Participants filled up a conference room as climate experts gathered to talk about misinformation in environmental science. They were all arriving for the Solvathon, an event that makes space to discuss and create solutions to a growing problem in our world, this year was how to navigate environmental facts in a post-truth society.
BSE Professor Renee Sieber who spearheaded the idea said, 鈥渋t was important for us to have a conversation about what truth means in this post truth society in which people think that it鈥檚 all vibes, and vibes can easily be manipulated.鈥�
The Solvathon, in the collaborative spirit of a marathon or hackathon, is a town-and-gown event designed to bridge the gap between academia and the public in hopes to come up with solution-based ideas to a certain environmental issue.
The BSE is committed, whether through research, engagement, or creative problem-solving, to underscore ongoing commitments that demonstrate the value that these 9I制作厂免费 lead conversations can bring to Quebec.
Maya Ortega, a Solvathon registrant and student of 9I制作厂免费 said, 鈥渋t was interesting to ask questions and look into how and why we know what we know. I think with climate discussions, there鈥檚 not a lot of focus on the actual channels of information and especially misinformation, so it was nice to get a nuanced and deep dive on these issues.鈥�
A morning keynote showcasing change in perspective
Dr. John Kaiser, a history professor at a North Carolina college, spoke about his transformation from being a climate change skeptic to advocate.
The audience heard a candid account of Kaiser鈥檚 mindset during his university years, when he opposed climate science. Today, he devotes time to promoting accurate environmental research and hopes to help others understand that climate change is real.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it would have been possible to change my mind in the early days,鈥� Kaiser reminisced, 鈥渂ut as time went on, I started to doubt my 鈥榝acts鈥� and began to see that climate change was scientifically proven.鈥�
An afternoon of panel discussions
A panel led by Prof. Renee Sieber entitled, Code, Climate, and Credibility: Navigating the Digital Storm, brought energy and clarity to a conversation that had the audience eager to ask questions.
Visualization of concepts
鈥淚 learned from this event that visualizing complexity is a great way of learning about misinformation,鈥� said an attendee.
That insight came thanks to artist Bianka Dusseault, who turned the idea into reality.
鈥淭he exposition was an incredible opportunity to showcase the intersectionality of science and art, something that I think we should have at all academic events going forward,鈥� said Dr. Christie Lovat, a faculty lecturer at the BSE who helped Dusseault bring her vision to life.
Dusseault underscored the importance of blending art and science, noting how creative expression can amplify and clarify scientific facts for diverse audiences.
鈥淲ith arts we are on an even playing field where we can talk to the other person and add our own impressions and lived experiences through conversations. We can then see how these impressions influence how others interpret what we see around us,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is something important to think about.鈥�
As the day ended, the Solvathon left participants with more than just ideas, it offered a renewed sense of urgency and possibility. In an era where facts compete with fiction, events like this remind us that collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking are not optional; they are essential.
For 9I制作厂免费鈥檚 Bieler School of Environment, the challenge doesn鈥檛 end here. The conversations sparked in that room will ripple outward, shaping how we confront misinformation and safeguard truth in the climate discourse, one solution at a time.