Ryan Institute News

On 9 October, the University of Galway’s Ryan Institute, in collaboration with Trócaire and Galway City Council, hosted an inspiring talk for students with Rwandan eco-feminist and climate advocate, Ineza Umuhoza Grace.   Professor Frances Fahy, Director of the Ryan Institute, opened the event, welcoming students from a wide range of disciplines. Marie-Anne Michel, Volunteer & Outreach Officer at Trócaire, outlined how Trócaire partners with communities to bring about change. Ineza Umuhoza Grace is the founder and CEO of The Green Protector, a Trócaire partner in Rwanda. The conversation was moderated by PhD researcher Tomy Ncube.   Climate change is personal  Ineza’s journey into climate advocacy began while watching the news. Seeing families in Rwanda displaced by extreme weather triggered a memory from her own childhood of her family home being flooded during a storm. “The ceiling disappeared, and I remember being woken up and feeling like I was drowning because of the rain,” said Ineza. Her realisation of the worsening impacts of climate change, combined with personal experience of climate-related disasters, led Ineza to study Water and Environmental Engineering at the University of Rwanda to find out what was going wrong and why.   During her time at university, Ineza founded The Green Protector, a youth-led NGO that works with schools and communities and engages in international climate change conferences. Rather than imposing solutions, The Green Protector advocates for a participatory approach, asking people, including children, what they want and need, and designing tailored solutions.  Ineza Umuhoza Grace speaking with students at University of Galway. Photo: Thierry Ahimana/Small Steps Everyday Advocacy, activism, and changing the narrative  Ineza identifies as a climate advocate. Asked about the difference between climate advocacy and activism, Ineza responded that, for her, activism is about civil society expressing frustration with the system, while advocacy can channel that frustration into action by talking to decision makers. “Once you add activism and advocacy, then you can catalyse change”, explained Ineza.    As Global Coordinator of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, Ineza uses advocacy to hold governments accountable during international climate negotiations. The coalition, initiated by a group of young people during COVID-19, has grown to involve over 1,000 youths from more than 100 countries, demanding action to address the loss and damage caused by climate change.   Under the coalition, the Loss and Damage Youth Grant Making Council funds youth-led projects, enabling young people to move beyond blame and take action to showcase what works. She acknowledges that while young people are often given platforms to speak, too often decision-makers do not listen. She calls for leaders to “unlearn” what they know, because it is not working, and current systems are failing.   Moving beyond tokenism to meaningful youth participation is critical to climate action, and some countries are doing better than others. In her home country, Ineza shared how her engagement with the Rwandan government felt like an equal partnership. In contrast, at international negotiations, she often felt overlooked and underestimated as a young person, particularly a young woman. She urges other countries to follow the example of Rwanda in trusting and supporting young people to represent their country at the international stage.   Advice for young climate advocates  Asked what advice she would offer to young people entering the climate movement, Ineza encouraged the students to trust in themselves. Warning that the path would not be easy, Ineza advised them to “get a cup of tea” as they prepare for the challenges ahead. Her key advice was to trust in their own knowledge: “Believe you know better than them and keep pushing.” She urged young people to find their unique way of contributing to climate action and to persevere with what works for them, rather than trying to be good at everything.  Ineza also addressed the challenges of being taken seriously in international climate arenas. She recommends navigating these spaces from a place of confidence, backing up statements with data and communicating your country’s perspective and your personal experiences. She advised young people to stand their ground and stay in the room: “Just speak … Once you keep speaking and listening to others, you are able to ignite something in them – but mostly in you – because you will be able to find the few people that will actively listen to you.”  Ineza Umuhoza Grace launched Trócaire’s The Eyes of the Storm exhibition in Dublin on 12 October 2024. The exhibition is centred on the work of climate activists around the world and there are plans to bring the exhibition to Galway.  www.ryaninstitute.ie  

All-island funding call for researchers addressing environmental & societal pressures in the Arctic   University of Galway’s Ryan Institute is launching a dedicated Arctic Research Networking Programme funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The program is being supported by the Network of Arctic Researchers in Ireland (NARI). The Programme will support and facilitate new collaborations of researchers from all Disciplines (e.g., STEM, AHSS) across the island of Ireland with Arctic member states over the next two years.  Read the Call Document - Arctic Networking and apply online by 13 January 2025.  1. Initiate and support collaboration with Arctic Council Working Groups   The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation in the Arctic. Members include 8 Arctic Nations, 6 permanent participants that represent the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic, and 38 Observers that share their expertise with Arctic States and permanent participants. The Council focuses on Biodiversity, Climate, Ocean, Pollutants, Emergencies and Arctic People and their activities are conducted in six working groups that execute the programs and projects mandated by the Arctic Council Ministers.  ACAP - Arctic Contaminants Action Program  AMAP - Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme  CAFF - Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna  EPPR – Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response  PAME - Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment  SDWG - Sustainable Development Working Group  Strong expertise that aligns with the mandates of these working groups resides in Irish HEIs, Research Centers, and Gateways in Ireland. To capture and capitalize on this expertise we solicit applications from the Irish research community to participate and engage with Arctic Council Working Groups. Specifically, we are seeking applications from researchers associated with eligible research performing organizations applying for research visits (up to 3 months) pertaining to a specific working group project and/or participation at Arctic Council Working Group meetings.   Research Performing Organizations (RPOs) are institutions which fall within the meaning of Section One of the HEA Act, 1971 (e.g., Universities & Institutes of Technology), Teagasc, the Marine Institute, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, BirdWatch Ireland, the National Botanic Gardens and Indigo Rock Marine Research Station.  Award: up to €5,000 per award per annum.  2. Increase visibility and engagement of Irish research expertise at international meetings relevant to the Arctic  Arctic relevant meetings (both research or cross-sectorial), bringing together governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, and citizens, are vital for the coordination of research efforts and to address environmental and societal pressures on the Arctic region. To encourage and promote the inclusion of Irish expertise at these meetings, we seek applications from researchers associated with eligible research institutions to chair sessions or present at Conferences, Assemblies or Meetings relevant to the Arctic such as:  Arctic Circle Assembly/Forum  Arctic Frontiers  Arctic360 Annual Conference  Polar Symposium  Arctic Congress and Assembly  UArctic Assembly  Arctic Science Summit Week  European Polar Science Week  or similar   Award: up to €2,500 per award per annum.  Key dates  Program launch: 3 December 2024  Call deadline: 13 January 2025  Awards start: 1 February 2025 for 12 months   Eligibility  We welcome applications from:  Students carrying out a Research Masters or PhD at an RPO. Students may only apply for funding for events taking place up to the final date of their college registration. Proof of support by the Research Supervisor is required.  Contract researchers (e.g., Research Assistants, Post Doctoral Researchers, Adjunct Lecturers) employed at an RPO. Note, contract researchers may only apply for funding for events taking place up to their contract end date.  Full-time members of staff at RPOs (Senior Researchers, Lecturers, Professors).  Eligible costs  Registration Fees for applicable Conferences, Workshops & Training Courses.  Accommodation costs  Travel & Subsistence  How to apply  Applicants must complete the online application form no later than 13 January 2025.   For full details, download the Call Document - Arctic Networking.