Whitaker Institute: Recent Episodes
Whitaker Institute
Innovative, multidisciplinary and transformative research to address business, social science and public policy issues for a sustainable and inclusive society.
The concept of ephemerality is increasingly relevant for information systems scholars, business leaders, governmental regulators, and broader society. This talk examined the rise of digital ephemerality, its importance for information systems research, and why it is necessary to consolidate what we mean when we say that a digitally-mediated experience is ephemeral. It is suggested that a multidisciplinary understanding of the ephemerality concept will serve researchers and stakeholders best.
By Ronan Doyle
In 2018, Marine and coastal tourism generated €2.6 billion in revenue accounting for approximately 45% of all tourism expenditure in Ireland. Recent covid-19 related travel restrictions have severely impacted the ability of this industry to generate revenue while also entirely changing the composition of the tourists visiting coastal areas. The goal of many related to this industry will be a swift recovery to pre-pandemic levels of revenue. Using data collected in 2018, Dr John Deely discussed the determinants of demand for both domestic and overseas marine and coastal tourism in Ireland. Using participation models and length of stay models, Dr Deely explored which individuals are most likely to enter the market, who tends to stay longest and the value a tourist receive above what they have spent. The discussion concluded with some remarks on how the tourist industry may be revitalised following the removal Covid-19 related travel restrictions.
On 19 November the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host the last event in the year long series celebrating Social Marketing. Most of us recognise that everyday life today is not the same as it was a few months ago let alone a few years ago what with climate change, the pandemic, social inequalities, digital technologies, global markets and so much more. It is a world shaped increasingly by collective as well as individual choice, and by systems, social and behaviour change all rolled into one. In this emerging complex world social marketing is a leading behavioural science already into a future of radical transformation. To meet the demands of our time, we must incorporate an “and” approach – citizens and stakeholders, citizens and society, citizens and systems, citizens and the planet into our way of doing and being. Social marketing’s call to action is to get on board now, be the Change Catalyst in your life, your family and your community to open the door to a new sustainable world for all. Join us and our guest speakers on the 50th anniversary of Kotler and Zaltman’s (1971) famous Social Marketing paper as we hear about the latest developments in Social Marketing. Using behavioural and systems science, research evidence, practical insights, case studies and examples, this series of SOCIAL MARKETING seminars with global experts explores the complex links between our environment, our health and wellbeing and our future.
Presentations:
‘Arise Social Marketers, Planet Earth Needs You!’ Professor Gerard Hastings
Covid and social marketing: this much I know Professor Alan Tapp
Hosted by Dr Christine Domegan, NUI Galway
This talk explored recent technological innovations in healthcare and why sometimes they don’t work as expected. The psychological science that underpins these successes and failures in ‘real-life’ was explored, including examples of the importance of stakeholder involvement in design and implementation of new technologies.
By Dr Jane Walsh
Government and public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic required employees to work from home where possible. Over a period of a year and half, working from home became the new norm for a considerable number of employees and organisations in Ireland and across the world. As we look to the post-pandemic landscape, it is clear that working from home will continue to be a significant part of that landscape. Organisations are developing hybrid and flexible working policies which include some time in the office and some time working remotely in a hybrid format.
The Working from Home: Quantifying Economic and Environmental Impacts and Opportunities webinar presented findings from travel and commuting data gathered in the NUI Galway and Western Development Commission national remote working survey during COVID-19. The webinar brings together multidisciplinary insights to assess environmental and economic impacts and opportunities from working from home. The event is relevant to organisations, individuals and policy makers interested in understanding economic and environmental impacts of hybrid, remote, distributed and flexible working. Much discussion and debate to-date focuses on the employment and HR issues regarding the COVID-19 impact on how and where we work. This webinar extends the debate to examine broader economic and environmental issues and opportunities.
Professor Alma McCarthy provided an overview of the working from home opportunities and challenges for employees and employers from the national remote working survey data.
