Title: Teaching in an age of climate anxiety: Pedagogies of care, hope, and agency in the classroom
Time: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 6-7 PM PT (Vancouver)
Speaker: Dr. Fernanda Tomaselli
Assistant Professor of Teaching and Director Land One Program, University of British Columbia
Watch the recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZxIwj8cwHZ8
Profile:
Dr. Fernanda Tomaselli is an Assistant Professor of Teaching at the Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia (UBC), and Coordinator of the Land One program. With over five years of experience teaching higher education courses related to forestry, climate change, and sustainability, she is known for her interdisciplinary expertise in environmental communication, ecological economics, and conservation. Dr. Tomaselli’s teaching philosophy focuses on inspiring students to actively engage with sustainability challenges and empowering them to seek solutions to pressing environmental issues through interactive and experiential learning. In recognition of her commitment to innovative education, she received the 2023–2024 Killam Teaching Prize in Forestry and the 2024 D2L (Desire2Learn) Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning from the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
Abstract:
Climate change poses unprecedented challenges, not only to ecosystems and societies but also to the mental health and wellbeing of today’s youth. Global surveys reveal rising levels of climate anxiety, often linked to feelings of powerlessness. This talk explores how educators can both acknowledge the severity of climate change and create supportive learning environments that cultivate hope and agency. Drawing on research and classroom practice, I will highlight strategies—such as collaborative learning, experiential activities, and action-oriented frameworks—that can help students transform anxiety into constructive engagement and resilience.