Pictured Left to Right: Provost and President Dr Linda Doyle, Professor Karen Wiltshire, Dean of Faculty of STEM Professor Sylvia Draper
On Wednesday 21 May 2025, the Dean of the Faculty of STEM at Trinity College Dublin hosted a packed audience for Professor Karen Wiltshire’s inaugural lecture in her role as the CRH Chair of Climate Science. Presented by the Faculty of STEM, the event welcomed researchers, students, academics, policymakers and members of the public for an evening that was equal parts informative, engaging and moving.
Her lecture - “A walk on the bright side: A Climate Scientist’s reflections on a life and career with islands, expeditions and the wonder of it all” - traced the story of global climate change from 1862 to the present, brought to life through vivid data, personal stories and even a few Monty Python clips.
A life shaped by curiosity, science and the sea
Professor Karen Wiltshire is one of Europe’s most influential climate scientists. Born in Dublin in 1962, she completed an MSc in Environmental Science at Trinity before going on to earn a doctorate and habilitation in hydrobiology at the University of Hamburg. Her research career spans four decades and focuses on coastal systems, ocean data, marine policy and climate change. She has served as Vice-Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany and Director of its North Sea research stations on Helgoland and Sylt.
Karen’s work combines deep scientific expertise with a passion for collaboration, public engagement and international education. She is a founding member of Scientists for Future in Germany and has served on multiple global panels advising governments and institutions on ocean and climate policy.
Her return to Trinity in 2024 marked both a personal milestone and an institutional one. She is the first to hold the CRH Chair of Climate Science - a new post funded by CRH to support research, teaching and outreach in this critical area.
Introduced with warmth and vision
Introducing the lecture, Professor Sylvia Draper - Dean of the Faculty of STEM - welcomed guests and spoke about the importance of the new Chair.
"In Karen, we have a scientist who brings not only academic distinction, but also empathy, energy and an ability to connect ideas and people," she said. "Her work spans disciplines, continents and communities - and it has real impact."
Professor Draper also thanked CRH for their support in establishing the Chair, describing it as a significant partnership that reflects a shared commitment to climate action and responsible innovation. She praised Professor Wiltshire's outstanding research record, her leadership in international networks, and her focus on the human dimensions of the climate crisis.
From family stories to planetary systems
Opening her lecture, Professor Wiltshire shared early memories of growing up in a mixed Irish-German household. Her father - a part-time magician - would often mystify her with tricks. Curious from the start, she would secretly dismantle his props to learn how they worked. Her mother, meanwhile, passed on a love of plant life and taught Karen the names of flowers from a young age.
"Curiosity is where science begins," she said. "Whether you're unpacking a magic trick or watching a flower open, it all starts with wanting to understand the world around you."
From there, the lecture traced the evolution of Earth’s climate systems, focusing in particular on the period from 1962 - the year of her birth - to today. She mapped global land and ocean temperature anomalies, population growth, and tipping points across ecosystems. While the data painted a sobering picture, the tone was far from bleak.
Karen used storytelling, humour and well-chosen cultural references to frame the issues in ways that were accessible and urgent without being overwhelming. At one point, she told the audience:
"We are living through a planetary shift. But we’re not powerless in the face of it. What we need is courage - and each other."
Introducing the Climate Gateway
The evening also marked the introduction of The Climate Gateway - a new initiative planned this year and based at Trinity that will bring together climate researchers, innovators, educators and communities to collaborate on solutions.
“We need a place where people who care about climate - scientists, artists, technologists, policymakers, and citizens - can connect and work across boundaries,” Karen said. “The Climate Gateway will be that space. It’s about knowledge, yes - but also about imagination and bravery.”
The Gateway will offer a platform for research and dialogue, with a strong focus on education, public engagement and action. It will be rooted in the Faculty of STEM but will work across disciplines and with external partners in Ireland and beyond.
A hopeful and human vision
The lecture ended with questions and a standing ovation. Afterwards, many in the audience spoke about how rare it was to hear climate science presented in such a generous and inclusive way.
As one attendee put it: “It was one of the first times I’ve felt that science, emotion and hope were all speaking the same language.”
Professor Draper closed the evening with a tribute to Professor Wiltshire’s clarity and commitment. “Karen has reminded us that climate science isn’t just about data - it’s about people, stories and choices. And it’s about shaping a future we can all belong to.”
We invite you to watch the full lecture below.