Dr Eoghan Clifford outlined the overall change in transport patterns during the recent COVID-19 pandemic including an outline of pre-COVID-19 travel patterns, lockdown travel patterns and potential travel patterns post-pandemic based on stated preferences for remote working in the national survey. He outlined potential impacts that remote working could have on transport emissions based on data from the NUI Galway/WDC national remote working survey. He also presented a breakdown of potential savings from different sectoral and regional analyses.
Dr Tom McDermott discussed economic implications of a shift to increased remote working. Survey respondents indicate a strong preference to continue with flexible and remote working beyond the pandemic. The perceived value of attending the office appears to have declined dramatically. This shift in work practices offers potentially large economic and environmental gains. Alongside the potential emissions reductions, an increase in remote working could also bring substantial productivity gains for the economy, particularly in the form of reduced time spent commuting. However, the gains are contingent on behavioural responses to the new norm, and need to be weighed against concerns about unequal access to and benefits from remote working. A range of complementary policy interventions may be required to ensure the potential gains from remote working are realised and unintended negative effects kept to a minimum.
Professor John FitzGerald acted as discussant and reflected on economic and climate related policy implications of the findings presented in the webinar. He drew on his experience and work on the Climate Change Advisory Council and Ireland’s carbon budgets to inform the discussion.
The event coincided with the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow November 2021.
In our talk/webinar we present the findings from our research into how Non Profit Organisations (NPOs) engage with the need to support mission centric service users with limited capacity, and relatively weak voice, and the implications of this for mission realisation. We explore, in this context, what this means for management control systems (MCS) and accountability design and use. Our research comprised an in-depth case study of four NPOs providing support services to people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland. We examined the NPOs MCS and accountability systems and probed management’s perceptions of the importance and voice of service users within their organisations. We identify the recognition and monitoring of service user advocacy within the organisation (‘internal advocacy’), as part of the MCS and accountability processes, as being critical for NPO mission realisation. In so doing the we provide theoretical insights for the design of MCS and accountability systems for NPOs involved in human service provision. Our findings contribute not just to NPO management and MCS literature but empirically to the relational interaction of service users with support organisations and what this may mean for the realisation of their life objectives. Speakers: Dr Geraldine Robbins & Dr Frank Conaty
Although Ireland's security and defence policy is currently undergoing a period of change, the precise nature of this is unclear. On the one hand there is no shift, and apparently little interest in altering, the official policy of 'active neutrality'. Indeed, this policy has been strongly reiterated in successive official statements-the 2015 White paper on Defence; the 2016 Strategy Statement and the 2019 Update on the White Paper. On the other hand, Ireland's position of neutrality has arguably never been more isolated. Sweden and Finland in particular, have moved decisively closer to NATO, although somewhat confusingly, they remain officially non-aligned. Ireland has joined the EU's PESCO initiative which critics deride as a first step to Irish membership of an EU army. Are such claims overblown and what in fact has been the experience of Irish participation in PESCO since then? Ireland becoming a member of the UN Security Council in 2021 reveals the ongoing importance for Ireland of being a global peacekeeper, while the Commission on the Defence Forces suggests a high-level political desire to reform the Defence Forces as well as defence capabilities more generally. What might this look like, especially given the fiscal impact of the COVID19 pandemic? This presentation presents my research to date which seeks to analyse who or what is driving such a process? To what extent can we speak of an evolution or in fact continuity?
By Dr Brendan Flynn
Most of us recognise that everyday life today is not the same as it was a few months ago let alone a few years ago what with climate change, the pandemic, social inequalities, digital technologies, global markets and so much more. It is a world shaped increasingly by collective as well as individual choice, and by systems, social and behaviour change all rolled into one. In this emerging complex world social marketing is a leading behavioural science already into a future of radical transformation. To meet the demands of our time, we must incorporate an “and” approach – citizens and stakeholders, citizens and society, citizens and systems, citizens and the planet into our way of doing and being. Social marketing’s call to action is to get on board now, be the Change Catalyst in your life, your family and your community to open the door to a new sustainable world for all.
Presentations:
What social marketers have learnt over the last 50 years and what we still need to figure out
Prof Jeff French, Brighton University
Social Marketing turns 50! We’ve come a long way and have a long way to go.
