Encountering Eco-Anxiety

Saturday 3rd December 2022, 10:00 – 16:00, University of Uppsala Campus Gotland, organised by RELEARN Suderbyn with the support of the University of Uppsala Campus Gotland.

Eco-Anxiety:  The chronic fear of environmental cataclysm (American Psychology Association). 

Experts have warned that the climate crisis is having detrimental impacts on the mental health of people; in particular children and young adults. Many people are thus feeling a sense of hopelessness as the threat of extinction and social-ecological collapse impends. Rather than feel motivated by what is still to come, they are overcome by fear and doom. The absence of spaces where eco-anxiety can be expressed, made visible, and be transformed is thus becoming ever more necessary. 

During this event, we will create a space to explore the emotional and psychological implications of the climate crisis, whilst seeing the possibility of creating worlds otherwise. The morning will be dedicated to 5 key speakers who have been researching and working in associated fields for many years; from collapse to climate psychology. Whilst the afternoon will consist of workshops focusing on how to learn to live with eco-anxiety through applied theatre techniques and methods from Deep Adaptation. 

Join us either online or offline for some or all of the event! 

Programme: 
10:00 – 12:30 Session 1 Speakers (available online and onsite)
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch (by donation)
13:30 – 16:00 Session 2 Workshops (only onsite)

Speakers:

1. Panu Pihkala, eco-anxiety scholar: Encountering eco-emotions and climate anxiety (University of Helsinki, Finland)
2. Frida Hylander, eco-psychologist: Dealing with eco-anxiety (Klimatpsykologerna Sverige)
3. Marlis Wullenkord, eco-anxiety scholar: Climate anxiety: What is it, what predicts it, and how does it relate to climate action? (Lund University, Sweden)​
4. Robert Hall, ecovillage co-founder and green politician: Embracing collapse and higher well-being in community (Suderbyn Ecovillage)
5. Vanessa Weihgold, eco-anxiety scholar: A narrative interaction with individualism (Eberhard Karls Universität, Germany)

Workshops (will be held simultaneously):

1. Applied theatre techniques for eco-anxiety, facilitated by Oleksandra Khalaim (researcher at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Sustainability Learning and Research Centre, University of Uppsala and facilitator) and Ottilia Söderström (MSc in Sustainability Management and facilitator)
2. Deep Adaptation and relating for eco-anxiety, facilitated by Matteo Zampatti (ecovillage representative and facilitator) and Viviane Straub (ecovillage representative and facilitator)

Location: 
Session 1: 
Room B24 University of Uppsala, Campus Gotland 
Lunch (by donation) and session 2:
Rindi, Tage Cervins Gata 1

Zoom link for online participation will be sent to the registered participants prior to the event. Deadline for registration 30th November 2022.