This is the first article of our Eco Centenary series, exploring how Northern Ireland can think more ambitiously about sustainability over the next 100 years and highlighting the importance of collaboration, public engagement and trust in science to achieve this.

Northern Ireland’s impending centenary has, for the most part, been contextualised through a political lens. However, by stripping back the politics of the moment, as challenging as that can be, there is a valuable opportunity to reflect.

We have a chance to consider our changing place in the world, the manner in which we are contributing toward global sustainability and…

The need for large-scale collections of data on environmental changes in coastal and marine ecosystems has become imperative in recent years. With the scope and consistency of government monitoring programmes hindered by financial and resource limitations, there has been a rapid increase in the use of participatory research initiatives as an alternative solution. One such example is community science, whereby local community members work with professional scientists to collaboratively generate knowledge about the marine environment. Such knowledge can help to inform policy and decision-making processes, as well as supporting the engagement of local communities with marine governance systems.

To establish…

In this blog — titled ‘forgotten structures’ — abandoned developments of the 20th century, littered across the globe, are brought back to life. With the aid of photography collections and archival memoirs, we explore the legacy of intriguing structural ruins which time has slowly left behind. Each time, a new case is introduced and added to the list. Ultimately, the blog will construct a comprehensive collection of structural gems which deserve to be remembered.

‘Where there is ruin, there is hope for a treasure’ — Rumi

This time, we look at what remains of the 20th century House of the…

In a moment of great technological innovation, how can we save our natural ecosystems from collapsing? And what part can concerned citizens play to encourage political and business leaders to radically change their climate priorities and actions? These are just some of the questions posed at this month’s TEDxStormont Countdown, a global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. Held by webinar due to the Covid-19 pandemic, guests explored how in Northern Ireland and beyond we can establish a safer, cleaner, and fairer future.

Hosted from Belfast by Sinead O’Sullivan, guests including NI Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon…

On Saturday October 10th 2020, TEDxStormont curated Countdown, a global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. The focus of this unique webinar was to examine how we can turn innovative ideas into action and establish a safer, cleaner and fairer future for Northern Ireland and beyond.

Even more important given the ongoing health and economic crises that we are handling, Countdown brought together a range of speakers who reminded us that we are all part of the same fragile ecosystem; dependent on nature and one another. …

“A new destination for Belfast. Bringing together a new way of working, living and shopping in the heart of the city.” Tribeca, a £500 million scheme planned to redevelop part of Belfast city centre, recently received planning approval by local councillors. However, its developers, Castlebrook Investments, would be wise to check the definition of the word “new”.

Nothing about their development is new: not its design, not its concept, not even its name. …

In an era of post-truth politics, placing trust in the assertions of government is a hazardous game. A game in which you are all too likely to end up disappointed. Although we have become accustomed to the Conservative government backtracking on their commitments and announcing drastic ‘U-turns’ at the eleventh hour, their inability to embed consistency continues to surprise us. It has created a political sphere where they can get away with almost anything, with no measurement of truth to hold them to account. …

As protests demanding racial justice have multiplied since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week, the spirit of reckoning has also spread, including within the music industry. One initiative that sought to redress the historical inequities of the music business was the decision to declare Tuesday 2nd of June as a one-day moratorium on business as usual. Alternately known as #TheShowMustBePaused or #BlackoutTuesday, the idea was advanced as a means of identifying with protesters and considering how the music industry could become more accountable to black communities.

As the initiative gained traction over the weekend, companies and organizations…