Prof Suzanne Suggs, University of Lugano
Hosted by Dr Christine Domegan
Centre for Entrepreneurial Growth and Scaling (CEGS) in the Whitaker Institute for Innovation and Societal Change was delighted to host a panel conversation on: “Scaling Up Startup Organizations” with Dr. Alicia DeSantola, author of the Harvard Business Review article “Start-ups that last: How to scale your business.” In conversation with Elaine Murphy and Professor Jonathan Levie. Hosted by Professor Esther Tippmann.
On 28 May 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host Social Marketing; A Behavioural Change Rebel turning 50. Most of us recognise that everyday life today is not the same as it was a few months ago let alone a few years ago what with climate change, the pandemic, social inequalities, digital technologies, global markets and so much more. It is a world shaped increasingly by collective as well as individual choice, and by systems, social and behaviour change all rolled into one. In this emerging complex world social marketing is a leading behavioural science already into a future of radical transformation. To meet the demands of our time, we must incorporate an “and” approach – citizens and stakeholders, citizens and society, citizens and systems, citizens and the planet into our way of doing and being. Social marketing’s call to action is to get on board now, be the Change Catalyst in your life, your family and your community to open the door to a new sustainable world for all.
Presentations:
Digital technologies: communication tools or powerful mechanisms for change?
Ms Tina Flaherty
Competitor Analysis for Social Marketing: Due diligence and lessons from Porter.
Dr Maeve McArdle
Hosted by Dr Christine Domegan
On 30 April 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host Social Marketing; A Behavioural Change Rebel turning 50. Most of us recognise that everyday life today is not the same as it was a few months ago let alone a few years ago what with climate change, the pandemic, social inequalities, digital technologies, global markets and so much more. It is a world shaped increasingly by collective as well as individual choice, and by systems, social and behaviour change all rolled into one. In this emerging complex world social marketing is a leading behavioural science already into a future of radical transformation. To meet the demands of our time, we must incorporate an “and” approach – citizens and stakeholders, citizens and society, citizens and systems, citizens and the planet into our way of doing and being. Social marketing’s call to action is to get on board now, be the Change Catalyst in your life, your family and your community to open the door to a new sustainable world for all.
Presentations:
In the Loop: a Social Marketing Cycling Case Study
Dr Dmitry Brychkov
One Health Issues- How can systems social marketing help design solutions?
Dr Sinead Duane
Hosted by Dr Christine Domegan
On 22 April 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to welcome Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe for a fireside chat with Cian Twomey, Lecturer in Economics at the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics. Professor Geraint Howells, Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law opened the session, followed by the President of NUI Galway Ciarán Ó hOgartaigh who introduced the Minister.
On April 14th, the Department of Finance published the Stability Programme Update (SPU) for 2021, setting out the medium-term trajectory for the Irish economy. Commenting on the SPU, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe noted that ‘the impact of the pandemic on the domestic economy and the public finances has been severe. However, the acceleration of the vaccination programme means that the beginning of the end is, hopefully, now in sight. The strength of our economic model and more importantly, our people, clearly demonstrate that we should face this current period with optimism. We can and we will rebuild our economy, get our people back to work and safely emerge from the pandemic.”
The webinar with Minister Donohoe discussed these points in the context of wider European and global challenges.
On 31 March 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host a live webinar titled Health workers and extending working life policy in Ireland: evidence from the DAISIE project. The DAISIE (Dynamics of Accumulated Inequalities for Seniors in Employment) project investigates the gender-differentiated work-life experiences, health and financial outcomes of workers in three occupations aged 50 and over in five European countries. The initial impetus for this project is the introduction of policies designed to extend working life by governments across Europe. The policies were introduced to address anticipated increased state pensions costs associated with demographic ageing. DAISIE explores how older workers in different sectors respond to these policies.
