Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies

Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies is a research laboratory based at the University of California, Los Angeles that focuses on developing new methods for environmental communication and storytelling, often in collaboration with organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The Nature Conservancy, and the World Wildlife Fund. The laboratory's work is informed by a range of disciplines, including Environmental Studies, Ecology, Anthropology, and Science Communication, and draws on the expertise of scholars such as Stephen Jay Gould, E.O. Wilson, and Jane Lubchenco. By working with partners like the United Nations Environment Programme, the European Space Agency, and the National Geographic Society, the laboratory aims to promote a deeper understanding of environmental issues and to inspire action on behalf of the Earth Summit, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. The laboratory's research is also influenced by the work of thinkers such as Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, and James Hansen, and is often featured in publications like The New York Times, Science (journal), and Nature (journal).

● Overview

The Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies is dedicated to exploring the ways in which stories and narratives can be used to shape our understanding of environmental issues, such as Climate Change, Deforestation, and Biodiversity Loss. The laboratory's researchers work with a range of stakeholders, including Policymakers, Activists, and Community Leaders, to develop and test new approaches to environmental communication, often in collaboration with organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund, the Sierra Club, and the World Resources Institute. This work is informed by a deep understanding of the complex relationships between Human Health, Ecosystem Services, and Environmental Sustainability, and draws on the insights of scholars such as Paul Ehrlich, John Holdren, and Amory Lovins. By engaging with the work of artists, writers, and filmmakers like Ansel Adams, Walt Whitman, and Al Gore, the laboratory seeks to promote a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of the natural world, and to inspire action on behalf of the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act.

● History

The Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies was established in response to the growing recognition of the need for more effective and compelling environmental communication, as highlighted by events like the First National Climate Assessment, the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, and the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. The laboratory's founders, including UCLA faculty members and researchers from institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Stanford University, and the University of Oxford, were motivated by a desire to bring together scholars and practitioners from a range of disciplines to address the complex challenges of environmental communication, and to build on the work of pioneers like John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and Aldo Leopold. Since its inception, the laboratory has collaborated with a wide range of partners, including the National Park Service, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the European Commission, to develop and implement new approaches to environmental storytelling, and has worked with organizations like the The Audubon Society, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Ocean Conservancy to promote a deeper understanding of environmental issues.

● Research_and_Initiatives

The Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies is engaged in a range of research initiatives, including the development of new methods for environmental storytelling, the analysis of the impact of environmental narratives on public opinion and behavior, and the exploration of the role of Emotions, Values, and Worldviews in shaping environmental attitudes and actions. The laboratory's researchers are also working to develop new tools and technologies for environmental communication, such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Data Visualization, and are collaborating with organizations like the Google, the Microsoft, and the Esri to apply these technologies in real-world contexts, like the Amazon Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. By working with scholars like Daniel Kahneman, Amos Tversky, and Robert Cialdini, the laboratory seeks to promote a more nuanced understanding of the psychological and social factors that influence environmental decision-making, and to develop more effective strategies for promoting environmental behavior change, as called for by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Paris Agreement.

● Notable_Projects

The Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies has been involved in a number of notable projects, including the development of a Climate Change communication strategy for the City of Los Angeles, the creation of a Virtual Reality experience to raise awareness about Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest, and the production of a Documentary Film about the impact of Climate Change on Indigenous Communities in the Arctic. The laboratory has also collaborated with artists and writers like Terry Tempest Williams, Bill McKibben, and Naomi Klein to develop new forms of environmental storytelling, and has worked with organizations like the The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Environmental Defense Fund to promote the use of narrative strategies in environmental conservation, as seen in the Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon National Park, and the Great Lakes. By engaging with the work of filmmakers like James Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Davis Guggenheim, the laboratory seeks to promote a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of the natural world, and to inspire action on behalf of the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act.

● People

The Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies is led by a team of researchers and scholars with expertise in a range of disciplines, including Environmental Studies, Communication Studies, Psychology, and Anthropology. The laboratory's directors and staff have worked with a range of organizations, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the United States Department of State, and have collaborated with scholars like E.O. Wilson, Stephen Jay Gould, and Jane Lubchenco to develop new approaches to environmental communication. The laboratory also hosts a range of visiting scholars and researchers, including Postdoctoral Researchers, Graduate Students, and Undergraduate Students, who are working on projects related to environmental narrative strategies, and has partnered with institutions like the Harvard University, the Stanford University, and the University of California, Berkeley to advance the field of environmental communication.

● Impact_and_Reception

The Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies has had a significant impact on the field of environmental communication, and its work has been recognized by organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The laboratory's research has been featured in a range of publications, including The New York Times, Science (journal), and Nature (journal), and has been cited by scholars like Paul Ehrlich, John Holdren, and Amory Lovins. By working with partners like the Environmental Defense Fund, the Sierra Club, and the World Resources Institute, the laboratory seeks to promote a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of the natural world, and to inspire action on behalf of the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act, as called for by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Paris Agreement. The laboratory's work has also been influenced by the insights of thinkers like Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, and James Hansen, and has been recognized with awards like the National Science Foundation's National Medal of Science, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, and the Heinz Award.

Category:Environmental organizations