The University in times of climate and ecological crisis: a talk and open discussion on academia and climate activism

In this two-hour seminar, we will discuss the role of scientists in mobilizing society and decision-makers to spur the urgent change needed to tackle the crisis. The seminar is organized in two parts: in the first part, Dr. Charlie Gardner (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, Kent University) will offer his perspective and discuss his recent paper on the topic (“From Publications to Public Actions: The Role of Universities in Facilitating Academic Advocacy and Activism in the Climate and Ecological Emergency”, Front. Sustain., 2021).

The second part will consist of a panel discussion with scientists from Swedish and Danish Universities who are engaged in climate activism. We will talk about concrete direct actions led by scientists, and how these have been perceived by the public, by the media and by politicians. We will also discuss our experience as scientists in the climate movement, and the unique potential that scientists have for collective action. 

The panellists will include:

• Charlie Gardner (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, Kent University)
• Fernando Racimo (GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen)
• Laura Horn (Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University)
• Anders Giertz (Senior Lecturer on Social work (retired), Lund University)
• Aitzkoa Lopez de Lapuente Portilla (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University)

Organized by: Lund University, the University of Copenhagen, Roskilde University and Scientist Rebellion (https://scientistrebellion.com/) 

Location: Segerfalksalen, Solvegatan 17, Lund, and on Zoom. 

For more information: E-mail SRNordic [at] protonmail [dot] com.