Working Life: ‘Before the Flood’ helped me make climate action my life’s work

Samuel Awe, Capital & Estates Regional Sustainability Officer for HSE. Photograph Moya Nolan

Samuel Awe, HSE Capital & Estates regional sustainability office, HSE Dublin and Midlands

“Science has been my favourite subject since I was a kid. I’d watch Brainiac: Science Abuse and Backyard Science, hoping that I would one day contribute to the field.

“Little did I know that with the help of my course coordinator and thesis supervisor, I’d make a scientific discovery in 2018. My master’s thesis got published in the European Geosciences Union’s ‘Climate of the Past’ journal in 2022. The findings in my scientific paper improve the accuracy of temperature measurements in the tropics.

“Having shared some lectures with environmental students back in 2015 while doing my undergraduate in natural science, I was encouraged to join the Environmental Society.

“Watching Leonardo DiCaprio’s Before the Flood documentary in 2016 spurred me to decide to make climate action my life’s work. There was a moment when he spoke to former US President Barack Obama, and they highlighted climate change as the most urgent issue of our time. The following year, I graduated from Trinity College Dublin and applied to pursue a Master's in climate change at Maynooth University.

Samuel Awe, Capital & Estates Regional Sustainability Officer for HSE. Photograph Moya Nolan

“In my role as a regional sustainability officer with HSE Capital & Estates, I provide sustainable engineering advice and project management, and I recommend funding for hospitals to help reduce their carbon emissions. The priority areas we focus on are energy efficiency, water conservation, green environments and waste reduction. My job takes me across Dublin and the Midlands.

Today I am visiting Tallaght University Hospital’s Green Team. Green teams focus on promoting sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of healthcare services.

“We work with all kinds of hospitals, from large acute to community nursing units. I was delighted to see the HSE recently achieve certification to the ISO 50001 global energy management standard for its efforts in continuously improving energy efficiency and performance.

“I grew up in Tallaght, but Clontarf is home now. In my downtime, I enjoy long-distance running, especially half-marathons. After work, I enjoy cooking with my fiancée. Cleaning up is where I shine.

• HSE Capital and Estates Sustainable Infrastructure Office focuses on reducing energy and carbon emissions of buildings, along with providing support and guidance on improving green spaces and water conservation. 
• Find out more at Sustainable Buildings and the Green Environment - HSE.ie