Health Sciences

Exploring Community Participatory Approaches to Eco-Health  (2018-2025)

(Role: Co-Supervisor    PhD Researcher: Ann Marie Crosse, HSE)

The research project investigates community-based participatory research approach to mapping local knowledge systems on EcoHealth. The study utilises participatory research methods to explore community awareness and knowledge regarding ecosystem services, health, and sustainability. This research aims to co-produce a Community Toolkit to examine and evaluate community wellbeing through a community-based participatory research approach to mapping local knowledge systems on Eco Health.     

Energy Cultures II

(Funded by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE); Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA); Mercury Energy, New Zealand)  

Dr Lavelle conducted postdoctoral research at the Centre for Sustainability at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Dr Lavelle investigated policy implications and knowledge translation of sustainability and energy-efficiency research as part of the Energy Cultures II Project. This large-scale interdisciplinary research project developed knowledge and tools to achieve a sustainable energy transition in New Zealand's households, businesses and transport system; for example exploring issues related to energy efficiency and warmth, fuel poverty, aspirations for energy futures, developing strategic capability through eco-innovation, and sustainable transport. The interdisciplinary research team included academics and experts in the areas of human geography, physics, economics, marketing, and law. The Energy Cultures research programme was awarded gold status by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for performing above expectations based on MBIE's evaluation of the project. Highlights included (a) the widespread adoption, in New Zealand and internationally, of the Energy Cultures framework as a way of understanding behaviour, (b) the development of an empirical measure of the dimensions of energy culture, (c) new insights into efficient driving, (d) contributions to electric vehicle policy, and (e) a system dynamics model of electric vehicle uptake.  

TCD Homelabs Project 

(Funded by Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA))

Prior to conducting research with the University of Otago in New Zealand, Mary Jo conducted postdoctoral research at the School of Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin. Here, Dr Lavelle's research involved an ethnographical study called Homelabs. Homelabs, an EPA-funded project lead by Professor Anna Davies at TCD, employed a range of cutting-edge social and technical innovations and interventions with households in order to test and evaluate sustainable washing and food living-lab interventions. Mary Jo's research examined and evaluated longitudinal impacts of sustainable washing and eating behaviour change interventions. The study evaluated the benefits of combining innovative proposals in real-time, real-life situations through working within Irish households. The research found that combining information about the impact of current consumption practices with practical tools and tips, designed to help reduce that impact, far outweighed the success of such interventions adopted in isolation. The project was funded by the EPA STRIVE (Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment) Programme 2007-2015.

Segmenting for Sustainability Project  

 (Funded by Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2013-2015)

Dr Lavelle conducted EPA-funded postdoctoral research at the School of Geography and Archaeology at the University of Galway from 2013 to 2015. Her research activities concerned the role of segmentation analysis and its utility in promoting greater understanding of pro-environmental behaviours and sustainability in Ireland. Mary Jo developed two innovative typology tools to investigate pro-environmental behaviour change (see Lavelle, Rau and Fahy, 2015).

This research argues for a disaggregation of pro-environmental behaviour into habitual and occasional behaviour. Mary Jo was successfully awarded postdoctoral funding from the Irish Environmental Protection Agency to conduct research in this important area. This research was conducted as part of CONSENSUS Project, which investigated household consumption, environment and sustainability in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland: http://www.consensus.ie. The project was funded by the EPA STRIVE (Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment) Programme 2007-2015.

All-island Lifestyle Survey - CONSENSUS Project

(Funded by Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)) 

Mary Jo was awarded EPA-funding to conduct large-scale quantitative research as part of her PhD research to examine household consumption behaviours and lifestyles in the areas of water, energy, food and transport, and issues quality of life across the island of Ireland. Her PhD research was conducted as part of a wider EPA-funded study called the CONSENSUS Project (see www.consensus.ie). Mary Jo received numerous awards for her research from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research; the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies (NUI, Galway); and the Centre for Environment, Development and Sustainability (CEDS).

The CONSENSUS Lifestyle Survey provided an understanding of people's attitudes and behaviours towards sustainable household consumption and sustainable lifestyles, as well as explored respondents household behaviours in the areas of mobility, food, water and energy use across the island of Ireland. It also examined their attitudes towards environmental regulation, environmental responsibility, self-efficacy, as well as issues pertaining to quality of life. This study produced the first extensive baseline data on attitudes and behaviours towards sustainable household consumption and sustainable lifestyles across the island of Ireland.

Smaller Scale Research Projects 

2023

Exploration Of WHO-Five Well-Being Index Scores And Its Association With Bullying Among 10-17 Years School-Aged Children In Ireland
Supervisor (Unfunded Project)   

A Secondary Analysis Of The Health Behaviour In School-Aged Children (HBSC) Study In Ireland, 2018 Dataset.

