Category: Perspectives

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A Scientist Goes to Court

A very interesting case has been underway in the high court the past week. Last Thursday and Friday, the Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), a conglomerate which represents Irish environmental NGOs, have been laying out their case that the Irish State’s actions on climate change are inadequate. They argue that that the government’s approval of the National Mitigation Plan in 2017 was in violation of Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, the Constitution, and human rights obligations. Basically, climate change is a thing, and Ireland hasn’t acted adequately to decarbonise the economy, putting the lives of its citizens at risk. Today the state was responding, so I went along to hear how they were going to defend their record. Continue reading “A Scientist Goes to Court”

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Closing the Gap Between Diversity Talk and Diversity Actions

Every day we hear about gender and diversity in science. #WomenInScience tags receive hundreds of tweets and virtual pats-on-the-back. Some might argue that it has become fashionable to talk about women in science. But does all this talk reflect the experience of being part of an under-represented group in science? Continue reading “Closing the Gap Between Diversity Talk and Diversity Actions”

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Medieval Zoology

Ever since the observations of Aristotle, said to be the earliest works of Western biology, we have endeavoured to understand the workings of the natural world. But the modern scientific method is a relative latecomer on this scene, and it is fascinating and humbling to see the many creative ways in which we have managed to get it wrong over the years. Modern zoology, ancient zoology, and medieval zoology are all part of the same weird and wonderful phylogenetic tree.

Before there were peer-reviewed journals, there were bestiaries, medieval books that described the world’s animals as Europeans of the time understood them. Before there were Zoology Departments, zoologists (or the closest thing that existed at the time) would put forth ideas that seem ridiculous today. Three of their best theories are collected below. Continue reading “Medieval Zoology”

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New Orleans, New Adventure

It’s a hot day in early August in New Orleans, Louisiana. The beads of sweat rolling from everyone’s foreheads are a permanent fixture in this humidity. A group of drummers are joined by some brass players and an impromptu jazz performance begins. This is my first time in the U.S.A. and I really don’t know how I feel; primarily because of the jetlag. I’ve flown to the other side of the world for the largest gathering of ecologists on earth. This is the Ecological Society of America’s 103rd annual meeting (ESA 2018), where researchers from all over the world gather to share their science. Thousands of people walked the halls of the convention centre and I wondered if I’d ever see anyone I knew.

I came to ESA 2018 with five goals:

  1. Share preliminary results of my research.
  2. Meet some potential collaborators.
  3. Soak up some awesome science.
  4. Practice talking to a ‘big name’.
  5. Have fun!

Here’s how it went down… Continue reading “New Orleans, New Adventure”

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Natural Capital: Making nature pay?

“Proponents of natural capital accounting offer a compelling argument: by quantifying and valuing natural capital impacts and dependencies, and translating those assessments into systemised accounts, decision-makers in government and the corporate sector will be able to make more informed and, ultimately, sustainable decisions.

But can we assume that reliable and accurate economic information will translate into radical and effective action? It is over a decade since the Stern Review (2006) made the economic argument for Climate action. The 700-page Report concluded that failure to act would result in costs amounting to 5% of Global GDP per year, now and forever. Despite the sound economic warnings, action on climate change has not moved ahead at anything like the pace that is required. So what, if anything, is different about natural capital; why and how will putting nature on the balance books make a difference to how governments and corporations make decisions?…”

Read the full blog post on the Irish forum on Natural Capital.

The arguments outlined in this blog are developed in more detail in a report written for the National Economic and Social Council this year; Valuing Nature: Perspectives and Issues.

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About the Author

Dr. Patrick Bresnihan is a lecturer in Geography, Trinity College Dublin. His work spans the fields of political ecology, science and technology studies, and environmental humanities. Areas of research include the fisheries, water services, alternative energy and natural capital.  Find out more about his research here:

Website | TCD Profile
Twitter | @pbresnihan
Academia.edu | Profile

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What’s in a name?

Many linguists, psychologists, and anthropologists have discussed the concept of linguistic relativity: the relationship between the language a person speaks and the way that person thinks and views the world. As the primary language of the people of Ireland up until the 19th century, the Irish language (aka Gaeilge or sometimes Gaelic) is the repository of how people on this island thought and felt about the world around them for most of their recorded history. As part of this, Irish reflects the complex, colourful, and often idiosyncratic relationship that Irish people have had with the animals with which they share the island.

Names can show the people’s fondness for certain species, or they can highlight which aspects of an animal most stood out to them. For example, the ladybird, with its visually pleasing pattern of black spots on bright red elytra, has drawn the eyes of people all over the world and has an association with God or the Virgin Mary in many European languages, including both English and Irish. In Irish, it is known as Bóín Dé or “God’s little cow”, which is also the meaning of its Russian name, Божья коровка. Today, the ladybird’s bright, “bovine” pattern is seen as an example of aposematism, protecting the insect by signalling to potential predators that it contains bitter-tasting chemicals.

From jellyfish to wolves to ladybirds, the Irish language is full of evocative, beautiful, or comical names for native Irish animals.

Continue reading “What’s in a name?”

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Seizing the new collaborator at scientific conferences

Approaching established scientists is nerve wracking when you are just starting out in your own scientific career. It terrified me, but having done so successfully, it is now not so such an intimidating prospect.

When I first went to science conferences as a new PhD student, my fellow early stage researchers and I used to award each other mingling points for having the confidence to break out of our trusted established circle and speak to people we had not met before. Knowing networking was a vital part of attending scientific meetings, we needed motivation to do more than catch up and share free wine. I am glad we pushed each other to do so. I have just returned from a 3 week research visit to Southern France, which would not have taken place, had I not plucked up the courage to approach a now collaborator after her keynote talk a few years ago. Now back in a chilly post-Christmas Dublin it seems like a good time to time to reflect on how my path to approaching new scientists has changed:

Having a question I want answered

After giving a talk it is great to hear somebody enjoyed it and finds your research interesting, but this may not lead to much further conversation than ‘thanks very much’. If you have a research question you would like to explore with someone they are far more likely to be interested. Scientists become leaders in their field in areas that excite them. Approaching scientists with a hypothesis that needs testing and an innovative way of doing should lead to a stimulating conversation.

Creating a new collaboration at a conference recently lead me to get to travel to Montpelier and play with new molecular toys.
Creating a new collaboration at a conference recently lead me to get to travel to Montpelier and play with new molecular toys.

Continue reading “Seizing the new collaborator at scientific conferences”

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Top 10 Minor Assignment Mistakes that Grind my Gears (+1 bonus)

When grading assessments as a demonstrator, I try really hard to give helpful, constructive feedback. It’s important for everyone to learn from their mistakes and develop both as scientific thinkers and as writers. However, there are a few mistakes that happen very often and really grind my gears. If you want to impress your grader and improve your marks, avoid the mistakes below like the plague. Continue reading “Top 10 Minor Assignment Mistakes that Grind my Gears (+1 bonus)”

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Freeing Willy: the $20 million failed experiment

In 1993 Free Willy leapt onto cinema screens around the world. The story about a young boy who saves a killer whale from a run-down theme park was an instant hit for Warner Bros. However for Keiko, the whale who played Willy, the story did not have a Hollywood ending. While Willy jumped to freedom as the credits rolled, Keiko remained in captivity. What followed was a global effort to return Keiko to the wild at all costs, even to Keiko himself. Continue reading “Freeing Willy: the $20 million failed experiment”