PhD 2018
From a career making BBC documentaries to being a dive master on the Great Barrier Reef, alumna Dr Chloe Lucas is passionate about effective communication concerning climate change.
As a communication specialist whose research explores the social dimensions of climate change, Chloe sees the need to reduce polarisation and increase empathy with regards to varying viewpoints across society, paving the way to better conversations.
Chloe is among the inaugural recipients of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt awards for Excellence in Science Communication, for her work leading Curious Climate Schools – an innovative program of scientific engagement for primary and high school students in Tasmania. The award, announced in November 2022, is given by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in partnership with Schmidt Futures.
“For me, this award is an amazing chance to put children’s education about climate change into the spotlight,” Chloe said.
“Young people deserve to be heard, and have their questions answered. The award will help Curious Climate Schools work with more children and teachers to fill the climate education gap in our schools.”
Chloe is a Research Fellow working in the University’s School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, and the Centre for Marine Socioecology. We asked her about her career to date, and the motivations behind her research.
What have been some of your career highlights so far?
While I was in the UK, I worked on quite a range of science documentaries for the BBC, Channel Four and National Geographic – on topics as diverse as space tourism, artificial hearts and re-designing the bra.
My favourite was a series called Talking Landscapes, which I developed from the early stages of research all the way to broadcast. We explored different areas of the UK to find out the stories that shaped each place, from a Roman landscape hidden in the Weald in Kent to a Bronze Age man-made ecological disaster that began the flooding of the Norfolk Fens.
Your research focuses on the social dimensions of climate change. Can you tell us more about what this means and why science communication is important?
I think my interest in science communication is really just an expression of curiosity about the world, and concern about the way it's changing. I don't really use the term 'science communicator' about myself because the things I think we should be talking about extend way beyond science. I am particularly concerned about climate change, and a lot of my work is about how we talk about climate change and work out how to live with it. So that involves talking about politics and responsibility, values and priorities. Science is just a part of this.
It's also important to value the knowledge and experiences of people who are not scientists. For me this also means listening to children. Children have a lot of questions about climate change, and also a lot of important opinions. Their whole lives are going to be affected by climate change, and so they should have more of a voice in future planning and policy.
What brought you to Tasmania? And what do you think makes Tassie special?
In 2006 my partner and I were living in Townsville and we'd heard that Tassie was amazing, so we packed up our van with all our worldly possessions and headed south. It was freezing when we arrived and we nearly turned around and headed back to the tropics! We did acclimatise and I've grown to love Tasmania, I see myself staying here for the rest of my life.
We are so lucky to live in a place where a walk in a forest, or a swim in the ocean can be part of everyday life. I live on kunanyi and feel very connected to this landscape.
Image: Dr Chloe Lucas