Catherine Coxon
@catherinecoxon.bsky.social
Environmental scientist with an interest in groundwater quality and a love of Connemara - posts on environmental matters and photos of Connemara landscapes (grianghraif de thírdhreacha Chonamara ag @duichechonamara.bsky.social freisin)
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
Frosted little cup lichens at Scohaboy bog ❤️ little treasures ❤️ @claireissimo.bsky.social @peatlandecr.bsky.social @scohaboybog.bsky.social @sphagnums.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Frosted little cup lichens at Scohaboy bog ❤️ little treasures ❤️ @claireissimo.bsky.social @peatlandecr.bsky.social @scohaboybog.bsky.social @sphagnums.bsky.social
Beautiful light at Doonloughan today. Happy New Year!
January 1, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Beautiful light at Doonloughan today. Happy New Year!
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
Lots of festive flora in the bog in these in-between days 🎄💖 Devil's Matchstick lichen surrounded by Reindeer lichen @peatlandecr.bsky.social @claireissimo.bsky.social @tocharstories.bsky.social @communitywetlands.bsky.social
December 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Lots of festive flora in the bog in these in-between days 🎄💖 Devil's Matchstick lichen surrounded by Reindeer lichen @peatlandecr.bsky.social @claireissimo.bsky.social @tocharstories.bsky.social @communitywetlands.bsky.social
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
If we're to turn the tide on nature loss, we're going to need a government that treats it with the level of priority that was given to holding on to the nitrates derogation
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Habitats report a stark contrast to nitrates decision
Biodiversity collapse is not a lost cause, but Government failure to prioritise it is devastating for all those working on nature restoration
www.irishexaminer.com
December 22, 2025 at 12:16 PM
If we're to turn the tide on nature loss, we're going to need a government that treats it with the level of priority that was given to holding on to the nitrates derogation
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Winter solstice: the sun setting behind Cruach na Caoile last night #IorrasAithneach #Conamara
December 22, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Winter solstice: the sun setting behind Cruach na Caoile last night #IorrasAithneach #Conamara
Winter solstice sunrise, Conamara
Beannachtaí Grianstad an Gheimhridh! An ghrian ag éirí inniu ar ghualainn Chnoc Mordáin, Iorras Aithneach
December 21, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Winter solstice sunrise, Conamara
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
Environmental contradictions of large language models in higher education
A short piece by Mark Kelly and myself has just been published in UNESCO's Ideas LAB.
www.unesco.org/en/articles/...
#largelanguagemodels #AI #genAI #highereducation #sustainability
A short piece by Mark Kelly and myself has just been published in UNESCO's Ideas LAB.
www.unesco.org/en/articles/...
#largelanguagemodels #AI #genAI #highereducation #sustainability
Environmental contradictions of large language models in higher
Universities are racing to adopt AI, even as its environmental costs remain largely obscured. Can higher education pursue responsible innovation while upholding sustainability and its commitment to
www.unesco.org
December 19, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Environmental contradictions of large language models in higher education
A short piece by Mark Kelly and myself has just been published in UNESCO's Ideas LAB.
www.unesco.org/en/articles/...
#largelanguagemodels #AI #genAI #highereducation #sustainability
A short piece by Mark Kelly and myself has just been published in UNESCO's Ideas LAB.
www.unesco.org/en/articles/...
#largelanguagemodels #AI #genAI #highereducation #sustainability
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
Despite nearly 1000 of you making submissions to halt the weakening of environmental standards for 1 in 10 of our rivers and lakes the govt signed off on it! 😥
This, without the evidence that such a drastic move was either necessary or justified. It is unacceptable.
swanireland.ie/2025/12/weak...
This, without the evidence that such a drastic move was either necessary or justified. It is unacceptable.
swanireland.ie/2025/12/weak...
Weakening of protections for a tenth of our rivers and lakes is just unacceptable - Sustainable Water Network
Two of Ireland’s leading environmental groups, the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) and The Rivers Trust, have today called the Government’s sign off on the designation of a tenth (466) of our rivers,...
swanireland.ie
December 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Despite nearly 1000 of you making submissions to halt the weakening of environmental standards for 1 in 10 of our rivers and lakes the govt signed off on it! 😥
This, without the evidence that such a drastic move was either necessary or justified. It is unacceptable.
swanireland.ie/2025/12/weak...
This, without the evidence that such a drastic move was either necessary or justified. It is unacceptable.
swanireland.ie/2025/12/weak...
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
Bring back the 2:1 investment priority favouring public transport over roads, say Engineers Ireland
www.irishtimes.com/transport/20...
www.irishtimes.com/transport/20...
Engineers seek restoration of public transport spending priority
Heavy reliance on private cars for travel cannot continue, Engineers Ireland warns
www.irishtimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Bring back the 2:1 investment priority favouring public transport over roads, say Engineers Ireland
www.irishtimes.com/transport/20...
www.irishtimes.com/transport/20...
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
First update from STOTEN in a while. Yet none of these ongoing issues are obvious from STOTEN's homepage. I'd be annoyed if I had been unaware and published with them in the past year.
December 15, 2025 at 8:28 AM
First update from STOTEN in a while. Yet none of these ongoing issues are obvious from STOTEN's homepage. I'd be annoyed if I had been unaware and published with them in the past year.
