By John Sullivan
Each day, it seems, the United Nations, meteorologists and other scientists sound a new alarm about global climate change, while a significant subset of that group focuses on “climate justice.”
The concern is justified.
“It’s really an existential crisis," Professor David Morimoto, chair of our Natural Sciences and Mathematics Department, told NBC 10 Boston in an interview last summer regarding last December’s visit to Boston by Prince William and Kate Middleton for their second-annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony.
Morimoto indicated that anything that drives focus on the environment is critical.
“The attention now is being focused at a larger scale. which is really the scale we have to focus on so an international award I think is extremely important and timely,” he said at the time.
A screenshot of the animated flyer created by Daniel Serrano.
But the world’s climate crisis continues. Just this month, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a report that recommended slashing two-thirds of carbon emissions to mitigate the harm caused by climate change.
“Humanity is on thin ice — and that ice is melting fast,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. “Our world needs climate action on all fronts — everything, everywhere, all at once.”
The danger is clear to Morimoto and many of his colleagues and others who will preside over a “Climate Justice strand” at the 2023 Community of Scholars Day, a virtual showcase of academic inquiry at Lesley.
Now in its 15th year, Community of Scholars Day’s theme for 2023 is “Our World in 2D, 3D and Beyond.” The all-day, virtual event features a focused, 14-topic track on climate justice, as well as a noontime keynote speech — “Advancing Racial Equity in Nature” — by Mardi Fuller, a writer advocate and backcountry adventurer.
Other climate justice-track presentations include:
- 10 a.m. — “Contemplative Nature Pedagogy in the Virtual University Classroom”
- 10 a.m. — “Planting Wildflowers at Lesley”
- 11 a.m. — “An Evolving ‘AfterMath’ of Hurricane Maria: Artist Talk
- 1:30 p.m. — “Climate Change Education as a Catalyst for Community Action”
- 1:30 p.m. — “Which Flowers Support the Most Bees? Urban Pollinators in Citizen Science”
- 2 p.m. — “Lesley University Campus Plan: Improved Access & Performance from Drawings”
- 2 p.m. — “The Amazon of the Ocean @ Risk: Animating with the Local Community”
- 3 p.m. — “Urban Biodiversity Conservation Needs Natural History Participatory Science”
- 3 p.m. — “Co-Creating Climate Justice Pathways as Faculty and Students”
- 3 p.m. — “Creative Arts Therapy for Climate Emotions Resource Guide”
- 3:30 p.m. — “Eco-Art and Nature-Based Therapy Interventions”
- 4 p.m. — “Biodiversity in New England’s First Miyawaki Forest”
- 4:30 p.m. — “Forest Schools Breaking the Four Wall Boundary of a Typical Classroom”
- 5 p.m. — “Climate Change Justice and Community/Citizen Science”
In addition to climate justice-related topics, Community of Scholars boasts presentations related to mindfulness and meditation, dance/movement therapy, religion, student leadership, health issues and more.
President Janet L. Steinmayer officially kicks things off at 9 a.m. with a greeting to attendees.
Community of Scholars 2023 is virtual, free and open to all. Find registration link and other information at this link.