Dr Ian O’Connor

Head of Dept Graduate Studies and Professional Development

ian.oconnor@gmit.ie

I am the Head of Department of Graduate Studies and Professional Development; before that I was a lecturer in the School of Science and Computing in GMIT. I have lectured to all years of the BSc Hons in Applied Freshwater and Marine Biology. I have also lectured on the MSc in Conservation Behaviour, MSc in Applied Marine Conservation, International MSc in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea – www.imbrsea.eu) and I am the GMIT co-ordinator for the International MSc. My research interests include organism response to stresses such as disease and pollution. I have received research funding from a broad range of national and international funding agencies; supervised numerous research postgraduate students to completion and mentored several postdoctoral scientists.

Projects

BASEMAN

This project aimed at establishing standardised operating procedures for environmental matrices laboratory processing targeted at microplastics

Contact: Dr João Frias, Dr Róisín Nash, Dr Ian O’Connor

Humpback Whales in Irish Waters

Humpback whales in Irish waters: a partnership with the IWDG

Contact: Dr Simon Berrow, Dr Ian O’Connor, Dr Joanne O’Brien

Identification of important areas for marine birds in Irish offshore waters

Contact: , Dr Ian O’Connor

Microplastics: implications for policy

This project consists of a literature review of the impacts of microplastics in the marine environment and on the proposal of mitigation and/or reduction policy recommendations to address this global environmental issue.

Contact: Dr João Frias, Dr Róisín Nash

Education for sustainable development (TUNASIA)

The TUNASIA-project focuses on the modernization and development of curricula for the qualification of students in a transdisciplinary education system in a network with companies, research institutions and stakeholders in Vietnam and Thailand.

Contact: Dr Róisín Nash

Plastics, Prawns, and Patterns

This project is investigating the potential of Nephrops norvegicus as a flagship species for plastic pollution in the deep sea.

Contact: Dr Róisín Nash, Dr Fiona Kavanagh

Republic of Ireland Beached Bird Survey

Contact: Dr Heidi Acampora

MicroplastiX

MicroplastiX (JPI-Oceans) aims to overcome knowledge gaps concerning microplastic weathering, degradation and fragmentation processes.

Contact: Dr João Frias, Dr Róisín Nash

DATALO

DATALO focusses on statistical design and analysis of gear trials and survival experiments in collaboration with Bord Iascaigh Mhara. Outputs from the project have direct policy relevance in a time of considerable change.

Contact: Dr Cóilín Minto, Dr Ian O’Connor

IMP.act

The IMP.act project is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action COFUND fellowship funded by the Irish Research Council, aiming at developing a long-term management plan for microplastic pollution in Galway Bay and its environs.

Contact: Dr João Frias

Water sampling using drones

This EPA funded research assessed the potential of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to monitor water quality in Ireland.

Contact: Dr Heather Lally

Conservation status of white-clawed crayfish

This project assessed the conservation status of the white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes, in all fifteen Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Ireland

Contact: Dr Martin Gammell

Students