Dear readers of Ideas in All,
With the start of 2023, we are very pleased to announce that the Ideas in ALL Blog has welcomed three new members to its team of editors. In line with the blog’s consistent growth over the past year, we aim to continue sharing the expanding interdisciplinary research conducted by the Assisting Living and Learning (ALL) Institute and its collaborators, and to highlight key policy developments occurring at the national, European and international level.
Before presenting the new editors, Cassie, Neasa and Opeyemi, we would like to warmly thank our outgoing ALL-Blog Editorial Manager, Stacy Campbell, for her amazing work throughout the years. In her footsteps, our revamped team will endeavor to bring you timely commentaries on current topics and ongoing research from a rich network of experts in a number of fields including, to name a few; disability, psychology, law, public health and social policy.
Here are our new members!
Cassie
My name is Cassie and I’m a PhD student in the Department of Psychology and ALL Institute here at Maynooth. I’m honoured to be here introducing myself and taking on a role in the editorial team. Joining the hard-working current members of the Editorial board who have set the scene and made our transition into the group much easier. We’ve been met with warm welcomes and helpful smiles, making the decision to join much easier.
My work is part of the GoGreenRoutes H2020 project which explores urban health across six European cities. The focus of my work is to re-examine the human-nature connection for health and wellbeing. It’s a transdisciplinary project so I’m always learning about the work of different disciplines.
Outside of the normal day-to-day activities of a PhD, I am quite passionate about making research open and accessible to all, by means of tools such as blog posts and social media. I strongly believe that the only way our research can be impactful is if we share it in a stripped back and easy to translate way. I have undertaken training in Science Communication and am a founding member of an Open Science course and community for early career researchers to learn best practices. I’m excited to take my own learnings and put them into practice through this blog.
Neasa
My name is Neasa Boyle, I am a first year PhD researcher in the area of gender equality and STEM education at the ALL Institute here in Maynooth. My research is a part of the STEM Passport for Inclusion, our research is focused on encouraging and supporting young women from disadvantaged backgrounds in Ireland to become involved in STEM education.
I feel very passionate about creating a universally accessible education system where in all students in public education have access to high quality STEM education, particularly for individuals who come from lower socioeconomic/underserved backgrounds. When considering the STEM gender gap, there is a great discrepancy between men and women, but I believe that taking an intersectional approach to understanding women’s lived experiences of education is the key to furthering our understanding of the issue and dismantling the barriers that currently exist for all women in STEM education and training. I am looking forward to contributing to the blog this year and, by working alongside my fellow editors, I hope to improve my skills and bring a unique perspective to the blog.
Opeyemi
My name is Opeyemi Kolawole and I am a post-doctoral researcher working with Prof. Aisling McMahon on the European Research Council-funded PatentsInHumans Project. Before this, I completed my doctoral program at Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin. My research interests concern the intersection of intellectual property rights, international trade, and development. My thesis, titled Reimagining the Technology Transfer Obligations in the TRIPS Agreement, explored the effect of international Intellectual Property standards on technology transfer to Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
I also obtained my LL.M degree in Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (IP/IT) from the Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin. In 2015, I was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. I am joining the ALL Institute blog editorial board to contribute to the platform’s growth. The blog’s interdisciplinary approach to knowledge generation and dissemination influenced my choice, as I believe the platform offers me an opportunity to learn from interrelated disciplines while also lending my expertise when needed.
We hope you’ll join us in welcoming our new team members! We are beginning this new year on an exciting note and are convinced that these additions will bring about new perspectives and innovative commentaries highlighting the many dimensions of the research and work undertaken by the ALL Institute’s members and collaborators. And if you are interested in contributing to the blog in line with the ALL principles, don’t hesitate to have a look at our blog writing guide and email us at ideasinall@mu.ie.