Guest Blog: Reflecting on the Climate Leaders event in Stirling
As part of the redevelopment of our flagship Leadership Development Programme, we hosted several trials of different workshops and ways of learning. On Saturday 16th March we met at the Stirling University Students' Union for a day exploring the content and creation of climate communication. As well as meeting some great people, and eating fabulous food, we also learnt a lot!
We asked our guest workshop hosts to share their thoughts. Below are the questions and answers from Graham Richardson (freelance science engagement professional), Gabi Gillott (Museums Galleries Scotland) and Lucy Neville (Museums Galleries Scotland) on 3 key themes of the day.
What are your thoughts on the importance of embedding climate in all sectors?
Gabi Gillott (Museums Galleries Scotland):
“Climate is something that’s relevant to all of us as people living on this planet! In the areas where I work, anti-oppression and skills work in museums, there are lots of opportunities to embed climate. From thinking intersectionality about climate justice in anti-oppression work, to considering how youth employability projects might help young people to bring their passion for climate action into museum spaces, the opportunities are as wide as your imagination!”
Graham Richardson:
“In the same way as forest schools and outdoor learning environments try to embed education in natural environments, those of us who work in and around science engagement can try harder to embed climate and sustainability principles into our work with every activity. And for those of us who work more closely with climate, it’s our job to help people from all backgrounds see how it is relevant to them.”
Lucy Neville (Museums Galleries Scotland):
“I love climate as a topic because there is no other topic it doesn’t link with! Everything we know relates to the human experience, and in some way or another, how it connects with our planet. This is especially true in culture and heritage and I love that as a space for climate action because it can be such a creative one!”
What do you think about the role of stories in climate communication?
Graham Richardson:
“I feel like a broken record when I saw that people don’t respond as well to statistics and facts as they do to stories. It’s a no-brainer that climate, which is full of words like parts-per-million and NZEBs (I had to look that one up), requires personal and constructive storytelling to make people listen.”
Lucy Neville (Museums Galleries Scotland):
“Stories are what museums do best. Without stories we are just buildings full of stuff, but with them we can help people explore whole new worlds. Helping people connect with complex topics such as the climate crisis relies on stories to provoke emotion, spark hope and build creativity and action. When we can connect the climate and nature to folklore and stories people are already familiar with then the connection to the Earth is strengthened through both the head and the heart.”
Gabi Gillott (Museums Galleries Scotland):
“See Graham and Lucy’s answers!”
How did you end up working in the climate sphere?
Gabi Gillott (Museums Galleries Scotland):
“I’ve had a few jobs - from co-ordinating volunteers and front of house in a Climate-focused gallery in the middle of a botanic garden, to co-ordinating a learning programme at a sculpture park. I’ve worked with everyone from 3-year-olds on forest school sessions to older people visiting as part of a community group, along with maintaining an on-and-off again freelance art practice. Similarly to Lucy - I’ve brought my passion for climate justice, and intersectional anti-oppression work more broadly to each role I’ve had. I’ve still been me, regardless of the job title!”
Graham Richardson:
“I don’t specifically work in climate, I do science communication on a range of topics, but as I try to practice what I preach, it hasn’t been hard for me to incorporate climate or sustainability principals into my work. For example, I currently working on a global health project about antimicrobial resistance, producing a podcast. Connecting health to climate is an easy thing to do in terms of topic, but it’s also been great trying to implement a few greener policies into a job which has taken a lot of coworkers on international travel. Basically, you can end up working ‘with’ climate even if you don’t work ‘in’ climate.”
Lucy Neville (Museums Galleries Scotland):
“I have always been interested in nature but didn’t know how to make it part of my job. Working in the museum sector I thought it was just about people and their histories but the longer I worked, the more I realised how linked the two things are! I was fortunate enough to attend a course on Conservation Education, Communication and Evaluation in 2019 which gave me the confidence to thread climate through all my existing work and projects. I then set up a staff interest group in Climate for others looking to do the same at work. This soon became my signature – Lucy, the woman who links everything to nature, - and so when a climate specific role in museums came up last year I just knew it was the job for me.”
All:
“Events like those run by 2050 Climate Group are a great way to showcase the ways in which people can work in or with climate regardless of their career path. Thank you for inviting us!”
For information about the work of Museums Galleries Scotland check out their website.
For information about Graham’s work check out his website.
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