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IRIS: Staff List

Dr Therese Conway

BA.,MA.,PhD

Contact Details

Lecturer Above The Bar
School of Geography &
Archaeology
University of Galway
E: therese.conway@universityofgalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

Current positions: 
Lecturer: School of Geography and Archaeology, NUI Galway 
Programme Director: MA Rural Futures Planning and Innovation/ MA Planning and Development 
PI: ATLANTIC_SUNSET 
Research Team Member: FLIARA

General research Profile: 
Therese is a lecturer in Geography and a Programme Director of the MA Planning and Development. Which is an SCSI/RICS professionally accredited programme. Dr Conway was the lead University of Galway staff member in securing this accreditation in June 2023. 

Over the last number of years, Dr. Conway has positioned her research agenda with a focus on the concepts of networks and networking, and in particular their role in development, including studies that engage with their role in tourism, ecotourism, community development (communities of practice) and spatial planning more generally. Recently Therese has secured finding for projects that examine Dark Sky and Sunlight tourism extending her expertise in niche tourism planning and development. 

In 2015-2016 Therese was postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Technology Tralee in the UNESCO Chair research centre. 

Dr Conway holds a primary degree in Geography and Sociology in University College Cork and a Masters in Planning and Sustainable Development also at UCC (RTPI and IPI Accredited).

Following a short planning career Therese commenced her PhD at NUI Galway having been award a scholarship through PRTLI4, as part of the Irish Social Sciences Platform (ISSP) and the Whitaker Institute (NUI Galway), Programme of research.


Research Interests

                                            

Dr Conways research focuses on tourism destination planning and development with particular emphasis on alternative tourism forms such as ecotourism. Therese also has a specific interest in the role of networks and networking in rural tourism promotion and development.  She is currently engaged in research relating to the valorization of sunsets across Europe, as a sustainable and niche tourism resource (ATLANTIC SUNSET) and also in the role of social capital in ecotourism promotion and the definition of ecotourism in developed world locations.  

Dr Conway has previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher on an EU Northern Peripheries and Arctic Programme project BUSK (Building Shared Knowledge Capital). This project explored peripheral livelihoods and land uses dependent on natural resources, associated issues of contested management and planning, and the development of innovative solutions to policy and planning for their long-term sustainability.

Therese has also worked as a postdoctoral researcher on a four partner consortium that was awarded the contract to run the National Rural Network in Ireland (NRN) for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  The NRN is a support body for the successful implementation of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. NUI Galway is the lead research partner. The NRN engaged in a practical way with networking key stakeholders and communities within the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. 

Strategically, being involved in the NRN allowed Therese to apply her academic and practical knowledge of networks to research on the RDP process with a particular focus on the LEADER Programme, Farm Viability and European Innovation Partnerships. Involvement here also assisted with Dr Conway's research agenda in terms of the development of networks and the contribution that collaborative and communicative structures and processes make to long-term and sustainable planning for both community and rural development.

Her PhD research, supervised by Emeritus Professor Mary Cawley, funded through the PRTLI4 as part of the ISSP and the Whitaker Institute programme of research. 

Therese is a member of the Rural Studies and Planning and Sustainable Development Research Clusters in Geography and the Whitaker Institute. 


Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
Atlantic_Sunset 01-JUN-23 30-MAY-26
ENNET: ENdogenous NETworks; exploring social capital and bottom up development in rural tourism 01-AUG-19 31-DEC-22
Ruralization 01-MAY-19
NRN 01-SEP-16
BUSK 01-JUN-15 01-DEC-19

