Research Interests & Contributions

• Dr. Slater’s academic journey has been marked by a deep exploration into the works of Marx and Engels. His focus on their writings related to Ireland offers a dialectical perspective on the socio-political dynamics of the era.
• He pioneered the development of an undergraduate course that delves into the colonial relationship between Britain and Ireland. This course has been instrumental in providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political dynamics of the era.
• His research into Marx and Engels’ investigation of the ecological conditions of Ireland has unveiled the colonization and exploitation of the Irish soil. This exploration has been pivotal in understanding the ecological challenges faced by Third-World countries.
• One of his most notable contributions is the application and reconceptualization of Foster’s concept of the metabolic rift. Through this, Dr. Slater has articulated the profound impact of colonial extraction on the Irish soil. His insights into the ecological and social implications of colonialism have been groundbreaking.
• His master’s course on the dialectics of Nature and society is a culmination of his research in this subject matter. 

Publications

• Dr. Slater’s literary contributions are vast and varied. He is the founding editor of books such as “Memories of the Present. Ireland 1997-98” and “Encounters with Modern Ireland. A Sociological Chronicle 1995-96”.
• His scholarly pursuits have led him to contribute chapters to several books, including “The Quiet Man …and Beyond” and “Was Ireland A Colony? The Persistence of the Colonial Condition in the Irish Nineteenth Century”.
• His research papers, published in peer-reviewed journals, span a range of topics. From the postcolonial landscape aesthetic of the Quiet Man to the ecological dynamics of the Rundale Agrarian Commune, Dialectics of Irish colonialization, Irish ecological development, visual sociology, and Tourism.
• Beyond the concept of the “metabolic rift”, Dr. Slater’s writings delve deep into the cultural, legal, and social dimensions of the Irish colonial situation. His Dialectical approach offers a comprehensive view of the challenges faced by the Irish people over the years.

Website & Vision

• As the visionary founder of www.irishmetabolicrifts.com, Dr. Slater has created a dedicated platform that reconstitutes the conceptual work of Marx and Engels on Ireland. The website stands as a resource for scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts interested in the intricate relationships between nature, society, and colonialism and their dialectical interconnections in the Irish context.
• Dr. Slater’s interest in pedagogy is evident in his endeavours. He is ardently working towards developing a dialectical pedagogy that emphasizes the intricate relationships between nature and society, with special emphasis on cultivated soil. His overarching vision is to bridge the gap between the natural sciences and social sciences with regard to contemporary ecological challenges. Through his efforts, he aims to equip future generations with the tools to understand and address these pressing issues.