Teagasc Walsh Scholar Conor Hammersley has won the Teagasc-Fulbright Award, enabling him to conduct further research into contemporary issues impacting on farmers’ wellbeing and health.
Hammersley will spend time at the Columbia-Bassett Medical School in New York to research evolving socio-cultural and economic challenges US farmers face in relation to their health, compared to those encountered by farmers in Ireland.
He will undertake qualitative research through interviews, observations and focus groups with farmers to understand the nature of the factors impacting farmer wellbeing in the US. This will support the development of strategic health interventions developed in the US to further inform the development of supports in Ireland.
Hammersley, a native of Clonoulty, Co. Tipperary, is currently based at the National Centre for Men’s Health at the South East Technological University (SETU), Carlow campus, where he is pursuing his PhD as a Teagasc Walsh Scholarship recipient. His research project ‘On Feirm Ground’ explores modern-day barriers encountered by farmers in relation to their health, and seeks to support the development of a national farmers’ health training programme targeted at agricultural advisors to effectively engage farmers on health issues. His research also looks to inform intervention strategies to support farmer wellbeing. Hammersley’s PhD is co-supervised by Dr David Meredith, Teagasc and Dr Noel Richardson, SETU.
Hammersley was named as one of 40 recipients of the prestigious Fulbright Award for 2022-2023 at a recent ceremony held at Iveagh House in Dublin.
The next round of applications for Fulbright Irish Awards will open on 31 August, 2022. Interested candidates can find more information: Here.