Interdisciplinary Conversations on Climate, Tech & the Humanities
Join UMass faculty, alumni, and leaders from the tech, government, and nonprofit sectors for a dynamic conversation on how critical thinking and narrative leadership skills can drive solutions to climate challenges and shape purposeful careers. Following the panel, stay for a Q&A session and add your voice to the conversation about the future of climate and technology.
Light refreshments and lunch will be provided.
Panelists:
Scott Fulton
President Emeritus, Environmental Law Institute
Scott Fulton is a UMass Isenberg alum and former President and International Envoy of the Environmental Law Institute. He has held top leadership roles at the US EPA and DOJ and is a global expert on environmental law and governance.
Roisin Kirby
Graduate Student, UMass Amherst
Roisin Kirby is part of the team developing UMass Amherst’s new Climate Literacy Program, an initiative from the School of Earth & Sustainability (SES). Drawing on the expertise of UMass faculty and staff across campus, the Climate Literacy Program embeds climate education across the curriculum.
Sasha Koo-Oshima
Deputy Director of Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Sasha Koo-Oshima is the Deputy Director of Land and Water Division at the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), leading programs on agricultural water development, information and data, governance, and nexus issues.
Nick Nyhan
Founder, The City Sponge
Nick Nyhan is a UMass Amherst alum (BA in English) and civic data strategist focused on climate adaptation. He combines storytelling and analytics to help communities prepare for environmental change and has led data initiatives across both local news and major tech platforms.
Sam Robinson
Founder, Field Form
Sam Robinson is a landscape designer focused on urban flood resilience and green infrastructure. An English major turned climate mitigation entrepreneur, he leads a NYC-based firm that integrates data and design to reimagine landscapes as tools for community-based climate adaptation.
Malcolm Sen
Associate Professor, English Department, UMass Amherst
Malcolm Sen is an environmental humanities scholar whose work explores climate justice, postcolonial politics and global literature. At UMass Amherst, he directs the Environmental Humanities Specialization and teaches courses on climate fiction, Irish literature, and cultural responses to ecological crisis.
All That Breathes Transnational Discussion
This discussion is a collaboration with the UMass Civic Initiative to foster meaningful cross-cultural dialogues. On Thursday, November 19th at 10:00 AM, join a Zoom discussion with students in Pakistan who have also seen All that Breathes. This session is a unique chance to hear other students’ perspectives on environmental responsibility, democratic engagement and the shared challenges we face in creating positive change in our communities.
All That Breathes: A Powerful Documentary Screening
Please Join Us for “All That Breathes” – A Powerful Documentary Screening (Plus Free Pizza!)
We’re excited to invite you to a special screening of All That Breathes today (Thursday, November 14th) at 7:00 PM in ILC S240. This award-winning documentary follows two brothers in Delhi as they rescue birds impacted by the city’s severe pollution—a story that speaks to pressing environmental issues and the power of individual action. The evening will start with an introduction by Dr. Bidisha Banerjee and Dr. Barry Spence. And, of course, there will be pizza for all who attend!
Narrative Leadership Panel
Six UMass alumni will participate in a panel on the dynamic interactions between the humanities and other fields.
Topics to be discussed:
why training in the humanities contributes to innovation in tech, science, business and academia;
how we develop narrative leadership skills in our Cornerstone gateway courses;
what current research and teaching in literary STEM can contribute.
Cornerstone Student Forum
Join us for a student forum where we're bringing together students from across different academic disciplines to discuss stereotypes surrounding majors and to explore new pathways through Gen Ed requirements.
Cornerstone Launch Event
Cornerstone Launch Event, “Learning for Living: From STEM to Socrates,” featuring four alumni speakers: Peter Howard, Michael Partridge, Shastri Akella, and Scott Fulton.