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2020) 'Geography graduates’ professional socialisation and identity development through service learning'
Mahon, M., Conway, T., Farrell, M., McDonagh, J. (2020) 'Geography graduates’ professional socialisation and identity development through service learning'. The All Ireland Journal of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, 12 (1) [Details]
(2020) 'Geography graduates’ professional socialisation and identity development through service learning'
M, Marie, T Conway, M Farrell, and J McDonagh (2020) 'Geography graduates’ professional socialisation and identity development through service learning'. AISHE-J: The All Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 12 (1) [Details]
(2017) ''Defining ecotourism: evidence of provider perspectives in an emerging area''
Conway, T. and Cawley, M (2017) ''Defining ecotourism: evidence of provider perspectives in an emerging area''. Journal of Ecotourism, 15 (2):122-138 [Details]
(2016) 'Defining ecotourism: evidence of provider perspectives in an emerging area'
Conway, T., Cawley, M. (2016) 'Defining ecotourism: evidence of provider perspectives in an emerging area'. Journal of Ecotourism, 15 (2):122-138 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Organizational networking in an emerging ecotourism destination'
Conway, T. and Cawley, M. (2012) 'Organizational networking in an emerging ecotourism destination'. Tourism Planning & Development, 9 (4):397-409 [Details]

Books

  Year Publication
(2003) Tread softly in the dark. In Dunn, N., and Edensor, T. (Eds) Dark Skies; Places, Practices, Communities. pp. 205-216.
Macmillan, G., Dalgleish, H., Conway, T., Mahon, M. (2003) Tread softly in the dark. In Dunn, N., and Edensor, T. (Eds) Dark Skies; Places, Practices, Communities. pp. 205-216. London: Routledge. [DOI] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2023) 'Tread Softly in the Dark'
Macmillan, G., Dalgleish, H., Conway, T., Mahon, M. (2023) 'Tread Softly in the Dark' In: Dark Skies: Places, Practices, Communities. :205-216 London-: Routledge. [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Ecotourism in Ireland: Thinking outside of the Greenbox'
Conway, T (2021) 'Ecotourism in Ireland: Thinking outside of the Greenbox' In: Treasure Island. The¿history¿of ecotourism in the European islands¿. Venice: Ca' Foscari University¿Press. [Details]
(2020) '‘Nothing is sustainable the way it is’: Reflections on local sustainability perceptions and interpretations'
McDonagh, J., Ólafsdóttir, R., Weir, L., Mahon, M., Farrell, M. and Conway, T. (2020) '‘Nothing is sustainable the way it is’: Reflections on local sustainability perceptions and interpretations' In: Sharing Knowledge for Land Use Management: Decision-making and Expertise in Europe's Northern Periphery. UK: Edward Elgar Publishers. [Details]
(2020) '‘There’s no transfer of knowledge, it’s all one way’: the importance of integrating local knowledge and fostering knowledge sharing practices in natural resource utilisation'
McDonagh, J., Ólafsdóttir, R., Weir, L., Mahon, M., Farrell, M. and Conway, T. (2020) '‘There’s no transfer of knowledge, it’s all one way’: the importance of integrating local knowledge and fostering knowledge sharing practices in natural resource utilisation' In: Sharing Knowledge for Land Use Management: Decision-making and Expertise in Europe's Northern Periphery. UK: Edward Elgar Publishers. [Details]
(2016) 'Endogenous resource use and ecotourism development'
Conway, T., Cawley, M. (2016) 'Endogenous resource use and ecotourism development' In: Re-inventing Rural Tourism Through Co-creative and Sustainable Tourist Experiences. Newcastle-Upon-Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Press. [Details]
(2013) 'Networks in rural tourism'
Conway T (2013) 'Networks in rural tourism' In: The Sustainability of Rural Systems: global and local challenges and opportunities, Commission on the Sustainability of Rural Systems of the IGU. Galway: Galway: IGU and Whitaker Institute, NUI Galway. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2016) Landscape Values: Place and Praxis
Conway, T.; Cawley, M. (2016) Ecotourism and ecolabels in landscape protection: a critical appraisal of a governance mechanism . In: Collins, T., Kindermann, G., Newman, C., Cronin, N eds. Landscape Values: Place and Praxis NUI Galway, , 29-JUN-16 - 02-JUL-16 , pp.77-80 [Details]
(2014) CELT Annual Conference 2014
Cawley, M., Conway, T., Kanakis, D., McGinley, S. (2014) Knowing, acting, being in engaging the curriculum: evaluating the Tourism Area Life Cycle Model in Salthill CELT Annual Conference 2014 [Details]
