National University of Ireland, Maynooth
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State of the Climate 2024. Update for COP29
No full textThe World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is proud to be a sponsor of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and to be able to support the production of this report. WMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations and is its authoritative voice for weather, water and climate. It sponsors and implements an integrated suite of programmes which cover all aspects of climate research, observations, assessment, modelling and services.
The WMO has produced a State of the Global Climate report every year since 1993 to provide an annual summary and update of key climate indicators. These reports complement the more detailed, less frequent synthesis provided by the IPCC’s Assessment Reports. Since 2016 WMO has also been reporting preliminary findings on key climate indicators to inform the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP) before the end of each year. In July 2024, an international workshop organized by WMO and kindly hosted by the Deutscher Wetterdienst in Germany, agreed to a more condensed format, focusing on key messages for policymakers' needs at COP. The State of the Climate Update 2024 for COP29 highlights preliminary headline climate indicators consolidating the most up-to-date datasets available at the time of writing, along with examples of extreme events and progress in climate actions.
The headlines in the State of the Climate Update 2024 give cause for great concern. Greenhouse gas concentrations continue to steadily rise, driving further long-term temperature increases, highlighting the rapid changes in our climate system in the space of a single generation. We are on track for 2024 to be the hottest year on record joining 2023 as the two hottest years on record. Ocean heat content values continued an upward trend in 2023 and 2024, contributing to other changes in the climate system such as sea level rise and fueling intense storms. Antarctic and Arctic sea ice extent in 2024 have both been well below average.
The record-breaking rainfall and flooding, rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones, deadly heat, relentless drought and raging wildfires that we have seen in different parts of the world this year are unfortunately our new reality and a foretaste of our future. We must continue to strive to limit warming as much as possible, recognizing that staying well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C remains critical to significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. At the same time, we need to step up support for climate change adaptation through climate services and early warnings
Place, craft and neurodiversity: re-imagining potential through education at Ruskin Mill.
No full textFor over four decades, Ruskin Mill Trust has worked with young people with special educational needs and behavioural issues who learn traditional crafts and organic farming as part of an integrated curriculum of therapeutic education, overcoming barriers to learning and re-engaging with the wider world. This accessible and inspiring book showcases how an appreciation of place, traditional crafts, farming and transformative education offers a wider route to human well-being for all. The authors outline the different fields of the “Practical Skills Therapeutic Education” method, which includes developing practical skills, learning the ecology of the farm and understanding therapeutic education, holistic care, health and self-leadership.
Taking the reader on a tour of Ruskin Mill’s many extraordinary provisions across Britain, and going deeper in conversation with its founder, Aonghus Gordon, this book is an outstanding story of creative thinking in an age of narrow focus on classrooms and written examinations, presenting a transformative perspective on education and care. Being grounded in work supporting young people with complex additional needs, it provides a rare insight into the work of one of the world’s leading charities working with neurodiversity.
With its non-specialist language, Place, Craft and Neurodiversity offers ideas and resources for work in different areas of education and therapy. It will inspire parents, educators and care workers around the globe
It’s all about resources: Narcissistic CEOs and entrepreneurial orientation during disruptions
No full textResearch regarding the influence of personality traits, such as narcissism, on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is burgeoning, yet the role of affective and cognitive mechanisms is under-examined. Drawing from research on conservation of resources (COR) theory, entrepreneurial cognition and emotion, we examine the narcissism-EO relationship nexus. Specifically, we analyse the mediating role of the resource-induced coping heuristic (RICH) and the moderating influence of fear on the relationship between narcissism and EO. Longitudinal data from CEO-entrepreneurs of SMEs in six countries were collected during the COVID-19 disruptions. Results suggest that the RICH fully mediates the relationship between narcissism and EO. Fear of COVID-19 (FC-19) positively influenced EO and strengthened the narcissism-RICH relationship. Further, pandemic-related disruptions negatively influenced EO and attenuated the positive influence of FC-19 on EO. These findings offer insight into the drivers of entrepreneurial behaviour during times of disruption
UNITES Project: Stakeholder Views and Experiences of Home Visiting in Ireland. Report Number Two
No full textNational policies such as Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures (2015), First 5 – A Whole of Government Strategy for Parents and Babies (2019) and Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support (2022), recognise the importance of, and reflect a strong and enduring commitment to, supporting early childhood development and wellbeing through the provision of accessible, high quality and evidence-led supports. For instance, a key goal of ‘First 5’ is to develop strong and supportive families and communities, including a commitment to the development of universal parenting supports (also reiterated in the National Model of Parenting Support Services) and, importantly, in the context of the current study, an evidence-led approach to home visiting services across a continuum of need (DCEDIY, 2022). Indeed, a wealth of both national and international evidence indicates that the home environment, and therefore services provided in the home, provide a crucially important context, and support, for healthy child development and wellbeing (e.g. Bradley & Corwyn, 2008).
