Aoife Foley facts for kids

Aoife M. Foley is an amazing Irish and British engineer. She is known for her important work in making our world more sustainable. From 2014 to 2023, she helped lead a big science journal called Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Under her guidance, this journal grew a lot and became very important for sharing new ideas about clean energy.

Her Journey in Education

Aoife M. Foley studied hard to become an expert in engineering.

Early Studies

She earned her first degree in civil engineering in 1996 from University College Cork in Ireland. Civil engineering is about designing and building things like roads, bridges, and buildings.

Advanced Degrees

Later, she continued her studies at Trinity College Dublin, where she got a master's degree in environmental and transportation engineering in 1999. This field focuses on how we can build things and travel in ways that are good for the environment. In 2011, she completed her PhD in energy engineering, also from University College Cork. A PhD means she became a top expert in energy.

Her Career and Research

Professor Foley has had a very interesting career, helping to solve big problems related to energy and the environment.

Teaching and Leadership

In 2011, she started teaching at Queen's University Belfast. She taught students about mechanical and aerospace engineering. Over the years, she was promoted several times because of her excellent work. By 2022, she became a full Professor. In February 2023, she moved to The University of Manchester. There, she became a Professor focusing on "Net Zero Infrastructure." This means she helps design ways to build cities and systems that produce no extra greenhouse gases, which is great for fighting climate change.

Important Research

Professor Foley's research helps us understand how to use energy better and protect our planet.

What She Studies

She studies many important topics, including:

• Energy systems: How we produce, deliver, and use energy.
• Electric transport: Making cars, buses, and trains run on electricity instead of fossil fuels.
• Renewable energy: Using clean energy sources like wind and solar power.
• Decarbonisation: Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide we put into the air.
• Infrastructure: The basic systems and structures that a country needs, like roads, power lines, and communication networks.

She is also an expert in how her work helps achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. These are goals set by the United Nations to make the world a better place for everyone.

Her Highly Cited Work

One of her most famous research papers is about predicting wind power. This paper came from her PhD studies. It is one of the most important engineering papers in the world! Over 1,000 other scientists and engineers have used her paper in their own work. It has even been mentioned in patents, which are special legal documents for new inventions.

Previous Roles

Before joining Queen's University, Professor Foley taught at University College Cork. She also worked as a Senior Research Climate Change Fellow. This role involved studying climate change with a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Work Before Academia

Before she became a university professor, she worked for almost 15 years in different companies. She worked on projects related to energy, medicine, phones, and waste management. Some of these companies included ESB International, PM Group, Siemens, and SWS Energy.

Journal Editor Roles

Professor Foley was the Editor in Chief of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. She also helps guide other important science journals. She is on the editorial board for Elsevier's Renewable Energy journal and is an editor for Nature's Scientific Reports. This means she helps decide which new research papers get published, making sure they are good quality.