Publication Date
Summer 2025
Abstract
This interdisciplinary research investigates how climate change education, Indigenous knowledge systems, journalism, and anthropology intersect in shaping environmental awareness and action, focusing primarily on Nepal and drawing parallels with Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America). Stationed in Kathmandu, I conducted interviews with climate educators, journalists, anthropologists, and activists to explore how scientific and local knowledge are communicated and acted upon. Findings highlight the strong awareness of climate change in Nepal, the systemic barriers to effective mitigation and adaptation, and the potential of community-led initiatives like the Community Forest Program. Anthropological insights proved crucial in linking human experience to environmental data, emphasizing the value of place-based, qualitative knowledge. Case studies of the Chepang tribe and Indigenous communities of Turtle Island reveal how imposed modernization has disrupted traditional ecological knowledge and sovereignty. The paper argues for integrating anthropological and Indigenous perspectives into earth sciences to foster culturally sensitive, localized climate solutions. In doing so, it calls for a reorganization of scientific disciplines to embrace the inherently interdisciplinary nature of climate change and support both Indigenous resilience and broader public engagement.
Disciplines
Life Sciences | Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Recommended Citation
Cronk, Christopher, "Strategies for Thoughtful Dissemination of Climate Change Knowledge: A Blueprint for Scientists in the Heart of the Empire" (2025). Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya. 7.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/npg/7