Communicating Climate Change Like Your Life Depends on It

(VIRTUAL) April - May 2021

Instructors: Dale Willman, Resilience Media Project, Earth Institute

Spring 2021 Pre-College Program Info Session – Communicating Climate Change

Description: It’s hard enough getting people to listen when we talk about something simple, like how to keep our friends safe while using social media. So how do we get their attention when the fate of the world is at stake?

Climate change threatens our very existence on the planet, but there are things we can do today that can make a real difference. Participants will learn about some of the tools available for effective communication, and how those tools can be used to bring about real change. Participants will also develop an understanding of the differences between straight communication, persuasion, and journalism. Learners will walk away feeling empowered to enact change because they will have the ideas, strategies, and practices to help change how people around the world think and talk about climate change.

Learning Objectives/Themes:

  • Be able to use new skills to identify, analyze, and critique the quality and depth of scientific information
  • Gain greater insight into audiences, and strategies and techniques of how to better reach them
  • Establish strong media literacy skills by learning about various technologies used to produce scientific information and apply those tools to produce a communication product

Who is the workshop for: The workshop is intended for high school learners interested in climate communications. By the end of the workshop, participants will have created their own communications project based on the workshop activities and be able to use that as a tool to become a change agent in their communities around climate.

Learning Modalities: This workshop will be offered in a virtual format via Zoom. It will feature a mixture of lecture, discussion, and audio/visual materials. Guest speakers will share their practical knowledge and experience as well.

Please note that all workshops are taught in English. Proficiency in written and spoken English is required.

Schedule: (VIRTUAL) April - May 2021, Saturdays, 10am - 1pm unless otherwise indicated.

  1. Session 1: Saturday, April 10

  2. Session 2: Saturday, April 17

  3. Session 3: Saturday, April 24

  4. Session 4: Saturday, May 1 

  5. Session 5: Saturday, May 8