Mike Hynes

Dr Mike Hynes is an Environmental Sociology Lecturer in the School of Political Science and Sociology at the University of Galway (formerly NUI Galway), with long-standing teaching and research interests in society-environment interactions, sustainability issues related to transport, urban design and liveability, digital technology design, adoption, and diffusion, and transitions to a more sustainable and socially just future. The connection between urban form and transportation systems is of crucial importance to creating well-designed and liveable cities and towns, while improving the health of individuals and building community resilience are all crucial concerns for society in the face of the growing climate emergency. There is also increased need for a much more sociological critical examination of the organisational, social, political, cultural and environmental context of digital Information Communications Technologies (ICTs) in the 21st century. Mikes teaching and research interests continue to focus on the areas of environmental and sustainability concerns, in addition to ICT and the societal changes stimulated by open social media platforms and policy design in relation to work and environmental decision-making locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Mike lectures on the BA and MA programmes in Political Science and Sociology, and several other programmes across the College and University. He is the Deputy Head of School and Undergraduate Academic Director, a former Programme Director of the B.Sc. (Social Sciences) programme, the Convenor of the Governance and Sustainable Development Research Cluster, and Secretary of the Social Science Research Centre (SSRC) at the University of Galway. Mike is an Executive Member of the Sociological Association of Ireland (SAI).

Mike continues to concentrate his research interests on sustainability issues related to transport, urban liveability, and digital technology adoption and diffusion, which reflects his teaching experiences and his intellectual curiosity regarding environmental concerns and diverse forms of digital technology use in everyday settings. He has successfully applied his understanding and awareness to topics of sustainable transport, mobilities and the consumption of distance in his previous research. Ongoing research interests continue to centre on aspects of mobilities and quality of life issues, the positive and negative societal changes brought about by digital technologies, policy design in relation to work and environmental decision-making, and issues relating to the built environment.

Environmental Sociology; Mobilities and Sustainable Transportation; Climate Change; Environmental Movements; Digital Citizenship; Society-Technology-Environment-Interactions; Irish and European Politics.