An exploration into the perceived factors that impact physical activity participation among female students attending an Irish University.
Supervisor (Unfunded Project)     

An exploration into the perceived factors that impact physical activity participation among female students attending an Irish University.  

2020
An exploration into the workings of successful Partnerships in the World Health Organization Healthy Cities Initiative? A scoping review
Supervisor (Unfunded Project, 2020)     

Desktop study ¿ a scoping review on exploration into the workings of successful Partnerships in the World Health Organization Healthy Cities Initiative.         

2018
A Process and Outcome Evaluation of a Stress Control Programme for Staff in Hospitals in the West of Ireland
(Supervisor (Unfunded Project in collaboration with HSE)   

This study evaluated the implementation and short-term outcomes of a Stress Control Programme in Irish hospital settings. The study identified factors inhibiting and promoting the effective implementation of the Stress Control programme and measured participants¿ reported behavioural change outcomes in relation to controlling stress, and Facilitators¿ feedback.

Health Promotion Research Centre, University of Galway
(WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Promotion)

Mary Jo worked as a researcher within the Health Promotion Research Centre at University of Galway, which is a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Health Promotion. Mary Jo worked on several projects during this time, which involved various elements of data collection and analysis.

The projects included are as follows:

- Investigations of qualifications of non-nursing residential care staff in the Republic of Ireland (2008)
- Development of Public Health Walk with third level students at HEIs (2008)
- Exploration of media reporting on Cryptosporidium outbreak in West of Ireland (2008)

                 
 


                                                                 

Academic Programme Director (2024-present)

Dr Lavelle is the Academic Director for the MA/Postgraduate Diploma Programmes in Health Promotion Programmes at the University of Galway. These postgraduate programmes are internationally recognised and accredited programmes by the IUHPE with all course content and qualifications informed by agreed competencies and professional standards for Health Promotion globally. The programme is an IUHPE (International Union of Health Promotion and Education) Accredited Health Promotion Course. 

Past Directorship Roles (2017-2023)

Dr. Lavelle was Programme Director for several Postgraduate and Undergraduate Certificate Programmes in Health Promotion at the University of Galway. An overview of these programmes are outlined below.

Postgraduate Certificate in Health Promotion Programmes at the Discipline of Health Promotion, University of Galway. 

(i.) Postgraduate Certificate in Health Promotion in Workplace Wellness
Course Code: 1PWW1. 
Duration: 2017-2023

(ii.) Postgraduate Certificate in Health Promotion (Approaches to Cardiovascular Health and Type II Diabetes Prevention)
Course Code: 1PCH1
Duration: 2017-2023

Specialist Certificate in Health Promotion Programmes at the Discipline of Health Promotion, University of Galway.

(i.) Specialist Certificate in Health Promotion in Youth Health
Course Code: 1UYH1
Duration: 2017-2024

(ii.) Specialist Certificate in Health Promotion in Youth Mental Health
Course Code: 1UYMH1
Duration: 2021-2024

(iii.) Specialist Certificate in Health Promotion in Oral Health
Course Code: 1UOH1
Duration: 2017-2022

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Course Coordinator

Dr. Lavelle is the module coordinator on several postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in health promotion at the University of Galway. An overview of these modules is outlined below.

(i.) Masters/Postgraduate Diploma in Health Promotion Programme
Discipline of Health Promotion, University of Galway.   

Module(s):

HP848 Determinants of Health (MA/HDip in Health Promotion)  
Duration: 2017-2024  

(ii.)Specialist Certificate in Health Promotion Programmes, Discipline of Health Promotion

Module(s):

HP134 Specialism in Oral Health Promotion 
HP130 Concepts and Principles of Health Promotion 
HP131  Health Promotion Project Development

(iii.)Postgraduate Certificate in Health Promotion Programmes, Discipline of Health Promotion

Module(s):

HP6102 Concepts and Principles of Health Promotion
HP6106 Specialism in Workplace Wellness 
HP6101 Specialism in Cardiovascular Health and Type II Diabetes Prevention 
HP6103 Health Promotion Project Development (Postgraduate level)

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Other Teaching

MA in Health Promotion Programme, Discipline of Health Promotion

Module(s)

HP846 Foundations of Health Promotion 
HP504 Dissertation Module (MA Health Promotion) 

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Past Teaching 

(i.) University of Otago, New Zealand: 

Module(s)

ENVI 311  Energy and Behaviour II

SOCI 208  Environmental Sociology

(ii.)School of Geography and Archaeology, University of Galway

TI152     Geography in Practice (600+ students enrolled 2015) (Lecturer)
TI 236     Environmental Planning (Lecturer and Tutor)
TI 235     Biogeography (Tutor)
TI 216     Weather and Climate (Tutor)
TI 335     Research Project Design and Development (Lecturer and Tutor) 
TI 150     Principles of Human Geography (600+ students enrolled)
TI 212     Geography Theory and Practice