Dr Colin Brown is the director of the newly‐formed Ryan Institute in NUI Galway. The Ryan Institute for Environ‐ mental, Marine and Energy Research, has been established in 2010 from a strategic merger of the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) and Martin Ryan Institute (MRI) for Marine Science.

With a BSc in Physics from Imperial College, London and a PhD in Geophysics from the University of Newcastle‐upon‐Tyne, Dr. Brown heads an institute that emphasizes understanding environmental changes, innovation in energy‐efficient technologies and research and development projects in marine science. The Institute is multi‐disciplinary, with a focus on the provision of scientific and technical information to guide socioeconomic and policy decisions.

Dr. Valerie Cummins was appointed as the director of the Maritime and Energy Research Campus and Com‐ mercial Cluster (MERC) in June 2010. This involves working on behalf of University College Cork, the Cork Institute of Technology and the Irish Naval Service to develop a cluster of world standing that secures Ireland position as an early leader in ocean energy and supports the development of Ireland’s energy and maritime sectors.

Prior to that, she was Director of the Coastal and Marine Resources Centre, University College Cork for 10 years, involving the coordination of 36 research staff. As a Marine Geographer her own research interests cover coastal ecosystem governance issues. She is a member of the Climate Science Committee of the Royal Irish Academy, a member of the Scientific Steering Committee of LOICZ (Land Ocean Interactions for the Coastal Zone) dealing with Global Environmental Change and a member of the editorial panel of the international Marine Policy journal.
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After obtaining a Certificate in Science at the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (1999), Tom completed a BSc in zoology at the National University of Ireland Galway (2002). In 2007 Tom completed his PhD on the ‘population, origins and behaviour of leatherbacks sea turtles in the Irish Sea’. In June 2007 Tom was awarded a two‐year IRCSET (Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology) Postdoctoral Fellowship to carryout research on leatherbacks, ocean sunfish and jellyfish. In 2008, Tom was awarded two research grants to investigate the ecology and socio‐economic impacts of jellyfish in Irish waters.

Contributing to the biotelemetry research at the centre, Tom uses satellite tracking to document to movement and foraging behaviour of oceanic sunfish and leatherback sea turtles. Tom also records all turtle strandings and sightings in Irish waters.
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Over his thirty‐five year career in Irish marine sci‐ ence John has brought a variety of life-skills to bear on his work in university research and teaching, in industry and in the semi‐State sector. His current role with the Marine Institute focuses on communications via the media, on outreach and the education sector through the “Explorers” Primary School Marine Education Programme.
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David Murphy has been the General Manager of AquaTT since 2000, a not for profit spin‐off company of UCC/ NUIG/GMIT, set up in 1992. David has a BSc. in Marine Biology/Oceanography but since graduating has solely specialised in applied science in the Marine sector. David’s areas of expertise and day to day work include funding procurement, scientific project management, knowledge management, stakeholder facilitation, communication and knowledge transfer. In the past two years alone David has led AquaTT to join consortiums securing European Research grants valued at ~€20M of which the value to Irish Companies and Universities is >€4M.
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Daniel is currently a researcher with SEMRU in NUI Galway. He has a B.E. from NUIG, a P. Grad. Dip. in environmental engineering from TCD, a M. Eng. Sc. in wastewater engineering and a M. Econ. Sc. in environmental economics from NUIG. He has previously worked as an engineer in the area of planning, water supply schemes, environmental permits and wind farms with EAEC Ltd and has worked as research assistant for the Department of Economics in NUIG on biodiversity and tourism in the West of Ireland. His current research involves the use of benefit transfer non‐market valuation technique to esti‐ mate the value of achieving “good ecological status” in Irish water bodies.
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Nautical Enterprise is a strategic consultancy that conducts research within large‐scale European projects in the area of maritime transport and logistics. As development manager, Grainne is responsible for identifying, obtaining and managing research projects related to IT, managing software product development and IT infrastructure. Her current focus is on realising the EU vision of paperless freight transport that contributes to a cleaner environment, security of energy supply, transport safety and security.
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Karin is an Environmental Scientist who has worked on Coastal Zone Management and on waste issues as a consultant, university lecturer and environmental group representative throughout Europe and the US. She is a member of staff in Trinity College Dublin, Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty.

Stefan studied with Victoria and Massey Universities in New Zealand, and the Open University in England, majoring in Environmental Sciences. Having won a first class honours degree in 2006, and been awarded a postgraduate study grant by the United Kingdom Crowther Fund in 2007, Stefan was accepted to Imperial College’s MSc programme in Sustainable Development and Natural Resource Management.

Stefan joined the CMRC early in 2009, working as part of the CLAD (Coastal Climate Adaptation and Development) project team, funded by the EPA Climate Change Research Programme. The project analyses the needs of coastal areas faced with a changing climate. He is currently conducting Ph.D. research into the development and utilisation of scenarios of climate change impact and adaptation response in coastal regions.

A writer, broadcaster, filmmaker and international tour guide. He is a former chairman of BirdWatch Ireland and a current director of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. His publications include A guide to the Identification of the Whales and Dolphins of Ireland (2006) and Shorebirds of Ireland (2009). He has been involved in the study and conservation of Ireland’s natural heritage for over 35 years, contributing to many major surveys and international projects.