Aideen Foley

Dr. Aideen Foley is a Reader in Environment and Society at Birkbeck, University of London's School of Social Sciences, where she conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of climate science and societal decision-making. She serves as Academic Co-director of Environmental Education Projects within Innovation & Commercialisation and leads the NERC-funded SUNRISE project (Situated Understanding of Resilience in Island Societies and Environments), which examines climate adaptation strategies across diverse island communities globally.

Her research focuses on climate change impacts in small island and coastal communities, with particular attention to how environmental data informs local decision-making processes. Foley employs innovative methodologies including participatory Web-based GIS mapping, historical climate analysis, and creative eco-pedagogical approaches. Her work spans multiple disciplines including climatology, geography, environmental science, and social science, with strong emphasis on practical applications for climate resilience building.

Foley's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on island contexts, historical climate analogues, and the integration of diverse knowledge systems for climate adaptation. Her work demonstrates growing engagement with educational approaches for environmental sustainability, as evidenced by her development of Esri StoryMaps for teaching climate classification and urban heat vulnerability. The SUNRISE project represents a major collaborative effort connecting researchers across multiple island nations to identify common challenges and share solutions for climate resilience.

• Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Birkbeck, University of London (2022)
• OSUN-CLASP Fellowship, Open Society University Network Center for Liberal Arts and Sciences Pedagogy (2022)
• Associate Editor, Island Studies Journal

Foley actively supervises doctoral research, including MARIT ELISABETH MARSH STROMBERG's work on European renewable energy deployment. She teaches the 'Living with Climate Change' module and has developed innovative teaching resources using StoryMaps to enhance data literacy and analytical skills. Her research connects with policy development, having submitted evidence to the UK International Development Committee regarding Small Island Developing States strategy. Foley maintains an active research blog documenting project milestones and shares her work through webinars and conference presentations focused on climate resilience in island contexts.