRI Operational Group projects took place from the 17th to 23rd of April 2019 in Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin.  This EIP-AGRI exhibition, aimed at inspiring people in the farming community and rural areas to maximize the success of the objectives set out in the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020, displayed booklets, posters, infographics and interactive content detailing the main aims, objectives, activates and background of each of the successful EIP-AGRI projects. This content was created by the National Rural Network team at NUI Galway, Dr Shane Conway, Dr Maura Farrell and Dr Aisling Murtagh, on behalf of the DAFM.  Please see here for more info.

A new booklet on Ireland's locally-led EIP-AGRI Operational Group Projects was launched by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D. on the 17th of April, 2019 in the Agriculture House, Dublin. This publication was designed and produced by the National Rural Network team at NUI Galway, Dr Shane Conway, Dr Maura Farrell and Dr Aisling Murtagh, to highlight and promote the 23 Irish EIP-AGRI Operational Groups nationally and internationally. A budget of €59m is set aside for these projects. You can download this freely available booklet here.

Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography at NUI Galway and with the National Rural Network (NRN) spoke about the impact & success of the NRN' interactive EIP-AGRI Operational Group Storyboard database as a good practice dissemination model to communicate the success of the objectives set out in Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 to attendees at the ‘Networking for Innovation’ session at the  European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) ‘networX - Inspiring Rural Europe’ event held in Brussels, Belgium from the 11th to 12th of April 2019. Dr Conway is pictured here at this event with EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan.  More information about this event can be found here

This coming Monday the MA Environmental, Society and Development class are embarking on a week field trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here they will visit development agencies, such as the UNDP, and engage in field-based exploration of post-conflict development processes.

Maria O’Connell (MSc Coastal and Marine Environments & Climate Action Regional Office) hosted Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton, as he officially launched the Climate Action Regional Office for the Atlantic Seaboard North in Aras an Chontae, Castlebar, on Friday April 5th 2019. Read full article here.

The BASS students on their field trip to Barcelona

The Marine Institute recently welcomed an international group of experts to Galway to discuss how marine spatial planning is used to balance the different demands for using our ocean.  Read full article here

Dr Eugene Farrell was the invited keynote presenter on April 15th in Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick for the Regional Studies Association (RSA) workshop on Sustainability Transitions in the Coastal Zone. The RSA research network aims to bring together scholars focused on the dynamics of coastal zones as economic spaces in order to catalyse a discourse on new coastal economies, addressing problems of lock-in and system inertia in the current regime and exploring means to foster radical innovation for sustainable and resilience based coastal development all while making sure the spatial dimension and the regional context are fully conceptualized

What a great experience, an evening at Galway Aquarium with marine spatial planning experts organised by Dr Liam Carr, Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway.  Hands-on work on how best to plan & use our coasts & oceans. 

Our  Applied Social Science  2nd years students are exploring  Barcelona urban Geography with Professor Ulf Strohmayer, Fieldbased learning !!!

Dr Gordon Bromley  used this amazing tool 'The Climate Reanalyzer' today with Merlin College transition year geography students. Reproducing the climatic phenomena we've experienced recently & comparing them to long-term means is invaluable

Dr Eugene Farrell looks at how communities tackle coastal and marine management in Ireland. He argues that we need to work in the knowledge that our ‘natural’ geomorphic systems will no longer be fully natural; they will be impacted by our actions; they will be host a myriad of stakeholder interests that are often conflicting; and that many of our natural geomorphic systems are being ‘squeezed’ out of existence from natural and human pressures [Watch]

Congratulations to PhD student Michele Curran for being selected to talk at this years #soapboxScienceGalway, come see female scientists talk at Spanish Arch on 29 June! #STEM#Climate@GeogNUIG

Dr Maura Farrell, Discipline of Geography will give a talk on 'Researching the Rural: Going Global and Staying Local', Tuesday May 7th at 1pm,  GO10, Moore Institute. [Read More]

RTE Brainstorming,  Opinion: the decision to make geography an optional Junior Cycle subject risks impoverishing Ireland's future, By Anna Davies, Irish Research Council and Frances Fahy, NUI Galway

[download] Geography Newsletter, 1st April, 2019.

Geography is delighted to host Mr Danijel Pavicic this week. Danijel is visiting from the beautiful city of Zadar on the west coast of Croatia and is completing a one week Erasmus + staff mobility training activity in Geography. The overall objective of Danijel’s training is to develop further cooperation between the Department of Ethnology and Anthropology at the University of Zadar with both the School of Political Science and Sociology and School of Geography and Archaeology in NUI Galway specifically in relation to the undergraduate programme: BSc (Applied Social Sciences).

Professor Michael O’Connell (with Dr Karen Molloy) gave a presentation entitled “Prehistoric Landscapes of North Mayo” at the International Open Workshop: Socio-Environmental Dynamics over the Last 15,000 Years (11–16 March 2019) in Kiel University, Germany

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D., launched the new Pearl Mussel Project at the beautiful Glenbeg Lake near Ardgroom, Co. Cork on Friday the 29th of March 2019. This EIP-AGRI Operational Group, awarded €10 million under the RDP 2014-2020, aims to design and implement a voluntary results-based agri-environmental scheme with farmers that will help protect the endangered freshwater pearl mussel, as well as benefiting the wider environment. It is 1 of 23 EIP-AGRI Projects in Ireland. Pictured here at the launch of this project is Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Research Cluster and the National Rural Network, with Minister Creed and Brendan Gleeson, Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine.

Congrats to the ENERGISE research team, all members of Geography’s Planning and Sustainability Research Group on submitting their forthcoming book ‘Energy demand challenges in Europe: implications for policy, planning and practice’ to Palgrave Publishers in the UK  [Read More]

Dr Patricia Breen travelled to Belfast last week to attend a workshop for the MarPAMM (Marine Protected Area Management and Monitoring) project. Patricia presented work from her previous postdoc in University College Cork on modelling species distributions of cetaceans, seabirds and fish. She also spoke about her current work in NUIG on risk assessment within fisheries for the SEERAC (Spatially explicit ecological risk assessment framework for conservation planning of coastal waters) project.

One of our Human Geographers Dr Richard Scriven has recorded a geography podcast series exploring different themes using a geographical lens. In one episode, Richard talks with Dr Gordon Bromley about his experiences of working in Antarctica and explains how he studies historical climate change using glaciers and rocks.  [listen]

Dr Valerie Ledwith gave a presentation at the Whitaker Ideas Forum on 'Examining Hungary’s Denial of Human Security for Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees' , [Read More]

Two of Dr. Audrey Morley’s PhD students from the Palaeoenvironmental Research Unit (PRU), Megan Murphy O’ Connor and Dakota Holmes visited the IODP Bremen Core Repository at MARUM located within the University of Bremen from the 4th-15th March 2019.  [Read More]

[download] Geography Newsletter, 25th March 2019.

On March 13th NUI Galway hosted a Heritage Ireland 2030 consultation workshop with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Kevin Lynch contributed a short piece on climate change and community resilience. Joe Fenwick has made an individual contribution to the consultation which he has agreed to share [download]

An interesting and insightful piece on the 'Family Farm Model' in Ireland, written by renowned farming journalist and reporter Ella McSweeney in today's Sunday Business Post, features research on generational renewal in agriculture carried out by Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Research Cluster at NUI Galway, and the National Rural Network. In this article, Dr Conway highlights the crucial importance of family farming to the sustainability and future survival of rural Ireland. More info here.

[download] Geography Newsletter, 19th March 2019.

Dr Shane Conway participated in a 'Governmental Day Workshop' on behalf of National Rural Network at the FTTH (Fibre to the Home) 2019 conference held in the RAI Amsterdam on the 12th of March. The latest information on broadband and digitalisation policy developments in the wew discussed at this event, with a particular focus on tackling and addressing the challenges faced by public local and regional authorities in relation to fibre broadband deployment in rural areas throughout Europe.  More info here & here

What do you do when nobody listens to your concerns? Take action. Ireland’s school children have taken to the streets today in protest at what they say is Government inaction on climate change. Read more:  Irish Times, RTE News, Galway Advertiser 

Dr Mary Greene participated as a workshop leader at the recent BurrenBeo Learning Landscape Symposium held in Kinvara (8th -10th March). Her workshop focused on innovative methods for engaging communities in societal transitions towards sustainability. More information on the symposium can be found here 

Dr Mary Greene participated as a key panelist at the main panel discussion 'Changing for our Climate' at the Galway Energy Summit held in NUI Galway on 12th March. The panel discussion, moderated by RTE's George Lee, stimulated a lively discussion, with Dr. Greene raising themes relating to the often neglected social and human dimensions of the energy transition (Picture attached).

[download] Geography Newsletter, 11th March 2019.

Dr Patrick Collins was  invited to give a keynote talk by the Cork University Business School (UCC) on the Creative Economies of Peripheral Regions on Friday 8th March. The event was attended by a mix of policy makers, practitioners and academics.

Dr John Morrissey was recently invited to Oxford to outline his IRC project, Haven, to the British International Studies Association. John spent a few days as a visiting scholar at St Antony’s College, where he presented a paper on EU securitization discourse and responses to the Mediterranean refugee crisis.

Professor Gerry Kearns, Head of Geography, Maynooth and Gary Granville, Emeritus Professor, School of Education NCAD joined Pat Kenny on Newstalk for a debate: geography as a key to solving global problems such as climate change and poverty, and in proposing solutions to issues such as the housing crisis.   Listen to podcast here.