The webinars dialogue was between the P. I. for the Irish strand of the DAISIE project, Dr Áine Ní Léime and Maureen Maloney, Discipline of Management. Dr Ní Léime with Dr Maggie O’Neill presented initial policy-relevant project findings in relation to Irish healthcare workers. This was followed by an interview between Maureen Maloney and Dr. Nata Duvvury/Dr Aine Ni Leime ( Nata Duvvury is an advisor on the project) to tease out the work and pension-related policy implications of the studies findings. The study found gender differences in relation to caring and pension-building and found that it is problematic for those in physcially-demanding work to extend their working lives, suggesting the need for policy modification.
On 30 March 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to welcome Sharon Donnery, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland. Deputy Governor Donnery delivered a lecture to students and staff members at NUI Galway about the effects of COVID-19 on employment, incomes and savings, and the importance of looking beyond the aggregate numbers to understand the full effects of the pandemic. Ms Donnery described the uneven labour market impacts from the pandemic, where the young, female and those with lower education levels have been particularly affected. She noted that being out of work for long periods can discourage workers, and lead to dropping out of the labour force. These effects are important to keep in mind as we emerge from the pandemic, for individual welfare, long term distributional effects and future economic growth prospects.
A copy of the speech is available to read here.
On 26 March 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host Social Marketing; A Behavioural Change Rebel turning 50. Most of us recognise that everyday life today is not the same as it was a few months ago let alone a few years ago what with climate change, the pandemic, social inequalities, digital technologies, global markets and so much more. It is a world shaped increasingly by collective as well as individual choice, and by systems, social and behaviour change all rolled into one. In this emerging complex world social marketing is a leading behavioural science already into a future of radical transformation. To meet the demands of our time, we must incorporate an “and” approach – citizens and stakeholders, citizens and society, citizens and systems, citizens and the planet into our way of doing and being. Social marketing’s call to action is to get on board now, be the Change Catalyst in your life, your family and your community to open the door to a new sustainable world for all.
Presentations:
Macro-Social Marketing
by Dr Ann-Marie Kennedy
Using Systems Social Marketing to change to the perception of Dads in the Workplace
by Dr Sarah Duffy
Hosted by Dr Christine Domegan
On 8th March 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host Engendering the Macroeconomy: Current Efforts and Future Directions. Economics has neglected integrating gender in its analysis and as a result economic discourse fails to see and address gender inequality in the context of a modern economy. Feminist Economists have been pushing the frontiers of Economics, for the past three decades, in articulating the consequences of development and growth for gender inequality, and the implications of persistent gender inequalities on inclusive growth and sustainable development In the last decade, more exciting and promising research has emerged in this field including the specific theme of ‘engendering macroeconomics’. This session focused on exploring what engendering the macroeconomy entails – what are some of the current efforts, what challenges are faced and what are some future directions. Maria Floro, PI of Hewlett funded research programme on ‘Care Work and the Economy’, and Srinivasan Raghavendra, Co-PI of DFID funded research on ‘Economic and Social Costs of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)’ and also a research associate in the Hewlett project, shared insights from their work on integrating the issues of care work and VAWG into macroeconomic analysis as well as their reflections on advancing gender-sensitive macroeconomic policy models.
The event was hosted by Dr Nata Duvvury, co-leader of the Gender and Public Policy cluster.
On 4 March 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host Gender and Whistleblowing: A hidden aspect of speaking up. Whistleblowing is increasingly recognized as a vital way to hold organizations to account and keep societies safe. Changes are happening: new legislation is being introduced to protect those who speak up about organizational wrongdoing, including an EU Directive that must be transposed into national law by member states by December 2021. Organizations are also increasingly introducing speak-up systems to encourage disclosures internally. Despite this increasing attention, proposed whistleblowing protection may be lacking in its capacity to help all those who need it. To date, whistleblower research has been largely gender neutral, raising questions about the status of knowledge and understanding in this area. Does whistleblowing research and theory effectively overlook the nuances and complexities of speaking out, for female and non-binary genders? Does gender contribute to the structural disadvantages faced by whistleblowers? What theoretical legacies contribute to gender blindness in this field? Extant research studies show how the capacity to speak out, and the success of disclosures, can be affected by characteristics including gender but also race, age, ethnicity and other categories, but how has this empirical knowledge impacted upon theoretical framings? In this workshop we examined these and related questions. We were delighted to welcome five panellists who discussed the overlooked gendered dimensions of speaking up. Such a focus is vital if proposed protections are to be effective for all whistleblowers.
