The Faculty of Arts at the University of Regina will host the 2025 Woodrow Lloyd Lecture on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. This free public lecture will feature Dr. Jennie Stephens, Professor of Climate Justice at the National University of Ireland Maynooth.
Stephens, an educator, social justice advocate, energy expert, and sustainability science researcher, is a fellow at the Global Center for Climate Justice, Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at Northeastern University in Boston and was a Climate Justice Fellow at Harvard-Radcliffe.
Her most recent book Climate Justice and the University: Shaping a Hopeful Future For All, asserts that post-secondary institutions can play a powerful role in addressing climate justice, but need to be reimagined and restructured to support the social change required to advance ecological health and climate justice.
"Humanity is at a place where small, incremental changes no longer cut it. We need bigger, transformative change and universities have the opportunity to play a vital role. If we think about our universities as a kind of critical social infrastructure, there is a lot more they can be doing. Institutions that imagine a better future for everyone and are engaged in collective action can be really empowering," says Stephens.
Dr. Tom McIntosh, Associate Dean of Arts (Research and Graduate) at the U of R agrees and hopes the discussion with Stephens informs the U of R s, and other Canadian universities', transformation.
"Universities are uniquely positioned to bring expertise rooted in research to public debates, but they are also large institutions that employ hundreds of people and have a significant environmental impact. We should not only be part of informing the debate about future environmental policy, but also actively pursuing environmental policies inside our own institution that move us to a more sustainable future. The planning committee hopes that Dr. Stephens can help us think more deeply from both perspectives," says McIntosh.
The 2025 Woodrow Lloyd lecture will take place Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 7 pm at College Avenue Campus, 2155 College Avenue in CB 139. Public parking is available behind the College Building and along College Avenue and Wascana Drive. Ticket reservations are required.
Stephens will also be one of the panelists in a community discussion being held the evening before the lecture: Getting to Zero - Checking In on Local Carbon Reduction Initiatives. The discussion will focus on how local plans for reducing carbon emissions can contribute to climate justice in the community.
Additional panelists include Robbie Humble, Manager of Sustainable Energy and Adaptation at the City of Regina, Neil Paskewitz, Associate Vice-President of Facilities Management at the U of R, and Abhay Singh Sachal, U of R graduate student and founder of Break The Divide, a global non-profit connecting youth on world issues. The discussion will be moderated by Jocelyn Crivea, Director of the Sustainability Office at the U of R.
The community panel event will take place on Tuesday, March 18th, 2025, at 7:00 pm at mâmawêyatitân centre, 3355 6th Avenue. Refreshments will be provided. Ticket Reservations are required.
