• History of science.
• Women in science.
• Paleoenvironments.
• Natural history.
• Heritage research.
• Museums.
• Links between Ireland and Wales.
• On-line art curation using Art UK.
• Links to climate change and sustainability.
• Education and interpretation.

Highlights

Catherine has a particular interest in early women scientists in Wales and the socio-environmental history of women in Wales.  She is writing the biography of Dr. Kathleen Carpenter, a pioneering freshwater ecologist at Aberystwyth University. 

Catherine’s active areas of research include metal mining in Wales and the history of freshwater ecology. She has also been exploring the weather records made by Eleanor Butler, one of The Ladies of Llangollen.  

Catherine is a contributor to Nation Cymru – a news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales: A letter from Bodgynydd;  A letter from Skokholm; A letter from Tipperary; A letter from Benllech; A letter from Slate Valley, New York; A letter from South Stack.

Duigan, C. (2025). The Freshwater Biological Association of the British Empire – a colonial story of ambition and changing names.  FBA Science Article.  

Duigan, C. (2024). Voice from the Women’s Peace Appeal: Kathleen Carpenter (1891-1970). 

Duigan, C. (2023). Infinite beauty, infinite destruction, Infinite consequences: rivers and mining around Aberystwyth.  Nation Cymru.

Duigan, C. & S. Whyman (2022). Eleanor Vachell, Botanist and Civic Leader in Wales. Natur Cymru, 66: 36-39. 

Catherine has a particular interest in early women in science in Wales and she is writing the biography of Dr. Kathleen Carpenter, a pioneering freshwater ecologist at Aberystwyth University.

Dictionary of Welsh Biography Contributions: Carpenter, Kathleen Edithe (1891-1970), ecologist; Howe, Elizabeth Anne (1959-2019), ecologist. 

Duigan, C. (2022).  Scientist renamed by war – for International Women’s Day.  #BreakTheBias. Women Archive Wales. 

Duigan, C. (2019). Carpenter’s Food Relationships 1925 – The First British Freshwater Food Web. Archives of Natural History, 46(1): 160-163.

Duigan, C.  (2018) Who was….Kathleen Carpenter? The Biologist, 65(3): 22-25.

Catherine is using her BlueSky account @cduigan.bsky.social to highlight links between Ireland and Wales using “A shared heritage -…”

Duigan, C. (2025). Brendan’s voyage to Wales – personal reflections on connections between Anglesey and Ireland. Nation Cymru.

Recent stories for Ports, Past and Present: Standing on the Platform – Holyhead and The Anglo-Irish Treaty (2021); Drama on the Irish Sea (2022); Caergybi’s Unique Hospitality for Countess Markievicz (2022). 

On-line art curation: For Environment Platform Wales – Resilience in the Welsh Uplands – an artistic perspective (2020); Pandemic Creativity – The Sea, The Irish Sea ; Clean Air Day 2020.

Weather Extremes Guest Blog: Duigan, C. & S. Davies (2015). Waltzing on Water.

Special Issues: The past, present and future of Llangorse Lake (1999), Part 1 & Part 2, Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.

Freshwater Ecology & Nature Conservation | Data Analysis | Environmental Evidence Environmental Policy | Heritage | Funding Applications | Engagement & Communication