Anonymous student feedback on course takeaways (April 2023):

That I can write and that I shouldn’t shy away from it, thinking I am too bad. That I can use my writing in many different ways. That I have climate knowledge, and that I can speak to it.

This discussion seminar offered a warm introduction to climate storytelling. Thinking critically about existing climate content, ASTU 400H prepared students to write climate narratives that are inclusive and emotionally resonant with the general public.

The course was built for learners who are familiar with climate change but hope to become critical climate communicators. Drawing from historical discourse, market research, and craft theory, it blends insights from various disciplines to inform purposeful climate stories. 

UBC alumna Chloë Fraser designed the course in 2022 with guidance from Dr. Kirsten Hodge as part of the Student Directed Seminars Program. This website now serves to commemorate ASTU 400H and inspire future climate storytelling projects in and out of UBC.

You can read more about the Student Directed Seminars program here. To view the course description, click here.

Student takeaways from the course (anonymous feedback form, April 2023):

This class was a great place to connect peer-to-peer. Overall, Chloe helped created a very safe and intellectually stimulating environment.

In trying to mobilize people for climate action, it’s way more important to appeal to emotion (using ethos) and balance that with logical knowledge and science (using logos) than I previously thought. Science is convincing to me, but I’m a total nerd.

This course allowed me to discover the hidden psychological power of writing. As a marketer, I was not fully aware of how powerful certain words can evoke certain emotions in the readers, and so I am really grateful for this discovery.

Excerpts from program evaluation (educator visit summary sheet, March 2023):

Participants appear comfortable, present and motivated. They had a good rapport and no one was disengaged during the time I was present. Comments and contributions were both relevant and meaningful.

 The topics discussed demonstrated the depth and breadth of the course topics. The participants made connections between ideas and concepts. They showed an ability to analyze cases and examples… Overall, the academic rigor was exceptional.

Chloë acknowledges students as they entered and took timely turns with students during the class.  She sets a positive tone and creates a welcoming environment. She regularly asks probing questions. She utilizes different approaches to facilitate the discussion and stays focused on the topic… In summary, the facilitator was capable of sharing authority with others, encouraging participation and creating a welcoming environment.

Keep reading about the course here.