The UNITES project: Aims and Objectives
The UNITES project was commissioned (in 2022) by the Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). The project involved two separate, but related stages, the aims of which were: (1) to profile and critically review home visiting provision in Ireland; and (2) to elicit the insights, views and experiences of a wide range of stakeholders involved in managing, implementing, delivering or receiving home visiting programmes and services across the country. The ultimate goal of this work was to identify some proposed actions or ‘options’ that provide key stepping stones toward a more standardised
and sustainable ‘model’ of home visiting service delivery in Ireland
Inference for extreme spatial temperature events in a changing climate with application to Ireland
No full textWe investigate the changing nature of the frequency, magnitude, and spatial extent of extreme temperatures in Ireland from 1942 to 2020. We develop an extreme value model that captures spatial and temporal non-stationarity in extreme daily maximum temperature data. We model the tails of the marginal variables using the generalised Pareto distribution and the spatial dependence of extreme events by a semi-parametric Brown-Resnick r-Pareto process, with parameters of each model allowed to change over time. We use weather station observations for modelling extreme events since data from climate models (not conditioned on observational data) can over-smooth these events and have trends determined by the specific climate model configuration. However, climate models do provide valuable information about the detailed physiography over Ireland and the associated climate response. We propose novel methods which exploit the climate model data to overcome issues linked to the sparse and biased sampling of the observations. Our analysis identifies a temporal change in the marginal behaviour of extreme temperature events over the study domain, which is much larger than the change in mean temperature levels over this time window. We illustrate how these characteristics result in increased spatial coverage of the events that exceed critical temperatures
The impact of parental emotional support on the succession intentions of next-generation family business members
No full textDrawing on social cognitive theory, this study investigates the influence of family business owners as parents on the succession intentions of their children. Measures of parental emotional support, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and affective commitment are applied to predict succession intentions. We test our research model on an international sample of21,525 sons and daughters of family business owners. The results suggest that parental emotional support positively influences succession intentions and is mediated by two cognitive factors: entrepreneurial self-efficacy and affective commitment to the family business. The results also suggest interaction effects of gender and birth order on succession intentions. This study offers important theoretical and practical insights into the aspirations of next-generation members of family businesses
Cutting-edge developments in active and passive photovoltaic cooling for reduced temperature operation
No full textConsidering the substantial increase in deployment, photovoltaics are hovering to emerge as the
predominant
worldwide energy producer in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the operating efficiency and
endurance of photovoltaic (PV) systems are significantly stalled by the heightened operating
temperatures encountered by solar radiation. This article comprehensively analyzes novel active and
passive PV cooling techniques, encom passing their operational mechanisms, cooling efficiency,
and eventual implementations in solar devices. Extensive scholarly research has examined various
PV cooling methods and techniques to optimize system cooling and efficiency. The primary goal of
this effort is to compile a reference for future researchers and spe cialists by reviewing and
comparing the results of current investigations. The study also comprised a bibliometric analysis
that provides valuable insights into the influence of research on incorporating cooling systems
into solar systems. These insights play a decisive role in recognizing new trends and progressing
the field towards more efficient systems, hence advancing upcoming development. Furthermore, an
extensive classification and assessment of every conceivable cooling technology was furnished to
facilitate a comparison among diverse cooling methodologies. The research was structured in a
tabular manner, containing the following details for each cooling technique: solar panel type,
cooling method, cooling fluid or substance used, research category, average temperature reduction
resulting from cooling, and enhanced electrical efficiency. The study indicates that cooling
methods significantly enhance electrical efficiency, with potential increases varying from 0.28 %
to
97.6 %. Additionally, this application is assessed to decrease the solar panel's operative
temperature, ranging from 0.8 octo 39.9 oc
Current challenges in neuropsychological assessment when screening and diagnosing dementia within populations of low literacy, such as the Travelling Community of Ireland.
No full textIntroduction: Current cognitive assessments for dementia are subject to biases due
to large load of verbal content and knowledge which confound the assessment when
administered to individuals who do not follow usual educational pathways, or when
administered to an individual of a culture different from the normative data in which
these assessments were developed. Thus, any individual with a cultural or literacy
background different from the average Irish may perform below expectations, which
may be misinterpreted as cognitive decline and lead to a false positive dementia
diagnosis.
Aim: The central aim of the proposed research is to determine the most appropriate
approach to accurate screening and diagnosing of dementias within the Travelling
Community of Ireland.
Methods: A review of some commonly used assessments was also conducted to
determine which cognitive impairments are assessed by each test. A scoping review
of previous research examining assessments used with populations of low literacy
was conducted to determine which assessments are validated for use with such
populations, and their suitability. Three focus groups comprising members of the
Travelling Community were conducted to determine their understanding of
dementia, diagnosis-related stigma, and three focus groups comprising clinicians
were conducted to determine how assessments with this population are currently
conducted.
