About

Education:

I am currently a Masters student at the National University of Ireland Galway NUIG where I am studying Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. I studied at NUIG from 2008 to 2011 completing a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Archaeology.

Work:

For 3 years I worked in the motor trade selling replacement parts for both agricultural machinery and motor cars. I then moved to Germany for a year working in construction.

Thesis Background:

Having worked in differing sectors I learned something that was quite alarming. The amount of waste and unused materials surrounding various products across different sectors was vast. Traditionally most products that are manufactured result in a lot of excess/unused materials that are essentially disposed of. Why can’t excess materials be re-used or remanufactured? Better still, why not begin the manufacturing of products that see little or no waste at all? This idea is based on the Circular Economy, a means whereby resource materials are used to their maximum potential avoiding waste. 3D Printing is one aspect of the Circular Economy whereby there is little or no waste. This method makes manufacturing cheaper, quicker, reduces waste, improves accessibility, and increases business opportunities. 3D Printing of replacement parts also saves time waiting for O.E parts to arrives which can take days or weeks resulting in production losses.

3D printing also known as additive manufacturing, has been adopted by many big businesses and has even spread to consumers markets.

But where does the link between 3D printing and climate change come from? How can 3D printing help adapt and mitigate climate change?

Cheap Manufacturing. If a company can use 3D printing to make or replace their own parts/products it can save on packaging and transport costs.
Credit to materialsreview.com