About

I am an independent scientist, environmentalist and writer.

My primary university degree was in Chemistry, and my PhD in computational chemistry/polymer physics. However, in 2004, I shifted to environmentalism, and began working with my father, Dr. Michael Connolly, on developing sustainable methods of fish-farming, aquaponics and waste-water treatment. We also carried out research into developing low-cost heat exchanger systems and new energy efficient building materials and techniques.

In 2009, we began systematically investigating the challenging subject of climate change in detail. After five years of this research, we realised that we had gained a lot of important insights which would be of interest to the scientific community. We set up a website, OpenPeerReviewJournal.com, where we published all our results and findings as a series of eight scientific papers.

We also realised that our findings could be of interest to the general public, and so we also set up a separate website, Globalwarmingsolved.com, in which we summarised our findings in a less technical format. My mother, Dr. Imelda Connolly, also worked with us on it.

Since then, we have met and/or discussed our findings with hundreds of scientists around the world. We have sought and received useful feedback on our research, and this has led to several useful scientific collaborations. We have written up and published the results of several of these collaborations in peer-reviewed journals (see the “Peer-reviewed publications” section for more details).

In 2018, I began working full-time on my climate change and environmental research through a new international research group, the Center for Environmental Research and Earth Sciences (CERES-Science.com).

Currently, I am writing a book on “Bridging the political divide on climate change” (see the “Ongoing projects” section for more details). I am also continuing my scientific research through a number of collaborative projects with other researchers. We are writing and publishing our findings in peer-reviewed journals as time permits.

Ongoing projects

1. Book project: “Bridging the political divide on climate change”

I am writing a book on how and why climate change has become such a partisan politicised issue, and whether anything can be done to overcome these political divides. The working title of my book is, “Bridging the Political Divide on Climate Change”.

The theme of the book is trying to understand why the debate over whether recent climate change is mostly human-caused vs. mostly natural has become a left/right political issue. Are we doomed to become increasingly partisan on this nominally scientific problem – with each side becoming more convinced that the opposing side are irrational and “anti-science”? Click here for a pdf elaborating on the significance of this partisan divide.

2. Ongoing scientific research

  • Global temperature datasets. Including temperature data homogenization; evaluating and correcting for non-climatic biases
  • Using weather balloon data to study atmospheric behaviour
  • Relationships between human-caused emissions and atmospheric concentrations of trace gases
  • Sustainable aquaculture and water purification systems
  • Why is climate change a partisan issue?
  • Evaluating greenhouse gas emission scenarios
  • Assessing environmental impacts of renewable energy systems

Other websites and social media

  • OpenPeerReviewJournal.com – This is a website where my father, Dr. Michael Connolly, and I uploaded eight scientific papers describing the results of our research into climate change from 2009 until 2014. As the papers were quite long and technical, and covered many different fields of expertise, we decided to put all of this research online for open peer review.
  • Globalwarmingsolved.com – This is a less technical blog summarising our climate change research in a more accessible format for the general public.

Academic qualifications

  • B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry with minor in Mathematics (University College Dublin, 2000)
  • Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry (University College Dublin, 2003)

Experience

  • 2018-present: Center for Environmental Research and Earth Sciences (CERES-science.com)
  • 2009-present (with my father, Dr. Michael Connolly): Independent research into climate change
  • 2004-2018 (with my father, Dr. Michael Connolly): Environmental research into developing sustainable methods of aquaculture, wastewater treatment and heat exchangers

