Celebrating Women in Sustainability
International Women’s Day, 8th March 2021
#IWD2021 #ITSGreenWeek2021
Ailish Keane,
Senior Environmental Officer, Inland Fisheries Ireland
For Green Week and International Women’s Day, ITS Green Campus caught up with IT Sligo graduate Ailish Keane to chat about sustainability, women in science and that all important job satisfaction!
Find out what she had to say…
A passion for the environment
“I have always been passionate about protecting our environment, even as a very young child. After studying Applied Biology in GMIT, I did a Degree in Environmental Science & Technology in IT Sligo. I have held environmental roles in various local authorities which provided me with brilliant, ‘hands on’ experience and paved the way for my job now with IFI.”
Favourite part of the job
“What I love most is the variety. From investigating incidents of water pollution, monitoring water quality and the health of our fish stocks, to reviewing planning applications and running workshops in primary schools as part of our ‘Something Fishy’ programme – every day is different! It’s also really great to be outdoors and know I am making a difference. The ‘feel-good factor’ from that is amazing.”
‘…So many of my peers are women!’
To women considering a career in this area
“Pursue it! Women are excelling in Environmental Science in Ireland. Day-to-day, when I work with different environmental officers and organisations, so many of my peers are women. It is a great network and a really encouraging area to be working in.”
Key influences and mentors
“Tara Shine is someone I have always admired, her dedication to Environmental Science and policy change is inspiring to any young Irish woman with an interest in this field;
Mary Robinson is another Irish woman I would admire, from becoming the first female president of Ireland to being the
U. N.’s special envoy for Climate Change and setting up the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice; and
Frances Lucy (Head of Environmental Science, ITS) has been a massive inspiration to me. From my first day in IT Sligo right up to today, I still reach out to her for advice and support.”
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) works to protect, manage and conserve Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resources and to maximise their sustainability and natural biodiversity. www.fisheriesireland.ie
Where to learn more about fisheries & the environment
“The IFI YouTube channel is a great place to start with lots of informative videos.
I also love Catchments.ie for great science and stories about water catchments on a local level.
And RTE’s Eco Eye. I love watching this with my kids – it’s a great way to get them interested in the environment.”
This special feature is part of IT Sligo’s International Women’s Day celebrations and the start of Green Week. To find out more about Green Week 2021 please go to events here.
You can download the full article as PDF by clicking below.
