Research Seminars @ Illinois

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Tailored for undergraduate researchers, this calendar is a curated list of research seminars at the University of Illinois. Explore the diverse world of research and expand your knowledge through engaging sessions designed to inspire and enlighten.

To have your events added or removed from this calendar, please contact OUR at ugresearch@illinois.edu

When the Oceans Rise, Who Gets A Life Raft? Inequality and Climate Change in Sci-Fi

Event Type
Webinar
Sponsor
EPOL & The Center for Climate Literacy
Location
Online
Date
Dec 5, 2024   4:00 pm  
Speaker
Stephanie Toliver
Registration
Registration
Contact
Sam Lindgren
E-Mail
salindgr@illinois.edu
Views
37
Originating Calendar
College of Education Events

In this talk, Toliver explores how speculative fiction addresses climate change and social inequality through Sherri L. Smith’s Orleans and Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower. Both novels depict dystopian futures shaped by environmental collapse and social fragmentation, with marginalized communities bearing the brunt. Orleans highlights Fen’s struggle for survival in a devastated Gulf Coast, while Parable of the Sower follows Lauren Olamina through a fractured California, showcasing resilience against systemic injustice. Toliver reveals how these works not only critique our current path but also challenge us to envision bold, just, and sustainable futures.

This event is hosted by EPOL and the University of Minnesota's Center for Climate Literacy. 

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