Ecolution - RTÉjr

Professor Pete Lunn is the founder and head of the ESRI's Behavioural Research Unit. A behavioural economist, Pete's primary research interest is how people make judgements and decisions that affect environmental, financial and health outcomes. Today we discuss the climate crisis to ask why we find it so hard to adapt our behaviours.

Stuart Goldsmith is a comedian who has made the climate crisis the main topic of his standup. We spoke with him about how to communicate your fears, help people be better informed about our environment, and create change from a very different perspective.

Today's episode is all about Disinformation. Particularly around the climate crisis. We discuss how you tell fact from opinion, media literacy, memes and what exactly an “alternative fact” could be.

Last week saw the Dublin City Finals of Junk Kouture, the sustainable fashion event open to 12-19 year-olds that challenges them to create high end Kouture from recycled Junk. And Ecolution was there to speak with just some of the finalists. Plus, Clodagh Ramsey from Wilson's Hospital School, their World Designer of the year in 2024

It's Bike week from this Saturday, so the Ecolution team wound our way to the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, St. Colmcille's Senior National School in Knocklyon, to meet some of their students at its launch and ask why cycling means so much to them.

On a sunny morning in Fernhill, third class from Stepaside Educate Together National School stepped into the forest to take part in something called forest bathing. Guided by Orlagh from Forest Bathing Wicklow and Cat from Danu Forest Bathing, the students explored nature in a whole new way - through their senses!

Ecolution is back - and we're switching off the lights to look to the stars! In this first episode, we head to Wild Nephin National Park in Co. Mayo. A haven for wildlife and a certified Dark Sky Park, it's the perfect place to explore nature after dark. From nocturnal creatures to the Night Owl crew - get ready to go wild… in the dark!

We went along to Eco-Unesco's annual, all-Ireland awards programme that recognizes and rewards young people who raise environmental awareness and improve the environment. And what a huge variety of work we found!

This week we shine a light on those projects that attempt to harness nature in a sustainable way. And the in studio discussion turns to the expansion of our native forests and how ready people are for rewilding. All that before a break to prepare the next series.

We're back in the bustling hub of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS. Join us for a whistletop tour through the exhibits and also an in studio discussion about the internet, AI and how it can be used for both good and bad in communicating the climate crisis. Part 2 next week.

For the last episode of the season we visit the Oireachtas to witness the historic moment when the Children and Young People's Assembly on Biodiversity Loss presented their 58 recommendations to the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action. True proof of the power we can wield when we work together.

Saoirse Exton plus Students from the ISSN and the Childrens Assembly on Biodiversity loss join Evie to discuss their feelings on COP28 and how we could build a better COP. One that acts fast and represents people equally. As well as offering young people a place at the table.

Nicola Davies is the author of almost 100 books for children and today she speaks with us about her Carnegie Medal-nominated book The Song That Sings Us. And she also speaks about how tackling nature loss and climate change in her books is so vital, the power of using our own voice. And of the reasons why she feels hopeful about the future.

For Science Week we decided to try a super opportunity to take part in some citizen science. First Class students from Taney Parish Primary School in Dundrum, leapt at the chance to visit the World of Soil exhibit in the Airfield Estate to discover just how important the earth beneath us is. And you can play a part too.

This week we head to the banks of the Royal Canal with Connecting Cabra in search of a creature synonymous with Samhain. Bats. And Donna Mullen of Wildlife Surveys Ireland proves that they're not at all as scary as you might think. And Brian Keeley of Bat Conservation Ireland talks about how we can help them.

Today we step outside Ireland and hear from South America. The home of the Amazon rainforest. Juan David Amaya, a 17-year-old climate justice activist from Colombia. And from Brazil, Chief Tuim Nova Era from the Huni Kui Tribe. Both share a common goal. That all of those most affected by Climate Change be heard and their advice acted upon.

This week we celebrate the efforts made by kids, parents and teachers to start Cycle Buses in their neighbourhoods. We meet two highlighted by An Taisce Green Schools in their hunt for the most active groups getting children safely cycling in convoy. Gaeilscoil na Fuinseoige in Churchtown, and the Knocknacarra Cycle Bus in County Galway.

From flooding to heatwaves and beyond, today we're trying to make sense of the extreme weather our planet has seen over the past few months. Dr. Noel Fitzpatrick, a research meteorologist and the presenter of the Met Éireann Podcast helps unpick what's happening, and how human caused climate change is impacting our weather systems.

Earth Rising is a festival of eco related programming showcasing the most exciting innovators in the field of eco citizen science, design & creativity. Ahead of this Autumn's event, we headed to the Irish Museum of Modern Art to talk with the artists and exhibitors that made the first one so magical.

This week Evie got to chat to a giant amongst us. Dr Jane Goodall, DBE answers kids questions on chimpanzees, Nature loss and all that young people can do. As well as her Roots & Shoots programme. It's a big episode. You can see the whole interview on youtube too.