[download] Geography Newsletter, March 2019.

Dr Frances Fahy at St Flannan’s open day in Ennis this sunny morning in County Clare

Dr Gary Goggins last week published a letter in the Irish Times reflecting on our consumerist society, and asking the question "How much is enough?" Gary is currently working on the H2020 ENERGISE project, which explores social and cultural influences on household energy use, and engages participants across Europe in real-world experiments that challenge social norms around household consumption.

In a letter published in the Sunday Independent and the Irish Times, the heads of six university geography departments expressed deep concern at the removal of geography as a core subject in the Junior Cert.

Join top female scientists as they take to the streets !!!!   June 29th, Spanish Arch Galway. [more info]

In this episode (Eco Eye Series 17 ‘The Living Beach’; 12 February 2019) Anja Murray and Dr Lara Dungan examined the future of Ireland’s beaches with the rise of sea waters and associated effects of climate change and human activity, such as erosion. Coastal scientist Dr. Farrell set out the issues in the Maharees Heritage and Conservation project, whose volunteers have tried to help reverse these effects by planting dune grass, among other endeavours, to help push back the encroaching tide. But is it be enough to save this precious ecosystem?

Congratulations to Brian Leonard (PhD candidate in Geography) on passing his viva yesterday, 05 February 2019.  His examiners were Prof Matt Lobley, University of Exeter and Dr Therese Conway, NUI Galway.  Brian's thesis is entitled: Irish farm succession and inheritance: an examination of farmers’ economic decision-making strategies as socially-constructed risk assessment. Brian completed his PhD through publications, one of which may be accessed here Policy drivers of farm succession and inheritance (published in Land Use Policy). Kudos too, to his supervisors Dr Maura Farrell and Dr Marie Mahon, Professor Cathal O Donoghue and Dr Anne Kinsella (Teagasc). 

Sara Hannafin (PhD student in Irish Studies and Geography) passed her viva on Friday, 7 December 2018.  Sara received the very rare recommendation of no corrections being required to her thesis. The examiners were Professor Mary J Hickman, London Metropolitan University and Dr Valerie Ledwith, NUI Galway.  Sara's thesis is entitled: Coming 'home': place, belonging and second-generation return migration from England to Ireland'. Her supervisors were Dr Nessa Cronin and Professor Mary Cawley.

Whitaker Ideas Forum upcoming talk about 'Learning from Living Labs: Experiences from the field' by Dr Eimear Heaslip, Discipline of Geography on February 13th at 1pm in CA110 (SAC Room), St. Anthony’s, JE Cairnes Building. [further details]

Dr Eugene Farrell was invited to present his research ideas at TEDX Galway on 07 February 2019. Dr Farrell presented two solutions that can support coastal communities and coastal ecosystems build capacity and resilience in the face of pressures from storms and human activities. The solutions included: (1) monetization of our coastal ecosystems in order to acquire large capital funds to support coastal conservation projects and (2) prioritize the role of coastal communities in decision making: local solutions for local problems.

Whitaker Institute Policy Brief Series from Dr Mary Greene, Discipline of Geography,  titled 'Exploring complex social drivers of (un)sustainable consumption' [READ]

Whitaker Institute Policy Brief by Dr Liam Carr, Discipline of Geography titled 'Nitrate Loading in Galway Canals: Challenges in Meeting Water Framework Directive Standards' [READ]

Whitaker policy brief from Rebecca Windemer and  Dr Frances Fahy’s on ‘End-of-life considerations for onshore wind in Ireland' [READ]

Congratulation to Geography staff members Terry Morley and Eugene Farrell  who are part of a successful EU INTERREG NWE project, ‘Care-Peat’, to develop new policies and methods for managing and monitoring carbon reduction from peatlands. The €6.23 million project involves partners from Ireland, the UK, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. The award will fund local peatland restoration and monitoring as well as the development of innovative policies based on the data collected from restoration works. Dr. Morley is the Irish lead investigator based on his research an industry experience in wetland ecology. Dr. Farrell will use state-of-the-art drone technology to collect passive optical imagery to classify peatlands. The partnership also includes Niall Ó Brolcháin from the eGov Centre at the Insight Centre for Data Analytics and experts from the NPWS, IPCC, UCD, private consultants, Bord na Mona, An Taisce, and the Community Wetlands Forum.

A European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) seminar entitled ‘Multi-level strategies for digitising agriculture and rural areas’ took place from the 12th to 13th of December 2018 in Antwerp, Belgium. The main purpose of this workshop was to highlight the importance of strategic planning to steer the digitisation of agriculture and rural areas, combining European, national, regional and local levels. Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography at NUI Galway and with the Irish National Rural Network (NRN), spoke at this event on the importance of implementing a multi-method communication approach to engage, inform and educate farmers and rural communities throughout EU member states of national and EU-wide digital initiatives and inspiring examples. EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, delivered the closing speech at this seminar via video link.   More information about this seminar can be found here.

Congratulations to Dr. Chaosheng Zhang  who received the Fáilte Ireland National Conference Ambassador Award on November 23 at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Dr. Zhang successfully organised three major international conferences in the area of Environment and Health on campus of NUI Galway: ISEH 2010, SESEH 2012, and ISEH 2016. A forthcoming conference ISEH 2020 organized by Dr. Zhang will be held in Dublin during August 2-8, 2020.

The MSc in Coastal and Marine Environments has secured four days of ship-time aboard the R/V Celtic Voyager from 10-13 October 2019. The research cruise, led by Geography's Drs Liam Carr and Audrey Morley with research support from the Ryan Institute's Dr Rachel Cave and Clynton Gregory, is the fifth consecutive year where the MSc cohort will design and conduct at-sea research in the waters off the west coast of County Galway. The 2019 cruise will provide important updates for Galway Bay's benthic community dataset while also collecting baseline data on the amount and distribution of microplastics in the water column. The 2019 research cruise will again be based out of Cill Rónáin, Inis Mór, and is made possible through funding from the Marine Institute.

ISEH 2018, the 4th International Symposium on Environment and Health was held in Shanghai during December 4-6, 2018, where NUI Galway was recognised as a co-organiser and Dr. Chaosheng Zhang was a co-Chair. The ISEH conference series was initiated by Dr. Chaosheng Zhang, School of Geography and Archaeology, NUI Galway in 2012 where the SESEH (Sino-European Symposium on Environment and Health) conference was held in Galway as the 1st one of this conference series. ISEH 2020 will be held in Dublin during August 2-8, 2020, to be organised by NUI Galway.

Dr Eugene Farrell received grant funding from EPA Ireland and the Marine Institute to conduct a 2 year research project entitled "Achieving Resilience in the Marine and Coastal Environment of Ireland" (Ref: 2018-CCRP-MS.59; EPA Research Programme 2014-2020). Dr Farrell will work with colleagues based in UCC and the MaREI Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy, Cork.

Dr. Eugene Farrell presented research with MSc students Ms. Hatty Dundon (“An Investigation of Digital Surface Model accuracy from UAVs within coastal environments”) and Ms. Niamh Connolly (“Historic and contemporary dune inventories to assess dune vulnerability to climate change impacts”) at the 6th Irish Geomorphology Scientific Workshop (University Ulster, Coleraine, December 07).

INQUA Congress 2019 (theme: Life on the Edge) takes place in Dublin during the final week of July 2019. Various deadlines are fast approaching including that for submission of abstracts (9/01/2019). In addition to the Congress lecture programme (there are sessions devoted to most aspects of the Quaternary), several interesting excursions in Ireland and Britain are also on offer. These excursions take place before, during (mid-Congress) and after the main Congress.  For full details, including financial support available to students, check the Congress web site, http://www.inqua2019.org/.

Drs Liam Carr, Frances Fahy, Eugene Farrell, and Mary Greene participated in a Climate Action Workshop at the Environmental Research Institute, UCC on Thursday, 18 January 2019. The trans-disciplinary workshop, part of the EPA Ireland-funded Imagining 2050 Project, brought together academics from across Ireland and tasked them with the challenge of how to best partner with stakeholders to pursue a climate-resilient future for Ireland. 

Dr. Mary Greene participated as a panel discussant at the recent Geographical Society of Ireland Postgraduate and Early Career Research Network event on socially engaged scholarship. The event was held at Trinity College Dublin on December 7th and was well attended by early career Geographers from throughout the country. 

RTE Brainstorm by Dr Pat Collins, Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway [READ]

Dr Eugene Farrell (guest editor) launched the special issue of Irish Geography  “The vulnerability of Irish landscape systems to climate change and human activity” at the 6th Irish Geomorphology Scientific Workshop held in University Ulster Coleraine 06-07 December. The special issue contains 14 research manuscripts focussed on Irish case studies from 33 authors located in 13 different institutes in Ireland, UK, Spain, Portugal, and South Africa. 

Geography PhD candidate Mr Daithi Maguire presented his recently accepted research manuscript in Irish Geography at the Irish Earth Observation Symposium 2018 (An Teagasc, Dublin, December 06). Congratulations to Daithi for winning “Best student paper” for his oral presentation (“A Comprehensive Roadmap to 50 Years of (Satellite) Earth Observation Resources for the Island of Ireland (1972 – 2023)”) at the 6th Irish Geomorphology Scientific Workshop (University Ulster, Coleraine, December 07).