(2015) 9th Annual Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference (THRIC) 2013, 6-7th June, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Conway, T. and Cawley, M. (2015) Perspectives on ecotourism: examining tourism provider understandings [accessible on-line] 9th Annual Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference (THRIC) 2013, 6-7th June, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology , pp.1-14 [Details]
(2013) THRIC
Conway, T. and Cawley, M. (2013) Perspectives on ecotourism: tourism provider understandings THRIC [Details]
(2013) International Conference on Rural Tourism, University of Alveiro, Portugal
Conway, T. and Cawley, M. (2013) Experience design in ecotourism: endogenous resource use International Conference on Rural Tourism, University of Alveiro, Portugal University of Alveiro, Portugal, , 05-SEP-13 - 07-SEP-13 [Details]
(2013) Annual Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference
Conway, T. and Cawley, M. (2013) Perspectives on ecotourism: an analysis of tourism provider understandings Annual Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference GMIT Galway, , 06-JUN-13 - 07-JUN-13 [Details]
(2013) Reinventing rural tourism and the rural tourism experience
Conway, T., Cawley, M. (2013) Experience design in ecotourism: endogenous resource use Reinventing rural tourism and the rural tourism experience University of Aveiro, Portugal, , 05-SEP-13 - 07-SEP-13 [Details]
(2013) Annual Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference
Conway, T., Cawley, M. (2013) Perspectives on ecotourism: an analysis of tourism provider understandings Annual Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference GMIT, Galway, , 06-JUN-13 - 07-JUN-13 [Details]
(2012) Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers
Conway, T., Cawley, M. (2012) Organisational networking in an emerging ecotourism destination Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers New York, , 26-FEB-12 - 29-FEB-12 [Details]
(2012) Annual Conference, Association of American Geographers
Conway, T., Cawley, M (2012) Organisational networking in an emerging ecotourism destination. Annual Conference of the Association of American Geographers, New York, 28 February 2012 Annual Conference, Association of American Geographers , 27-FEB-12 - 02-MAR-12 [Details]
(2011) 19th Annual Colloquium of the International Geographical Union Commission on the Sustainability of Rural Systems, NUI Galway 1-7 August 2011
Conway, T., Cawley, M. (2011) Networking in ecotourism 19th Annual Colloquium of the International Geographical Union Commission on the Sustainability of Rural Systems, NUI Galway 1-7 August 2011 NUI Galway, , 01-AUG-11 - 07-AUG-11 [Details]
(2013) 19th Annual Colloquium of the Commission on the Sustainability of Rural Systems of the IGU
Conway, T. (2013) Networks in rural tourism . In: Mary Cawley, Ana Maria Bicalho, Lucette Laurens eds. 19th Annual Colloquium of the Commission on the Sustainability of Rural Systems of the IGU Galway: IGU and Whitaker Institute, NUI Galway, , pp.252-261 [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2023) D 1.2: Women-Led Innovation Research Review.
Farrell, M. McGuinness, N., Weir, L. Conway, T., Mahon, M., Nolan, N. Garces Ortiz S., and Holloway, L. (2023) D 1.2: Women-Led Innovation Research Review. EU Commission, Brussels. [Details]
(2020) Assessment Framework. RURALIZATION Deliverable 3.1.
Murtagh, A., Farrell, M., Mahon, M., McDonagh, J., Conway, T., Conway, S. and Korthals Altes, W. (2020) Assessment Framework. RURALIZATION Deliverable 3.1. EU Commission, EU Commission. [Details]
(2020) Detailed Conceptual Guidelines. RURALIZATION Deliverable 3.2.
Murtagh, A., Farrell, M., Mahon, M., McDonagh, J., Conway, T. and Conway, S. (2020) Detailed Conceptual Guidelines. RURALIZATION Deliverable 3.2. EU Commission, EU Commission. [Details]
(2020) Review Report and Fact Sheets based on previous European projects. RURALIZATION Deliverable 3.3.
Murtagh, A., Farrell, M., Mahon, M., McDonagh, J., Keenaghan, N., Conway, T. and Conway, S. (2020) Review Report and Fact Sheets based on previous European projects. RURALIZATION Deliverable 3.3. European Network for Rural Development, EU Commission. [Details]
(2016) (2016) Project Sport Inclusion ET Innovation, Siene Saint Denis (Full report in French only. Further information available at: https://inta-aivn.org/en/activities/advice/peer-to-peer-panels/2016-sport-handicap-cd93-en).
Rapport Du Panel de I’INTA (2016) (2016) Project Sport Inclusion ET Innovation, Siene Saint Denis (Full report in French only. Further information available at: https://inta-aivn.org/en/activities/advice/peer-to-peer-panels/2016-sport-handicap-cd93-en). INTA, Paris. [Details]
(2016) Meeting Report of the Expert Panel, Lausanne, Switzerland (May 2016).
Global Active Cities Development (2016) Meeting Report of the Expert Panel, Lausanne, Switzerland (May 2016). Evaleo, Switzerland. [Details]

