PROFESSIONAL Q&A

Heed your mother’s advice—especially if she specializes in climate science.

This is the vision of the nonprofit organization Science Moms, composed of scientists who are mothers engaged in climate change research. The initiative aims to engage with other mothers to normalize discussions around climate change—thus instigating the need for action and focus.

Sierra Petersen, associate professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Michigan, investigates the historical climate of Earth dating back millions of years and is affiliated with Science Moms.

What is Science Moms, and what is its objective?

Science Moms is a nonprofit entity promoting climate change advocacy to the wider audience. Specifically, it consists of mothers who are also climate researchers communicating with other mothers about the significance of climate change and the need for proactive measures.

Through Science Moms, we concentrate on safeguarding the future for our children. As mothers, we reflect on what our kids will face as they transition to college and eventually raise their own families. What will the world look like at those milestones in their lives? Much of our concern revolves around the timelines of change.

In my studies, I examine the pace at which climate has changed throughout Earth’s history. It only takes a slight shift in perspective to reconsider how rapidly climate is altering now compared to my lifetime and my children’s lifetimes. Alarmingly swift, is the conclusion. Tangible, observable changes have taken place during my lifetime, and projecting 10, 20, or 30 years ahead—when my children will reach significant life events—will reveal a world greatly different from today. I can envision that future as my children prepare for college. It feels vividly close rather than distant.

Our aim is to disseminate information and inspire others to view climate change as a concern of personal relevance. The more individuals engage with and discuss this topic, the greater the likelihood of action. The ultimate aim of Science Moms is to have people contemplating and conversing about climate change, elevating it on their list of priorities concerning decision-making.

Can you elaborate on your research and how it informs your involvement with Science Moms?

I specialize in paleoclimate—the study of the climate from millions and thousands of years ago. My research involves analyzing the chemistry of fossilized seashells to track variations in ocean temperatures over time.

One era I focus on is the Cretaceous thermal maximum, which occurred approximately 90 million years ago. It was the hottest period in the last 300 million years. Our goal is to quantify the temperature during this time. We examined shells from regions in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, which were submerged under an ocean at that time, and discovered that the temperatures in this shallow ocean over Wyoming 90 million years ago were comparable to today’s waters surrounding Bali.

Throughout the scope of human experience and weather documentation, climate has not fluctuated significantly; however, within Earth’s history, there were epochs when temperatures were considerably higher or lower than now, including ice ages and tropical greenhouse phases. Comprehending how all components of the climate system interact under those vastly different conditions enhances our understanding of the entire climate system. This knowledge enables us to predict future climate shifts, improve our understanding of potential outcomes, and explore the interconnectedness of these variables.

A substantial part of my work involves drawing insights from the past to better anticipate what might transpire in the future.

How does outreach work through Science Moms?

Science Moms is aimed at fostering credible experts within local communities. We collaborate with local media, newspapers, and television stations to serve as credible sources and produce pre-recorded segments on specific topics.

My role within Science Moms entails being a knowledgeable resource for the media during events like Hurricane Helene when people are trying to comprehend whether a weather occurrence is abnormal or how climate change is influencing it. We represent a local expert who also happens to be a mother, relating to others on a personal level. We attempt to connect climate change with family values in a way that feels apolitical.

I am not a politician. I’m a scientist, solely sharing insights from my experiences in the field, as well as my perspective as a mother. We are leveraging our community connections; I reside in your neighborhood and happen to be an authority on this subject.

Additionally, our communication style through media platforms emphasizes personal experiences. We connect as human beings, using accessible language without any pretense of creating barriers in understanding. I express the personal ramifications of what I observe and voice my concerns over potential limitations on what I can provide for my children in the future.

What’s the best strategy for discussing climate change?

Seek opportunities for dual and even triple benefits. A prime example is the transition from gas-powered leaf blowers to electric ones; this shift benefits the climate, while also being less noisy and more pleasant in terms of smell. Using an electric blower enhances your quality of life, irrespective of your stance on climate issues.

The same applies to electric vehicles. I often think of electric school buses. Ann Arbor has made strides in this area, and I hope more communities will adopt them. Everyone has had the unpleasant experience of following a school bus and inhaling that noxious exhaust. Electric school buses eliminate that issue, allowing our children to breathe cleaner air on their rides to school. By highlighting these multiple benefits, we can encourage individuals to embrace change without the need to alter their political beliefs.

This approach also increases the likelihood of us genuinely making changes in our lives. It is unlikely that we will alter our behaviors solely because we deem it the ethical choice. The more added advantages we discover, the greater the chance we will implement those changes.

What future challenges do you foresee as we confront climate change?

There may be forthcoming challenges associated with the new administration, including the potential for reductions in funding for climate change research. There could be modifications to clean energy policies that could facilitate ongoing fossil fuel combustion, reversing some of the achievements we’ve secured. The future remains uncertain. My strategy is to face obstacles as they arise, but in the interim, the core mission of Science Moms continues to persist: raising awareness, sharing critical information with diverse audiences who may not contemplate climate change regularly, and doing so in an easily understandable manner.

We will keep working to engage more individuals and instill a concern for climate change, while illustrating how they are currently being affected by it. Importantly, we wish to emphasize that this issue is not insurmountable. We shouldn’t merely accept these extreme weather patterns as the new standard. This is a human-induced problem, and we possess the knowledge of what solutions exist, right? The real discussion centers on how we achieve those solutions. We are aware of the necessary steps: reducing future carbon emissions and lowering existing levels in the atmosphere. Regardless of the prevailing political climate, the overarching message is that climate change should not be treated as a political issue.

Climate change is a matter that should concern everyone. It impacts us all. When extreme weather events worsened by climate change occur, every individual within that affected area bears the consequences.