Flush your disgust. We can’t let emotions dampen our water policies
All of us should begin to recognize how the presence, intensity and even absence of disgust can critically influence our water decisions.
Reimagining Water Education
The demand for qualified water practitioners will only be met when universities move beyond a single-discipline approach.
“I want you to panic”
Last year, Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg started skipping school to hold a daily protest about climate change. "Adults keep saying ‘we owe it to the young people to give them hope,’” she declared. “But I don’t want your hope. I want you to panic." (Post 3/3)
Our Elaborate Defences against Bad News
When we hear “the bell tolling”, we know that one day it will toll for us. The range of emotions we exhibit in the face of death also echo in our reactions to impending climate change. (Post 2/3)
Does Scaring People into Action about Climate Change really work?
Netflix’s recent film IO envisions a dystopian future where environmental catastrophe makes earth nearly uninhabitable for human beings. But does scaring people into action on climate change really work? (Post 1/3)
Finding that ‘powerful something’
We cannot lessen peoples’ fear by highlighting doomsday scenarios, nor by minimizing or rationalizing environmental or water problems. Instead, we need something greater than grim statistics and fear. (Post 2/2)
Reawakening Awe
Ancient societies tended to view water with sacred respect. The Industrial Revolution flattened this view, seeing water as merely a component of manufacturing. The result was ecological chaos. (Post 1/2)
Experiment: can a slackline make writing easier?
Slacklining means turning off my brain, breathing with intent, engaging my reluctant core, glutes, hamstring muscles and focusing only on a distant point.
Cemeteries, lawnmowers, and mortality awareness
Living beside a cemetery is never boring and, contrary to the jokes, it isn't quiet. There are laughing kids walking to school, old married couples bickering, yappy dogs harassing squirrels and teenagers – on dark summer nights – daring each other to do silly things. But what do we hear most often? Humanity's attempt to [...]
A Tale of Two Speeches
My husband and I both have research talks to deliver tomorrow morning. He got up this morning, finished his slides, kissed the kids good-bye and was picked up early by airport transfer so he'd arrive in time to have a good dinner and decent sleep before the event. Before my talk (7am tomorrow morning!) I [...]