Newsletter

  Year Publication
(2017) NRN LEADER Newsletter.
Farrell, M., Conway, T., (2017) NRN LEADER Newsletter. Newsletter [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2020 The President’s Awards for Teaching Excellence NUI Galway
2019 The President's Award for Societal Impact NUI Galway
2013 Best Paper Award THRIC Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Annual Conference
2010 PhD Fellowship Higher Education Authority, through the 4th Programme of Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI4)

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
RTPI Accredited Planning MA /
IPI Accredited Planning Qualification /

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Teaching (e.g. Service learning / comunity based learning) Service Learning Moate Co West Meath /

Reviews

  Journal Role
Journal of Ecotourism Reviewer
Journal Of Rural Studies Reviewer
Anatolia: an International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research Reviewer

Teaching Interests

Since 2009 Dr Conway has been engaged in third level teaching and learning. During this time her teaching portfolio has expanded to encompass the design, coordination and delivery of MA modules in service learning, rural development, and rural tourism, and extensive undergraduate teaching in core subjects and specialist research areas. 

Dr Conway's teaching experience in Geography at NUI Galway relates to designing and coordinating courses for classes of 100+ students, coordinating modules and conducting the associated teaching for a fourth level MA group (10 students), and engaging in a number of team taught modules across the discipline for classes in excess of 200. 

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2017 Julie Brennan Y
2020 Martina Calvey
2020 Niamh McGuinness
2023 Patrick McGarry
2015 Gabrielle Kane Y
2015 Ciara Lynch Y
2015 Sarah Philips

Current Postgraduate Students (Research)

  Student Degree Type Type
Georgia Macmillan Doctorate - Structured Ph.D. in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Supervisor
Fatemeh Zamani Alavijeh Doctorate - Structured Ph.D. in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Co-supervisor (1)
Komang Trisna Pratiwi Arcana Doctorate - Structured Ph.D. in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Supervisor

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2020 Research Seminar in Rural Planning TI 3118
2020 Research Seminar in Tourism TI3119
2019 Professional Skills and Pathways BSS 3100
2009, 2020 Critical Skills for Social Scientists BSS 2101
2019,2020 Cooperative Learning and Group Research Methods (International Fieldtrip Module) BS2101
2014 Theory and Practice in Geography TI 251
2015 Research Methodologies TI 507
2015 Research Project Design and Development TI 335
2017, 2018, 2019 Introduction to the Social Sciences BSS1101
2014 Rural Field-Based and Service Learning TI 504
2015 The Multifunctional Countryside TI 506
2015 Tourism Geographies TI 226

Internal Collaborators

  Name Description of Collaboration
PAZOS OTON MIGUEL
Jose Maria Martin Olalla
Dr Marie Mahon
Dr Maura Farrell

External Collaborators

  Name Organisation / Institute Country Description of Collaboration
Quentin Brouard-Sala University of Angers FRANCE
Xurxo Cegarra Wireless Galicia SPAIN
LOIS GONZALEZ RUBEN CAMILO University de Santiago de Compostela SPAIN
MIRA PEREZ JORGE University de Santiago de Compostela SPAIN