The Irish Times view on nitrates and waterways: procrastinating towards disaster
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...
The Irish Times view on nitrates and waterways: procrastinating towards disaster
Extending derogation is at odds with Ireland’s climate and biodiversity commitments
www.irishtimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The Irish Times view on nitrates and waterways: procrastinating towards disaster
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
Remarkable decision given only last week Ireland was successfully convicted by the ECJ for not implementing the Water Framework Directive and the deteriorating state of our waterways
Irish farmers’ nitrates derogation extended for further three years
Irish farmers’ nitrates derogation extended for further three years
Extension of exemption follows extensive lobbying by Government in Brussels
www.irishtimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Remarkable decision given only last week Ireland was successfully convicted by the ECJ for not implementing the Water Framework Directive and the deteriorating state of our waterways
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
'The impression that water quality is improving and that farmers simply need more time for measures which have been adopted to take effect is widespread. However, this is not supported by any data'
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
Ireland's lax approach to inspecting farms and enforcing rules
The EU Nitrates Committee meets on Tuesday and may extend Ireland's nitrates derogation by up to three years. At the same time we need to protect or restore water quality on a national scale writes ec...
www.irishexaminer.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:18 PM
'The impression that water quality is improving and that farmers simply need more time for measures which have been adopted to take effect is widespread. However, this is not supported by any data'
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
"Continuing to build more roads to alleviate congestion, especially in a geographically constrained city such as Dublin, is precisely the kind of failed thinking that has resulted in our capital becoming the 10th most congested city in the world."
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Prof Brian Caulfield: Can anything be done to end M50 gridlock?
Motorway is daily inescapable reminder of Dublin’s status as world’s 10th most-congested city
www.irishtimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:09 AM
"Continuing to build more roads to alleviate congestion, especially in a geographically constrained city such as Dublin, is precisely the kind of failed thinking that has resulted in our capital becoming the 10th most congested city in the world."
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
My attempt to cut through some of the misinformation around farming and water quality as we approach decision time on Ireland’s nitrates derogation
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
Ireland's lax approach to inspecting farms and enforcing rules
The EU Nitrates Committee meets tomorrow and may extend Ireland's nitrates derogation by up to three years. At the same time we need to protect or restore water quality on a national scale writes ecol...
www.irishexaminer.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:10 AM
My attempt to cut through some of the misinformation around farming and water quality as we approach decision time on Ireland’s nitrates derogation
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
Ireland second highest in EU for greenhouse gas emissions per person
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
Ireland second highest in EU for greenhouse gas emissions per person
Farming and forestry responsible for 38% of State’s total output of gases linked to climate change
www.irishtimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Ireland second highest in EU for greenhouse gas emissions per person
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
Toxic 'forever chemical' TFA found in food - with Irish breakfast cereals among worst offenders jrnl.ie/6893077
Toxic 'forever chemical' TFA found in food - with Irish breakfast cereals among worst offenders
Researchers tested breads, breakfast cereals and pasta from across Europe, with some worrying results.
jrnl.ie
December 4, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Toxic 'forever chemical' TFA found in food - with Irish breakfast cereals among worst offenders jrnl.ie/6893077
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
'These findings “underscore the need for stricter journal policies to screen and retract ghostwritten papers, in order to safeguard science integrity, as well as public health and safety,” Kaurov and @naomioreskes.bsky.social wrote'
Landmark glyphosate safety study retracted for Monsanto ghostwriting, other ethics problems
A scientific study that regulators around the world relied on for decades to justify continued approval of glyphosate was quietly retracted last Friday.
usrtk.org
December 4, 2025 at 6:26 AM
'These findings “underscore the need for stricter journal policies to screen and retract ghostwritten papers, in order to safeguard science integrity, as well as public health and safety,” Kaurov and @naomioreskes.bsky.social wrote'
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
'the current heavy loading of agricultural nutrients will have to stop. Lakes and rivers need to be given the chance to breathe, to reoxygenate their habitats so that life can return.'
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
Anja Murray: Nitrates not giving our rivers a chance to breathe
Why is it now widely considered acceptable to heap pollutants in to lakes until the ecosystems they once sustained are eliminated?
www.irishexaminer.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:11 PM
'the current heavy loading of agricultural nutrients will have to stop. Lakes and rivers need to be given the chance to breathe, to reoxygenate their habitats so that life can return.'
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
Reposted by Catherine Coxon
Lough Leane, Killarney
December 2, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Lough Leane, Killarney
Alder carr near Ross Castle, Killarney
December 2, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Alder carr near Ross Castle, Killarney
Lough Leane, Killarney
December 2, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Lough Leane, Killarney
Just the Winter One rather than #thewinter10 in Conamara this week! Gorse / Aiteann (Ulex europaeus) can always be relied on for some flowers. #WildflowerHour
November 30, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Just the Winter One rather than #thewinter10 in Conamara this week! Gorse / Aiteann (Ulex europaeus) can always be relied on for some flowers. #WildflowerHour
The Ballynahinch River in flood after yesterday’s rain
November 27, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The Ballynahinch River in flood after yesterday’s rain