Currents of Time: Storied Pasts, Sustainable Futures

This talk is about restorative ocean farming and the future of seaweed cultivation in Ireland, drawing on my PhD research and further insights from the C-FAARER project (Community-driven Farming for the Atlantic and Arctic sea basins through REgeneRative aquaculture). Just like any top-secret (or not-that-secret) mission, addressing society’s biggest challenges requires more than one brilliant mind - it takes a whole team of researchers, farmers, investors, policymakers, and communities working together.

Food spoilage is a naturally occurring phenomenon, which is caused by microorganisms.1.3 billion tons of food suitable for human consumption is discarded (one-third of the produced food globally). The negative impacts of synthetic preservatives has driven the need to explore natural alternatives. Administration of natural, safe microbes and/or their antimicrobial compounds provides a possible solution to this global problem.

If history is concerned with the deeds of great men, and how we record time is inherently male, where does that leave women? Can data analysis help us to create more holistic views of the past?If history is concerned with the deeds of great men, and how we record time is inherently male, where does that leave women? Can data analysis help us to create more holistic views of the past?