Shaun O'Boyle

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Shaun O'Boyle
NationalityIrish
CitizenshipIreland
Alma materNUI Galway
Scientific career
Thesis (2008)
Academic advisorsLucy Byrnes and Maura Grealy
Websitewww.shaunoboyle.org

Shaun O'Boyle is a science communicator, podcast producer and activist, best known for his work to promote science and to improve representation of LGBTQ+ scientists. He was the chair and one of the organisers of the Irish March for Science and also founded House of STEM which aims to connect LGBTQ+ scientists in Ireland.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

O'Boyle grew up in County Donegal, Ireland, and completed a BSc in Physiology at NUI Galway. He also carried out his PhD in Developmental Biology from 2003-2008 there, where he investigated the first genes to be 'switched on' in developing zebrafish embryo.[2]

Career[edit]

O'Boyle completed a postdoctoral research position between 2009-2010 at University College Dublin, working with Kay Nolan on the evolution of genomic imprinting. He subsequently worked at Science Gallery Dublin from 2011-2016 in a variety of roles and also produced Futureproof for Newstalk radio station from 2010-2013.

O'Boyle set up the audio producing partnership Bureau with artist Maurice Kelliher in 2013. Bureau have made radio documentaries and podcasts, on a diverse range of subjects, for: BBC Radio 4, Documentaries on Newstalk, Science Gallery Dublin/International, Irish Design 2015, LGBT History Month UK, Inspirefest, Festival of Curiosity, UCD/Science Foundation Ireland, and BBC World Service. Their documentaries and podcasts feature a diverse range of voices and issues and have been widely commended.[3][4][5]

He established House of STEM in 2017 to connect and to address issues facing LGBTQ+ scientists in Ireland.[6] In 2018 he helped set up LGBT STEM Day - in which a group of national and international organisations collaborated to create an initiative to raise awareness for LGBT+ people working in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. LGBT STEM Day falls on 5 July annually.[7][8][9]

External sources[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "With Support in Trinity and Beyond, the March for Science Celebrates Evidence-Based Decision Making". www.universitytimes.ie. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  2. ^ o'Boyle, Shaun; Bree, Ronan T.; McLoughlin, Sarah; Grealy, Maura; Byrnes, Lucy (29 June 2007). "Identification of zygotic genes expressed at the midblastula transition in zebrafish". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 358 (2): 462–468. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.04.116. ISSN 0006-291X. PMID 17490614.
  3. ^ "How did we get from the Big Bang to crisis in Ukraine? - Independent.ie". Independent.ie. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Ivan Yates complains about people who complain all the time". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  5. ^ Burke, Elaine (28 June 2018). "Listen to this documentary and learn what it's like to be trans in Ireland". Silicon Republic. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  6. ^ "House of STEM". House of STEM. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  7. ^ silicon (17 April 2018). "What's it like to be an LGBTQ person in STEM?". Silicon Republic. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Announcing the first International Day of LGBT+ people in STEM". Royal Society of Chemistry. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  9. ^ Hoggard, Ellen (5 July 2019). "What is LGBTSTEM Day?". Happiful Magazine. Retrieved 11 June 2020.