Interviews

Name: Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain
Degree/Masters: PGDip (2009) Education,
Currently studying PhD in Mathematics

What do you like most about studying in Trinity?
I really like the fact that Trinity is based in the city centre, amidst all the hustle and bustle of Dublin town but at the same time is nestled away from all of the commotion of the city. You forget how much the world is moving outside when you’re working in your office or sitting out having lunch and watching sports at the Pav!
We’re so incredibly lucky in Trinity to be able to walk out into Front Square and absorb the amazing architecture and I like being able to go for a walk around whenever I need to clear my head from reading research articles or trying to write. I also like the fact that I’m closer to the Science Gallery so I can pop up any time to check out the latest exhibition or go for lunch meetings!

Where did your love of science and maths come from?
As a child I loved looking at the night sky in our rural back garden in Co. Mayo. On clear nights it seemed there were more stars than there were people in the world and I loved finding out the constellation names. When I learned that looking at stars really meant that we were looking back in time at a light that shone years and years ago I was completely fascinated. I decided to study physics for the leaving cert and was lucky to have a really good teacher, Mr McMonagle, who cultivated an enthusiasm for the subject. I didn’t realise that I actually enjoyed maths until just before my leaving cert exams and after that I really enjoyed my undergraduate degree studying Theoretical Physics in University College Dublin.

How do you like to spend your free time?
That seems like a funny question at the moment since I don’t seem to have much free time between researching for my PhD with the School of Education, participating in academic conferences and presenting television programmes! But I love to get the chance to go home to Mayo and either go for walks on the beach in Westport or go out on the boat in Lough Carra. I also love to spend evenings with friends catching up over dinner or drinks.

What would your ideal job be?
It’s really enjoyable to be part of the community of researchers, practitioners and academics in the School of Education here in Trinity College Dublin. It’s the largest School of Education in the country and is ranked within the top 100 in the world (QS World Subject Rankings) so I’m very lucky to be part of a number of research projects within the school and to lecture as part of the Mathematics Pedagogy strand of the Professional Diploma in Education. Ideally, I would love to continue researching and lecturing in Mathematics Education here. It would be great to include practice within my research in the future by incorporating classroom teaching within various academic projects because I do miss my students sometimes!
I would also like to continue promoting mathematics and science through my work within media and I think that both strands can complement each other. I’m very lucky to be able to do everything that I’m doing at the moment and ideally it will continue!

What are your Top 3 Desert Island Discs?
Joni Mitchell ‘Blue’
Joe Boske ‘Amara’ (a beautiful traditional Irish music CD from Connemara. It’s got everything from a haunting lament to energetic slides on it)
Beatles ‘The White Album’

What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Say ‘yes’ to any opportunity that comes your way because it might not come along again!