Molly O’Grady works for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in County Mayo, Ireland in project development for the Mayo Dark Sky Park (Wild Nephin National Park). She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Ecology-Research and Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Molly’s career spans a range of topics in relation to conservation, with a particular passion in preservation of native and endangered species, preserving cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge, and youth conservation leadership and development. For over ten years, Molly was a key structure in the development of the Wisconsin Conservation Leadership Program (CLC), a program for young adults designed to teach skills in conservation leadership, policy and mentorship. In an attempt to expand this program, O’Grady became a co-founder of a biennial youth conservation conference on a national level known as the Confluence of Young Conservation Leaders (CYCL). Aside from her work with youth, she has spent the past 10 years working with a variety of endangered species, with most of her research focused on native forest birds, solitary coastal bees and habitat restoration across the Hawaiian Islands. Molly is particularly passionate in the science of indigenous knowledge, and has spent nearly 18 years working alongside indigenous people, has served various roles in The Wildlife Society’s Native Peoples’ Wildlife Management Working Group, and is currently assisting with the continued development of their Native Student Professional Development Program. With dual-citizenship for both the United States and Ireland, Molly has moved to Ireland to learn more of her own culture and the indigenous knowledge that remains there. Her current work focuses on project development of the Mayo Dark Sky Park, discussing the effects of light pollution on biodiversity and humans, developing light pollution policy in Ireland, and preserving the dark skies for generations to come.