The event is available to watch back below.
Panellists:
Mahaut Fanchini- Assistant Professor at University Paris-Est Créteil
Laura William – Associate Professor of Employment Relations and Equality – Greenwich Business School
Nanna Bonde Thylstrup – Associate Professor – Copenhagen Business School
Daniela Agostinho – University of CopenhagenBrigid MacCarthy – Tavistock/UEL
Hosted by: Dr Meghan Van Portfliet and Professor Kate Kenny, NUI Galway
This event was sponsored by the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Project Fund, NUI Galway and hosted by the Whitaker Institute
On February 19 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host Social Marketing; A Behavioural Change Rebel turning 50.Most of us recognise that everyday life today is not the same as it was a few months ago let alone a few years ago what with climate change, the pandemic, social inequalities, digital technologies, global markets and so much more. It is a world shaped increasingly by collective as well as individual choice, and by systems, social and behaviour change all rolled into one. In this emerging complex world social marketing is a leading behavioural science already into a future of radical transformation. To meet the demands of our time, we must incorporate an “and” approach – citizens and stakeholders, citizens and society, citizens and systems, citizens and the planet into our way of doing and being.
Social marketing’s call to action is to get on board now, be the Change Catalyst in your life, your family and your community to open the door to a new sustainable world for all.
Presentations:
Agents of change or agents of the system: Are we really who we think we are?
by Professor Maria Raciti
Creating collective solutions: Applications of systems social marketing
by Professor Sharyn Rundle-Thiele
Hosted by Dr Christine Domegan
On 15 February 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host Aggression and its Victims: Exploring Recent Developments in International Law. International law has not traditionally recognised individuals as victims of the crime of aggression. Recent developments may precipitate a departure from this approach. The activation of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over the crime of aggression opens the way for the future application of the Court’s regime of victim participation and reparation in the context of prosecutions for this crime. The determination by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in General Comment No. 36 that any deprivation of life resulting from an act of aggression violates Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights serves to recognise a previously overlooked class of victims. This webinar explores these recent developments, by discussing their background, meaning and implications.
The event is available to watch back below.
Speakers:
Professor Shane Darcy, Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway
Dr Erin Pobjie, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
Dr Eliav Lieblich, Tel Aviv University
On 11 February 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host Understanding psychosocial determinants of adherence to physical distancing guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic by Dr Hannah Durand. Physical distancing is one of the best strategies that we have to slow the spread of COVID-19. However, keeping our distance from others is perhaps the most difficult and even unnatural behaviour that we must adopt. Understanding the complex factors involved in determining whether someone will or will not adhere to physical distancing guidelines, and addressing those factors in evidence-based, fully transparent, and fact-based public health campaigns, is therefore of critical importance. This seminar provided an overview of a Health Research Board and Irish Research Council-funded project, which aims to provide high-quality accelerated evidence on the barriers and facilitators of physical distancing to support COVID-19 policy strategy and communication in the Republic of Ireland.
On 27 January 2021, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host Negotiating Intercultural engagement in Ireland: Irish immigration policy and its impact on the day-to-day lives of migrantsby Dr Orla McGarry. Interculturalism has become the dominant migration policy in Europe over the past two decades. In contrast with past policies of multiculturalism which are often seen as having created ‘parallel societies’, policy makers have embraced interculturalism as an approach that valorises ‘interaction’ across cultural frontiers. Interculturalism however, carries a dense and contested rhetorical baggage that is in need of distillation. Drawing on empirical research across multiple sites, this seminar provided a critical discussion of Ireland’s intercultural policy. It argued that the laissez faire nature of Ireland’s migration policies entrench inequalities among contemporary migrants and called for more cohesion and cooperation between migrant advocacy groups, academics and policy stakeholders.
