Personal profile
Biography
Maria holds a BSc. in Environmental Science from UCC and a PhD in Ecology, undertaken between UCC and the United States Department of Agriculture in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As the Head of Sustainability and Climate Action for UCC, Maria is tasked with delivering the University's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (2023-28) which seeks to embed the SDGs across all functions of the University. She led the University in becoming the first in the world to be awarded a Green Flag from the Foundation for Environmental Education, and the first outside of North America to be awarded a STARS Gold rating from the Foundation for Environmental Education. Maria establised and manages UCC's Green Campus Living Laboratory Programme which supports staff and students to develop and deliver their own sustainability projects. Maria worked as a programme manager for the Natural Environment Research Council in the UK, and then as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Limerick. The latter post explored the role of universities in driving the transition to a more sustainable society. Research interests are principally around environmental education and innovative approaches to improving environmental performance, circular economy and biodiversity conservation.
Research Interests
Sustainable Development, Education, Green Campus, Living Lab, Ecology, Behaviour
Teaching Activities
Education for Sustainable Development Ecology
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
-
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Maria Kirrane is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
-
Integrating Sustainability Across University Curricula: Creating a Dynamic Pan-Disciplinary Framework and Open-Source Materials
Barimo, J., O'Mahony, C., Mullally, G., Byrne, E., O'Halloran, J., Reidy, D. T. & Kirrane, M., 13 Feb 2026, Green Metric in Higher Education - Measuring and Reporting on Sustainability Initiatives at Higher Education Institutions. Leal Filho, W., Sari, R. F. & Viera Trevisan, L. (eds.). Springer Nature, p. 1031 19 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedings › Chapter › peer-review
-
A novel and comprehensive approach to mapping university research onto the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – the case of University College Cork, Ireland
O’Donoghue, J., Bolger, P., Kirrane, M. J., Barimo, J. F., Byrne, A., Dunphy, N. P., Edwards, C., Godsmark, C. N., Hogan, D., Loftus, S., Lucey, S., Rohan, J. F., White, A., O’Halloran, J., Cryan, J. F. & Cusack, S., 2025, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 26, 9, p. 55-71 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Student-led, research-informed, practice focussed: University College Cork's jouney to sustainability
O'Halloran, J., Barimo, J., Cusack, S., Irwin, S., Kirrane, M., Nyaluke, D., O'Donoghue, J., O'Mahony, C., Poland, M. & Ryder, M., 2025.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper (Invited) › peer-review
-
Student-led, research-informed and practice focussed: University College Cork’s journey to sustainability
O'Halloran, J., Barimo, J., Cusack, S., Irwin, S., Kirrane, M., Mullally, G., Nyaluke, D., O'Donoghue, J., O'Mahony, C., Poland, M. & Ryder, M., 31 Dec 2025, In: Journal of Sustainability Perspectives. 5, 3, p. 502 512 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
The role of universities in accelerating the sustainable development goals in Europe
Filho, W. L., Sierra, J., Price, E., Eustachio, J. H. P. P., Novikau, A., Kirrane, M., Dinis, M. A. P. & Salvia, A. L., Dec 2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 1, 15464.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
- 1 Invited talk
-
Learning from the integration of sustainability into teaching and learning strategies
Revez, A. (Speaker), Dunphy, N. (Speaker), Mullally, G. (Speaker) & Kirrane, M. (Speaker)
20 Mar 2020Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
Press/Media
-
Cork's UCC named a global leader in sustainability
O Gallachoir, B., Kirrane, M. & O'Halloran, J.
9/12/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
-
Why does Ireland want hairdressers to lecture you about climate change?
14/04/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
-
Climate chats at the salon? Irish hairdressers recruited for environmental advocacy
8/04/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
-
MCGUIRK: Thoughts on the creepy “climate hairdresser” scheme
7/04/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
-
07 Apr 2025 Empowering hairdressers to discuss climate action
7/04/25
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media