Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action in Museums

Seen as some of the most trusted institutions in American public life, museums are uniquely positioned to facilitate public discussion of the environment and climate change within their communities. There is also an opportunity to protect and strengthen these institutions. Surveying the evolution of sustainability in museums over the last fifteen years, this course examines the practical aspects of collections care, interpretation and public programming, operational changes, building construction, and community engagement to examine how changes in museum work can deepen museums' connections to their communities and increase their charitable value. Students discuss and share ideas frequently in class, developing graded projects with feedback from classmates and the instructor. Topics include human behavior (the challenge of change, whether in daily practice or major projects, and how museums are so well-suited to support staff, visitors, and communities in making change); mitigation (why and how museums and communities are reducing their negative effects on the environment and what difference can it make to the environment, the climate, and to social and financial stability); and resilience (why and how museums are creatively helping their communities become more environmentally, financially, and socially adaptable in the face of a changing climate and increased impacts from weather events; how museums can share with the public the scientific and social discoveries enabling widespread change).