On 27 November 2020, the Whitaker was delighted to host the live webinar COVID-19 and the Organization of Anthropocentricism. Recently there has been a lot of talk about the pandemic in academia. A compelling question not being asked, however, is ‘how on earth did we get here?’ More importantly, how can we stop ourselves from returning to such a situation in the future? We suggest that anthropocentricism (humans placing themselves at the centre of the world) lies at the heart of the multiple issues that created the conditions of possibility for COVID 19 to emerge. Anthropocentrism is also linked to a profoundly patriarchal tendency to exercise domination over different Others and consider them as mere objects to be managed.
By drawing from different disciplines we may be able to disrupt and challenge damaging organizational and business practices, especially within the animal-industrial complex. Central to this is the question of whether academics in these disciplines are complicit in promoting a form of agnotology (the making and unmaking of ignorance) by endorsing approaches to corporate social responsibility, business ethics and sustainability, that obfuscate these issues. The speciesism that underpins the animal-industrial complex has not received the attention that academia bestows on other ‘isms’. The consequences of this neglect are significant.
In this webinar we explore how posthumanist perspectives can be harnessed as an antidote to anthropocentricism and speciesism, to promote an awakening– or reconstitution– of how to live a good and sustainable life with all those we share planet earth with. COVID 19 is one of many zoonotic diseases associated with our interference with animals specifically, and the biosphere in general. Such a disease was long predicted. Without radical changes to destructive profit-maximising strategies, other zoonotic diseases will engender frequent and more severe pandemics, while the inseparable issue of climate change promises horrific events, even extinction.
The good news is that all these problems have been made by us, and so they can also be unmade by us.
The webinar included presentations from four experts followed by a question and answer period.
Speakers:
Charles Barthold
Senior Lecturer in HRM and Organisation Studies, The Open University, UK
Caroline Clarke
Senior Lecturer in Organisation Studies, The Open University, UK
Daniel Nyberg
Professor of Management and Organisation Studies, Newcastle Business School, Australia
Matthew Cole
Lecturer in Criminology, The Open University, UK
Chaired by Professor Kate Kenny
NUI Galway
On 19 November 2020, the Whitaker Institute hosted a live webinar Women, work and Covid-19: the beginning of the end for gender equality? As Covid-19 continues to affect the world of work, it is evident that the pandemic and its economic effects disproportionately affect women. Much of the pandemic’s unequal impact stems from the unequal distribution of unpaid caring work, exacerbated by the closure of schools and childcare facilities. Although these are now open again, children displaying potential symptoms of Covid-19 are likely to be excluded for several weeks, and schools and childcare facilities may also be closed at any time where there is a Covid-19 diagnosis, or where the government thinks appropriate. The ability to work therefore remains highly contingent for many women.
Women are also more likely to work in the sectors most affected by the pandemic, which are largely service-related, meaning that they are more likely to be impacted by lay-offs and job losses. However, even in less affected sectors, those with caring responsibilities have found it difficult to access work. Women’s overall employment participation is severely impacted, and the problem is compounded by women’s comparatively lower access to social security, which makes it harder for women to absorb economic shocks. For this reason, the International Labour Organisation has warned that Covid-19 could wipe out the ‘modest progress’ made on gender equality at work in recent decades.
While much attention has centred on the impact of Covid-19 on women’s employment generally, there has been less focus on other factors, such as disability and race, which significantly increase the disadvantage to some groups. Women with disabilities, Black women, and women from ethnic minorities are among the most likely to be excluded from employment at any time, and face particular challenges in the context of Covid-19. At a time when much of the focus is on simply ‘getting the economy running’ again, there is a danger that women will – yet again – be left behind, and that the compound disadvantage faced by some women will be overlooked entirely.
The webinar included presentations from four experts followed by a question and answer period.