This Newsletter gives a good overview of open-data resources that provide the foundation for the reconstruction of various aspects of environmental change involving climate, human impact, sea-level change, pollution studies, etc., and the possibilities afforded by such resources.  [READ]

Dr Mary Greene, NUI Galway coordinator of the ERASMUS PLUS Decoding the Disciplines research project, attended the Decoding Education transnational meeting in Roma Tre University last week. This project provides a forum for interdisciplinary learning for progressing pedagogical innovations in teaching complex socio-environmental issues at higher education across European Universities. Dr. Greene presented work relating to her application of the decoding methodology to teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels in the Discipline of Geography.

Latest publication by the ENERGISE geographers! Congrats to Dr Eimear Heaslip and Dr Frances Fahy on their latest article, Developing Transdisciplinary Approaches to Community Energy Transitions: An Island Case Study. Focusing on Eimear's PhD field site location of Inis Oirr, the smallest of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland, the paper discusses the design, development and implementation of a transdisciplinary methodological framework for community energy planning which combines conventional energy engineering techniques with in-depth qualitative approaches.

Dr Eugene Farrell successfully applied to Enterprise Ireland for the H2020 Co-ordinator Proposal Preparation Support Scheme. The scheme facilitates preparation and submission of competitive proposals to the European Research Council Starting Grant. Dr Farrell is building on his current Earth Observation research funded by Geological Survey Ireland. The title of his project is ‘The Coastal Data Cube: frontier research to transition to climate resilience’. High resolution EO (satellite) and Unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) mapping are both ground breaking but we are only just beginning to establish how these technologies can supplement and/or replace conventional ground-based and aerial survey techniques. To date, there has been very limited effort to fuse all these approaches to combine the strengths and negate the limitations inherent to each. The Coastal Data Cube is designed to generate validated OBTE boundary conditions (Oceanography, Bathymetry, Topography, Ecology) at temporal and spatial scales not previously possible.

The latest publication from the ENERGISE project (coordinated by NUIG) seeks to broaden our understanding of how sustainable change can come about in the residential energy sector. The paper focuses on the complex interactions of everyday life that underpin our energy use. It thereby goes beyond dominant individualistic approaches that are primarily grounded in narrow behavioural economic theory. The paper is co-authored by Dr Gary Goggins  and Dr Frances Fahy from the Department of Geography and Ryan Institute. Access the full publication here

Congrats to Prof Erika Wolters (NUIG Moore Visiting Researcher) on the recent publication of When Ideology Trumps Science: Why We Question the Experts on Everything from Climate Change to Vaccinations. The book examines how proponents of scientific findings and the scientists responsible for conducting and communicating the applicable research to decision makers are encountering direct challenges to scientific consensus. Using examples from high-stakes policy debates centered on hot-button controversies such as climate change, GMO foods, immunization, stem cell research, abstinence-only education, and birth control, authors Wolters and Steel document how the contested nature of contemporary perspectives on science leads to the possibility that policymakers will not take science into account when making decisions that affect the general population. In addition, the book identifies ways in which liberals and conservatives have both contested issues of science when consensus diverges from their ideological positions and values. It is a compelling must-read for public policy students and practitioners.

Geography is delighted to host Prof Erika Wolters (Oregon State Uni) and Prof Donna Lybecker (Idaho State University) this July. Erika is a Moore Institute Visiting Fellow and Director of Oregan State University’s Policy Analysis Laboratory. Donna is Professor of International Relations, Environmental Politics, Comparative Politics and Chair of the Political Science Department in Idaho State University. She is currently a Visiting Researcher with the Planning and Sustainability Cluster in Geography at NUIG. Both colleagues are working with Dr Frances Fahy this summer to develop a cross cultural analysis of the CONSENSUS data (@consensusIre @EPAIreland) that has been gathered by her CONSENSUS research team in NUI Galway and in Oregon State University.

Recent research carried out on the ‘Farmer-Farm Relationship in Later Life’ by Dr Shane Conway, Dr John McDonagh and Dr Maura Farrell in the Discipline of Geography’s Rural Studies Research Cluster at NUI Galway, in collaboration with Anne Kinsella, Senior Research Officer with Teagasc, was recently featured in the Connacht Tribune. ‌[READ]

Recommendations set forth in a paper published in the International Journal of Agricultural Management by Dr Shane Conway, Dr John McDonagh and Dr Maura Farrell in the Discipline of Geography’s Rural Studies Research Cluster at NUI Galway, in collaboration with Anne Kinsella, Senior Research Officer with Teagasc, calling for the establishment of a Macra-style organisation geared specifically towards the needs of the older generation of the farming community, were featured Farming Independent. [READ]

An thought-provoking article on the topic of ‘Generational Renewal in Agriculture’, specifically as it relates to older farmers, written by Dr Shane Conway at NUI Galway, is featured in Teagasc's Summer 2018 TResearch Magazine [Read] 

Really interesting findings from Dr Maura Farrell,  Rural Volunteerism study from NUI Galway, conducted with Volunteer Ireland,  Etownz and Galway Volunteer Centre. You can read the report here 

Twelve female scientists will take to their soap boxes and bring science to the streets of Galway as part of NUI Galway’s second annual, Soapbox Science Galway. The event will take place from 11am-2pm at the Spanish Arch, Galway on Saturday, 7 July and is free and open to the public. More Info

Dr Shane Conway, Postdoc Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's, Rural Research Cluster was recently interviewed on Connemara Community Radio about generational renewal in agri, women in farming and the work carried out by the NRN on Ireland's RDP 2014-2020 [Listen]   

Rebecca Windemer, PhD researcher at the School of Geography and Planning at Cardiff University, has been awarded Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Overseas Institutional Visit funding to spend time as a visiting researcher in Geography at NUI Galway from November to December 2018. Rebecca’s research is exploring end-of-life decision making (repowering, life extension and decommissioning) for onshore wind and solar farms. Her research aims to understand how the temporary nature of planning consents and the duration of the impacts of the infrastructure influences decision making. During her visit Rebecca will be working alongside Dr Frances Fahy and the ENERGISE team to discuss her research findings and explore the planning policy, temporality and end-of-life options for windfarms in Ireland. 

Three ‘Farm Viability and Competitiveness’ case studies carried out by the NRN team at NUI Galway, Dr Maura Farrell and Dr Shane Conway have been included in the Government of Ireland's Project Ireland 2040 report entitled ‘Strengthening Rural Economies and Communities’. The NRN case studies included within this report detail a young trained farmer named Leo Morrissey’s successful farm transfer experience with his parents and older brother in Co. Galway, another about farm diversification on the Mulhall’s Coolanowle Country House and Organic Farm, situated along the Carlow and Laois border, and finally a case study on Glen Keen Farm and Visitor Centre in Co. Mayo. This publication, prepared by the DAFM and DRCD, was launched at the Government of Ireland's 'Creating Stronger Rural Economies and Communities' Project Ireland 2040 event held in Westport, Co. Mayo on the 13th of July 2018. Source: National Rural Network

Dr Maura Farrell, Lecturer in Rural Geography at NUI Galway, and Lead Researcher with the NRN, was an invited guest speaker at the Government of Ireland's Project Ireland 2040 'Creating Stronger Rural Economies and Communities' event held in Westport, Co. Mayo. on Friday the 13th of July 2018. Dr Farrell was included in the ‘How do we create stronger rural communities?’ session at this event and spoke in detail about the potential of family farm diversification in leading rural Ireland forward over the next 20 years. The full text of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's inspiring speech at this event, co-hosted by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Agriculture, can be found here. Source: NRNImage Credit: NRN

SEGH 2018, the 34th Conference of the Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health on Sustainable Geochemistry was successfully held at Victoria Falls, Livingstone, Zambia during 2-7th July 2018. Dr. Chaosheng Zhang attended the conference, assessed presentations for student prizes, and made an oral presentation on use of hot spot analysis to reveal spatial patterns and hidden information in environmental geochemistry. Dr. Zhang is the immediate past President of SEGH (2015-2017).

Dr. Chaosheng Zhang, School of Geography and Archaeology, was recently elected as co-Chair of International Medical Geology Association, for the service term 2018-2021. Dr. Zhang served as a councillor of IMGA for two terms during 2013-2015 and 2015-2017. The purpose of IMGA shall be to facilitate and promote co-operation between geoscientists, biomedical researchers, decision-makers and professionals to address human and animal health problems caused by geologic materials or processes.

Congratulations to Daithi Maguire on receiving the Geological Remote Sensing Group (GRSG) annual student award, Daithi will receive £1,000 to support his studies and research work and an invitation to the 2018 Annual Conference in London to present his winning paper. [Further Info]

The School of Geography and Archaeology hosted over 150 Transition Year students from seven schools in Co. Galway for work placement training on the data rescue portion of a collaborative project between Met Éireann and NUI Galway. [Read More]

Dr Eugene Farrell recently participated in the 10th International Conference of Aeolian Research (ICAR X), Bordeaux, France 25-28 June. Eugene and his colleagues from Canada and USA presented research on ‘Temporal patterns of aeolian saltation from field deployment of a vertical array of high frequency laser particle counters’. This small-scale sediment dynamics work is based on field research conducted in Jericoacoara, Brazil. During the conference there was a delegate fieldtrip to the largest coastal dune in Europe called Dune du Pilat located in Arcachon Bay 60 km from Bordeaux. The dune is around 500 m wide, 2.7 km in length, and up to 130 m above sea level. The dune is a famous tourist destination with more than one million visitors per year. Eugene reports that they seem to provide the appropriate amount of facilities and services to accommodate this volume of visitors through very strategic management practices. He hopes that Ireland can learn from these types of case studies to develop sustainable tourism economies that can support rural communities and provide impetus for the young people to stay at home.

