Dr Carla Mateus

    Geography, ICARUS

    Lecturer
    Assistant Professor

    Biography

    I am an Assistant Professor in the Geography Department at Maynooth  University. My research interests mainly focus on climate science, namely historical climatology, assessment of past extreme weather events and environmental history. I am also interested in topics related to climate action, climate adaptation, climate mitigation, environment and sustainability. I am passionate about teaching, outreach, public engagement and science communication.

     I am the International Department Coordinator in the Geography Department. 

    Peer Reviewed Journal

    Year Publication
    2023 Murphy, C., Coen, A., Clancy, I., Decristoforo, V., Cathal, S., Healion, K., Horvath, C., Jessop, C., Kennedy, S., Lavery, R., Leonard, K., McLoughlin, C., Moore, R., O'Hare-Doherty, D., Paisley, R., Prakash, B., Vatu, J., Thorne, P., Mateus, C., Ryan, C., Noone, S. (2023) 'The emergence of a climate change signal in long-term Irish meteorological observations'. Weather and Climate Extremes, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wace.2023.100608 [Full-Text]
    2023 Mateus, C.; Coonan, B. (2023) 'Return values of temperature and snow loadings for 50, 100 and 120-year return periods to support building design standards in Ireland'. Advances in Science and Reserach, 20 :17-33. [Link] https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-20-17-2023 [Full-Text]
    2022 Mateus, C.; Potito, A. (2022) 'Long-term trends in daily extreme air temperature indices in Ireland from 1885 to 2018'. Weather and Climate Extremes, 36 . [Link] [DOI]
    2021 Mateus, C.; Potito, A. (2021) 'Development of a quality-controlled and homogenised long-term daily maximum and minimum air temperature network dataset for ireland'. Climate, 9 . [Link] [DOI]
    2021 Mateus, C.; Potito, A.; Curley, M. (2021) 'Engaging secondary school students in climate data rescue through service-learning partnerships'. Weather, 76 . [Link] [DOI]
    2021 Mateus, C. (2021) 'Searching for historical meteorological observations on the Island of Ireland'. Weather, 76 . [Link] [DOI]
    2020 Mateus, C.; Potito, A.; Curley, M. (2020) 'Reconstruction of a long-term historical daily maximum and minimum air temperature network dataset for Ireland (1831-1968)'. Geoscience Data Journal, 7 (2):102-115. [Link] https://doi.org/10.1002/gdj3.92

    Thesis

    Year Publication
    2021 Mateus, C. (2021) Development of long-term daily maximum and minimum air temperature series and assessment of past extreme air temperature events in Ireland. [Thesis] [Link]

    Published Report

    Year Publication
    2024 Mateus, C.; Coonan, B. (2024) Distribution of driving rain in Ireland. Met Éireann, . [Link]
    2023 Griffin, S.; Mateus, C.; Lambkin, K. (2023) Climate data for use in building design - past and future weather files for overheating risk assessment. Met Éireann, . [Link]
    2022 Mateus, C.; Coonan, B. (2022) Snow loadings at 100m above mean sea level in Ireland. Met Éireann, . [Link]
    2022 Mateus, C.; Coonan, B. (2022) Isothermals maps of the lowest 10cm soil temperature in Ireland. Met Éireann, . [Link]
    2022 Mateus, C.; Coonan, B. (2022) Isothermal maps of maximum and minimum shade air temperatures in Ireland. Met Éireann, . [Link]
    2012 Silva, N.; Mateus, C.; Martins, J.; Almeida, M.; Oliveira, C. (2012) Demarcação do leito e da margem das águas do mar na orla costeira Ovar-Marinha Grande. [Shoreline mapping of the coastal region between Ovar and Marinha Grande]. APA - Portuguese Environment Agency (APA - Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente), . [Link]

    Conference Contribution

    Year Publication
    2023 Mateus, C.; Coonan, B. (2023) European Meteorological Society Annual Meeting Rainfall intensities to enhance resilience in support of climate change adaptation in Ireland European Meteorological Society Annual Meeting, . https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2023-474
    2023 Griffin, S.; lambkin, K.; Mateus, C. (2023) European Meteorological Society Annual Meeting Climate data for use in building design – Past and Future weather files for overheating risk assessment in Ireland Bratislava, . https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2023-453

    Newspaper Articles

    Year Publication
    2023 Carla Mateus (2023) What historical records tell us about changing climate in Ireland. [Newspaper Articles] [Link]
    Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

    Professional Associations

    Description Function From / To
    Geographical Society of Ireland Member -
    Irish Quaternary Association Member -
    Irish Meteorological Society Member -
    Royal Meteorological Society Member -
    All Island Climate and Biodiversity Research Network Member -
    Special Interest Group for the History of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography (History Group) - Royal Meteorological Society Member -

