CEP Divisional Webinar 3
The Role of the Researcher in Intersectional Climate Justice Relationships: Intergenerational Stories, Methodologies and Practices of Hope
About this Webinar
Date: 28 May 2024
Time: 16h00
Platform: Teams
Intersectional climate justice approaches are critical to understanding the complex global ecological crises under capitalism in its current iteration. In these bleak times of genocide, extreme economic inequality and intergenerational injustice, how we reflect on our practices for eco-social transformation within the academy matters. This panel brings together four researchers from different backgrounds and stages in their research journeys to reflect on our roles in intersectional climate justice activism (and) research and to share our stories, methodologies and practices of hope.
Dr. Carlie Trott (moderator) and panelists Dena Arya, Stephanie Lam, and Rupinder Grewal will engage each other and attendees in dialogue around themes of youth climate justice activism/research, positionality, conceptual and methodological journeys and hopes for engaging in transformation with research participants we work with. We know that, as researchers in this space, our values and practices do not always match with the realities of what it means to do participatory and collaborative research. We aim to illuminate some of the tensions we encounter in our work in hopes that this creates a safe space for attendees to reflect on their own practice and leave the session a little more hopeful and in solidarity with one another.
See the link below to join!
Carlie D. Trott, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati where she heads the Collaborative Sustainability Lab and advises students in the Community and Organizational Research for Action (CORA) PhD program. Dr. Trott’s climate justice research agenda aims to bring visibility to, and work against the inequitable impacts of climate change, socially and geographically. As a social psychologist by training and community psychologist in practice, Trott’s work aims to center the voices and actions of those most affected by environmental injustice and the climate crisis and often involves community-engaged, participatory, and action-oriented research methods. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Her research has been published in the journals Sustainability Science, Action Research, Local Environment, Environmental Education Research, Studies in Higher Education, Journal of Social and Political Psychology, and others.
Dena Arya is a member of the Iranian diaspora who has worked in the UK as a youth and community practitioner for over fifteen years. Dena’s research interests in youth politics stem from the early days of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. Since this time in her practice with young people, she has witnessed the developing socio-economic pressures and climate injustice they face and how they navigate this in their politics. Her research interests include intersectionality, the political economy of youth, eco-socialism, and climate activism. Her current research focuses on Youth Participatory Action Research with young people from Global Majority communities to develop climate justice education tools. Dena is currently a Research Associate at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and is also a youth personal development coach and works with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health UK to support youth to have a voice in health policy-making.
Stephanie Lam, M.A. (She / They) is an Asian American doctoral Candidate of Community Psychology. She is training with the Community and Organizational Research for Action Program, in the department of psychology at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Stephanie’s current research focuses on the intersection of racial and climate justice. Specifically, she is focused on recording the experiences and perspectives of BIPOC youths who engage in climate justice actions. Her work process takes in the form of collaboration with ingredients are co-collaboration, fluid negotiation, and creative processes. Stephanie strives to create spaces of care, creativity, and collaboration in whatever project she is engaging with. She is currently a board member serving as secretary of the Community Engagement Collective (CEC), and community-based nonprofit organization serving Cincinnati Communities. She is currently assisting in building a coalition for a BIPOC mental health directory in Cincinnati to help bridge the gap for Cincinnati BIPOC to find mental health provider.
Rupinder Grewal is a Punjabi-Canadian and recent Master of Education graduate from Lakehead University. Her thesis focused on centring the voices of Black, Indigenous, and racialized youth activists in the Climate Justice Movement. Drawing from her experiences, she conducted qualitative research with 15 youth from marginalized communities engaged in climate activism. Her work illuminated their stories, highlighting not only the racism and oppression they faced but also showcasing their resilience and leadership in navigating these challenges and creating opportunities for fellow youth activists. Rupinder is a high school teacher with a passion for social justice, intersectionality, and youth activism. She has taught in schools in Canada and Thailand and has contributed significantly to equity-focused initiatives as a curriculum specialist with Ontario’s educational television network, TVO. Firmly believing in the transformative power of storytelling, Rupinder continues to explore the complexities of life while advocating for meaningful change in education and beyond.