The latest Whitaker Institute Policy Brief entitled 'The Farmer-Farm Relationship Impact on Generational Renewal' was written by Dr Shane Conway Postdoctoral Researcher in the Rural Studies Research Cluster at the Discipline of Geography.  You can read this brief here  

It’s been a busy June for Dr Frances Fahy who was presenting at venues ranging from the European Parliament in Brussels, Dublin Castle, Aalborg University, Copenhagen Business School to the fields of Mullingar! Frances was performing at the Living Labs at Body and Soul Music Festival which took place last weekend June 22nd and 23rd in Westmeath. On the festivals new ‘green stage’ Frances was debunking some myths about sustainability and presented on her pan-European research on sustainable energy (www.energise-project.eu) as well as NUI Galway’s new plans for sustainability.

An up-coming event on Wed June 20th (7pm, The Strand Hotel, Dugort, Achill) will shed some light on how Achill’s coastal communities respond to storms and provide some initial ideas around solutions to potential future weather risks for the island. [Read More]

The Geographical Society of Ireland and Department of Geography, Maynooth University hosted the 50th Conference of Irish Geographers which took place from Thursday 10th of May to Saturday 12th of May 2018.  There were 18 representatives from the Discipline of Geography, NUIG in attendance.

Congratulations to Dr Chaosheng Zhang who has been appointed as the Adjunct Professor of Chengdu Technological University

Climate change scientists base findings on what happened to Scotland’s last glaciers.  Read full article [here]

New research exploring the impacts of volunteerism on the development and sustainability of rural communities was launched in NUI Galway on 16th May in the Institute of Lifecourse and Society.  Further details can be found at: https://bit.ly/2IoT4vy

Sir, – Your Editorial (“A senseless downgrading”, May 7th) rightly highlights President Michael D Higgins’s concern regarding the removal of history as a core Junior Cert subject. [Read full article]

Dr Richard Scriven's article on contemporary Pilgrimage featured in RTÉ's Brainstorm platform  [Full Article]

On May 2nd 2018, Dr Frances Fahy was the recipient of NUIG's inaugural President’s Award for Societal Impact. This is a new award in recognition of the valuable contribution staff members make to society and the broader community, above and beyond routine support and academic activities, on behalf of the University. The aim of the President’s Awards for Societal Impact is to award the outstanding contributions of staff across the whole University who seek to use their skills and knowledge to improve the University’s contribution to society and our various communities, to stimulate excellence and help improve the visibility of the University’s impact on society. Frances was nominated for this Award by the Deputy Director of the EPA for her immense impact on the development of environmental policy, shaping how environmental research is funded on the island of Ireland and for successfully applying her research to influence change beyond the academic sphere. Frances was also nominated by the GSI on the basis of her active service to the Society in a number of committee roles for over a decade and her outstanding contributions to promotion of Geography as a subject across the Island of Ireland.

Interview with Yutao Sun and Seamus Grimes on their recently published book 'China and Global Value Chains' [Listen]

Congratulations to Michelle Curran on receiving the 'GSI Postgraduate Fieldwork Award'.  The Geographical Society of Ireland Travel Fund Award part-funded Michelle's attendance at the European Geosciences Union in Vienna, where she presented her research, “The Holocene Thermal Maximum: A possible analogue for future Ocean-Atmosphere climate Dynamics?” to the international scientific community. 

Dr Karen Molloy, Discipline of Geography, NUIG presenting at the ‘Pint of Science’ which took place from the 12th – 14th May, Karen was part of the session ‘Innovating women in geoscience’ which took place in the Roisin Dubh.

Dr. Chaosheng Zhang has been appointed as an Adjunct Professor in Chengdu and Honorary Director of Centre of Big Data for Smart Environmental Protection. Pictured: Dr. Chaosheng Zhang (left) receiving certificate of Adjunct Professor from President Yusong Yan (right) of Chengdu Technological University

Book review of Dr Seamus Grimes book 'China and Global Value Chains' [Read Reviw]

Congratulations to Dr Liam Carr and Dr Frances Fahy, members of the new IFAA Board for 2018/19. Members of the new Executive Board are pictured at Dublin Castle in June 2018 with Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, Reece Smyth and Dr Dara FitzGerald, Executive Director of the Irish Fulbright Commission.

Dr Frances Fahy at Dublin Castle on Friday the 9th of June, as Treasurer of the Irish Fulbright Alumni Association, opened the 23rd IFAA  Scholars Dinner with a welcoming address for the incoming 2018/19 Fulbright Scholars.  The Fulbright Irish Awards provide grants for Irish citizens, and E.U. citizens who have been resident in the Republic of Ireland for three or more years, to research, study, or lecture in the U.S. on an annual basis. Frances was a 2013/14 Fulbright Scholar at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA, USA, researching the experiences of academics involved in policy-relevant research in the field of sustainability.

Dr Frances Fahy travelled to Brussels this week where she presented insights from the H2020 ENERGISE project at the European Union Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW). EU Sustainable Energy Week is the annual flagship event uniting policy makers, authorities, industry, stakeholders, NGOs, researchers and academia in the European sustainable energy sector. At the event, Dr Fahy launched the ENERGISE online database which maps over 1000 sustainable energy initiatives across Europe. You can browse the Open Access Dataset at: http://energise-project.eu/projects

Dr Kevin Lynch and Dr Audrey Morley talked to 6th class and Junior Infants from Galway Educate Together about Plastics in the Ocean and microplastics [Read More]

Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Research Cluster was awarded the Geographical Society of Ireland (GSI) Postgraduate/Early Career Network (PECN) poster prize at the 50th Conference of Irish Geographers recently held at Maynooth University. The poster was titled 'Till death do us part: Exploring the Irish farmer-farm relationship in later life through the lens of ‘Insideness’. 

Dr. Mary Greene was awarded the Geographical Society of Ireland Doctoral Research Award for her critical geographical research on consumption biographies. GSI president Dr. Niamh Cherry Moore presented Mary with her prize and certificate at the Conference dinner held in the historic Pugin Hall on the evening of May 11th.  Pictured with Mary is her PhD supervisor Dr Frances Fahy.

Scientists fear that global warming and melting of the Greenland ice sheet will weaken or shut off these warm ocean currents, which could result in much colder temperatures across Ireland, Britain and Europe. [Read Full Article]

Dr Richard Scriven wrote a blogpost for the Geographical Society of Ireland outlining the continuing social and cultural role of the annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage. He demonstrated how geographical themes can help provide new insight into this tradition. [Read]

Congratulations to our MA Environment, Society, Development 2017/18 cohort who received their masters degrees last week, pictured here with MA Coorindator Dr. Mary Greene. Wishing you all the best of your next chapter!

A 'Generational Renewal in Agriculture' case study carried out by the NRN team at NUI Galway, Dr Shane Conway and Dr Maura Farrell, is featured in the September-October 2018 edition of the European Landowners' Organization (ELO) CountrySide Bimonthly Magazine (p.14-15).Created in 1972, the ELO, is a unique federation of national associations from the EU28 based in Brussels, which represents the interests of the landowners, land managers, rural entrepreneurs and family businesses at the European political level. The organization contributes to close cooperation between rural communities, and in doing so aims to counter the challenges of rural depopulation brought about by urbanization and globalisation. 

Geo Week Talk by Duncan Stewart on Sustainability, Wednesday 21st November 2018 at 6pm, AC216, Arts/Science Building, NUI Galway.

Seminar by Dorothy Estrada-Tanck, University of Murcia, Spain will give a lecture titled:  Human Security and International Human Rights Law in the Mediterranean Crisis, the seminar will takep place Thursday November 22nd at 4pm in Room 113, Discipline of Geography, Arts/Science Building, NUI Galway. [Further Info]

Welcome to the first issue of our new School Newsletter, Gortscéala! The School of Geography & Archaeology is a wonderfully vibrant and inspiring place to work and study, and this new newsletter captures some of our core passions: fieldwork, public scholarship and making critical knowledge count. [Newletter]

In collaboration with researchers in NUIG Geography, Dr Elly Walsh is delivering energy workshops in secondary schools as part of Galway Science Festival. Dr Walsh is pictured here delivering a workshop in Calasanctius College, Oranmore in November 2018. 

Geography at NUI Galway is delighted to announce a double success at the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme. Our own Dr. Audrey Morley, Lecturer in Physical Geography, has been awarded an MSCA Individual Fellowship and Dr. Gordon Bromleywill host incoming MSCA Fellow Dr. Maggie Jackson from the United States.  Both projects are funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme. [Further Info]

This year our annual GeoWeek (Geography Awareness Week) will focus on the role and potential of geography and geographers, academic and in practice,  in delivering on the SDG's. We will highlight the geographic research already being done in relation to the 17 goals and the potential for geographers and those interested in geography in contributing in the future   [further info]

'The Business End of Climate Change' with Dr. Gordon Bromley, School of Geography & Archaeology, NUI Galway.The evening will include lab tours, the display of archival materials such as meteorological data and scientific materials and the launch of an exciting new art exhibition -'Art of the Edge - Glimpses of a Changing World', which runs in the Hardiman Building from 1st -30th November 2018 . [further info]          Date: Thursday, November 1st         Time: 5.30pm         Place: G010, Moore Institute, Hardiman Building, NUI Galway

Dr John Morrissey has won the President’s Award for Teaching Excellence for a second time. Programme Director of the MA in Environment, Society and Development and Lecturer in Geopolitics and International Development, John previously won the award in 2011. He is pictured here receiving his award from NUIG President Prof. Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh at the recent College of Arts conferring in the Bailey Allen Hall.

