Bridging generations for climate action: a four-part workshop series uniting science, community, and global perspectives
by Anna Gibbons
May 23rd 2025
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Participants hard at work visualizing climate resilient options in their own communities.
Beginning in February 2025, the Institute on Aging hosted a four-part intergenerational workshop series on climate science and resilience. The workshops were led by Dr. Frank Granshaw, a geology professor that has taught climate science through University Studies at PSU and lifelong climate advocate, and organized by Dr. Jacklyn Kohon, Senior Research Associate at the PSU Institute on Aging. The goal of the workshop series included sharing learnings about basic climate science, impacts, policy, and solutions while also building community across the lifespan.
The first two sessions explored online tools (e.g. interactive atlases, data viewers, climate models, and infographics) to help participants understand the science and use these tools to do their own climate research. The last two sessions involved exploring options for addressing the climate crisis locally, nationally, and internationally.
In total, 38 people participated in the workshop series, including special guests from Japan! A group of students visiting from Kansai University, who were learning about UN Sustainable Development Goals, joined the first two weeks virtually from Japan, then joined the final workshop in the series in our classroom at PSU. The final workshop focused on connecting with global action on climate change with two guest speakers, as well as an activity, called Pathways 2050, to re-imagine our communities to build climate resilience.
Want to know more about climate adaptation and older adults? Check out this project page for the latest research, and reach out to Dr. Jacklyn Kohon (jacklynk@pdx.edu) to be notified of future climate change and older adults-related events.
Please enjoy a photo gallery below!
Participants engaging in a climate action venn diagram created by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.
Learn more about Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's work in their Ted Talk: How to Find Joy in Climate Action.
Helena Birecki (Climate Reality Portland), Jamie Johnson (Green Energy Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School), and Pat DeLaquil (Metropolitan Climate Action Team) engaged in a panel discussion for Week 3 of the workshop focused on taking local action on climate change.
Engaging locally with international climate action. Remote presentation by ICLEI USA and Climate Generation staff and volunteers.
Pathways 2050, an exercise in visualizing climate resilient communities.
Participants hard at work visualizing climate resilient options in their own communities.
A snapshot from the final workshop, including international students from Kansai University in Japan!