Samuel Finnerty
When awarded a scholarship from the Combating Diseases and Poverty Consortium which allowed me to conduct research into AIDS related stigma and discrimination in Tanzania as part of my Masters in Anthropology and Development.
Awarded a research scholarship by the Combating Diseases and Poverty Consortium
Member of the Anthropology Society
The atmosphere and the warmth of the university is second to none and its location in the small town of Maynooth is rather special. Also it has the only Anthropology Department in the Republic of Ireland, with a dedicated and experienced staff, where I was lucky enough to have studied in for five years.
The importance of paying attention to social and psychological phenomena in its lived context. My training in ethnography helped me situate my PhD research in a protest context - scientist activism in the UK - through an ethnography of how scientists negotiate and perform their identities within climate activism as part of Scientists for Extinction Rebellion. This is currently being written up for publication.
Go with the course that you love as opposed to what is seen as the sensible choice. You'll be happier for it and will find a career that matches your character and your interests.
Your Career Story
Since completion of my masters in anthropology and development from Maynooth, I have worked in the NGO sector (education and development), completed a masters in cognitive science from University College Dublin, and moved to England. Most recently I have completed a PhD in social psychology at Lancaster university on the moral and social psychological factors impacting pro environmental behaviours with a focus on collective action and protest. I am now funded by the Wellcome Trust as a senior research associate on the Reimagining Research Practices project at Lancaster University.
In addition to my work at Lancaster University, I am a visiting fellow at Bristol University between the schools of Psychology and Policy Studies where I work on how the public perceives disruptive climate protests and associated public policy.
Can you tell us of any career highlight to date?
Career highlight would be publishing in Nature Communications Earth and Environment "Scientists’ identities shape engagement with environmental activism" https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01412-9
This research was a response to scientists increasing involvement environmental social movements to effect change on climate change and biodiversity loss. This paper looked at why are scientists doing this and how does this fit with their roles as scientists? Follow up research in Nature Climate Action delved into how scientists navigate the tension between their roles as objective researchers and their desire to act on climate and environmental issues.
What advice would you give to Maynooth University students entering the job market, either generally speaking or in regard to your specific career sector?
Join forums, societies etc. related to your career so that you're involved in the conversations taking place in your field. The main thing is to be engaged in the dialog so that you can fully take part and thus enrich your experience. For me this has been achieved by joining a number of societies, such as the UCD Philosophy Society, as well as the International Culture and Cognition Institute forum so that I can keep abreast of the conversations in my field as well as immersing myself completely in the college experience by discussing the subject matter with my fellow classmates and lecturers.