Peer-reviewed publications

Climate science and environmental science

  1. V.M. Velasco Herrera, W. Soon, Š. Knoška, J.A. Perez-Peraza, R.G. Cionco, S.M. Kudryavtsev, S. Qiu, R. Connolly, M. Connolly, M. Švanda, J. Acosta Jara & G. Pietro Gregori (2022). The New Composite Solar Flare Index from Solar Cycle 17 to Cycle 24 (1937 – 2020). Solar Physics 297, 108 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-022-02035-z. Read-only access to full article. Pre-print version. Supplementary Materials.
  2. O. Dingley, M. Connolly, R. Connolly and W. Soon (2022). A comparison of different metrics for analyzing the troposphere/stratosphere transitions using high-resolution ozonesondes. Environmental Science Proceedings, 19, 14. Proceedings of The 5th International Electronic Conference on Atmospheric Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ecas2022-12807. (Open access).
  3. P. O’Neill, Ronan Connolly, M. Connolly, W. Soon, B. Chimani, M. Crok, R. de Vos, H. Harde, P. Kajaba, P. Nojarov, R. Przybylak, D. Rasol, Oleg Skrynyk, Olesya Skrynyk, P. Štěpánek, A. Wypych and P. Zahradníček (2022). Evaluation of the homogenization adjustments applied to European temperature records in the Global Historical Climatology Network dataset. Atmosphere 13(2), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13020285. (Open access).
  4. M. Connolly, Ronan Connolly, Willie Soon, Víctor M. Velasco Herrera, Rodolfo Gustavo Cionco and Nancy E. Quaranta (2021). Analyzing atmospheric circulation patterns using mass fluxes calculated from weather balloon measurements: North Atlantic region as a case study. Atmosphere 12(11), 1439; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12111439. (Open access).
  5. Ronan Connolly, W. Soon, M. Connolly, S. Baliunas, J. Berglund, C. J. Butler, R. G. Cionco, A. G. Elias, V. M. Fedorov, H. Harde, G. W. Henry, D. V. Hoyt, O. Humlum, D. R. Legates, S. Lüning, N. Scafetta, J.-E. Solheim, L. Szarka, H. van Loon, V. M. Velasco Herrera, R. C. Willson, H. Yan and W. Zhang (2021). How much has the Sun influenced Northern Hemisphere temperature trends? An ongoing debate. Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics 21, 131. https://doi.org/10.1088/1674-4527/21/6/131. (Open access). Supplementary Materials available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7088728.
  6. C. ÓhAiseadha, G. Quinn, Ronan Connolly, M. Connolly and W. Soon. Energy and climate policy — An evaluation of global climate change expenditure 2011–2018. Energies, 13, 4839. Link to journal page (Open access).
  7. Ronan Connolly, M. Connolly, R.M. Carter and W. Soon (2020). How much human-caused global warming should we expect with business-as-usual (BAU) climate policies? A semi-empirical assessment. Energies, 13, 1365. Link to journal page (Open access).
  8. W.W-H. Soon, Ronan Connolly, M. Connolly, P. O’Neill, J. Zheng, Q. Ge, Z. Hao and H. Yan (2019). Reply to Li & Yang’s comments on “Comparing the current and early 20th century warm periods in China. Earth-Science Reviews”, 189, 102950. Link to journal page. (paywalled). Link to pre-print.
  9. Ronan Connolly, M. Connolly, W. Soon, D.R. Legates, R.G. Cionco and V. M. Velasco Herrera (2019). Northern hemisphere snow-cover trends (1967-2018): A comparison between climate models and observations. Geosciences, 9(3), 135. Link to journal page (Open access).
  10. W.W-H. Soon, Ronan Connolly, M. Connolly, P. O’Neill, J. Zheng, Q. Ge, Z. Hao and H. Yan (2018). Comparing the current and early 20th century warm periods in China. Earth-Science Reviews, 185, 80-101. Link to journal page (paywalled). Link to pre-print.
  11. Ronan Connolly, M. Connolly and W. Soon (2017). Re-calibration of Arctic sea ice extent datasets using Arctic surface air temperature records. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 62, 1317-1340. Link to journal page (Free access awarded to this article by the journal).
  12. W. Soon, Ronan Connolly and M. Connolly (2015). Re-evaluating the role of solar variability on Northern Hemisphere temperature trends since the 19th century. Earth-Science Reviews, 150, 409-452. Link to journal page (paywalled). Link to pre-print.

Note: A Hungarian translation of Ronan Connolly et al. (2021, Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics), has also been published in the journal, Geomatikai Közlemények:

  • Connolly R, Soon W, Connolly M, Baliunas S, Berglund J, Butler CJ, Cionco R G, Elias A G, Fedorov V M, Harde H, Henry G W, Hoyt D V, Humlum, O, Legates D R, Lüning S, Scafetta N, Solheim J-E, Szarka L, van Loon H, Velasco Herrera V M, Willson R C, Yan H, Zhang W: Mennyire befolyásolja a Nap az északi félteke hőmérsékletének alakulását? A jelenleg zajló vita. A Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics (Vol. 21, No. 6, 131, 68 pp, 2021) tanulmány magyar fordítása (a RAA engedélyével), Geomatikai Közlemények, XXIV. kötet, 45-127. oldal, 2021. Link to pdf.

