Empowering hairdressers to discuss climate action
Four towns across Ireland will be shortly chosen and hairdressers in each town will be provided with a suite of training materials about climate change and the role that local communities can play in addressing it.
The training materials will be co-developed by UCC, The Environmental Forum (TEF) and hairdressers, based on the “Discourses of Climate Delay” research, which highlighted the pervasive and complex ways in which the need for climate action is downplayed.
The project, ‘A Brush with Climate’, will utilise UCC’s expertise in climate change and communications and The Environmental Forum’s experience of local community climate action. Workshops with hairdressers will co-develop role play methodologies to assist in conversations on local climate mitigation and adaptation actions including the top six most impactful personal climate actions.
The project is led by Dr Maria Kirrane, from the Office of Sustainability and Climate Action working with the Research Ireland MaREI Centre at UCC and received €63,000 in funding under the Research Ireland Discover Programme, aimed to inspire broader public engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
This project also featured in an article for the Irish Independent titled ‘Cutting emissions: hairdressers and barbers will be trained to talk about climate with customers’. Read here.
A profession that exists within every town
“The grant will allow for engagement and activation of an influential profession that exists within every town but has heretofore been untapped in Ireland. Hairdressers and barbers not only provide a service for people; they are a real hub for conversation and social spaces within a community. Their reach is broad and gives the possibility of reaching a cohort of people that may not be involved in local environmental groups and the usual pathways of climate conversation and action. The relationship between client and hairdresser is a deeply personal and trusting one,” said Dr Kirrane.
There will be a specific focus on towns that have negative experiences from climate related extreme weather events. The project, inspired by a hairdresser-led initiative in Sydney, Australia, will evaluate change in knowledge, attitude, and behaviour in the participating hairdressers through pre and post surveys and focus group discussions.
“We will co-create roleplay exercises with hairdressers which will be tested and implemented in salons. A change in knowledge, attitude and behaviour amongst the hairdressers would be a strong indicator of success, as would any perceivable change in attitude in the clients,” Dr Kirrane added.
Announced today by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, and Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee TD, the Research Ireland Discover Programme focusses on creating meaningful public engagement with STEM, emphasising collaboration with communities. The programme seeks to drive innovation in STEM education and public engagement, contributing to Ireland’s industry, enterprise, and societal progress.
Announcing the funding, Minister Lawless highlighted the importance of the initiatives: “These Discover-funded projects are crucial for triggering curiosity and encouraging greater participation in STEM across all education levels and within our communities. In particular, this investment will help foster a deeper understanding of STEM among underrepresented voices and inspire many of them to potentially become more involved in studies and careers in these fields. This will empower future generations to tackle societal challenges and share innovative solutions.”
Professor John Cryan, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at UCC, said: “I would like to congratulate Dr Kirrane on receiving this climate engagement focused award. The award will inspire the public, through engagement and conversation, and encourage the dialogue needed to bring key societal challenges around climate action to the forefront of people’s minds.”
