People in Nature Experience

As the social science researcher on a Smithsonian Museum of Natural History team tasked with developing a new exhibit to connect young people with nature and to encourage them to become active conservators of the environment, Renee dove into the literature on climate change communication, on helping people understand biodiversity loss, and on using exhibits to activate empathy and environmental stewardship. Her succinct written reports and presentations contributed to team discussions about tone, approach, and content for the planned exhibit. Renee also facilitated connections and information sharing between the Smithsonian team and experts in climate change psychology and in designing experiences that activate empathy. While the exhibit has been put on hold, Renee continues to engage with team members in informal discussions about how museums can best tackle issues like climate change and biodiversity loss in their exhibits and programming.