Have you ever struggled to decipher a scientific paper?

Meet Erin James (go.uidaho.edu/4vr4F13), a professor of English in U of I’s College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4ccBDL0). She's also the director of the university’s sustainability certificate and co-director of the Confluence Lab (go.uidaho.edu/4mvIvX5). In this episode, she explores how storytelling shapes the way we understand the environment and why interdisciplinary collaboration — across science, humanities and beyond — is key to tackling complex sustainability challenges.

Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at [email protected]. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

Music

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).

“Seaside At Dusk” by Michael Dowdle (go.uidaho.edu/4muynhx) via Amphibious Zoo.

Chapters

(0:00) Have you ever struggled to decipher a scientific paper?

(02:40) Getting to know Erin James

(03:24) The science of stories

(08:46) The Confluence Lab and interdisciplinary research

(14:30) Narrative science

(20:04) Sustainability certificate

(27:24) Final thoughts