Leela and Abi delivered a 2 hour workshop last week to second year biosciences at Exeter University’s Penryn Campus. They started by asking the students about their experiences with eco-anxiety, and then delved into the reasons that we may feel ‘eco anxious’ or worried about climate change. They spoke about their own experiences and ways to build resilience both personally and in terms of the climate crisis.
By exploring the ethics and values that a person may have in regard to the climate crisis, and learning from climate psychology, the students were able to engage in activities identifying the actions that can be taken at different levels of society, and how this relates to climate agency, as well as identifying what living a net zero lifestyle can really mean. Exploring the smaller actions that everyone can take meant that the students felt more empowered and able to have an impact.
Breaking down the climate crisis and tackling it with a more empathetic view for ourselves and others to form a community may increase feelings of hope that together we can each take our different roles in making meaningful change and finding a solution to a systematic problem.
The students were inspired and engaged, with the majority saying they had learnt something new and felt a sense of individual agency. Thank you Exeter University for having us! And thank you Abi and Leela for a great workshop!
Photos thanks to Nicky Deeble.
