Today I turn 37 years old. This seems like an impossible number.
In my mind, I am a vibrant 21-year-old eager to make the world a better place. I see opportunities to make a positive difference everywhere. I am young, I am empowered, and I am unstoppable.
In reality, things might not always seem so rosy and, truthfully, some days I struggle with being overwhelmed. So how do I achieve—and maintain—this mental state?
I find my strength and my hope in my community.
I decided to pursue climate change communication as a profession in 2007 when the Fourth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report was released. I had known about climate change and its impacts on the ocean and planet since I could remember. I committed myself to a lifetime of conservation work when I was only ten-years-old, inspired by an article in Ranger Rick magazine, to use my talents to ensure the Earth does not end up as a pile of rubbish.
I am a marine biologist by training and an informal science educator by choice. I work at an Aquarium inspiring visitors to conserve the ocean. For the last 10 years, I have been a member of the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) and the National Association for Interpretation (NAI). Every day I work with an amazing team of individuals who bring their personal passion and expertise to the frontlines of conservation. When I am having a bad day, there are at least 30 people I can turn to for encouragement or inspiration.
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The Problem with Solutions & How to Fix ItThe Problem with Solutions & How to Fix It April 05 2017 This is the seventh and final post in a series about framing climate and ocean change. When environmental advocates talk about problems, they sometimes leave out one of the most important parts of the discussion: solutions. This error of omission has significant consequences. When the [READ MORE]
NNOCCI Climate Science FundamentalsNNOCCI Climate Science Fundamentals by Megan Ennes, July 15 2020 In this blog, we talk about some of the basics of climate change. An understanding of climate science is the foundation of climate communication and action. Weather Versus Climate One of the most common misunderstandings when talking about climate change is the difference between [READ MORE]
Climate Emotions: Helpless Or Hopeful?Climate Emotions: Helpless Or Hopeful? by Heidi Zamzow, April 17 2019 With the recent IPCC warning that we may have perhaps a dozen years before we encounter severe and irreversible impacts of climate change, it comes as little surprise that a recent survey* in climate communications research indicates 7 in 10 people in the U.S. are concerned [READ MORE]
To Frame Climate Change, Lead with a Researched Value—Not a “Rogue” OneTo Frame Climate Change, Lead with a Researched Value—Not a “Rogue” One January 20 2017 This is the sixth post in a series about framing ocean and climate change. So, you want to motivate the public to take action to address climate and ocean change? One of the most important communications moves you can make is to open with a broad statement [READ MORE]