New web series features conversations between Kate Bosworth, Nikki Reed, Eric Christian Olsen and more with leading scientists on climate change and public health
Boston, MA – The Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE) and the Environmental Media Association (EMA) have launched Reel Science, a new web series featuring actors and scientists talking about public health and climate change. The series, first launched by EMA Board Member, actor/activist Eric Christian Olsen, provides an opportunity for actors to use their platforms to help scientists directly reach new and diverse audiences on climate change in ways that are more personal, actionable, and urgent.
The latest video, under embargo until Thursday 23rd at 12:00 PM EDT, features Kate Bosworth, Erica Chidi, and Dr. Karestan Koenen discussing mental health and trauma from compounding crises like COVID-19, climate change, and racial injustice.
“As a collective society and in unprecedented times, we are given the opportunity to listen, to learn, and to evolve in a revolutionary global moment. Let’s choose love and learning over fear, now and always,” says Kate Bosworth. “It is an honor to have participated in a conversation about topics as important as mental health, shame, and racial injustice with two brilliant women who I deeply admire, Erica Chidi and Dr. Karestan Koenen.”
Eric Christian Olsen launched the series by interviewing Dr. Aaron Bernstein, Interim Director of Harvard Chan C-CHANGE about the connections between climate change and COVID-19, Dr. Chris Golden about planetary health, biodiversity and food systems, and Dr. Francesca Dominici about why air pollution has led to COVID-19 disproportionately impacting people of color and low-income communities.
“When you look at the climate data, sometimes it’s overwhelming” says Eric Christian Olsen. “When you look at the science it’s hard to process. So we are entering these conversations not only looking at the science, but we are looking at the scientists, and looking for the human entry point.”
Videos with actors/activists, Nikki Reed and Sarah Wright Olsen will be released in the coming weeks. Additional topics include the connections between climate change and environmental justice, mental health, infectious diseases, food security, pregnancy, and include practical advice for taking climate action.
“Actors and celebrities have the power to make the health impacts of climate change like more severe asthma, diabetes, heart and lung disease kitchen-table knowledge,” says Dr. Aaron Bernstein, Interim Director of Harvard Chan C-CHANGE. “Working together they can help ensure that the science showing how climate matters to our health reaches all those who need to know it.”
Reel Science is part of a larger initiative by EMA and Harvard Chan C-CHANGE to integrate more content on the health impacts of climate change and the benefits of solutions into movies, TV series, and other platforms with the goal of climate solutions becoming part of everyday conversations.
About Harvard Chan C-CHANGE
The Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE) increases public awareness of the health impacts of climate change and uses science to make it personal, actionable, and urgent. Led by Dr. Aaron Bernstein, the Center leverages Harvard’s cutting-edge research to inform policies, technologies, and products that reduce air pollution and other causes of climate change. By making climate change personal, highlighting solutions, and emphasizing the important role we all play in driving change, Harvard Chan C-CHANGE puts health outcomes at the center of climate actions. To learn more visit https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/c-change/
About EMA
The Environmental Media Association (EMA), a nonprofit 501(c)3, has grown into a diverse subsection of entertainment industry tastemakers, entrepreneurs in finance and technology, and green icons dedicated to the mission of promoting environmental progress. EMA is a movement powered by celebrity role-modeling, campaign work, social media messaging, year-round programs as well as annual events. For additional information please visit green4ema.org.
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