A group of international female geoscientists from universities all over the world including NUI Galway, have taken a close look at their profession and discovered the barriers to success, while also pinpointing the sometimes simple changes that can be made to attract more women into innovative industries. The revealing results are published in Nature Publishing Group’s social sciences journal, Palgrave Communications.  To read the full study in Palgrave Communications, visit:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-018-0154-0

Our Sustainability Journey, an event that will showcase NUI Galway Sustainability, will be held in O’Donoghue Theatre on Wednesday 26th September from 9.30am to 1.30pm. It is being organised by the Community and University Sustainability Project Team (CUSP) as part of the ‘Loving Galway’ festival and will feature a number of Ryan Institute researchers.   Loving Galway is a sustainability festival that will run from the 20-30th of September 2018 in celebration of the ‘Green and Blue’ spaces in Galway City. Loving Galway is a collaboration between Galway City Council, NUI Galway, and a number of community and environmental groups across the city.  CUSP is leading the roll-out of the NUI Galway Sustainability Strategy 2017-2020.  The vision of the strategy is to establish NUI Galway as a top class green smart and healthy campus.  The CUSP team is composed of more than 30 students and staff, from across the campus community.  The event will feature stories, music, comedy and coffee.  This is a free, public event, but due to space restrictions, registration is required.    We very much hope you will be able to join us on Wednesday morning September 26th.    Please book your ticket here.

Dr Frances Fahy and Dr Gary Goggins, together with colleagues working on the Horizon 2020 project ENERGISE, have recently published a chapter in a new book that seeks to advance energy policy through greater integration of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) research.  The book, emerging from the H2020 SHAPE ENERGY project, includes interdisciplinary contributions on a range of issues relating to a sustainable energy transition including energy poverty, justice, political ecology, governance and imaginaries. The book will be officially launched at an event in King’s College Cambridge on September 24.The contribution from ENERGISE, which examines alternative imaginaries for energy policy integration of SSH, is available to download here.

Congratulations to Dr Richard Scriven who was elected Secretary of the  Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)'s Social and Cultural Geography Research Group at the AGM last week in Cardiff. The group embraces researchers and activists in the UK, Ireland, and beyond interested in the way the world works to produce social and cultural difference, engaging with key social science debates concerning identity, subjectivity, citizenship and belonging.

As part of the “Modelling maerl habitat dynamics in response to increased storminess” project funded by Geological Survey Ireland, Dr Siddhi Joshi and Dr Eugene Farrell carried out fieldwork last week on Trá an Doilín maerl beach in Carraroe, County Galway. They monitored the morphodynamic change in the very dynamic intertidal swash zone using 7 ultrasonic downward-facing distance sensors mounted on a large frame. A Go Pro camera was attached to the frame and high resolution cross shore beach profiles were collected using GPS and UAV. The offshore wave climate in Greatmans Bay was measured using a Nortec AWAC sensor. Results will be combined with coupled models of the maerl beach (XBEACH) and with a nested regional hydrodynamic model of Galway Bay developed by the team. They would like to thank the great support from colleagues in NUIG Geography for their laboratory and field support during the project (Daithi Maguire, Kevin Lynch, Liam Carr, Siobhan Comer and Terry Morley) as well as the support from members of the local community. The results will be presented to the local community during a public talk upon completion of the project.

Dr Eugene Farrell wrote a critical review in RTÉ Brainstorm of the urgent need for better infrastructure for Ireland's coastline communities and the need for immediate funding to develop and support sustainable tourism. [READ]

7th EUGEO congress on the geography of europe May 15th - 18th, Galway Ireland, [further info]

On Thursday 27th September, Geography's Palaeoenvironmental Research Unit will be hosting a guest lecture by former postgraduate student, Dr Michelle McKeown. Michelle will be presenting her new research on assessing the integrity of New Zealand's wetlands using testate amoebae at 12.30 PM in Room 113, Discipline of Geography, Arts/Science Building, NUI Galway. [Further Info]

Dr. Chaosheng Zhang was granted the title of “10 Leading Chinese Talents on Science and Technology in Europe 2018” during the 10th European Forum of the Federation of Chinese Professional Association in Europe (FCPAE) held in Helsinki on September 26, 2018, in recognition of Dr. Zhang’s outstanding research work on spatial analysis in environmental sciences.

Invited by UNESCO International Centre on Global-Scale Geochemistry (ICGG), Dr. Chaosheng Zhang gave a plenary talk at the Seminar on the International Scientific Cooperation Program – “Mapping Chemical Earth” held in Langfang, China during October 15-17, 2018 with about 150 delegates. The presentation title was “Towards machine learning for identification of hidden spatial patterns and relationships in big data of environmental geochemistry”. The “Mapping Chemical Earth” program aims to produce maps for chemical components on the earth surface by collecting catchment sediment samples from all over the world.

Dr Eugene Farrell received the 2018 President’s Award for Societal Impact from NUIG President Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh. This award stems from his work with local communities in The Maharees (Co. Kerry) to find solutions to coastal pressures from storms and human activities that have led to the chronic destabilization of the fragile dune ecosystems and increased erosion and flooding risks.

Since its opening up 40 years ago, China has benefitted hugely from its integration into the global economy and particularly since WTO accession in 2001, it has become one of the most significant manufacturing and assembly locations for technology global value chains. [full article]

Day two aboard the Celtic Voyager 

Meanwhile back on Inismor our MSc students are assessing machair (an Annex I habitat), an important grassland for both grazing and native plants and animals, @SeaShoreNUIG

Day two of MSC fieldwork aboard the Celtic Voyager as it heads off around Inismor, @SeaShoreNUIG

MSC in Coastal and Marine Environments students at work aboard the Celtic Voyager @SeaShoreNUIG

Dr. Gordon Bromley, NUIG addressing young people today at the 2nd Youth Summit on Climate Change#lovinggalway #youthworkirelandgalway#climatechange

Dr Shane Conway, Dr John McDonagh and Dr Maura Farrell in the Discipline of Geography’s Rural Studies Research Cluster at NUI Galway, have recently published a paper in the International Journal of Agricultural Management entitled ‘Till death do us part: Exploring the Irish farmer-farm relationship in later life through the lens of Insideness’.   Applying Rowles’ concept of ‘insideness’ as a theoretical framework, this paper brings into focus the suitability and appropriateness of previous and existing farm transfer policy strategies, by presenting an insightful, nuanced analysis of the deeply embedded attachment older farmers have with their farms, and how such a bond can stifle the necessary hand over of the farm business to the next generation [READ]

On April 19 Dr Eugene Farrell (Geography, NUIG) hosted 50 planners from the Irish Planning Institute at his field site in The Maharees, Co. Kerry to discuss the challenges of (1) the local coastal community faces from human/natural pressures and (2) the planners face in the implementation of new climate legislation, such as the National Adaptation Framework, and the changes that are occurring in Local Authorities for the transition to a climate resilient Ireland. [Read Full Article]

A ‘Young Trained Farmer’ case study carried out by Dr Shane Conway in the Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway for the National Rural Network has been featured in last week's edition of the Connacht Tribune, Leitrim Observer, Clare Champion [NEWS]

The Carl von Ossietzky Universität in Oldenburg, Germany hosted a talk by Geography’s Dr Kevin Lynch in December 2017. The talk outlined challenges faced by Ireland in planning for climate change. The seminar series being run by Prof. Dr. Ingo Mose is funded through the EU’s Erasmus programme and has proved to be an excellent platform for international exchange of good practices. Recent developments in Ireland as outlined at a recent EPA event were also discussed during Dr Lynch’s talk. 

The School of Geography and Archaeology is running another Spring Lunchtime Lecture Series this year, with the first lecture starting on Monday, January 15th.  The lectures this year will take place in the Town Hall Theatre, Woodquay, Galway.  Please note, while the event is free it is advisable to come early to ensure a seat as pre-booking is not available.  Download full programme here:  Spring Lunchtime Lecture Series (PDF)

Eight Geography Postgraduate students, representing the MSc – Coastal and Marine Environments, MA – Environment, Sustainability and Development, and Geography Doctoral Programme, were selected to attend the 2017 EU Youth Seminar on Environmental Sustainability at the EU Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. The Delegation, comprised of 100 students from Ireland, Czechia, and the Netherlands, interacted with Members of the EU Parliament, presenting their ideas on how best to address pressing issues surrounding EU fisheries, urban renewal, and climate action.

NUI Galway was confirmed as the host for the EUGEO 2019 conference at the recent EUGEO conference held in Brussels in September 2017. The conference theme for the 2019 EUGEO conference is "Re Imagining Europe's Future Society and Landscapes" The theme focuses on the centrality of the concepts of society and landscape within the Discipline of Geography and will be CoChaired by Dr Kathy Reilly and Dr Frances Fahy.

