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Niamh O'Sullivan

The main reason I chose UL is the Co-Op opportunity. A few third level institutions offer Environmental Science, however UL’s degree includes 8 months’ work experience. This meant that when I graduated, I would have gained skills that can only be developed in industry and I also would have relevant work experience in my future field. UL courses are focused on developing industry-ready graduates.

I was always interested in science in school, having studied both chemistry and biology, however I really enjoyed geography for my leaving cert. This course features all three subjects, along with field work and lab work, which I really enjoyed in school. Chemistry also features strongly, and even if you don’t have a strong chemistry background, the lecturers do their best to get everyone up to the same level.

My co-op experience was probably the highlight of my course experience. I worked at Irish Cement Ltd, in Drogheda Co. Louth, for my placement. Working with the plant’s Environmental Manager as part of the Environmental team, it was a great opportunity to see how environmental protection is applied to large scale industry. The job of an environmental scientist is to look at all aspects, from pollution to economy to infrastructure and quality of living, and that decisions need to be the best for everyone.

I was busy with lots of opportunities to learn both inside the office and out. I gained hands-on experience with sample collections and also got experience in filling out my first Annual Environmental Report. During my placement I also had the opportunity to work with the EPA and Natura and was invited to the annual environmental review meeting held between the Limerick and Drogheda Irish Cement sites.

My favorite part of my Co-op was the opportunity to meet and work with consultants in the field. My goal is to own my own environmental consultancy, so it was great to see that there were so many areas, from water testing to dust sample testing to biodiversity reports.

Choosing UL gave me the opportunity to work with excellent people who did their best to share their knowledge and professional experience with me.

Claudia Carey

My name is Claudia Carey, I completed my secondary level education in Salesians Secondary School Fernbank in 2016, and I am a graduate of the ��ɫ��Ƶs Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science Course. I graduated from the course with 1st Class Honors in 2020, and I am currently employed as a Fibre Planner with TLI Group. As a Fibre Planner I work on the behalf of National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to deliver the National Broadband Plan, providing high-speed and secure broadband connection across rural Ireland.

I chose to attend my third level education at the ��ɫ��Ƶ as it is a globally recognized university, with great support systems and services, world class facilities and an excellent living environment.

The course in Environmental Science got my attention, as I have had a lifelong interest in both the general sciences and the natural world. This along with the range of subjects covered in the course, from Conservation Ecology to Environmental Management, and the potential post graduate opportunities, is what lead me to decide that this was the course I wanted to pursue. For my Co-Op Placement, I spent 9 months working as an Environmental Technician in a Limerick based environmental monitoring company called AXIS Environmental Services. During my time there I went on site visits to carry out a variety of environmental monitoring tasks, wrote technical reports, and liaised with organisations, including the Environmental Protection Agency and various County and City Councils.

My Final Year Project was based on using a mapping software known as QGIS to evaluate site suitability for solar farms. By selecting relevant construction factors and creating individual maps for each, I was successful in producing a rating system to assess the appropriateness of selected sites to support the construction of a solar farm.

Through the ��ɫ��Ƶs Environmental Science Course, I have been given the chance to broaden my understanding of the environment, the importance of maintaining it, and have been able to further my career as a result.

Áine Hennessy

I graduated from UL with the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science in August 2023. The reason I chose this course was the variety of career opportunities that graduates can avail of in a wide range of sectors. From food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, construction, consultancy, and environmental agencies and authorities, the possibilities are endless.  

I have always had an interest in science, specifically biology and chemistry, but the Environmental Science course really gives a blend of all science subjects and illustrates their presence in the “real-world”. While I have always had an interest in science, I have often found that I needed help in certain aspects of the laboratory and calculations aspects of science subjects. My biology and chemistry teachers in secondary school were both UL graduates and, having discussed my concerns with them and other UL graduates, I was assured that help was always around in the form of UL’s many free learning centres and its comprehensive library facilities. The tutors and staff in the learning centres and the library really aided in my understanding of coursework and allowed me to progress confidently throughout my degree.  

My Cooperative Education experience was a key highlight and turning point in my career path. I completed my eight-month placement at Janssen Pharmaceutical Sciences in Little Island, Co. Cork. On my placement I worked primarily in the Wastewater Treatment Plant Laboratory as a student laboratory scientist, but I was also given many more opportunities to visit other areas of the site and partake in projects. That showed me how many aspects of my course were needed throughout the business, from waste management to health and safety, etc. My placement in the environmental laboratory at Janssen really sparked my interest in water treatment technologies and stewardship, both at an industrial level and a catchment level. I further pursued this interest in my final year project looking at the effects of agricultural activities on two separate catchments in Ireland. Using Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping software and applying possible mitigation measures studied throughout my coursework, I proposed solutions to aid issues of excess nutrients in waterbodies throughout these catchments.  

I am currently employed at 20FIFTY Partners in Limerick. 20FIFTY Partners designs and delivers sustainability programmes that help governments, agencies and individual organisations build competencies and skills to transition to more sustainable outcomes. My key areas of focus are on water stewardship, contemporary wastewater treatments and technologies, and on assessing the current state of our clients’ water risk and catchments. Aligned with my job at 20FIFTY Partners, I am also currently pursuing a two-year research masters ��ɫ��Ƶ. My project addresses the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive requirements and investigates how organisations can track the impact of their water and wastewater-related activities on their catchments.  

UL gave me the opportunity to further explore and apply my environmental and scientific interests by introducing me to people knowledgeable in these fields and by providing me with the access to opportunities to further both my education and my career.