Staff Profiles

An environmental geographer, Prof Fahy's research is located in the interdisciplinary field of sustainability, with specialist expertise in matters of (un)sustainable consumption and production (SCP), sufficiency strategies and energy demand. Prof Fahy¿s research has been targeted at supporting society, policy makers and other stakeholders to undertake the necessary and significant transformation of unsustainable social systems. In particular, has she been a central force in debates about sustainable energy practices, including at individual, household, and community scales, across Europe. Over the last decade Prof  Fahy has focused on the topic of (un)sustainable consumption and within this domain, and is known for her path-breaking research which challenges the efficacy of focusing on consumption in isolation from other associated and supporting practices when attempting to redirect living onto more sustainable pathways. This has been framed through an examination of various consumption practices; energy, water, food and waste (previous related research projects include: Fulbright Scholar Award 2013-14, National Economic and Social Research Council 2014-15; CONSENSUS Research Project, EPA 2009-2016). To support this research agenda Prof Fahy has obtained competitive large research funding (>2.7 million Euro personally awarded as Principal Investigator, and she has been involved as a partner in several more projects which have totalled over >24 million Euro). Some of her work is summarised in the co-edited collection 'Challenging Consumption' (Routledge, 2014) and her current and recent European HORIZON 2020 projects.

Frances' research investigates the increasingly complex material, socio-cultural and political terrain that shapes our current patterns of consumption. Overall, Prof Fahy's research advances new agendas in both theoretical and applied contexts, and the aim of her current research is to progress understandings of both individual and structural influences on everyday household consumption practices, while also developing methodologies for co-designing more desirable and sustainable futures for people and the planet, a topic explored in her co-edited volume (with H. Rau) on Methods of Sustainability Research in the Social Sciences (Sage, 2013).

In summary as an active researcher and lecturer in human geography and environmental planning Frances' main expertise and research interests include: socio-environment interactions; environmental planning including EIA and SEA; sustainable development; sustainability tools including indicators and community mapping; environmental governance; sustainable consumption; energy management policy and planning; sustainable communities; and research methods. 

CURRENT PROJECTS
ENERGISE (Horizon 2020: Large Scale project from 2016-2020) Principal Investigator ENERGISE comprehensively covers the full spectrum of energy consumption in the European Union, investigating the factors driving individual and collective energy choices and practices. It classifies energy initiatives in 30 European countries, to inform the subsequent design, rollout and monitoring across eight countries of two culturally sensitive, yet transferrable Living Labs to reduce household energy consumption.

To hear Frances discuss the ENERGISE project please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wPq9qZpRVk and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heeM8bFWFl4

MOSES: Maritime, Ocean Sector and Ecosystem Sustainability: fostering blue growth in Atlantic marine industries. INTERGG Atlantic Area Programme (PI Stephen Hynes; FFahy Work Package Lead) 2018 - 2021
ATLAS – A Trans-AtLantic Assessment and deep water ecosystem based Spatial management plan for Europe (Horizon 2020: Large Scale five year research project 2016-2021) Team member – NUI Galway team led by Anthony Grehan ATLAS creates a dynamic new partnership between multinational industries, SMEs, governments and academia to assess the Atlantic’s deep-sea ecosystems and Marine Genetic Resources to create the integrated and adaptive planning products needed for sustainable Blue Growth. ATLAS will gather diverse new information on sensitive Atlantic ecosystems (incl. VMEs and EBSAs) to produce a step-change in our understanding of their connectivity, functioning and responses to future changes in human use and ocean climate.


RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS
CONSENSUS# II – Towards transformative action for sustainable consumption (Large-scale project funded under the EPA/STRIVE programme 2014-2016) Project Manager and PI for two of the 5 WPsThis two-year interdisciplinary project extends the original CONSENSUS project and features three complementary workpackages that apply segmentation profiling, living laboratory interventions and mobility biography mapping. These will be conducted in partnership with public, private and non-governmental actors to maximise impact and spin-off actions. CONSENSUS II will provide tangible data and recommendations for public, private and civil society actors in Ireland and Europe to support low carbon development that combines efficiency gains with a socially just allocation of resources.
Integrating Environmental Policy into Mainstream Policy. Case Studies: Green Procurement &  Sustainable Food and Drink Assurance Schemes  (National Economic and Social Research Council, 2014-15) This study critically explored the approaches, mechanisms, drivers and linkages that shape the conditions for improved integration of environmental policy in practice. As part of this short three month study, case study research was undertaken on green procurement initiatives, in both the public and private sectors, and sustainable food and drink assurance schemes. In this latter case study area, two specific Bord Bia schemes were examined: Origin Green; and the Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme. This small scale research study was qualitative in nature and primarily focused on gathering and analysing the insights and perspectives of organisations and individuals who are involved in implementing these initiatives on a day-to-day basis.
Exploring the role of citizen science in biodiversity monitoring across Europe (Partner: H Rau, Sociology and Political Science, NUI Galway) Small scale project commenced 2013/14

‘Change Burren: Exploring community well being in the Burren’ commenced Spring 2014 (Partners H Rau, Sociology and Political Science, NUI Galway and BurrenBeo, Kinvara)