A team of scientists on board the RV Celtic Voyager during a recent survey to understand the habitat use of elusive beaked whales, got more than they bargained for when they encountered four separate groups of breaching whales within a couple of hours survey effort near the Rockall Trough.  Congratulations to Dr Patricia Breen, Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway, Chief Scientist on the survey.Media Articles: https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2017/1204/924923-rare-whales-spotted-off-irish-coast/ https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/scientists-find-home-of-elusive-whale-36379888.html https://www.marine.ie/Home/site-area/news-events/news/scientists-uncover-important-habitat-elusive-beaked-whales-0    

Comhghairdeas to Dr Frances Fahy on her appointment to the Board of the European Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption & Production #ERSCP17 General Assembly / https://t.co/CVikQJ70Mj

Congratulation to MSc graduate Jake Martin and Dr Audrey Morley on publishing their research in Scientific Reports (an online open access scientific journal published by the world’s leading scientific journal - Nature).  Jake Martin, Amy Lusher, Richard C. Thompson & Audrey Morley.The Deposition and Accumulation of Microplastics in Marine Sediments and Bottom Water from the Irish Continental Shelf

Congrats to Dr Audrey Morley (+ MSc staff) on receiving a Marine Institute award to purchase specialist research equipment. We welcome a Particle Size Analyser (with all the bells and whistles) to our research inventory in 2018.      Download Article:  https://www.marine.ie/Home/site-area/news-events/press-releases/minister-creed-announces-marine-institute-funding-grants

Dr Eimear Heaslip receiving her PhD award from GMIT in November 2017. Her research supervised by Dr Frances Fahy and Dr Gabriel Costello, employed A Transdisciplinary Approach to explore Low Carbon Energy Transitions in Irish Islands

Pictured at the launch of NUI Galway’s Sustainability Strategy are l-r: Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, Registrar and Deputy President, NUI Galway, Dr Frances Fahy, School of Geography and Archaeology, NUI Galway, Senator Alice-Mary Higgins, Seanad Éireann and Professor Colin Brown, Ryan Institute, NUI Galway. Photo: Paul Fennell

The closing conference for a creative momentum project is on April 12th from12-2pm, Electric Galway, 36 Upper Abbeygate Street, Galway.  This free event will be an opportunity to network, explore the outcomes of project activities and resources developed.  [Further info and to register for the event]

Professor Ulf Strohmayer, Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway gave a lecture titled 'Sustainable Transport for Galway'.  February 5th, The Studio, Town Hall Theatre, Woodquay, Galway.  [see lecture here]

Dr Liam Carr and Geography MSc student Jeff Black used their winter holiday to document the plastic load present on the island of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Over a 10 days and nearly 4km of beachfront, they collected nearly 1,500 items of litter, most of which plastic, from nine beaches within St. Croix’s East End Marine Park. They also sieved 135 litres of sand for microplastic fragments. This research is part of a larger project funded by St. Croix Science and Conservation, which focuses on educating local residents on how they can help reduce local contributions of coastal and marine plastic pollution.

In 2017 Dr. Patrick Collins received and Aarhus University Visiting Fellowship. The Fellowship supported a four month research visit to Aarhus, Denmark where Patrick worked with colleagues in the Department of Culture and Communications. Patrick also worked closely with the team tasked with the monitoring and evaluation of Aarhus 2017 European Capital of Culture.During his sabbatical Patrick also spent a short research visit in Hull, the 2017 UK City of Culture.In December 2017, Patrick launched his new book “Creative Economies in Peripheral Regions” the first book to explore the nature and extent of creative economic activity in Europe’s northerwestern periphery,. Detail: http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319521640

First year students from Coláiste Iognáid in Galway win two BT Young Scientist awards for their project, ‘Think Before You Drink: Microplastics’  Three young Scientists Aoibhe Briscoe, Ellie Concannon, and Kate Owens, first year students at Coláiste Iognáid in Galway, competed for this year’s BT Young Scientist and Technology Awards in the Category Biological and Ecological Sciences with their project ‘Think Before You Drink: Microplastics’. Mentored by NUI Galway, the students won first place in their category and a special award issued by the Environmental Protection Agency for Best Environmental Project presented at the BT Young Scientist 2018....[Read More]

Dr. Mary Greene expands her research to explore the lived experience of energy transitions in Global South contexts As a successful applicant of the H2020 SHAPE ENERGY Research Design Challenge, Dr. Mary Greene, collaborating with Dr. Anne Schiffer (Leeds Beckett University), travelled to Africa over the Christmas break to conduct novel ethnographic research on past and ongoing energy transitions in The Gambia ....... [Read More]

Congratulation to Dr Frances Fahy pictured here receiving her Presidents Award for Research Excellence 2017 from the President, Dr Jim Brown

The cruise aboard the #CelticVoyager for the incoming MSc class of 2018/19 has been scheduled for October 4th to 7th 2018

Professor Niamh Moore-Cherry, President of the GSI, presenting the Award to Professor Mary Cawley, Adjunct-Professor of Migration and Rural Societal Change in the Whitaker Institute and SoGA, at NUI Galway, on the 3rd November

Vittoria Semplici graduating with First Class Honours on the MA in Environment, Society and Development. Pictured with Programme Director, John Morrissey, and NUIG President, Jim Browne. Vittoria now works for the UN in Bonn.

Richard Scriven, lecturer in Geography, is leading a project with artist Vicky Lanagan involving a series creative workshop series exploring holy wells with primary schools and heritage groups. It is being funded by the Creative Ireland County Cork Grant Scheme under the community participation strand of the Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022.

Spatial Justice and the Irish Crisis, co-edited by Gerry Kearns, David Meredith and John Morrissey, and published by the Royal Irish Academy, has been shortlisted for the GSI Book of the Year Award. (http://www.geographicalsocietyireland.ie/awards.html). Book reviews of Spatial Justice and the Irish Crisis: "To counteract global capitalism’s tendency to run roughshod over the planet - uprooting communities and destroying environments - it is vital that we construct an embedded understanding of place as well as a concept of justice that defends the earth as our only home. This book and the idea of ‘spatial justice’ is a triumphant step toward that goal" - Dr David Nally, University of Cambridge"Spatial Justice and the Irish Crisis is more of a complete project than just a book, with excellent essays from noted scholars in Irish Geography and Irish Studies. It includes an essay by Danny Dorling, one of the best known geographers of his generation, and the triumph of the interview with David Harvey, the best known urban and geographical scholar of the generation" - Prof. Stephen Royle, Queen's University Belfast"This book bravely provokes debates on the questions and issues it is addressing concerning the Irish financial crisis. It is an admirable attempt to speak truth to power in regards to the Republic’s need to focus on social and environmental justice, health care, education and the marginalized" - Dr Charles Travis, Trinity College Dublin  For details on the book, please see the RIA website here (https://www.ria.ie/publications/books/spatial-justice-and-irish-crisis).

The humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, gender-based violence in Malawi, and the role of music in the lives of children in direct provision are amongst the research topics being funded by the Irish Research Council this year under its New Foundations programme. Details of the programme – which supports research on civic society and public policy issues – were announced today (23.03.16). In total, the Irish Research Council is providing €1 million to researchers across Ireland, on a range of projects involving collaboration between higher education researchers and NGOs. One of the projects is being led at NUI Galway by Dr John Morrissey, Senior Lecturer in Geography and Associate Director of the Moore Institute for Humanities. John’s project was initially developed during a recent research fellowship at the University of Cambridge. Entitled ‘Haven’, it is focused on the biggest humanitarian crisis in Europe since the Second World War, the Mediterranean refugee crisis, and has two core aims: to develop a collaborative body of research that addresses the root causes of the crisis and progressively offers an alternative envisioning of Western interventionism via the UN concept of ‘human security’; and  to initiate a series of public events where these vital perspectives can be constructively disseminated to key stakeholders, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Irish Naval Services and Irish Aid.For further information, please see the Haven Project’s website:https://havenprojectblog.wordpress.com

Aoife Ní Fhlatharta, PhD Geography candidate and recipient of the Dr Patrick Commins Rural Research Award was recently awarded the Rural Policy Studies Scholarship Fund to attend the 13th International Comparative Rural Policy Studies (ICRPS) Summer Institute, which is being hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks from the 14-26th July 2016. The funding which is supported by The Rural Policy Learning Commons project will cover the institute fee of $2000. The ICRPS Summer Institute provides a unique opportunity for students from a range of OECD countries to meet and work together on comparative rural policy issues. Participants of the Summer Institute will be exposed to the challenges of the rural North, and will have the opportunity to experience Alaska’s diverse interior. 

Dr Aaron Potito and three Geography undergraduates just returned from a 10-day field class in Chengdu, China, with Sichuan University’s University Immersion Program. The field course in Environmental Change and Sustainability included students and teachers from China, Italy, Australia, United States and Ireland.

Congratulations to Geography PhD student Daithi Maguire on winning the Richard Fitzgerald Poster Prize for Best Aquatic Environment Presentation, (prize sponsored by AquaTT) at the  ENVIRON 2017, 27th Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium, Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland conference held at the Athlone Institute of Technology, 10-12th April 2017. The title of his poster was “The Application of Copernicus Satellite-Borne Remote Sensors for Monitoring Coastal Erosion and Ecosystems in Ireland“

Staff members of NUI Galway’s Discipline of Geography have been shortlisted in the ‘Excellence in Marine Education and Training Award’ category for their MSc in Coastal and Marine Environments course.  Best of luck to the team: Dr Eugene Farrell and Dr Kevin Lynch, and Drs Frances Fahy, Aaron Potito, Audrey Morley, Terry Morley and Chaosheng Zhang.   Full Article: [HERE]

During 21-23 August, 2017, the Overseas Chinese Affairs of the State Council of China established a new Advisory Committee as a think-tank of Chinese government for the development of China in the areas of culture, policy, and science & technology. This committee comprises about 300 experts in various fields from all over the world, with nearly 200 of them in the Science & Technology sector. The inauguration ceremony was held in the People’s Congress Hall in Beijing. Three NUI Galway staff members, Sanbing Shen (Regenerative Medicine Institute), Xinmin Zhan (Civil Engineering) and Chaosheng Zhang (Geography) have been appointed as members of the committee. Afterwards, the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Xiaoyong Yue welcomed the members from Ireland at the Chinese Embassy in Dublin.

