Britt Wray , a Stanford Medicine researcher who studies how climate change affects mental health, will visit Penn State University Park Oct.12-13 for a series of events culminating in a Sustainability Showcase keynote talk at 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 13, in 121 Sparks Building or online.
Wray researches how climate anxiety and grief can be understood and managed in order to avoid adverse effects on mental health. During her two-day visit to Penn State, Wray will engage with students, faculty and staff, and community members to talk about building emotional resilience in an era of climate change and disruptions.
"As we increasingly understand how climate change affects mental health, especially among young adults, Britt Wray's work to communicate those findings to a broad audience becomes ever more important," said Julius Camper, student and public programming coordinator with Penn State Sustainability.
Wray is the director of Community-minded Interventions for Resilience, Climate Leadership, and Emotional well-being (CIRCLE), a research and action initiative in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of Stanford Medicine. She is also the award-winning author of "Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Anxiety" and "Rise of the Necrofauna: The Science, Ethics, and Risks of De-Extinction," as well as the newsletter "Unthinkable."
Her visit is hosted by Sustain Penn State in partnership with the Penn State Climate Consortium, the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, the Department of Psychology, Nature and Art Rx, and the Climate Action Campaign.
"One of our goals as Sustain Penn State is to create more spaces for students and the community to acknowledge and share their emotions and values as much as they prioritize the intellectual side of their education," Camper said. "So we're thrilled to provide multiple chances to interact with Wray alongside such a wonderful group of partners."
Wray's time at Penn State will include four distinct public events over two days:
Climate Conversation Café with Britt Wray
Noon to 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 12, Room 117 Earth and Engineering Sciences Building and online - Registration required
The talk, which is part of the Penn State Climate Consortium's Climate Conversation Café series, is free and open to the Penn State and broader community. Registration for the Climate Conversation Café is required and in-person attendance is encouraged. Hosted by Sustain Penn State and Penn State Climate Consortium.
Zine (Magazine) Making: Arts and Crafts with Britt Wray
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 12, Lower-Level 011 HUB-Robeson Center (Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity's space)
Attendees will talk with Wray about accessing mental health resources and connecting with nature while making a magazine page focusing on these themes. With permission, these pages will be compiled into a magazine and shared. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Hosted by Sustain Penn State, the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, and Nature and Art Rx.
