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CROSSTALK series to host talk on climate change communication

September 6, 2023

This year’s Cognitive Science for the Common Good event will be jointly organized with the CROSSTALK talk series and will take place on October 25th, 2023 at 3pm in Conference Center 110. Dr. Edward Maibach, MPH, PhD will speak about The power of health professionals to build public and political will for equitable climate solutions.

Undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, and members of the broader Merced community are warmly invited to attend the talk, engage in the Q&A, and enjoy food & refreshments after the talk!

Climate change and its underlying primary cause—burning fossil fuels—are arguably the world’s leading causes of preventable death and ill health. Accelerating the decarbonization of the nation’s and world’s energy supplies, and limiting global warming to the extent possible, are profound public health imperatives. Fortunately, audience research finds that physicians, nurses, and other health professionals are among the trusted types of professionals by the public and policymakers, and message research finds that communicating about the human health relevance of climate change can play a pivotal role in building public and political will for climate solutions. In this talk, Dr. Maibach will review this research and discuss efforts in the health community to rise to both the challenge and the opportunity.

Dr. Edward Maibach, MPH, PhD is a Distinguished University Professor and Director of the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University. His research illuminates public understanding of climate change and strategies for enhancing it. Ed is a Fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science, a Member of the National Academy of Medicine, and he serves on the Board of Directors of the Global Climate and Health Alliance. He has previously served as the Worldwide Director of Social Marketing at Porter Novelli and Associate Director of the National Cancer Institute.

 

CROSSTALK is an interdisciplinary talk series that brings together students, staff, faculty, and Merced community members broadly interested in language and communication. It aims to broaden and deepen our understanding of language and how humans use it in everyday life. Visit the website and sign up for the mailing list to hear more about CROSSTALK events.