Climate, Social Media, and Youth

Lucas Stoltman (Psychology, Class of 2023); Rileigh Thompson (Conservation and Restoration Science, Class of 2024); Alyssa Lara (Psychology and Neuroscience, Class of 2025); Kate Johnson (Society, Ethics & Human Behavior, Class of 2024); Brendan Amort (Management Information Systems, Class of 2023)

Our group collaborated with Dr. McKenna Parnes from UW Medicine Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences to study how engagement with climate-related content on social media affects young people’s mental health, knowledge, and behaviors. Using qualitative data collected from a series of interviews, we identified patterns relating to emotional links, behavioral changes, and differences in social media platform usage.

The Place Journal

Julia Bellia (M.Ed. Science Instruction class of 2023)

As a teacher, I needed a tool for myself and my students to contextualize climate change in loved, local environments, emotions, and lived experiences to foster agency - a sense of choice and capacity to influence the future - in the face of climate change. This journal is intentionally designed to invite place attachment, student expertise, and emotion into the science classroom to shape effective climate education.  See the cover letter, rationale, and research/resources for this project here.

A Comparison of Coral Reef Restoration/Mitigation Efforts and the Associated  Ecological Grief at Two Major Reef Systems

Dietrich Truman, Environmental Studies, class of 2023

This paper details interactions between a variety of stakeholders who work or live near the Mesoamerican and Great Barrier reefs. Coral bleaching is occurring rapidly and the effects manifest as grief, loss of livelihood and loss of identity. My aim was to identify commonalities among the affected communities of Utila and Australia that resulted in successful protection and mitigation techniques; such efforts include mental health support and creating community.

Burning Book

3 (Eco-)Anxious Literature Students: Aeriel Rae Asirot (Culture, Literature & the Arts '23), Joe Lollo (Culture, Literature & the Arts + Media & Communication Studies, '22), and Abby Roth (Culture, Literature & the Arts '22)

Based on Mean Girls' "Burn Book," the Burning Book is an 11-page zine addressing the disparity between people's feelings in extreme heat events and the lack of acknowledgement in mainstream climate discourse and communication, especially surrounding the Seattle "heat dome" in Summer 2021. The creators are hoping to bridge the gap between the natural world and human feelings and nature in contemporary environmental scholarship using our art, because they believe that art reveals how we understand and respond to environmental issues in places where science falls short.

Broken Promises

Written, Directed and Performed by Bee Guzman-Elliott

MFA in Climate & Society at Columbia University (2022)

Village of Spiders

Bee Guzman-Elliott

B.A. Environmental Studies, class of 2020

Interview with Joshua Fox, director of “How to Let Go of the World”.

Diana Dannoun (Society, Ethics, & Human Behavior, and Law, Economics, & Public Policy, class of 2021)

These interviews and essay focus on the importance of optimism in facing the climate crisis. Featuring interviews with prominent frontline members, this project probes the tensions between radical hope and despair. Strengthening adaptive capacity requires a combination of hope and action.

Climate Change Mental Health Impacts on Children & Young Adults

Daisy Sotelo Fernandez (Environmental Studies, class of 2024)

This infographic aims to summarize mental health impacts of climate change among children and young adults. The data visualizations draw on findings from a 2021 study on the topic, and highlight aspects like defining climate change and different forms it takes, climate impacts and affects on different groups, and resilience strategies/solutions. Click here for interactive versions of these graphs.

Witnessing Climate Trauma: An Investigation of Emotional Distress Caused by Indirect Exposure to Climate-Related Catastrophes

Emily Gollihugh (Psychology, class of 2023)

This project explores habitat loss across the world as a result of climate change and the grief/fear that many feel surrounding this topic. I argue that personally witnessing the impacts of climate change, such as habitat loss and wildfires, causes emotional distress in the witnesses that culminate as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.

Psychological Effects on Pakistanis due to Climate Crisis

Vaneeza F. Malik (Law, Economics & Public Policy, Class of 2022)

This research project shines a light on struggles endured by the people of Pakistan. Deadly heat exposures and flooding have resulted in loss of life, mental health issues, and little or no access to food , healthcare, and education. These factors test the limits of human survivability for Pakistanis, leading us to question government roles and the implementation of resources that would improve conditions in this country.

"Reflections: Climate, Youth, Grief, Evolution" (Podcast)

Kyleen Romero (Psychology, Class of 2023)

For this project I created a podcast as a way to reflect on and discuss the dimensions in which we as the youth stand within our personal identities during this climate climate crisis, as well as provide insights to the subject of grief, healing, and evolution within ourselves. 

Mental Health Impacts on Communities Affected by Wildfire

Katie Medalia (Media and Communications Studies, Class of 2022)

For this project, I chose to examine how different communities across the world cope with the ecological loss and trauma caused by wildfires, as well as the emotional and psychological effects that can accompany these events. I argue that psychological diagnoses increase with exposure to wildfire, and that strong community support systems are vital in maintaining healthy coping skills in the wake of climate disasters.

Eco Grief Lesson Plan for High School Students

Elise M. Evans (Environmental Studies, class of 2022)

This lesson plan introduces the concepts of eco-grief and anxiety to high school level students. A particular emphasis is placed on helping both students and instructors understand the importance of emotional inquiry in science, and how to most healthily facilitate it.

Climate Anxiety in the Real World (Podcast)

Austin Guisti (Law, Economics and Public Policy, class of 2021)

This podcast explores the grief that climate change and natural disasters create in affected communities. I also provide solutions for helping deal with climate grief and eco-anxiety.