‘Communicating Sustainability Research – Challenges, Opportunities and Dissemination Strategies’ (Small-scale project funded by the Fulbright Commission 2014) This project explored the experiences of academics involved in policy relevent research in the field of sustainability. Having spent the last decade working on a variety of policy relevant research projects in the sustainability arena, I drew on my own experiences and critically reflected on the opportunities and challenges of undertaking policy relevant sustainability research. Specifically, I undertook empirical research exploring to what extent the desire to be policy relevant impacts on a researcher’s theoretical outlook, his/her conceptual orientations, methodogical approaches employed and his/her dissemenation strategies. This research project was conducted primarily in Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA, an institution which prides itself on its commitment to real-world research.
CONSENSUS – Consumption, Environment and Sustainability (Large-scale project funded under the EPA/STRIVE programme 2009-2013) This five-year interdisciplinary project was an exploration of household consumption in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. This project is undertaken in conjunction with partners from the School of Political Science and Sociology, NUI Galway and the School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin.
MARNET – Marine Atlantic Regions Network (EU Interreg IVB Atlantic Area Programme 2012-2015) This project involved the establishment of a marine socio-economic network that will create and collate comparable marine socio-economic data and utilise this data to support marine socio-economic development initiatives along the Atlantic Area. The project examined the socio-economic utility of the marine environment derived from the productivity of associated marine ecosystems along the Atlantic Arc. The project sought to enhance the competitiveness and the sustainable development of Atlantic Periphery through the continued provision of a solid set of utilisable marine socio-economic information that are vital for policy formation and economic development planning across a range of marine related sectors and regions.
‘Mapping perceptions of Cycling in NUI Galway’ Small scale project in conjunction with E Clifford, R Manton, Civil Engineering, NUI Galway and H Rau, Sociology and Political Science, NUI Galway. Recipient of EXPLORE Award for Innovative Collaboration in 2012 
‘Exploring perceptions of sustainability and scale in food systems’ (Medium-scale project funded under the Millennium Research Fund 2010-2012) This project theoretically and empirically investigated the perceptions of Irish consumers with regard to the sustainability of food systems, not only environmental but also economic and social, from the local level to the global. Specific objectives included i) examining the meaning of ‘local’, as well as the role that scale plays in influencing consumer food choices; ii) investigating the extent to which perceptions of sustainability in food systems influence purchasing choices; iii) providing a nuanced understanding of the motivations for, and barriers to, purchasing products produced at different scales and explore the implications of such.
‘Galway 21: Implementing the Principles and Practices of Sustainable Development in Galway City Council’ (EPA 2005-2008) The need for more effective tools to develop and assess sustainable development was identified as a priority theme under the EU’s Sixth Framework for European Environmental Policy to 2010. The development of practical tools for a local process of sustainable development represents a major challenge and provided the main focus for this project. In order to promote practical applications of the concept of sustainability by Galway City Council, the study developed indicators to capture quality of life considerations as perceived by the citizens of Galway. The study focused on integrating sustainability practices into all aspects of the local authority’s activities and plans. The development of transferable models of good practice in this domain and their dissemination throughout the local government system in Ireland represent some of the primary goals of the project. Results are available from: http://www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/research/econ/name,25609,en.html
‘Green Map Galway’ (Galway City Council Local Agenda 21 Fund 2008-2010)
Drawing on experiences of other cities this project developed and produced a green map for the city of Galway. A ’Green Map’ is a locally produced chart of an area, which identifies, promotes and links environmental, social, and cultural amenities. These maps typically show green areas, cycle paths, green businesses, organic markets, quiet spots in the city, interesting walking routes, as well as the cultural sites that make an area unique. The map represents a practical tool, with potential to investigate issues of sustainability and land-use planning in the city. In keeping with sustainable development principles, the project involved high levels of public participation at the local level. Results are available on: http://www.galwaygreenmap.ie/  
‘Policies to Promote Cycling in Galway’ (Small-scale project funded by the HSE, Galway City Council and WHO Healthy Cities 2010-2011) The overall goal of this small-scale project is to explore public support for a number of policies that could potentially promote and enable cycling in Galway City. The project involves the development of a survey to investigate public attitudes towards cycling with the aim of understanding the extent of public support for policies that would eventually increase the number of cyclists in Galway City.
‘Urban Bike Parks’ (Desk study. Galway City Council, Healthy Cities Galway June- August 2012)  Following on from the successful partnership established between the HSE, Healthy Cities and Galway City Council in the Policies to Promote Cycling in Galway project (outlined above) this short desk top study provided for three months funding of a post-doctoral researcher – Dr Wes Flannery to review international good practice of urban bike parks and explore existing evidence to determine the processes involved in establishing a bike park in Galway City.
‘Sustainable Energy Communities’ (Desk study. NUI Galway Summer Internship Scheme June- August 2011)  This short project is a desk top study of existing evidence to determine the processes and applications of local participatory budgets, specifically participatory Local Carbon Budgets (LCBs). LCBs are essentially caps on emissions in local areas and there is a growing volume of international evidence that suggests they provide a realisable avenue to advance the transition of communities towards low carbon futures. However, the extent to which citizens and communities participate in developing and implementing these budgets varies, and is the subject of much debate. This study is critically reviewing existing case studies of LCB implementation; identify gaps in evidence; and will make recommendations for further research required in the Irish context.
Environmental attitudes and behaviour: values, actions and waste management in Ireland (EPA, 2001-2005)
This project provided essential baseline information on environmental attitudes and behaviour and more fine-grained understandings of value-action gaps in the environmental policy arena.  In accordance with sustainable development goals, the project generated concrete findings of public/local authority interactions with the aim of assisting local tiers of governance in improving public participation and levels of trust between various communities in environmental policy making.  By focusing specifically on waste issues, the project developed contextual, or ’place-based’, recommendations for improved waste management and minimisation policies. Results are available from: http://www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/research/waste/name,13319,en.html    

Graduate and undergraduate courses (both large- and small-group teaching) at all levels addressing human geography themes including: culture-nature relations; global-local relations; environmental knowledges and environmentalism; environmental policy and planning processes; environmental capacity-building; sustainable development; public participation; sustainable cities; quality of life; waste management policy and planning, and methods for sustainability research. International and national fieldtrip organisation and academic and safety supervision.

Prof Fahy was the Programme Director for the exciting BSc in Social Sciences (formally the Applied Social Sciences Degree). Further information can be found here: http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/undergraduate-courses/applied-social-sciences.html