UO Today

Anthony Leiserowitz (UO Environmental Studies MS 1998, PhD 2003), Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, is an expert on public opinion and public engagement with the issues of climate change and the environment. His research investigates the psychological, cultural, and political factors that influence environmental beliefs, attitudes, policy support, and behavior.

Climate change is one of the most daunting challenges of our time. Americans have diverse and sometimes opposing views about global warming, fundamentally shaping the political climate of climate change. Anthony Leiserowitz will explain recent trends in Americans’ climate change knowledge, attitudes, policy support, and behavior and discuss strategies to build public and political will for climate action.

Robin Morris Collin, the Norma Paulus Professor of Law at Willamette University’s College of Law, was the first U.S. law professor to teach sustainability courses in a U.S. law school. She discusses the importance of foregrounding environmental justice when working toward sustainability. Morris Collin was a professor at University of Oregon's Law School 1993 to 2003. She cofounded UO's Coalition Against Environmental Racism’s Environmental Justice conference and the Sustainable Business Symposium, both of which continue into their second decade.

On December 8th, 2020 Morris Collin will give a virtual lecture “The Geography of Injustice and the Ecology of Reparations” as the Oregon Humanities Center’s 2020-2021 Colin Ruagh O'Fallon Memorial Lecturer. Her talk is part of this year’s Climate Justice series. Register at ohc.uoregon.edu

Matt Sandler, director of the MA program in American Studies in the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race at Columbia University, is the author of "The Black Romantic Revolution: Abolitionist Poets at the End of Slavery" published by Verso Books in 2020. He discusses how Black poets in the 19th century articulated their ideas about slavery, emancipation, freedom, and activism. Sandler reads "Free Labor" by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

Sandler states, "We are still in a state of arrested development as a result of the conflict around slavery."

Anthony Leiserowitz, founder and Director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of the Environment.

His interdisciplinary research seeks to understand the psychological, cultural, political, and geographic factors that shape human environmental perception, decision making, and behavior.

Leiserowitz earned both his master's degree and PhD in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon.

On November 19th, 2020 Leiserowitz will give a virtual lecture “Climate Change in the American Mind” as the Oregon Humanities Center’s 2020-2021 Kritikos Lecturer in the Humanities. His talk is part of this year’s Climate Justice series.

Writer Kimberly King Parsons discusses and reads from her short story collection Black Light. She talks about how she crafts characters and her use of first-person, present tense narrative. Parsons will give a book talk on November 11, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. (PST). Register at crwr.uoregon.edu

Mark Watson, Interim Dean of University of Oregon Libraries, discusses how the libraries have responded to the COVID crisis. He also talks about the rich resources the library has curated to address diversity, equity, and inclusion; especially anti-racism. In addition, Watson explains the history of the controversial murals in the Knight Library and how the UO has responded. Watson has worked at UO Libraries since 1986. He describes how his work as a librarian has changed over the years and what the future may hold.

Audrey Lucero, associate professor of Education Studies and Director of Critical and Sociocultural Studies in Education at the University of Oregon, directs the newly launched Latinx Studies minor. Lucero talks about her work investigating the oral language development of young Spanish-English bilingual children. She also discusses the UO's new Latinx Studies minor.

Poet Juliana Gray reads her poetry and discusses her use of macabre humor in her work. She will give a virtual reading on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 as a guest of the University of Oregon's Creative Writing Program. Register at crwr.uoregon.edu

Michael Schill, President of the University of Oregon, discusses some of the challenges the university has faced this year: COVID-19, the toppling of the pioneer statues, and wildfire smoke. He also talks about the new Black Studies minor, how most classes will be online for the fall term, and how the university will provide a rich experience for first-year students. Schill also shares that he recently adopted a dog, Max.

Avinnash Tiwari, Career Instructor of English and Composition, and the acting director of the newly formed Black Studies Program at the University of Oregon, discusses the history of establishing the program and the why the academic study of Black history, Black literature, and anti-Black racism is important.