COVID-19 research

  1. C. ÓhAiseadha, G. A. Quinn, Ronan Connolly, A. Wilson, M. Connolly, W. Soon and P. Hynds (2023). Unintended Consequences of COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) for Population Health and Health Inequalities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(7), 5223. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075223. Link to journal page.

Polymer physics

  1. Ronan Connolly, G. Bellesia, E.G. Timoshenko, Yu.A. Kuznetsov, S. Elli and F. Ganazzoli (2005). “Intrinsic” and “topological” stiffness in branched polymers. Macromolecules, 38, 5288-5299. Link to journal page (paywalled).
  2. S. Elli, F. Ganazzoli, E.G. Timoshenko, Yu.A. Kuznetsov and Ronan Connolly (2004). Size and persistence length of molecular bottle-brushes by Monte Carlo simulations. Journal of Chemical Physics, 120, 6257. Link to journal page (paywalled).
  3. Ronan Connolly, E.G. Timoshenko and Yu.A. Kuznetsov (2004). Monte Carlo simulations of amphiphilic co-dendrimers in dilute solution. Macromolecules, 37, 7381-7392. Link to journal page (paywalled).
  4. Ronan Connolly, E.G. Timoshenko and Yu.A. Kuznetsov (2003). Monte Carlo simulations of infinitely dilute solutions of amphiphilic deblock star copolymers. Journal of Chemical Physics, 119, 8736. Link to journal page (paywalled)
  5. E.G. Timoshenko, Yu.A. Kuznetsov and Ronan Connolly (2002). Confirmations of dendrimers in dilute solution. Journal of Chemical Physics, 117, 9050. Link to journal page (paywalled).

Non peer-reviewed publications

  • Willie Soon, Ronan Connolly and others (2021). “‘Fact Checks’ by Non-Experts Are Shutting Down Genuine Scientific Inquiry”. The Epoch Times, 22 September 2021. Link to article.
  • G.A. Quinn, C. ÓhAiseadha, Ronan Connolly and P. Hynds (2021). “A tale of two scientific paradigms: Conflicting scientific opinions on what ‘following the science’ means for SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic”. OSF Preprints. August 11. doi:10.31219/osf.io/s9z2p.
  • M. Connolly, Ronan Connolly, W. Soon, P. Moore and I. Connolly (2018). Analysis of Greenpeace’s business model & philosophy: Greenpeace wants a piece of your green. Link to pdf.
  • Ronan Connolly, M. Connolly, I. Connolly and W. Soon (2017). Some key climate infographics. Prepared for the Heartland’s 12th International Conference on Climate Change, March 23-24, 2017, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Link to pdf.
  • M. Connolly and Ronan Connolly (2017). Scientific opinions on climate change. Irish Farmers Journal, 17 June 2017, p30-31 (Paywalled). Link to unedited version.
  • M. Connolly, Ronan Connolly and I. Connolly (2014). Yellow River wind farm: Assessment of Environmental Impact Statement. Link to pdf.

In 2014, my father (Dr. Michael Connolly) and I published 8 articles on a website we set up called Open Peer Review Journal. The website is a new approach to open peer review where anybody can register and provide review comments on a given article. Articles are “living” and can be updated by the authors as new comments are made.

