Communicating Climate ScienceCognition + Affect = Effect

Marda KirnEcoArts Connections

Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network October 12, 2010

Research

“Environmental Education and Attitudes: Emotions and Beliefs are What is Needed”

By Julie Ann Pooley and Moira O’ConnorEnvironment and Behavior, September 2000

Online version available at:http://eab.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/32/5/711

The Big Question

Why is it that so many people know

about multiple environmental crises

but so few people

are doing anything about them -

let alone responding to the science?

More Research

“Creating a Climate for Change:Communicating Climate Change and Facilitating Social Change”Edited by Susanne C. Moser (UCAR) and Lisa Dilling (CIRES)

Cambridge University Press, 2007

The Affective Domainhttp://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/affective/index.html

Entertainment – Education (E-E)http://www.jhuccp.org/legacy/topics/ee.html

Fixing the Communications Failure*Cultural Values Influence What and Whom We Believe

• Community• Equality• Egalitarian and communitarian values• Suspicious of commerce

and industry• Believe environmental

risks should be restricted• Trust bearded male in a denim shirt

• Individualism• Authority• Hierarchical values• Prize personal initiative• Admire commerce and

industry• Dismiss evidence of

environmental risks• Trust grey-haired male in

a suit

*Dan Kahan, Nature, Vol 463, 21 January, 2010

Two Information Processing Systems of the Brain*

Analytic• Logical• Deliberative• Analytic• Perceives reality in abstract

symbols, words, numbers• Rules and algorithms need to be

learned; does not happen automatically

Examples• Numerical statistics in tables,

figures, graphs, charts

Experiential• Holistic• Intuitive• Emotion-driven (fear, dread,

anxiety)• Perceives reality in concrete

images and narratives, linked in associations

• Operates automatically and without any training

Examples• Images or stories• Emotionally charged and vivid

* “The Psychology of Climate Change Communication,” Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, Earth Institute, Columbia University

Benefits of Collaborating with the Arts

• Increase audiences – more people

• Attract new audiences – different people

• Increase media attention – new, more

• Make climate science and sustainability solutions accessible, personal, tangible, visceral, actionable

How to “Do” Arts/Science Collaborative Projects?

• Find the arts people and have coffee(bring questions to explore)

• Find out where your goals, needs, challenges and resources might over overlap or help each other

• Suggest a collaborationas individual scientists, artists, and/or educatorsas academic departments/institutions

• Invent programming principles

• Think ecosystemically

EcoArts Connections’

Programming Principles

• Artistic excellence• Scientific accuracy• Environmental effectiveness• Ethical practice• The middle way (non-partisan or bi-partisan)• Open, listening, generous, and compassionate heart

Marda KirnEcoArts Connections

PO Box 356Boulder, CO 80306

303.449.2128info.ecoarts@gmail.com

www.ecoartsonline.org