April 23, 2020

Virtual event to explore ways that climate change and pandemic offer parallel lessons

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s public health program is sponsoring a unique virtual meeting on Friday that will examine ways behavioral health and policy implications of the COVID-19 pandemic offer parallel responses to climate change.

The program, “Ignoring or Invigorating Science? What Can Climate Change and COVID-19 Learn from Each Other?” is at 11 a.m., Friday, April 24. Held in conjunction with the university’s Earth Week commemoration, the free event is open to the public.

Experts will examine the issues

Several experts will present a variety of viewpoints touching on several perspectives, including: public health, health education, epidemiology, clinical psychology and indigenous health policy.

Participants include:

  • Holly Cormier, director of the SIU Clinical Center.
  • Brione Lockett, who recently presented his health education doctoral defense and who serves as a student trustee on the SIU Board of Trustees.
  • Robert McDermott – professor in the Public Health and Recreation Professions program and a social marketing expert.
  • Sarah Patrick – assistant professor and doctoral program director in the public health program and former Centers for Disease Control epidemiologist.

Doctoral students in the public health program’s “Contemporary Issues in Public Health” class, and Campus Conversations from the university’s Office of Student Engagement are collaborating on the event.

Sign up now

Registration for the free ZOOM meeting is available in advance. After completing registration, participants will receive an email confirmation with information about joining the meeting, along with the meeting ID and password.

The session will also be showing on Facebook live at facebook.com/brione.lockett.7/.