Speakers
Prof Joanne Conaghan, University of Bristol
Dr Nata Duvvury, NUI Galway
Dr Sara Louise Muhr, Copenhagen University
Dr Ebun Joseph, Director, Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies
Chaired by Dr Lucy-Ann Buckley, NUI Galway
On 17 November 2020, the Whitaker Institute hosted a live webinar Sustainable Marine Tourism Trail Development – An Irish Perspective. The webinar discussed the Wild Atlantic Way (WAW), Ireland’s first long-distance coastal touring route, covering over 2,500 km along the West coast of Ireland. Launched in 2014 by Fáilte Ireland, the goal of the WAW is to further develop Ireland as a high-quality and competitive tourism destination in overseas tourist markets. As part of the EU Interreg project MOSES, researchers at NUI Galway used the WAW as a case study to examine what is required to develop sustainable coastal tourism trails. The webinar considered these issues from both the demand side perspective of the tourists travelling along the WAW and the supply side perspective of stakeholders at one point on the WAW.
The webinar included presentations on:
An Introduction to the Wild Atlantic Way
Daithí Gallagher, Fáilte Ireland
Wild Atlantic Way tourists: A survey of spending, activities and attitudes
Daniel Norton, NUI Galway
Building a sustainable marine tourism trail through community voices: Rathmullan, Co. Donegal
Desiree Farrell, NUI Galway
This webinar was the first in the Moses webinar series, which seeks to understand and quantify the sustainability dimension of Blue Growth with respect to the potential environmental impacts of key strategic marine sectors across the EU Atlantic Arc member states.
The MOSES Project is funded by the EU INTERREG Atlantic V Programme (2014 to 2020), Priority 4 Enhancing Biodiversity and the Natural and Cultural Assets.
On 12 November 2020, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host a live webinar, Adaptation of Agricultural and Rural Areas in the Atlantic Area to Climate Change. The webinar discussed findings from the recently launched report Farmers’ attitudes and preferences for climate change adaptation: An Irish Perspective as part of the RISKAQUASOIL project. The event included four presentations from members of the RISKAQUASOIL team and was followed by a Q&A session.
Farmers Attitudes and Preferences for Climate Change Adaptation: An Irish case study
Dr. Edel Doherty, Whitaker Institute, NUI Galway
Study of Local Communities Views for a New Culture of Risk in the Face of Climate Change
Julia James, The Climatologic Association of Middle Garonne and South-West of France (A.C.M.G)
Climate Change Media Communication in Ireland and Portugal
Neide P. Areina, Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Portugal
Soils in partnership
Dr. Laurence Couldrick, Westcountry Rivers Trust
The RISKAQUASOIL project aims to improve the resilience of the Atlantic rural areas to climate change. The RISKAQUASOIL project contributes to better coordination for the detection, risk management and rehabilitation for rural territories (maritime and terrestrial areas), especially for agricultural purposes. RISKAQUASOIL is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg Atlantic Area Cooperation Program.
On 12 October 2020, the Whitaker Institute hosted a live webinar titled Leadership, Organizations and COVID-19. The webinar discussed the challenges of being a leader against a backdrop of radical uncertainty including the need to make rapid decisions. Available information changes fast, and is often based on contested evidence. Meanwhile anxious employees and stakeholders seek guidance and some sense of certainty amid the challenges.
These challenges have impacts on people’s lives. In politics, the ambiguity accompanying Covid-19 continues to be exploited by populist leaders worldwide. In business, the corporate social responsibility initiatives that many have celebrated over the past ten years, are now being tested to their limits. Demands of those with short-term, profit-driven interests are pitted against longer-term concerns including the health and well-being of employees, customers and other stakeholders. In the public sector including education, the implicit contract of public service is likewise being challenged, as traditional funding sources dry up.
In the event, established leadership theories were also questioned. For some, the pandemic marks the end of the traditional, masculine model of leadership in which power ought to be centralized, and decision-making unilateral. Instead, we see examples of strong feminine leaders coming to the fore, with collaborative and empathetic approaches winning out. For others, such claims of a paradigm shift are premature.
We were delighted to welcome three experts in the field
Gazi Islam, Professor of Business Administration at Grenoble Ecole de Management.
Jackie Ford, Professor of Leadership and Organisation Studies, Durham University Business School
Dennis Tourish, Professor of Leadership and Organisation Studies, University of Sussex
The event was chaired by Whitaker Institute member Professor Kate Kenny, cluster leader of Work, Organizations and Society.
