Campus Life

University of Florida to host 2nd annual climate communications summit

An upcoming event on the University of Florida campus will bring together scientists and communicators to discuss the latest challenges of communicating climate science to a diverse and sometimes politically polarized audience.

The October 12th summit, “Higher Ground: Science, Storytelling and the Climb Toward Better Understanding of Climate Change,” will feature talks by Anthony Leiserowitz, Director of Yale University’s Project on Climate Change Communication; Neela Banerjee, a seasoned reporter on energy and the environment whose work for InsideClimate News on Exxon’s early climate research was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; and Jenny Staletovich, environmental reporter for The Miami Herald. The journalists will share stories about their work, and Leiserowitz will present his latest research on climate science and public perceptions, with an interactive panel discussion with the audience to follow.

Leiserowitz’s research investigates the psychological, cultural, political and geographic factors that drive public environmental perception and behavior. He recently conducted the first empirical assessment of worldwide public values, attitudes, and behaviors regarding global sustainability, including environmental protection, economic growth, and human development.

A senior correspondent for InsideClimate News, Banerjee wrote on environmental topics for The Los Angeles Times’ Washington, D.C. bureau. She has covered global energy, the Iraq War and other issues for The New York Times, and served as a Moscow correspondent for the Wall Street Journal.

A recipient of several state and national awards including the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award for Distinguished Service to the First Amendment, Staletovich was named among the 2015 “Women Greening Journalism” for her work as environmental reporter for The Miami Herald. She previously wrote for The Palm Beach Post.

Understanding the public’s concern for climate science and policy and its appetite for science news and engagement in this election season will help frame the discussion at the second annual summit, which is sponsored by the UF College of Journalism and Communications and the Florida Climate Institute, with support from the Malone Distinguished Lecture Series, IFAS, the Office of the Provost and Sustainable UF. The event is free and open to the public, and will be held from 3- 5:30 p.m. in Emerson Alumni Hall, 1938 W. University Avenue on the UF campus. It will be streamed live and archived at:

https://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/Play/30eabfa8d46f45c1a94d1fb5cdb446861d

For more information, visit www.jou.ufl.edu/science-storytelling-climate-change or contact: Carolyn Cox, Florida Climate Institute, crcox@ufl.edu or Cynthia Barnett, Environmental Journalist in Residence, UF College of Journalism and Communications, clbarnett@jou.ufl.edu.

UF News Author
September 29, 2016