Mindfulness and Place-based Learning with Dr. Rob Dussler

Do you find yourself in the depths of climate grief or anxiety? Do you feel like there’s no hope? Join hosts Robert and Carrie for this month’s climate news updates and an informative, albeit Zen, conversation with the Meadows Center’s Chief Education Officer, Dr. Rob Dussler, to learn how mindfulness can serve as a tool for understanding climate change while managing the suffering it may cause. If you are an educator and want to learn how to bring climate curriculum into your classroom or get more time with Dr. Dussler, head to our website to learn more about our upcoming workshops on June 3 and June 13: https://education.meadowswater.org/.

In this episode, our co-hosts bring you the latest climate news covering several topics:

• Texas is warming at a higher rate than the rest of the world – learn how this may affect living conditions and what is meant by a “warming hole” – hint: it’s not quite as sweet as a donut hole... (05:16)

• Health risks related to climate change, warming temperatures, and prolonged heat stress, plus related recommendations for labor policy adjustments (08:33)

• Does San Antonio’s “super cool” pavement program really work? Where is the balance between irrigation and shade, and is the black exterior home trend a winner? (10:00)

• The latest research analysis on the relationship between neurology and climate effects. (13:40)

An interview with Dr. Rob Dussler, the Chief Education Officer and Director of Spring Lake Education, reveals a deep connection between mindfulness, place-based learning, and climate. Join Robert Mace as he poses audience questions:

• What is mindfulness? The “origins of mindfulness,” a brief outline of its journey into Western culture, and how this practice can deepen our relationship to the environment (16:37)

• How can we bring mindfulness into our daily practice? What you can do to practice mindfulness and engage more deeply with the environment (23:39)

• Mindfulness - is engaged ecology the key to solving climate change? Find out how mindfulness is embedded in the climate solution playbook (32:26)

Learn about the Meadows Center’s TEKS-aligned teacher trainings coming up in early June at Spring Lake.

Then, it’s the good news! Join Robert and Carrie for some of the uplifting climate news:

• Restoring the buffalo population to heal Texas’ environment and Indigenous peoples with the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project (39:40)

• While the Earth keeps warming, can we hold out hope of curbing the temperatures before the end of the century? (42:00)

Episode Links and Resources:

• ⁠Here's how hot and extreme Texas weather will be in 2036, according to a top state climate expert⁠ (Houston Chronicle)

• 70% of world's workers at elevated health risks due to climate change, UN report finds (Salon)

• San Antonio moves forward with ‘cool pavement’ program (Community Impact)

• Climate change likely to aggravate brain conditions (Science Daily)

• How bringing buffalo back can combat climate change, heal Indigenous people in Texas (KSAT)

• https://climateactiontracker.org/

Theme song:

Syzygy by Robert E. Mace

We would like to thank pixabay.com for providing the sounds of singing bowls, and the wildlife of Spring Lake for their bird songs.

For more information about the Meadows Center, visit ⁠meadowscenter.txst.edu⁠.