Biography
Liz Gabbett is a Geography Teaching Assistant and Laboratory Manager for UL's Geography division within the Department of History.Her research interests are in freshwater ecology, water management, invasive alien species control, citizen science, communication and elearning development.
In 2022 Liz was commissioned by An Foram Uisce to develop a water management course for transition year students. The course material and accompanying report was delivered in July 2023.
In 2020 Liz developed an online Bumblebee Identification course for the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
Currently, Liz is convening the "Introduction to Physical Geography" module for first year Arts, Social Sciences and PE and Geography students.
Research Interests
Having worked and studied in a variety of areas, i.e. ecology, IT, students' union, river conservation, elearning development, digital mapping, community development and teaching, Liz has a diverse interest range. In the past few years, her research and passion have focused on freshwater habitat management and education.While creating the transition year module 'Water Matters' for An Fórum Uisce in 2023, it became evident from the student surveys that there is a worrying lack of awareness and knowledge about local rivers and associated wildlife species among most students. Four schools took part in the pilot study and in two schools the students had not studied junior cert geography. The survey results suggest the lack of knowledge is in part due to students not having studied geography. Further investigation into this area is warranted.
The decision by the Department of Education in 2018 to make Geography a non-optional subject was very shortsighted. As climate change and associated environmental degradation accelerate, it is becoming more evident that geography is a critical subject. It deals with human-environment relations, how we live on the planet, and it is critically important for all life on earth that people understand how the forces of nature shape where and how we live. Geography provides students with the necessary skills to understand geographical data and the impact on the environment.