Prof. Mary Corcoran receives Fulbright award

Friday, June 15, 2018 - 09:45

Prof. Mary P. Corcoran, received a 2018 Fulbright-EPA award at the US Ambassador’s residence in the Phoenix Park last week. The award will allow her to spend three months in the US based at The Ireland Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac University, in Connecticut. 

In the photo below Mary is being presented with the award by Dr. Sarah Ingle, Chairperson of the Irish Fulbright Commission Board.
 


 
Mary will spend three months in the US based at The Ireland Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac University, in Connecticut. Her sponsor is the renowned historian Professor Christine Kinealy.

While the focus of the Institute is specifically on the Irish Famine, Mary’s project will explore contemporary issues relating to food justice and food security.

Building on work already undertaken in the Irish and European contexts, Mary will research how civil society groups act as “change agents” in urban localities to promote environmental sustainability.

She will be investigating attitudes, practices and policy frameworks through three core research questions:
1. What role does land cultivation play in raising awareness about food production and consumption and enhancing food literacy?
2. How does land cultivation in urban contexts (e.g. allotment or community gardening) promote environmental stewardship?
3. How can micro-level projects be scaled up to deliver workable and meaningful food polices for sustainable, resilient towns and cities?  

The city of New Haven, Connecticut will be the primary research site.

 

Photo above: A group shot of the 2018-19 Fulbright awardees at the Ambassador’s residence, Phoenix Park.