Senior Project Advisor

Lindsey MacDonald

Document Type

Project

Publication Date

Spring 2024

Keywords

climate change communication, storytelling, climate anxiety, climate hope, environmental education, curriculum design

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly clear across many fields of research that to effectively address the climate crisis, new and innovative methods are needed that engage nontechnical dimensions of climate change, including the social and emotional effects of a rapidly changing world. A gap exists within environmental curricula at Western Washington University that does not accommodate these dimensions, nor the negative impacts of disastrous climate change narratives on students’ sense of professional efficacy. Storytelling has significant potential toward this end for community building, expression of climate emotions, and in political advocacy. I explored the uses of oral storytelling as an alternative means of climate change communication by designing and teaching an interdisciplinary class on climate storytelling for WWU students. The course concluded with a story showcase in which five students told stories for an audience of fifty students and community members. Future avenues for the course include institutionalization and departmental approval by the Environmental Studies department, course adoption by the Sustainability Engagement Institute, or a community course taught through the Office of Outreach and Continuing Education.

Department

Environmental Studies

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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