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ATU lecturer becomes the most published academic on RTE Brainstorm
One of Atlantic Technological University's (ATU) leading lecturers, Dr Marion McGarry, has achieved a significant milestone, becoming the most published academic from any of Ireland’s technological universities on RTE Brainstorm.
The platform showcases expert analysis and insights from academics across the country and a partnership between RTÉ and Irish third level institutions, namely University College Cork, University of Limerick, DCU, Technological University Dublin and Maynooth University.
RTÉ Brainstorm is where the academic and research community contribute to public debate, reflect and communicate fresh thinking on a broad range of issues. Sitting alongside online journalism and content, RTÉ Brainstorm provides readers with informed views and perspectives on a vast range of topics and has an international reach.
RTE Brainstorm has recognised her as one of its top three authors from other higher education institutions and the most prolific contributor among all technological universities. She’s also consistently among the platform’s most popular writers; her article on Nollaig na mBan has ranked in the Top 10 Most Read every year since 2020.
Dr McGarry’s work goes far beyond Brainstorm. She’s written several books and published research in international journals, covering design history, architecture, and cultural heritage.
“Brainstorm pieces are a great way to share my research with the public. Because of the international reach, they’ve even caught the attention of BBC radio shows, who’ve invited me to talk about them”, she explains.
Her articles, which tie closely to what she teaches at ATU, are not just impactful with the public, they are an essential part of her ongoing teaching and learning and “also being used as teaching resources by other academics in universities across Ireland, who embed them as resources into college modules. One was even used in the Junior Certificate exams,” she says.
Her latest Brainstorm article looks at the industrial design history of BNM Peat Briquettes. This topic also featured on RTE Radio 1’s Sunday Miscellany on 26 October, when she read her own piece, “The Last Briquette”. The episode, Writing the Bog, celebrated Ireland’s boglands- past, present, and imagined future, and tied into this year’s Bog Bothy Project by the Irish Architecture Foundation and 12th Field. Her piece reflects on the passing of generations, Ireland’s design and architecture, and the role of bogs in supporting biodiversity and our climate. Listen here.
Dr McGarry’s full list of publications is available on ATU’s research repository: https://pure.atu.ie/en/persons/marion-mcgarry?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Her full archive of essays for RTE Brainstorm can be found here: https://www.rte.ie/author/1241485-marion-mcgarry/
Ivana Hanjs
Communications Officer
Tel: +353 89 963 9559
E: ivana.hanjs@atu.ie
