Political Economy, Environmental Policy, Waste (EWASTE)

Dr Breen is an Associate Professor of Political Economy in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University (DCU), where he teaches and researches global political economy. He is Co-Director of DCU’s Anti-Corruption Research Centre (ARC) and an adviser on corruption for the European Commission’s DG Home Affairs. 

Dr Breen’s interest in the political economy of waste began with a collaborative project with Dr. Danny Marks on corruption in Thailand’s wastewater sector, leading to further work on the politics of water that has been published in the leading journal, Governance, and to invitations to present his research on corruption, gender, and natural resources at the United Nations. He has received awards for his research, including a Research Project Grant from the Irish Research Council and the Basil Chubb Prize from the Political Studies Association of Ireland. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has held visiting fellowships at the European University Institute and the University of Warwick. 

Dr Marks is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Politics and Policy in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University (DCU), where he teaches and conducts research on the political ecology of environmental challenges. Since 2019, he has focused on the political economy and injustices surrounding waste in the Global South, particularly in Southeast Asia. In recognition of his research excellence, he is the 2024 recipient of the DCU President’s Research Award for Early Career Staff. 

His scholarly impact is evidenced by his extensive research output, high citation count, and numerous publications in leading peer-reviewed journals. His work is widely cited in influential policy reports published by international organisations and think tanks, including the IPCC, OECD, World Bank, and UNEP. Dr Marks has published extensively on waste-related issues such as marine plastic pollution and wastewater, and he is committed to making a broader social impact by sharing his findings beyond academia. He has authored opinion editorials for major newspapers in Asia and the United States, and his research has been featured in international media outlets including The Guardian, Reuters, AFP, and Al Jazeera. He is regularly invited to present his work at high-level non-academic forums, including events organised by USAID, the US State Department, and Oxfam. He also has served as a member of the International Science Council’s roster of experts on plastic pollution.  

Nick is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University (DCU). He holds a PhD from University College Dublin (UCD), where he was a Research Ireland awardee based at the Geary Institute for Public Policy. 

Dr O'Neill's research interests lie at the intersection of social policy and political economy, with a particular focus on healthcare and environmental policy. His research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, such as Social Policy and Administration and Journal of Social Policy. Dr O'Neill has presented his research at internationally renowned conferences — including the European Network for Social Policy Analysis (ESPAnet), the European Health Policy Group (EHPG), and the International Long-term care Policy Network (ILPN). Before starting his PhD, Nick worked as an Assistant Researcher with TASC (Think-tank for Action on Social Change). He also holds an MA in Geopolitics and the Global Economy and a BA in History and Political Geography, both from UCD.

Dickson is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University (DCU). He holds a PhD in Geography from Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Ireland. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Rural Development from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, and a Master of Science in Sustainable Environmental Management from the University of Greenwich, UK. 

Dr Boateng has practical experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods, project piloting and community development in both rural and urban contexts.  He has held leadership roles in the development sector, serving as Assistant Project Coordinator and Executive Director for two Ghana-based NGOs — CRADA and CNR-Ghana. He has strong research interests in environmental management, political ecology and just transitions.