This Climate Week NYC, The New York Climate Exchange — in partnership with Stony Brook University and the Science Communication Lab/Wonder Collaborative — will be sharing the new film OBSERVER.
Stony Brook students, faculty and staff have a unique opportunity to participate. After the film, attendees are invited to connect with each other and the world around them through activities that apply the learnings of the film.
“The New York Climate Exchange is dedicated to bringing together academic knowledge, practical solutions, and community engagement around climate issues,” said Kevin Reed, Stony Brook’s associate provost for climate and sustainability programming and chief climate scientist at The Exchange. “This screening and workshop event perfectly embodies that mission by combining award-winning documentary filmmaking with hands-on observation techniques that empower participants to better understand and document climate impacts in their communities.”
In OBSERVER, filmmaker Ian Cheney embarks on an experiment in which he brings a series of keen-eyed observers — scientists, artists, a hunter — to a range of locations around the world, often without telling them where they are going, and asks them simply to describe what they see.
What unfolds is a deep exploration and celebration of the power of observation: what happens when you find new ways to sense and perceive the world around you? With customary whimsy and a small painted red square that Cheney brings on every journey, the film is an invitation to viewers to find beauty and meaning in even the most quotidian of locales.
“OBSERVER can foster deeper engagement with science and promote dialogue and community through in-person gatherings,” Cheney said. “We are especially interested in how conversations around climate can be fostered through this film.”
The screening is from 1 pm to 3:30 pm on Friday, September 26, alongside a day of Climate Week events and tours on Governors Island, hosted by The Exchange and the Trust for Governors Island.
This event is made possible by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Schmidt Sciences and University of California, Santa Cruz Science Communication Catalyst Grant.
Stony Brook students, faculty and staff are invited to register for approximately 30 exclusive seats. Public transportation from Stony Brook University to Governors Island in New York Harbor is covered by the grant for those registered at the link above.
Alternatively, community members are invited to register through The New York Climate Exchange.
J.D. Allen, who is jointly appointed in the School of Communication and Journalism and the University’s Office of Marketing and Communications, was awarded the grant with Sarah Goodwin, executive director of the Science Communication Lab, a California-based non-profit organization dedicated to using multimedia storytelling to engage the public in science topics. Allen and Goodwin previously won the prestigious National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
In addition to teaching in the MS in Science Communication program, Allen assists the university in its goal as a leader in climate science through fostering storytelling and community engagement. “This screening perfectly aligns with our goal of training the next generation of scientists, science communicators and journalists who can effectively translate complex environmental issues for public understanding and action,” Allen said.
This event will also provide experiential learning opportunities for School of Communication and Journalism students, who will participate and conduct research alongside the Science Communication Lab, looking into the effectiveness of observational science practices, as well as create original multimedia narratives based on their field experience in the fall and spring semester.
“Our students will not only engage with cutting-edge approaches to environmental observation but will also have the opportunity to conduct their own research and create multimedia narratives from the experience,” added Laura Lindenfeld, dean of the School of Communication and Journalism and executive director of the Alda Center for Communicating Science. “This project exemplifies our commitment to hands-on, real-world training that prepares students to communicate effectively about urgent climate challenges.”
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