Amy graduated with a science degree from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, specialising in Zoology and is currently undertaking a MSc degree in Global Change: Ecosystem Science and Policy. This multidisciplinary degree is shared between University College Dublin, Ireland, and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany. It focuses on environmental and climate research as well as how to effectively communicate the research through the science-policy interface to contribute to evidence-based environmental policy. She is working on her final research thesis at ETC-UMA which involves assessing the effectiveness of protected areas in the Mediterranean region at preventing land development. She will look at different types of protected areas as well as how institutional and geographical factors, among other, could affect their effectiveness from country to country. The outcome of the study aims to contribute to future protected area planning and management in this important biodiversity hotspot.