  • Ronan Connolly and M. Connolly (2014). Urbanization bias III. Estimating the extent of bias in the Historical Climatology Network datasets. Open Peer Review Journal, 34 (Clim. Sci.), ver. 0.1 (non peer reviewed draft) http://oprj.net/articles/climate-science/34. Link to pdf.
  • Ronan Connolly and M. Connolly (2014). Urbanization bias II. An assessment of the NASA GISS urbanization adjustment method. Open Peer Review Journal, 31 (Clim. Sci.), ver. 0.1 (non peer reviewed draft) http://oprj.net/articles/climate-science/31. Link to pdf.
  • Ronan Connolly and M. Connolly (2014). Urbanization bias I. Is it a negligible problem for global temperature estimates? Open Peer Review Journal, 28 (Clim. Sci.), ver. 0.2 (non peer reviewed draft) http://oprj.net/articles/climate-science/28. Link to pdf.
  • M. Connolly and Ronan Connolly (2014). The physics of the Earth’s atmosphere III. Pervective power. Open Peer Review Journal, 25 (Clim. Sci.), ver. 0.1 (non peer reviewed draft) http://oprj.net/articles/climate-science/25. Link to pdf.
  • M. Connolly and Ronan Connolly (2014). The physics of the Earth’s atmosphere II. Multimerization of atmospheric gases above the troposphere. Open Peer Review Journal, 22 (Clim. Sci.), ver. 0.1 (non peer reviewed draft) http://oprj.net/articles/climate-science/22. Link to pdf.
  • M. Connolly and Ronan Connolly (2014). The physics of the Earth’s atmosphere I. Phase change associated with tropopause. Open Peer Review Journal, 19 (Clim. Sci.), ver. 0.1 (non peer reviewed draft) http://oprj.net/articles/climate-science/19. Link to pdf.
  • Ronan Connolly and M. Connolly (2014). Global temperature changes of the last millennium. Open Peer Review Journal, 16 (Clim. Sci.), ver. 1.0 http://oprj.net/articles/climate-science/16. Link to pdf.
  • Ronan Connolly and M. Connolly (2014). Has poor station quality biased U.S. temperature trend estimates? Open Peer Review Journal, 11 (Clim. Sci.), ver. 0.1 (non peer reviewed draft). http://oprj.net/articles/climate-science/11. Link to pdf.

Presentations and interviews

October 27th, 2022. Podcast interview with Tom Nelson (1 hour 6 min):

September 18th, 2022. “Historie vs. observationer – Havissen udbredelse” (Translation: History vs. observations – Sea ice distribution). The second part of an interview (in English!) for the Danish podcast, Klimarealisme.dk. The first minute of the introduction is in Danish with English subtitles, but the rest is in English:

August 6th, 2022. “Hvis vi lever som i dag, hvor meget global opvarmning kan vi forvente?” (Translation: If we live like today, how much global warming can we expect?). The first part of an interview (in English!) for the Danish podcast, Klimarealisme.dk. The first minute of the introduction is in Danish with English subtitles, but the rest is in English:

June 1st, 2022. “Looking at the Sun”. I was interviewed by Dr. John Robson as part of this 20 minute “explainer” video by Climate Discussion Nexus (CDN) on the role of the Sun in recent climate change:

October 27th, 2021. “Exposing efforts to suppress research on the Sun’s role in climate change (Guest: Ronan Connolly, Ph.D.)“. An interview (52 minutes, audio only) with Dr. H. Sterling Burnett of the Heartland Institute.

August 26th, 2021. Short (2.5 minute) interview on Connolly et al. (2021) Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics paper during a NTD news report. The relevant segment is between 13 minutes and 15 minutes 30:

January 5th, 2021. “The Power Hungry Podcast: Coilín ÓhAiseadha & Ronan Connolly”. An interview with Robert Bryce on our ÓhAiseadha et al. (2020) Energies paper. (Audio version here).

October 20th, 2020. “Climate and Energy Policy: Balancing Priorities” (Part 2). Cornwall Alliance

October 13th, 2020. “Climate and Energy Policy: Balancing Priorities” (Part 1). Cornwall Alliance

December 2nd, 2019. The Danielle Smith Show, Global News 770 CHQR (Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 24 minute radio interview)

October 18-19, 2019. “Fire and Ice: What do we know about snow and ice trends around the world?”. A presentation at the Natural Variability and Tolerance conference in Oslo, Norway.

An extended abstract (4 page pdf) summarising this talk can be found at the organizers’ website.

October 10, 2019. Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast #097.

July 20, 2019. “Balloons in the Air: Understanding weather and climate”. A presentation at Doctors for Disaster Preparedness Meeting, July 20-21, 2019, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.

July 21, 2019. Interviews with Michelle Stirling (Friends of Science). URL.

May 30, 2019. Interview with James Delingpole, part 1.

May 30, 2019. Interview with James Delingpole, part 2.

Guest blog posts

Contact

I receive a lot of e-mails, and I am not always able to reply to them. But, I do read them.

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