Dr Jane Russell-O'Connor

Dr. Jane Russell-O’Connor has a PhD from the University of Wolverhampton UK in Multidisciplinary Landscape Evaluation, a HDip in Education and a degree in Environmental Science and Ecology.  Jane is a member of the International Association of Landscape Ecology and has been conducting interdisciplinary research and publishing in landscape history and landscape ecology for over 15 years.  Her most recent research project is  ‘Why people are drawn to different landscapes?’, funded by the Landscape Research Group, which concludes this summer and examines why people are attracted to different landscapes, their dialogue with the landscape and the activities they undertake. Her last research project was conducted at the former Bessborough Estate, now the location of Kildalton College, Piltown Co. Kilkenny. This entailed an interdisciplinary approach to the assessment of the former demesne landscape utilizing the disciplines of landscape history, landscape ecology and historical ecology (Figures 1 and 2). This research was presented at an international UNESCO conference at NUIG and published in the conference proceedings. Jane has organized an international conference and chaired sessions at a number of national and international conferences.

Jane is currently a lecturer in the Department of Architecture at South East Technological University and has supervised two PhD students to completion and a research masters to completion. She has successfully won the WIT PhD Scholarship and been awarded funding by a number of external bodies for research (including a PhD scholarship from industry). Jane has 27 years teaching experience including the course development, management and teaching of Masters in Education, Masters in Teaching and Learning in Further and Higher Education. In addition, she has worked in nature conservation, managing nature reserves and country parks.