Participants: 14 clinicians and 20 Travellers took part in the focus groups.
Results: Limitations to current assessments were identified by the scoping review.
Several key themes were identified through the focus groups, namely (1) an urgent
update of assessments was identified in both sets of focus groups, (2) education around dementia was identified in Traveller focus groups (3) discussion between
clinicians and Travellers in order to alleviate misconceptions on both sides (4)
education for clinicians around Traveller culture, and interpersonal relations with
this Community (5) changes to assessment procedures in order to be more inclusive
of Travellers.
Conclusion: Current dementia assessment pathways are not suitable for use by the
Travelling Community. The fear of institutions experienced by the Community
results in a disconnect between the services available and their uptake resulting in
dementia being underdiagnosed, poorly treated, and commonly misunderstood by
Travellers. Education for medical staff into Traveller culture is needed in order to
begin to bridge this gap, and education on the symptoms, progression and services
available should be provided to Traveller advocacy groups for dissemination within
the Community. The use of dementia champions within the Traveller Community
may serve to explain and demystify dementia for the Community. The assessment
process itself should also be reviewed as a matter of urgency, to ensure inclusivity
for those individuals who are unable to complete the current assessments due to
literacy or cultural issues
A case study of teacher beliefs and school culture in developing assessment literacy in Irish Post-Primary Schools
No full textThroughout the education system, assessment is a multi-faceted concept used in various forms and
for various purposes such as accountability and improvement (OECD, 2012). Post-Primary education
in Ireland has experienced significant changes to the curriculum and with that assessment reform.
This is evident in lower secondary, where we are now in steady state at junior cycle since the
introduction of the Framework in 2015, and in the upper secondary, where senior cycle reform is
underway with a number of new specifications fully published within the system. Central to this
change is the development of a learning outcome approach to teaching, learning, and assessment,
which places the learner at the centre of the assessment process facilitated by the teacher. Learner
voice and the rights of the learners are at the centre of teachers' practice. These recent changes have
provided a shift in the paradigm in relation to teaching, learning, and assessment across education,
as the approach to assessment places greater emphasis on the learner at the centre of this process.
The development of assessment knowledge and competency, known as teacher’s assessment
literacy, is a challenge for teachers particularly in the area of how to use assessment, and this
challenge is central to their beliefs and cultures. This doctoral study examines a case study of teacher
beliefs and school culture in developing assessment literacy in Irish Post-Primary Schools. The study
is conducted through the lens of a case study analysis with semi-structured interviews in a post�primary school. The aim of the research is to identify the role teachers’ beliefs and cultures play in
developing assessment literacy. Data was gathered across a number of semi-structured interviews
and an engagement with the teaching and learning group of the school across a six-month period.
This study was conducted during the school academic year 2021-2022. It will assist in contributing to
the research in Ireland relating to teachers’ beliefs and culture relating to assessment. This research
captures the importance of engaging with schools directly, to provide valid and meaningful evidence
relating to teachers practice over a period of time. In this instance, it is related to teachers’
assessment literacy and the role played by beliefs and cultures in developing this practice. By
engaging with the school on a one-to-one basis, the researcher was able to address the challenges
and concerns that the teachers were facing in the here and now, relating to curriculum change with a specific focus on the development of their assessment literacy.
Additionally, the study examines the role played by continuing professional development (CPD), the
continuum of education, teachers’ assessment literacy and the role that the participants experience
in teaching has on their own learning as teachers. The study concludes by outlining the implications
for the system and future research in the area of assessment literacy relating to teachers' beliefs and
culture
The Mental Wellbeing of Farmers in Ireland
No full textThis thesis investigates the context of farming in Ireland, in terms of its impact on farmers' mental wellbeing. International research has highlighted the multitude of potential stressors affecting farmers. Despite the importance of farmers' mental wellbeing for ensuring the future viability of farming, few studies have examined the mental wellbeing of farmers in Ireland. This is all the more important as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus questions of mental wellbeing and the role of occupation in health and wellbeing generally. This thesis draws on data from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing to consider psychometric outcomes for farmers relative to a rural, working, non-farmer cohort before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on this, qualitative research methods are employed to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped life for farmers in Ireland. Findings indicate that while the disruptions in pre- pandemic patterns of life were distressing, farmers adapted through new practices and found psychological support in the continuities of farming life. This thesis argues for conceptualising farming as a therapeutic landscape with physical, social, and emotional dimensions, which farmers draw on to support positive mental wellbeing. In conclusion, it is argued that economic processes of farm consolidation and challenges in farm succession will place strain on the social landscape of farming