Personal profile
Biography
Karyn arrived at the University of Galway, her alma mater in September 2024 after working as an academic in the UK and Denmark for nearly 20 years.An economist and econometrician by training, and using her skills in Big Data and large-scale population modelling,the main focus of Karyns research has become the economic drivers of, and socioeconomic and health impacts of climate change, particularly in our oceans and coastal environments. Here Karyn has linked her work on health and marine and coastal economics to understand the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on the marine environment on society, and the changes needed to make human-marine interactions more sustainable.
Regarding climate action specifically, Karyn believes that to stimulate action on climate change, research must shift from scientific and technical perspectives to understanding the social and political elements that will motivate the society to undertake the urgent action that is required to mitigate and adapt the very real effects of Climate Change.
To this end,she is one of the co-authors of the Lancet Commissions Countdown on Climate Change and Human Health since 2016, where she has developed a set of indicators to understand the adaption preparedness, needs and barriers of cities in regard to the health-related impacts of climate change.
Karyn is particularly interested in the science-community-policy interface and has worked local, national and international bodies through her career, as well as community engagement groups. Her commitment to engagement is further highlighted with her contribution to approx. 500 policy documents, particularly in the areas of climate change across 50 countries.
Research Interests
Oceans and Human Health, Environmental and Marine Economics, Climate Change, Adaptation, Digital Twins
Teaching Interests
Marine Economics
Economics of Sustainability
Oceans and Human Health
Statistics for Social Scientists
Project and Research Design
Education/Academic qualification
B. A., M.A., PhD
Accepting PhD Students
- Accepting PhD Students
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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A framework for assessing global health impacts of polar change: An urgent call for interdisciplinary research
Naik, N., Bot, K., Whiteman, G., Fleming, L. E., Morrissey, K., Bellerby, R. G. J., Dupont, S., Yumashev, D., Hancock, S., Rogers, B. M., Ebi, K. L. & Rocklöv, J., Mar 2026, In: Ambio. 55, 3, p. 529-545 17 p.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
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Cross-country perspectives on electrified mobility adoption: Comprehensive insights into the impact of lifestyles and mobility needs
Tu, G., Zhang, R. & Morrissey, K., Oct 2025, In: Journal of Transport Geography. 128, 104362.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
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Gender Differences in Perceptions of Environmental Changes in West Kalimantan, Indonesia: Existing and Shifting Social Roles
Voronkova, A., Miller, A. E., Praptiwi, R. A., Pratiwi, P. D. L., Sugardjito, J., White, M. P. & Morrissey, K., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Society and Natural Resources.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
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Interventions designed to promote the consumption of locally produced foods: a scoping review
Haynes, E., Brown, C. R., Halliday, C., Alcantara, L., Cayetano, C., Creencia, L., Gajardo, L. J., Goodwin, A., Guell, C., Howitt, C., Iese, V., Karley, A., Madarcos, J. R., Madarcos, K., Morrissey, K., Patel, K., Sobers, N., Veisa, F., Murphy, M. M. & Unwin, N., 2025, In: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 9, 1544092.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
The 2025 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: climate change action offers a lifeline
Morrissey, K. M., Dec 2025, In: The Lancet. 406, 10521, p. 2804 285 p.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
38 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
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Galway Climate Inspirations Festival
Morrissey, K. M. (Speaker)
15 Sep 2025Activity: Talk or presentation (Unpublished) › Invited Talk
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International Conference on Sustainable Cities Interdisciplinary Approaches
Morrissey, K. M. (Speaker)
27 Jun 2025Activity: Talk or presentation (Unpublished) › Invited Talk
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Mortality rates due to climate-induced temperature change in Europe: an exploratory economic analysis
Morrissey, K. M. (Speaker)
May 2025Activity: Talk or presentation (Unpublished) › Invited Talk
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Technical University of Denmark
Morrissey, K. M. (Visiting researcher)
May 2025Activity: Visiting an external institution › Visiting an external academic institution
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Moa Victoria Carlbaum
Morrissey, K. M. (Co-Supervisor)
Jun 2024 → Dec 2025Activity: Other › Contract Researchers