John Morrissey, Senior Lecturer in Geography and Associate Director of the Moore Institute, has published a new book critically telling the story of repeated US military interventions in the Middle East and Central Asia over the last 30 years. Entitled The Long War, the book focuses on the archives of US Central Command, and engages a wide range of scholarship on imperialism, geopolitics and neoliberalism, in critiquing the US military’s role in enacting US foreign policy in the most energy-rich region on earth, and in documenting the profound human consequences of military violence.

This year’s celebration of Geography Awareness Week is upon us. It runs from 12-18 November 2017. It promotes what geography is, why it is important, and the relevance of a geographic education in preparing citizens to understand and debate pressing social and environmental issues and problems. A list of events that are taking place across Galway and the country can be seen on the GSI website:   http://www.geographicalsocietyireland.ie/geoweek-2017.html

Geography staff and students at the end of year EXPLORE awards lunch. EXPLORE is where NUI Galway students and staff partner up and deliver their innovative ideas.  It is a proven model for co-creation, co-design and co-delivering - both on and off campus. The Discipline of Geography hosted 3 of the 19 University awards for the 2014/15 academic year. The 3 projects were: The Aether Drone Project (Dr Eugene Farrell), Geo-Bogs: Conserving Ireland’s Natural Heritage (Dr Terry Morley and Dr Audrey Morley) and YOLO (YOung peoples’ Life Opportunities) (Dr. Kathy Reilly). The EXPLORE programme also got coverage in the local newspaper The Galway Independent 

A recent Irish Farmers Journal Podcast (episode 150) with Mairead Lavery, Editor of Irish Country Living speaking to Dr Maura Farrell (Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway and the National Rural Network) can be found here: [listen to podcast]

An recent article co-authored by Dr Gary Goggins and Dr Frances Fahy has been nominated for the International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS) “Best Sustainable Development Research Article Award”. You can have a look at the selection of the top-10 nominated articles, download, read them, and you can vote for your favourite. The winner will be honoured during the 2018 ISDRS Conference in Italy. Links to the shortlisted articles, and voting procedure, can be found here: http://isdrs.org/journals/best-article-2017/

Congratulation to Daithi Maguire  on winning the Best Climate Change Presentation sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment  at the 28th Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium (ENVIRON 2018), Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland (ESAI), 26th – 28th March 2018, Cork Institute of Technology.  The title of his presentation was "The application of satellite-borne remote sensors for monitoring coastal erosion and ecosystems in Ireland"

Four recent graduates from Geography’s MSc Programme in Marine and Coastal Environments had their work presented as expert evidence to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Planning & Local Government on the ‘Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016’.  Dr Audrey Morley and Dr Kevin Lynch supervised the graduate projects over the last three years. The Oireachtas Committee was very appreciative for the presentation, which highlighted the presence of micro-plastics in shellfish, nephrops and marine sediments on Ireland’s west coast. In conjunction with work frim GMIT it forms an important body of work in an Irish and European context.  See part of the recording here.

Dr Terry Morley has been short-listed for a Presidents award in Teaching Excellence, recognising  his energy, engagement and dedication to teaching and learning at both undergraduate and graduate level.  Both students and colleagues have benefitted from his enthusiasm and expert incorporation of innovative and effective learning methods since he joined the Geography.

First review of newly published book on China by John West, Adjunct Professor at Sophia University, Tokyo. 

Dr Maura Farrell was recently awarded the Dean’s Award for research undertaken during the Academic Year 2017-2018.  Her award is in recognition of her significant research achievements and societal impact in the area of rural development policies and strategies.  Maura is currently Principal Investigator and lead Researcher with the National Rural Network Project funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

A case study carried out by Dr Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Research Cluster at NUI Galway and the National Rural Network, aimed at promoting and inspiring generational renewal in agriculture was recently featured on the Agriland website and social media pages.  Agriland is Ireland's largest news portal for farmers and the agricultural sector.

Minister Kevin Boxer Moran announced that the OPW is funding a Coastal Erosion Risk Management Study for the Maharees, Co Kerry [costing €150,000]. This is the first major step in coming up with a fit-for-purpose solution to protect the Maharees from long term climate change impacts. Well done to Dr Eugene JC Farrell and Dr Kevin Lynch of the MSc Coastal and Marine Environments for their ongoing involvement and using their coastal research to support these rural coastal  communities. [full article]  

Dr Eugene Farrell of MSc staff has been awarded a €1000 grant from the National University Ireland to publish a new version of the work '10 Reasons Why Geomorphology Is Important'. This new version targets case studies on the Irish landscape so that Irish readers will be able to identify and learn about some of our unique landscapes (Burren, Clew Bay, Killary fjord, Conor Pass Dingle, Maharees tombolo, Giants Causeway, Croagh Patrick, etc. This new academic science book will be in two languages (Irish and English) and will be used by third and second level lecturers/teachers and students. It will be available for free online to everyone. [download]

The College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies offers postgraduate scholarships to support full-time PhD research within the Structured PhD programmes of the College. The 2018-19 scheme is now open. Applications will be accepted until 5.00 p.m. on Monday 16th April, 2018. The application form and supporting documentation are now available, from http://www.nuigalway.ie/colleges-and-schools/arts-social-sciences-and-celtic-studies/phd-research-degrees/scholarships/.

Dr Frances Fahy visited Lisbon as an Advisory Panel member for new #PROSEU#H2020 project - learning how we can all become pros at energy consumption! #energyefficiency@H2020EE

ENERGISE researchers Frances Fahy and Gary Goggins were in the US at the AAG in New Orleans in April and organised three sessions exploring social and cultural influences on domestic energy use in international contexts.

Congratulations to Michelle Curran and Daithí Maguire who both received a Networking & Travel Award from the Marine Institute to attend and present at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2018, Vienna, Austria. Presentation titles: A possible analogue for future Ocean-Atmosphere climate Dynamics? (Michelle Curran, Audrey Morley, James Wright, and Yair Rosenthal), Wednesday 11th April The application of satellite-borne remote sensors for monitoring coastal erosion and ecosystems in Ireland (Daithí Maguire, Eugene Farrell), Thursday 12th April Michelle and Daithi gratefully recognise the support of the Marine Institute under the Marine Research Programme with the support of the Irish Government.

Discipline of Geography, Rural Studies Cluster Research Seminar: Research seminar by visiting speaker Professor Thoraddur Bjarnason, Professor of Sociology, University of Akureyri, Northern Iceland Title:      Nostalgia, Otherness and Beyond: Changing Ruralities in Icelandic CinemaDate:     Monday 16th April @ 4pmVenue:   Seminar Room 113, Discipline of Geography [download]

Dr Frances Fahy attending a fantastic weekend for The Irish Fulbright Alumni Association  as  alums descended upon NUI Galway for some art and culture. 

The Geopolitics and Justice Research Cluster together with the School of Geography & Archaeology welcomed John Restakis, Execurive Director, Community Evolution Foundsation, Canada to give a seminar titled 'Humanising the Economy - Political Economy for People & Planet', Thursday 15th March @ 4pm, Seminar Room 113, Discipline of Geography. [download]

Dr Anne Schiffer, The Leeds School of Art, Architecture & Design at Leeds Beckett University visited The Discipline of Geography to speak with the  MA Environment, Society and Development students on ethnography in global South. @ShapeEnergyEU leading to further collaboration! #ethnography#energy

Every day, at every meal, people across Ireland are reliant on a global network of actors to produce, process and distribute the food that they consume. But the dominant system of industrialized food provisioning is unsustainable both from a socio-economic and an environmental perspective. The additional demands that will be made on the food system over the next 30 years and beyond will place additional pressures on an already fragile system. A necessary transformation of the food system requires action from all levels of society, including organizations and institutions that provide food. Organizations such as hospitals, workplaces and educational institutions shape the meal choices of thousands of people every day and have a significant impact on the food system through their procurement and provisioning activities. These activities have a direct impact on people’s health, the economy, social wellbeing and the environment. [download full policy]

Dr. Liam Carr, along with postgraduate students Desiree Farrell and Atalya Peritz, attended the Donegal Marine Tourism Conference: Connecting Our Coastline, in Portnablagh on March 8, 2018 to spread the word about tourism research coming from the Geography department and to speak with stakeholders. They also briefly met with BBC’s Monty Halls, who shared his passion on the transformative benefits of tourism experiences.

Whitaker Ideas Forum: Margaret Brehony, Deconstructing Homelessness: Individual Pathologies versus Austerity and Structural Exclusion Date:  March 14 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pmLocation: CA110 (SAC Room), Cairnes Building, NUI Galway, IrelandSpeaker(s): Margaret BrehonyAffiliation: Population and Migration The Irish government’s response to homelessness, set out in an ambitious housing policy Rebuilding Ireland (Department of Housing, 2016), has failed to stem the rising numbers of people becoming homeless. Now a major social problem, the number of people who are counted as homeless in the state has risen steadily since 2014..... [Read More]

Congratulations to Dr Liam Carr and Dr Frances Fahy (NUI Galway) on the launch of the new MOSES project - Maritime, Ocean Sector and Ecosystem Sustainability. MOSES a 2.2 million Euro, three year INTERREG Atlantic Area Programme led by NUI Galway (PI Stephen Hynes). Liam, Frances and PhD candidate Desiree Farrell will be examining the Wild Atlantic Way in the context of the European Blue Growth Agenda and Dr Carr leads a large Work Package developing the MOSES Marine Sustainability Assessment Toolkit. The project runs until 2021.

