About me

Hello everyone! I suppose a good place to start off is to tell you a little about myself and how I came to be studying climate change, agriculture and food security (CCAFS) in NUI Galway.

I have always had a love for the natural world around me; from the smallest soil-dwelling creature the naked eye could see, to plants, animals and everything in between! I spent most of my childhood outdoors, climbing trees and keeping all sorts of pets (including snails at one point, but that’s another story).

In school I found myself being interested in all biological and chemical sciences. However, it wasn’t until my third year in University College Cork that something clicked, and I fell in love with plant science. Honestly, it was a little bacteria called Agrobacterium tumefaciens that quite literally changed my career path and rocked my world! I am still astonished by it’s remarkable capabilities to this day.

Since then I have worked in plant biotechnology labs, toxicology labs and more recently, completed a psychology and social science course in Cork . It was during my time studying there that I was able to merge my love of plant science with my new found love of social science. My awareness had peaked and it was during this period I found the CCAFS course, I knew I had to apply. Now here I am, a year later, waiting to leave for Vietnam to work in the realm of climate smart agriculture and I couldn’t be more excited.

We are all becoming increasingly aware that earth systems and  global societies are facing unprecedented threats and challenges as a result of anthropogenic climate change. The past couple of months we have seen the public rally together and partake in massive strikes and protests all over the globe. We have seen positive changes in policy and proposals by governments to take action. Thankfully, the true state of affairs has been realised by many. While this is also daunting, it is my belief that bridging the gaps between the scientific communities, governments and citizens,  will be the key in fighting the effects of climate change and making the real changes that we need to make. Through my work, I aim to do just that. Please join me on my journey for change, through Vietnam and beyond!