Academic biography

Dr Ashling Bourke is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Human Development at the Institute of Education. Her research and teaching interests include the processes that impact on child and adolescent wellbeing, children's rights, and understanding climate change using a psychological lens.

She is the Principal Investigator on NextGen: The Next Generation Calls to Action: Exploring Adolescents' Climate Change Attitudes, Knowledge, and Actions. 

Ashling is a Senior Fellow, Advance HE. In 2023 she was awarded a Presidents' Medal for Research Impact. She was awarded a Dean's Research Fellow at the Anti-Bullying Centre in 2024-2025, and she currently sits on the ABC Management Committee and the Centre's Advisory Board. 

Her current research projects inlcude:

• Adolescents' climate change knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours
• Climate change and mental health and wellbeing
• School's roles in child protection
• Relationships and Sexuality Education
• Psychological correlates of bullying behaviour
• Arts based methodologies and the study of climate change

Ashling completed her BA (hons) in Psychology at the National University of Ireland, Galway, a Masters in Forensic Psychology at University College Cork, and a PhD at Trinity College Dublin. She has held a number of academic and research roles in Trinity College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and Dublin City University, as well as advocacy roles with children and vulnerable populations in Irish and UK NGOs.