    Honors and Awards

    Date Title Awarding Body
    01/09/2010 Top 3% of the best students - best application entry for the Bachelor’s in Geography in the academic year 2009/2010 University of Coimbra
    24/04/2017 Geography Postgraduate Travel Bursary in the academic year 2016/2017 Geography, University of Galway
    01/09/2015 Dr Tony Ryan PhD Scholarship University of Galway
    01/10/2017 Ryan Institute Travel Bursary Ryan Institute, University of Galway
    10/05/2017 Geography Postgraduate Travel Bursary in the academic year 2017/2018 Geography, University of Galway
    10/01/2014 Erasmus award University of Coimbra
    01/09/2012 Top 3% of the best students enrolled in the Bachelor’s in Geography in the academic year 2011/2012 University of Coimbra
    01/04/2011 Curricular Award Feijó 2010 - Merit award attributed to the best students of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra
    01/09/2010 Top 3% of the best students enrolled in the Bachelor’s in Geography in the academic year 2009/2010 University of Coimbra
    01/09/2011 Top 3% of the best students enrolled in the Bachelor’s in Geography in the academic year 2010/2011 University of Coimbra
    01/05/2016 Geography Postgraduate Travel Bursary in the academic year 2015/2016 Geography, University of Galway
    01/09/2013 Top 3% of the best students enrolled in the Master’s in Physical Geography, Environment and Spatial Planning in the academic year 2012/2013 University of Coimbra
    02/09/2012 Geography Curriculum Award - Best student’s curriculum of the Bachelor’s in Geography completed in 2012. Department of Geography and Tourism - University of Coimbra
    04/11/2018 Geography Postgraduate Travel Bursary in the academic year 2018/2019 Geography, University of Galway
    01/06/2018 Postgraduate Research Travel Bursary – academic year 2017/2018 College of Arts, Social Sciences, & Celtic Studies - University of Galway
    01/10/2019 Ryan Institute Travel Bursary Ryan Institute, University of Galway
    16/04/2012 Curricular Award Feijó 2011 - Merit award attributed to the best students of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra
    01/06/2017 Postgraduate Research Travel Bursary – academic year 2016/2017 College of Arts, Social Sciences, & Celtic Studies - University of Galway
    05/05/2017 Geographical Society of Ireland Postgraduate Travel Award Geographical Society of Ireland
    01/09/2014 Top 3% of the best students enrolled in the Master’s in Physical Geography, Environment and Spatial Planning in the academic year 2013/2014 University of Coimbra

    Committees

    Committee Function From / To
    Department of Geography Undergraduate Curriculum Review Committee Member -

    Employment

    Employer Position From / To
    Met Éireann Postdoctoral Researcher 26/01/2021 - 05/05/2023
    Youth Academy, University of Galway Science Outreach Instructor 22/02/2020 - 07/03/2020
    School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, University of Galway Teaching Assistant 01/09/2016 - 31/05/2021
    Portuguese Environment Agency Technician (Placement) 03/09/2012 - 29/03/2013
    University of Galway Exam Invigilator 16/12/2019 - 20/12/2019
    School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies and Ryan Institute, University of Galway PhD Researcher 01/09/2015 - 18/03/2021
    Geophysical Institute of the University of Coimbra Meteorological Observer (Placement) 01/08/2013 - 31/10/2013
    School of Geography, University of Galway Researcher (Erasmus Scholar Placement) 13/01/2014 - 15/08/2014
    Youth Academy, University of Galway Science Outreach Instructor 10/10/2020 - 14/11/2020
    School of Geography, University College Dublin Lecturer 12/09/2022 - 28/04/2023

    Education

    Start date Institution Qualification Subject
    University of Galway PhD Geography (Climate science)
    University of Coimbra Master’s Physical Geography, Environment and Spatial Planning
    University of Coimbra Bachelor's Geography (pre-specialisation in Physical Geography)

    Languages

    Language Reading Writing Speaking
    Spanish Fluent Basic Functional
    Portuguese Fluent Fluent Fluent
    English Fluent Fluent Fluent
    French Functional Basic Basic

    Consultancy

    Client Description
    Reviewer of a funding application - National Science Centre, Poland

    Editorial / Academic Reviews

    Amount Role From / To
    Geoscience Data Journal Reviewer -
    Weather Reviewer -
    Irish Geography Reviewer -

    Outreach Activities

    Organisation Type Description
    Represented Met Éireann at the 2023 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition Civic Society
    Engaged 145 secondary school students from 8 schools in climate data rescue through service-learning as a teaching tool for climate science education Civic Society [Link]
    Lecture at the Irish Meteorological Society, 2018. Civic Society
    Represented Met Éireann at the ESB Science Blast in 2023 Civic Society
    Talk at the Holy Child Community School in Sallynoggin, 2018. Civic Society
    Represented Met Éireann during Science Week 2021 Civic Society [Link]

    Teaching Interests

    In 2023/2024, I will be lecturing the following modules at Maynooth University: 

    GY208 Field Methods and Data Analysis

    GY214 Geomorphology

    GY401 Global Environmental Challenges

    GY402 Studies in Conservation


    In 2022/2023, I lectured the following modules at University College Dublin:

    GEOG40960 Coastal Risks

    GEOG20150 Quaternary Environmental Change

    Additionally, I contributed to the modules:

    GEOG30940 Global Risks and Resilience

    GEOG10140 Mapping a Sustainable World