Dr Laoise Ní Chléirigh
Biography
Dr Laoise Ní Chléirigh is an Assistant Professor in the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Maynooth University. Her areas of teaching and research include: Environmental Sustainable Development Education, Science Methods and STEM education, Bioeconomy and Circular Bioeconomy Education, Children’s Literature in the Irish Language, Education for the Science-Society nexus.
Laoise is also a writer and has written over forty books of fiction and non-fiction books in Irish and also articles in the English language. Her recent Cosán na Gealaí series has been enthusiastically welcomed by children and families alike. Her YA book 'An Uaigh' is on the Junior Certificate syllabus for Gaelcholáistí agus Scoileanna Gaeltachta. Her debut children's novel 'Na Laochra is Lú' was shortlisted for the annual Children's Book of the Year Awards.
She is supervising undergraduate, masters, and PhD students’ research theses. Laoise received the 2019 Maynooth University Postgraduate Researcher’s Impact Award. Laoise won awards and teaching bursaries for the creation of teaching materials and programmes in relation to the MU modules she collaborated on designing and taught on: Athy Sensory Trails Project Live 2021/2022, Draíocht Dara – COGG 2021/2022, The Tairseach Project – Project Live 2020/2021, The Dearcán Project 2020 – Kildare Healthy Ireland Programme Award.
Laoise is Deputy Work Package Leader on two work packages - Education and Governance in the UCD-led €2 million Horizon Europe BioBeo project. This multi-actor project comprises a pan-European consortium of 15 partners from across education, science and technology and the wider society. Laoise is a key research partner and leader and in the international team developing bespoke education programmes in the areas of sustainability and bioeconomy. A key focus is to embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into education programmes across Europe from preschool to third level, in an effort to mainstream the concepts of circularity and bioeconomy in education and communities of learners.
Laoise’s PhD research was funded by a previous Horizon 2020, 8 million euro project ‘AgroCycle’ addressing the circular economy. Here, Laoise was a key researcher in translating the scientific concepts of the circular economy into accessible language for children and school communities, suitable for the primary school curriculum. Laoise is currently involved in several new Horizon research bids and continues to gain funding annually for local research projects also.
Research Projects
Book
Book Chapter
Conference Contribution
Electronic Article
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Laoise Ní Chléirigh, Máire Nic an Bhaird (2021) Will social media influencers take a stand about climate change?. www.rte.ie: [Electronic Article] [Link] | |
| 2019 | Laoise Ní Chléirigh (2019) How food waste can be given a new lease of life - RTÉ Brainstorm. Baile Átha Cliath: [Electronic Article] | |
| 2011 | Laoise Ní Chléirigh (2011) Dídean na Rónta. [Electronic Article] | |
| 2011 | Laoise Ní Chléirigh (2011) Idir Imbolc agus Bealtaine. [Electronic Article] | |
| 2010 | Laoise Ní Chléirigh (2010) Éin agus Ainmhithe Feannta an Gheimhridh. [Electronic Article] |
Audiovisual material
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Máire Nic an Bhaird Laoise Ní Chléirigh (2021) Community Engaged Learning: Students addressing societal challenges through the curriculum. [Audiovisual material] [Link] | |
| 2021 | Máire Nic an Bhaird, Laoise Ní Chléirigh (2021) Green Week: There is No Away - Waste Valorisation. [Audiovisual material] | |
| 2021 | Máire Nic an Bhaird, Laoise Ní Chléirigh (2021) Dearcán - Kildare Healthy Ireland Programme. [Audiovisual material] | |
| 2023 | Laoise Ní Chléirigh (2023) The Learning Garden Podcast - An Interview with Niamh Bhreathnach Episode 2. [Audiovisual material] | |
| 2023 | Laoise Ní Chléirigh (2023) The Learning Garden Podcast - An Interview with Niamh Bhreathnach Episode 3. [Audiovisual material] | |
| 2023 | Laoise Ní Chléirigh (2023) The Learning Garden Podcast - An Interview with Niamh Bhreathnach Episode 1. [Audiovisual material] | |
| 2023 | Laoise Ní Chléirigh, Máire Nic an Bhaird (2023) An Togra - BioBeo agus Inbhuanaitheacht Comhshaoil san Oideachas. [Audiovisual material] | |
| 2023 | Roinn na Gaeilge, Ollscoil Mhá Nuad (2023) Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire. [Audiovisual material] |
Electronic Publication
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Máire Nic an Bhaird, Laoise Ní Chléirigh, Tom Curran, Nathan Wright (2022) Tóraíocht Bheo. UCD: [Electronic Publication] | |
| 2022 | Nic an Bhaird Máire, Laoise Ní Chléirigh, Tom Curran, Nathan Wright (2022) Finding Beo. UCD: [Electronic Publication] | |
| 2021 | Máire Nic an Bhaird, Laoise Ní Chléirigh, Tom Curran, Nathan Wright (2021) Amóinia? Amóinia? Cad faoi Amóinia?. [Electronic Publication] [Link] [Full-Text] |
Webinar
Professional Associations
Honors and Awards
Teaching Interests
My teaching across the Bachelor of Education and Professional Master of Education degree programmes, is based on the philosophy of Friedrich Froebel (1782-1842) and also ecofeminist philosophy. My pedagogical approach strives to recognise and acknowledge the essential respect, reverence and equity for all living things from the smallest of creatures, to children and to Mother Earth herself which is more important than ever on the fragile planet we occupy. Both Froebelian and ecofeminist philosophy reflect this urgency and deeply resonate with me as an educator. My teaching encourages learning through activity, learning through enquiry, exploration of the outdoor environment and gently and respectfully connecting with the natural world whenever possible. I have the privilege to teach, create with, and encourage the next generation of teachers within MU's teacher education programmes. I consistently weave joyful connections to the Irish language, heritage and ways of knowing in my teaching and learning in addition to drawing attention to the biological norm, and positive environmental footprint of the nursing dyad in early childhood. An integral part of my teaching is connecting theory and practice and my research interests in sustainability, circularity and bioeconomy are embedded in my work daily. My main teaching and research areas are Science Methods and STEM education, with a particular emphasis on STEM with empathy and love towards the environment, Environmental Sustainable Development Education, SDGs, Climate Action, Climate Change, Children's Literature agus An Ghaeilge. The learning experience through participation in the module EDF485 Teanga an Ghrá which I co-teach and co-designed is grounded in a pedagogy of community engaged learning via An Tairseach which was awarded a Project Live teaching bursary. I taught an additional elective in Creative Writing 'Putting Pen to Paper' and I am currently MSE module coordinator for EDF132, EDF233, EDF349, EDF606, EDF625.