A Brush With Climate | 晚上福利在线观看 Cork

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The project, 'A Brush with Climate', utilises UCC鈥檚 expertise in climate change and communications and The Environmental Forum鈥檚 experience of local community climate action. This project was designed to inspire interest and encourage positive, action-oriented discussions in everyday life. Workshops with hairdressers co-developed role-play methodologies to support conversations about local climate mitigation and adaptation actions, including the top six most impactful personal climate actions.

How it began

In 2025 Dr Maria Kirrane received €63,000 in funding to lead a project "A Brush With Climate" working with the Research Ireland MaREI Centre at ERI/UCC under the Research Ireland Discover Programme.

"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

How we achieved our goals?

A Brush with Climate delivered climate training for hairstylists, covering key themes including climate impacts, climate action, and common misconceptions. The training aimed to build confidence and knowledge, enabling hairstylists to engage clients in informed and meaningful conversations about climate change.

Drawing inspiration from international initiatives such as the Sustainable Salons network in Australia, the project recognised the unique position hairstylists hold as trusted members of their communities. This trusted relationship creates valuable opportunities for public engagement on climate issues in everyday settings.

Co-created with a team of hairstylists from across Cork, the project developed a suite of practical resources and training materials to support climate conversations in salons. These resources were designed to help hairstylists discuss climate change with clients in an accessible, engaging, and action-oriented way, encouraging clients to consider and adopt tangible climate actions.

By embedding climate awareness into routine social interactions, A Brush with Climate demonstrates how everyday spaces can contribute to broader societal change.

Key Elements

Climate Bingo Cards: Interactive cards prompting clients to consider personal climate actions, with QR codes linking to detailed resources.

Mirror Stickers: Eye-catching stickers with climate facts and QR codes to spark conversation while clients wait.

Training Workshops: Hairstylists receive guidance on climate impacts, myth-busting, and effective communication strategies.

A Brush With Climate Showcase

Fintan Lynch, Fintan Lynch Hairdressing, Kinsale; Breda Dwyer, Carbon Hair, South Mall; and Justin Crowley and Mairead Coughlan, A Cut Above, Clonakilty, receive certificates of completion at A Brush with Climate event.

On 20 April 2026, UCC welcomed hairstylists from across Cork to the Aula Maxima for a wonderful showcase of A Brush with Climate, our innovative project that places climate conversations at the heart of everyday life. Funded by Research Ireland, this project supports salons to become climate leaders in their own communities using the setting of the salon chair to inspire meaningful conversations and positive behaviour change. Participating stylists were formally presented with certificates of completion by the President.

We welcomed Panellists:

Fintan Lynch - Fintan Lynch Hairdressing, Kinsale.
Denise Baden - Professor of Sustainable Business, Southampton University.
Marica Cassarino - Lecturer, School of Applied Psychology, UCC.
Bernie Connolly - The Environmental Forum
Chair, Dr Maria Kirrane A Brush With Climate project PI and Head of Sustainability and Climate Action, UCC.

Media Interest

RTE 10 Things To Know About - 10 November 2025

Presenter Kathriona Devereux in conversation with Dr Maria Kirrane shines a light on the science that shapes and connects us all - from our health and homes to the planet we share.

RTE Brainstorm -

Analysis: A new project is looking how chats between hair stylists and clients can raise awareness about positive actions to take around climate change.

Downloadable Resources

A Brush With Climate has co-created a suite of resources designed to support hairstylists in discussing climate change with their clients in an accessible, engaging, and enjoyable way. By equipping hairstylists with the tools and confidence to have these conversations, the project aims to inspire clients to take tangible climate actions in their everyday lives.

The project's resources and learning will continue to support hairstylists in fostering meaningful climate conversations, while also providing valuable insights for public engagement practitioners, social science researchers, and hair and beauty professionals interested in innovative approaches to climate engagement

Office of Sustainability and Climate Action

An Oifig um Inbhuanaitheacht agus Gníomhú ar son na hAeráide

G.08 North Wing, Main Quadrangle, 晚上福利在线观看 Cork, Western Road, Cork T12 K8AF,

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Welcome to A Brush With Climate