A ‘Young Trained Farmer’ case study carried out by Dr. Shane Conway, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Research Cluster at NUI Galway and the National Rural Network, was featured in last week's edition of the Galway Advertiser, Tuam Herald and Roscommon Herald. This educational and enlightening case study aims to inspire young farmers throughout the country to actively engage with, and avail of the various schemes and supports available to them under Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and has now been featured in 7 leading local and regional Irish newspapers over the past 3 weeks. The case study has also recently been added on the Farm Viability section of the National Rural Network website: http://www.nationalruralnetwork.ie/young-trained-farmer www.nationalruralnetwork.ie

Great article in RTE Brainstorm today by @GeogNUIG & @RyanInstitute post doc Dr Siddhi Joshi who is co-PI with Dr Eugene Farrell on a @GeolSurvIE funded field #experiment to study maerl beaches @EOS_NUIG @SeaShoreNUIG [read article]

Maeve McGandy, winner of the Neil Smith Graduate Research Award 2017, pictured at Lá na nGradam with NUIG President, Prof. Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, and Programme Director of the MA in Environment, Society and Development, Dr John Morrissey. Maeve is currently working for UN-Habitat for the Asia-Pacific Region in Japan.

Dr Frances Fahy presenting at the Planning and Environment Reserach Group of the RGS, New Researchers Event held in Exeter Community Centre in January 11th and 12th, 2018

Dr Mary Greene has published a new chapter on the dynamics of energy demand over the lifecourse in the exciting new book ‘Demanding Energy:  Space, Time and Change’ (edited by Dr. Alison Hui, Dr. Roise Day and Prof. Gordon Walker’). As outlined on the books website “Demanding Energy: Space, Time and Change" critically engages with an important but rarely-asked question: what is energy for? This starting point foregrounds the diverse social processes implicated in the making of energy demand and how these change over time to shape the past patterns, present dynamics and future trajectories of energy use.” Dr Greene's chapter in the book explores the value of a biographical scale of analysis for revealing insights into complex experiences and processes of change. In treating individuals’ energy practice as dynamically evolving through the lifecourse within the context of a changing socio-technical landscape, she discusses innovative approaches for improving understanding of the ways in which lives, practices and contexts intersect in energy systems change.

Dr Maura Farrell and Dr Shane Conway (Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway and the National Rural Network) are pictured at the recent West Women in Farming 'Farm Diversification & Enterprise' event on page 9 of Irish Country Living in last week's Irish Farmers Journal (03/02/2018). [Irish Country Living Article]

A piece about a presentation given by Dr. Maura Farrell (Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway and the National Rural Network), at the recent West Women in Farming Ireland (WWFI) Farm Diversification & Enterprise Event is featured on page 3 of last week's Farming Independent (30/01/18). [NEWS]

Dr Frances Fahy and Dr Gary Goggins (Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway), with their colleague Dr Henrike Rau (LMU Munich), were invited to write a contribution for the London School of Economics Impact Blog about their recent publication on measuring the impact of research. The LSE Impact Blog is a widely read resource for researchers, students, think tanks, government, and anyone else interested in maximising the impact of academic work in the social sciences and other disciplines. The blog is based on the article “From invisibility to impact: Recognising the scientific and societal relevance of interdisciplinary sustainability research” published in Research Policy.You can read the blog here.

Frances Fahy and Michelle O Dowd Lohan presented the NUI Galway Sustainability Strategy to the Greenleaf EU delegation in Galway City Hall on Wednesday 21st of February

Congratulations to Dr Stephen Hynes and all in the Whitaker Research Institute for their successful 'Getting it over the line': writing research proposals workshop for early career researchers, which took place on Monday the 26th of February 2018. Stephen Hynes, Kieran Conboy, Frances Fahy and Aine Ryan all shared hints and tips on research proposal writing.

Throughout February 2018 Geography was pleased to host Prof Monica Mulrennan,  Visiting Moore Institute Fellow,  from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Monica's research focuses on local knowledge, resource use and management practices, tenure arrangements, and attachments to the coast, particularly as these relate to indigenous communities in coastal settings. Monica is working with Dr Liam Carr and Dr Frances Fahy examining seaweed harvesting practices on the Irish coast. 

Dr Mary Greene is awarded RIA Charlemont Scholar Dr Mary Greene was awarded the 2018 Charlemont scholarship award. Attending the Royal Irish Academy Charlemont Ceremony in Academy House, she was joined by a cohort of fellow scholars who had travelled from various universities in Ireland to receive their Award from RIA President, Prof Michael Kennedy. Awardees spanned a wide diversity of disciplines in the social, natural and engineering sciences. Recognising the importance of travel and cross-pollination of ideas, the Charlemont scholarship scheme awards high impact travel grants to early career postdoctoral researchers. Dr Greene will use this grant to travel to New Zealand during the 2018 summer period to expand the geographical range of her research. There she will conduct novel research to further explore the intersections of social change and daily consumption and facilitate cross cultural comparisons to be drawn between Ireland, The Gambia and New Zealand. More information can be read here: https://marygreene.blog/2018/02/28/becoming-a-charlemont-scholar/

Finding Your Way to Education On Friday February 23rd 2018 Dr Kathy Reilly provided a keynote address at an event held at GMIT’s Castlebar campus entitled ‘Finding your Way to Education’. The event included academics, community stakeholders and representatives from migrant communities across the West of Ireland and particularly included information for refugees and asylum seekers who are looking to access third-level education. Drawing on research completed with Dr Valerie Ledwith (also Geography, NUI Galway), Dr Reilly presented findings on migrant educational experiences in Galway City and urban-fringe, focusing specifically on issues of educational access, achievement and aspiration. Further details of the event can be found at: http://www.gmit.ie/news/open-event-finding-your-way-education-migrants-fri-23-feb-2-pm

On Monday February 26th 2018 Dr Kathy Reilly presented an overview of her on-going research project entitled ‘Deconstructing Homelessness: Finding a Place for Geography’ at an event organised by collaborating community, voluntary and statutory groups working in Galway City. The solutions focused event brought together key agencies and Local Authority representatives to explore innovative and sustainable solutions to the prevention of homelessness in Galway City. Dr Reilly’s work is funded by an Irish Research Council Policy and Society Award. Further information on the event can be found at: http://galwaycitycommunitynetwork.ie/from-immediate-need-to-sustainable-solutions-preventing-homelessness-in-galway/

Sustainability in Festivals, Meetings and Events Featuring: Chris Johnson, Kambe Events/Shambala Festival Ben Twist, Creative Carbon Scotland Rob Rankin, Vagabond Tours Dr Frances Fahy, NUI Galway Karen Foley, Clare County Council Andrew Mullen Radisson Blu Cork Mary Walsh, Cork City Council Samantha Harding, Elevate Clare Who should attend:  anyone involved in event/conference/festival/meeting management and organisation; arts/music organisations, hotels, venues, local authorities:  Further information  

From Immediate Need to Sustainable Solutions: Preventing Homelessness in Galway City A solutions-focused event bringing together the Community & Voluntary sectors with key statutory agencies and the Local Authority to explore innovative solutions to the prevention of homelessness in Galway City, now and into the future.   The Harbour Hotel, Monday 26th February, 9.30am – 4pm. Further information:  info@galwaycitycommunitynetwork.ie

Tommy Marren from Midwest Radio interviewed Dr Shane Conway (Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway and the National Rural Network) live on air on Tuesday the 30th of January. You can listen to this interview here: [listen here] 

Dr Eugene Farrell presented his research in the Hazard, Risk and Disaster (HRD) Research Lecture Series 2020-21 at Bath Spa University on April 14, 2021. The lecture on "Enablers and barriers to building resilience: a coastal community perspective" is based on Dr Farrell’s experiences working with coastal communities in Ireland and his work within the European Marine Board expert working group tasked with writing a position paper on ’Coastal Resilience’. [Read]

A peatland research report commissioned by An Fóram Uisce, was launched last week to provide guidance on how peatland management can be reimagined to optimise water quality improvements while delivering co-benefits for climate, biodiversity, and society. Kate Flood, PhD researcher in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies cluster (with supervisors Dr. Marie Mahon and Dr. John McDonagh) contributed to the report highlighting the importance of social and cultural values of peatlands, stakeholder collaboration, and developing mechanisms to support inclusive and collaborative governance of peatlands. [Read]

Professor John Morrissey was one of the contributing authors to the newly published UN strategy report on human security, New Threats to Human Security in the Anthropocene: Demanding Greater Solidarity. The report sets out the intertwined threats of human and environmental security the world is facing, and the urgent need for global solidarity in the Anthropocene. More from UN News, US Homeland Security, NHK World Japan, Saudi Gazette, Zee News India and Modern Diplomacy, or watch a summary on the report here.

NUIG led Energy PROSPECTS H2020 held it's project meeting and international expert panel workshop on energy citizenship in ULB Brussels from May 29th - June 1st.  Pictured here are NUIG Geographers Prof Frances Fahy and Dr Ben Schmidt

NUIG led Energy PROSPECTS H2020 held it's project meeting and international expert panel workshop on energy citizenship in ULB Brussels from May 29th - June 1st.  Pictured here are NUIG Geographers Prof Frances Fahy and Dr Ben Schmidt