On Tuesday 8 September 2020, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to host a live webinar titled Organizations in COVID-19: Embodiment, ethics and lockdown. The webinar discussed the implications of COVID-19 for organizational ethics, with a focus on embodiment. Workers’ bodies are central to recent changes with health and safety now critical concerns for many working on the front line. In other sectors, bodies are removed from relations between workers as we witness a mass-move towards digital work. Questions of ethics and embodiment are central to the reorganization of work that has accompanied the spread of this virus, with important and far reaching impacts.
We were delighted to welcome 4 international panellists who are experts in the field of the theory and practice of ethics and embodiment.
Professor Alison Pullen, Macquarie University, Australia
Professor Carl Rhodes, University of Technology, Sydney Australia
Professor Iain Munro, Newcastle University Business School, UK
Professor Marianna Fotaki, Warwick Business School, UK
The event was chaired by Professor Kate Kenny, cluster leader of the Work, Organizations and Society cluster.
In this podcast Dr. Stephen Hynes, scientific director in the Whitaker Institute, discusses his own area of research in marine and environmental economics and policy and the broader work of the Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit in the Whitaker Institute. He reflects on why he first developed a passion for this area of research and why environmental economics is now so relevant in a world of ever increasing natural resource constraints. He also outlines what the ocean economy is and why there is a new policy interest in the development of marine industries at both a national and EU level. Recorded December 2015 by GK Media.
Dr. Patrick Collins, School of Geography and Archaeology and co-leader of the Creative, Liveable and Sustainable Cluster, Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway chats with Angela Sice about his work on the geography of economic development with a particular focus on the role of Culture. Patrick speaks about a number of his most recent projects and draws highlights from the importance of geography in the social, economic and cultural lives of places. Patricks most recent project entitled a Creative Momentum is supported by the EU’s Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme.
Recorded December 2015 by GK Media.
Dr. Niall Ó Dochartaigh, Senior Lecturer in Political Science and Sociology and leader of the Conflict, Humanitarianism and Security Research Cluster, discusses the origins of his research interests with Angela Sice and describes the key questions on power, conflict and territory that drive his research agenda. He details his work on the private papers of peace intermediary Brendan Duddy and discusses his forthcoming book on Negotiation in the Northern Ireland Conflict. He finishes by outlining his future plans for research on conflict, territory and new technologies.
Recorded December 2015 by GK Media.
Dr. Geraldine Robbins, Accountancy and Finance and co-leader of the Performance Management Cluster, Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway chats with Angela Sice about the role of accounting technologies, as elements of Management Control Systems, in supporting management in achieving organisational objectives in public and private sector organisations. Recorded June 2015 by GK Media.
David Kelly, Research Technologist at the Whitaker Institute and Moore Institute at NUI Galway, talks to Angela Sice about his work using data visualisation and digital tools to enhance a variety of research projects based at the Whitaker Institute. Further details of his work are available from http://www.davidkelly.ie
Dr. Christine Domegan, Marketing Discipline and Leader of the Social Innovation and Policy cluster, Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway chats with Angela Sice about Social Innovation and how it is used to address ‘Wicked Problems’ in society. Recorded June 2015 by GK Media.
Dr. Valerie Ledwith, Geography and co-leader of the Population and Migration Research Cluster, Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway chats with Angela Sice about her current research on the sub-field of the geographies of education, focusing particularly on migrant educational experiences here in Ireland. Recorded June 2015 by GK Media.
Dr. Jane Walsh, Psychology and Leader of the Health and Wellbeing Cluster, Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway chats with Angela Sice about the use of mobile technology devices such as mobile phones, tablets, personal digital assistants and the wireless infrastructure in the practice of medicine and public health. Recorded June 2015 by GK Media.
Dr. Aidan Kane, Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway, chats with Angela Sice about Irish economic history data, and in particular, historical fiscal and trade datasets for Ireland which he is currently making accessible online using a range of datasets in flexible forms to diverse audiences.
Recorded June 2015 by GK Media.