The Climate Conversations

Dr. Alexander Lautensach

The Climate Conversations

Show Notes

What does it take to teach climate change without leaving students - and their teachers - overwhelmed? In this episode of The Climate Conversation, climate education researcher Dr. Alexander Lautensach explores how teachers can connect climate change with ethics, ecology, and everyday life. Our conversation challenged some of my pre-conceived notions of progress, optimism, and pessimism, and I hope it also has an impact on you. –JMS The Climate Conversations were filmed and produced with the support of the Council of Deans, Faculty of Environment, and the Department of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia.

More from The Climate Conversations

Oct 16, 2026

Engineered solutions to climate change cover a wide range of scales. This week’s Climate Conversation with Dr. Garcia-Becerra, an engineer at UNBC, digs into local-scale ecological solutions, the challenges of integrating sustainability into engineering, and the rewards of interdisciplinary research in a fast-changing world. The Climate Conversations were filmed and produced with the support of the Council of Deans, Faculty of Environment, and the Department of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia. UNBC profile: https://www.unbc.ca/people/garcia-becerra-dr-june

Oct 9, 2026

Climate change is more than just a science problem. This week’s Climate Conversation with Dr. Zoe Meletis digs into issues of power, identity, and whose voices get heard. We also discuss how students are processing climate anxiety, why community action matters, and how Indigenous, feminist, and environmental justice perspectives can widen the climate conversation. The Climate Conversations were filmed and produced with the support of the Council of Deans, Faculty of Environment, and the Department of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia. UNBC profile: https://www.unbc.ca/people/meletis-dr-zoe

Oct 2, 2026

What does climate change look like on the ground—and whose knowledge are we missing? This week’s Climate Conversation with Dr. Tristan Pearce will bring you to the rapidly changing Arctic and local communities in northern BC. Along the way we discuss climate adaptation, Indigenous knowledge, and why practical solutions should start with the people closest to the change. The Climate Conversations were filmed and produced with the support of the Council of Deans, Faculty of Environment, and the Department of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia.

Sep 17, 2026

With Green Week just around the corner at UNBC, this week’s Climate Conversation episode with Sustainability Coordinator Ann Duong highlights what is happening - and what could be happening - at Canada’s Green University. From bridging the divide to empowering students, this episode is packed with tools and tips for navigating climate change and the role of sustainability in these turbulent times. The Climate Conversations were filmed and produced with the support of the Council of Deans, Faculty of Environment, and the Department of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia.

Sep 11, 2026

While climate science offers numbers and projections, climate fiction makes our possible future come alive. This week’s guest on The Climate Conversations is Dr. Rob Budde, an English professor who introduces students to climate fiction in his UNBC classes, and an author who is currently writing a trilogy about what the future could look like in northern BC. The Climate Conversations were filmed and produced with the support of the Council of Deans, Faculty of Environment, and the Department of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia.

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