Public Engagement

Selected public and policy engagement.

On this page: Policy & institutional · Public talks · Podcasts · Writing · K-12 education

Policy and institutional engagement

  • White House Roundtable on Countering “Delayism” and Communicating the Urgency of Climate Action - Shahzeen was an invited participant in the White House science office’s first event on countering climate change denial and delay (see: White House readout and Washington Post, February 24, 2022).

  • The Exchange and the National Academies - The Power of Stories: Writing the Future of Our Planet Nobel Prize Laureate Martin Chalfie, screenwriter Joe Robert Cole (Black Panther), and novelist Kim Stanley Robinson examine the way in which stories have the power to impact our vision of the future. Shahzeen moderated the conversation.

Public talks

  • Nudgestock 2021 - “It’s a day to think differently, where counter-intuitive ideas are discussed, debated and celebrated by the planet’s boldest thinkers. They’re ready to tell you why things like mindfulness, climate change and vaccine hesitancy are all just load of Behavioural Science. With a side order of genius creativity to boot.” Here is a nice review by Pete Judo. (June 11, 2021)

  • The Interval - Salon talk on Facts, Feelings and Stories: How to Motivate Action on Climate Change. (June 26 2018)

  • TEDxBloomington I discuss our research on the perceptions of energy and water use in relation to conservation. (June 11, 2014)

  • Rare in collaboration with National Geographic Society - BE.Hive: Climate Change Needs Behavior Change summit, you will learn about the latest academic insights from behavior science, get inspired by the world’s leading environmentalists, be ignited by artists, storytellers and explorers, and identify some of the greatest opportunities for shifting human behavior to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Podcasts / conversations

  • IDEO’s Food Design - In this podcast they dig into intentional policies that have created today’s inequitable food system. Plus, why language matters when talking about the challenges we face, and how agency is key to creating new food systems that work for BIPOC. Shahzeen is featured in this episode discussing the future of food. (podcast)

 
 

Writing and public scholarship

  • New York Times climate quiz - “We don’t live in a world where everyone has sort of a carbon budget, like a carbon credit card, where we only get to expend X tons of CO2 per year,” said Dr. Shahzeen Attari.“There is also this idea that being pro-environmental means you need to tighten up your belt,” she said. “It doesn’t always necessarily need to be less. It can be just doing the same thing, but a lot smarter.” “We don’t have to become calculators, we just need to know the most effective things we can do and go out and do them.” (Article)

  • Behavioral Scientist - Opinion

  • USA Today - Washington DC and Pittsburgh editions. Tomorrow’s Energy Ambassadors, Managers and Scholars - essay competition - Letter to the 2008 Presidential Candidates on Energy and Sustainability, National Winner: Johnson Controls (Opinion)

  • Indiana Living Green Magazine - Interview and cover

 
 

Education / K-12, community

  • Climate Warriors - Shahzeen is featured in a young reader’s book by Laura Gehl. Here is a description from her website: “Who do you think of when you imagine a climate scientist? Maybe a biologist? Or a chemist? But economists study the climate too! Meet fourteen different scientists who are working to solve the climate crisis and the surprising ways they are doing it. Along with explanations of different areas of science and the many ways scientists are working to save the climate, readers will find tips for how they too can work for change. Climate Warriors informs young readers and gives them the tools they need to make a difference.” (June 21, 2023, Book)

  • Stories and climate action - Lead a book club event with with K-12 teachers across the US, where we discussed "Memory of water" by Emmi Itäranta. We had a fascinating conversation connecting themes of the book, our water research, sustainable development goals, and climate change. Organized by A’ame Joslin at IUPUC. (February 23, 2022)

  • Solve Climate - Shahzeen joined Sarah Mincey (Director, Integrated Program in the Environment), Janet McCabe (Director of the IU Prepared for Environmental Change), Vernice Riego (High school student and climate activist) and Steven Chybowski (Fellow in City of Fishers, IN) to discuss climate policy and energy transitions for the state of Indiana. (video)

  • Science News - “This scientist wants to motivate you to fight climate change - Science fiction helps Shahzeen Attari reimagine what our future could look like” - Kathiann Kowalski interviewed Shahzeen for Science News for Students. (profile)

  • Science News - In the cohort of top scientists under the age of 40. Science News spotlights a group of early- and mid-career scientists who are breaking ground. Honored to be in this cohort. (Profile)

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Science News - In the cohort of top scientists under the age of 40. Science News spotlights a group of early- and mid-career scientists who are breaking ground. Honored to be in this cohort. Here is a wonderful profile by Bruce Bower. (Illustration by Sam Falconer, I am the scientist in green on the top left :)