Jennifer Atkinson gives the Earth Day Keynote lecture

IAS faculty member Jennifer Atkinson gave the Earth Day Keynote lecture for 2022 at Pacific Lutheran University. Her talk, titled "Beyond Climate Doom," focused on the psychological toll of climate disruption.

As our climate crisis deepens, feelings of anxiety, grief, and hopelessness are on the rise. Staying engaged in climate solutions over the long term requires us to avoid emotional burnout, yet when bombarded with so much bad news, this is easier said than done. Atkinson's talk explored the mental health dimensions of climate disruption among students, scientists, and activists while sharing practical strategies for building emotional resilience to channel despair into meaningful action.