Noel graduated with an Honours Degree in Zoology in 2013. Noel is a highly motivated researcher with an extensive background of academic knowledge spanning environmental science, tourism, social science, outdoor recreation, psychology, communication, innovation and creative thinking. Noel believes in constantly increasing his range of knowledge across disciplines to best achieve his research objectives and is dedicated to collaboration with others to best facilitate social change.
Noel was awarded his PhD in October 2020 from the Institute of Technology Tralee. Noel developed a framework illustrating the factors necessary to engender responsible recreational behaviour in Ireland. He is excited to further test aspects of the framework and to evaluate its efficacy in a range of interventions.
Noel’s primary role in Leave No Trace Ireland revolves around the coordination of an Erasmus + Project called the Sustainability and Environmental Education in Outdoor Sports and Recreation (SEE) Project. This project aims to provide good pedagogical methodologies that will increase the competencies in sustainability and environmental education of multipliers in the field of outdoor sport and ensure that the impacts of such activities are minimised and mitigated.
Noel is also the coordinator for a course that is the first of its kind in Ireland. The Certificate in Nature Animation has been developed in response to demand from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), which is a line division of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to increase the number of park rangers for National Parks, Nature Reserves and Wildfowl sanctuaries throughout Ireland. The course modules blend elements of ecology, wildlife biology, sustainability and communication.
Noel is an avid golfer and believes in the power of collaboration to protect, preserve and enhance our natural world.