Today we look at Ireland's waterways. We visit the Camac River in Clondalkin with Aileen and Sabrina of Globe Ireland and fourth class from Clonburris NS. Hear from Antoin McDermott of SWAN about the state of our waters. And discuss a tiny creature pushed to the edge of extinction in the River Nore with artist Mary Conroy.

In today's Ecolution we showcase just some of the many young people taking positive and impactful action on their climate worries; those taking part in the Eco-Unesco Young Environmentalist Awards.

Today we talk money. Who has it and how does it impact on our world? With Sociologist Rory Hearne, doughnut economics expert RoisIn Markham, environmentalist Duncan Stewart, PDST young economist Tom Knoblauch and our brilliant Brain Trust.

We headed to Fenit in Kerry to check out local festival. Wild Mind. Scientists, environmentalists, authors, and artists and locals gathered to talk about our natural world, climate change and how we treat the planet. With environmental campaigner Duncan Stewart, Pádraic Fogarty of the IWT and shark expert Louise Overy.

Season 4 returns with a very important episode. We speak to Prof. Matthew England about his teams' latest findings on changes in the oceans around Antarctica. Plus, we visit Clerihan NS in Tipperary to quiz them on what they know about the icy continent.

It's Earth Day and we're delighted to announce the return of Ecolution! If you haven't already, please like, subscribe and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps!

We return for the second episode and this time food and farming are on the agenda. We found projects on our attitudes to eating insects, the carbon impact of trawling and more. Plus Evie was joined in studio by by students who have a vested interest in agriculture, living and working on farms with their families.

Evie heads to the RDS to meet the young competitors in the 2023 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. Almost half of the projects dealt with clever solutions to the climate crisis. Too much to cover in one episode so part 2 coming next week. 

Ecolution draws to a close for the season, but not without recognizing all those we've met and worked with this year. 

Today we speak with George Monbiot, who's new book Regenesis: Feeding the World without Devouring the Planet is all about the soil beneath our feet. Plus we discuss what it means to grow things with students from Gaelscoil Coláiste Mhuire. 

We posed some tricky questions to four scientists about the climate crisis and the place of scientific research in explaining the issues, while also coming up with solutions to mitigate Global temperature rise. With Phil and Julie from “Let's Dive In”, Dr Shane McGuinness and Dr Niamh Shaw.

For the 2nd year in a row, the Schools Climate and nature Summit offers all children in Primary and Secondary an opportunity to make friends and start climate awareness and action. It takes place in tandem with COP27. We met some of the children and teachers taking part.

October saw the coming together of Irelands' first ever Children and Young People's Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, and Ecolution was lucky enough to follow their journey. We meet some of the children selected, their mentors and TD Malcolm Noonan.

Birds are one of the most visible, and audible members of the biosphere that surround us. But they are in serious trouble. We spoke to Niamh Fitzgerald of Birdwatch Ireland, Birders in Kilkenny and kids across the country to see why they're in decline and ask what we can do to help.

Today we meet Donal Griffin, marine policy officer for Fair Seas Ireland and Sibéal Regan of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group to shine a light on the creatures large and small that call Irish waters home. Plus, youth IWDG member Alissa hops on a boat out of Baltimore in Cork to see what she can spot on a whale watching expedition.

It's Green Schools Walk to School Week and last Monday, 150 young people from 10 to 24 gathered as part of the Walk21 IrelandConference. They met to help shape communities of the future, places where walking and active travel is safer for all. And we walked with them.

Evie, along with fellow young people Paddy, Frank, Nora, Rosa, Tom, and willing accomplice Derek spent a morning at IMMA seeing The Anthropocene exhibition, guided by Mark Maguire, Assistant Curator for Schools and Family at IMMA to see what happens when Art meets the Climate Crisis.

This one is all about Energy. Sarah O'Rourke of Eirgrid discusses Ireland's present and future. John O'Shea of Codema talks Dublin's low-carbon transition. And, Donal Gallagher of Asylum Productions tells us about the Callan Energy Store an exercise in Creative Climate Action. Plus our Brain Trust.

What happens when you watch videos, stream a movie or play online, and how could it be having an impact on our environment? Artist Joana Moll has been asking just these questions.

Today, we visit another Biosphere Reserve, this time in the Maldives. At Finolhu Baa Atoll, Marine Biologist Filipa might have the best job in the world. Here she discusses life below the waves and in particular the endangered Manta Ray. Plus, Brain Trustee Rosa shares her love of the sea.

We head to Bull Island to discuss the Dublin Bay Biosphere with Dean Eaton, Ecologist Pat Corcoran, Niamh Fitzgerald of Birdwatch Ireland and the Scouts of 5th Port Dollymount, the first people in the world to complete the Dublin Bay Biosphere Award.

Just before Covid we visited Ireland's first Democratic School to see how they're changing the way they learn, to fit the world we've made. And there we conducted a guided exercise with Kathryn McCabe in coping with Eco Anxiety.