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Global One Health Academy

(Y)Our Health in the Movies: Climate Change

January 29, 2024

(Y)Our Health in the Movies is a series that looks at how One Health themes are depicted in popular culture, through media such as film, television, and video games. This series is co-sponsored by the Global One Health Academy, Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions, and the Libraries. The first event took place in November 2023 and discussed Infectious Diseases, focusing on the hit series, The Last of Us. Last week, expert panelists discussed the science behind depictions of Climate Change in popular movies.

Climate change along with its impacts on humanity are not a new concept. These effects have been studied by scientists for years and have even made it to the big screen. Perhaps the most notable disaster climate change movie is The Day After Tomorrow, where audiences watched as extreme weather events lead to onset of an Ice Age in a matter of weeks! Spoiler Alert: This would never happen in real life.

However, not all mentions and depictions of climate change are as drastic as this Dennis Quaid featuring film. For example, in 1958 a romantic comedy by the name of Indiscreet with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman includes a rather brief, yet awkward, exchange between the pair in an elevator.

  • Woman: “It’s unusual for the weather to be so muggy this time of year.”
  • Man: “Yes I read an article the other day that claimed the world’s weather was changing.”
  • Woman: “Oh really? That’s interesting.”
  • Man: “Yes, isn’t it?”

Although brief, mention of changing weather in this 1958 movie reveals how climate change is not new to the 21st century. The interconnection of science and art allows us to learn valuable information about the progression of climate change views over time. During the event, experts shared clips from various movies, including Indiscreet, The Day After Tomorrow, Don’t Look Up, Wall-E, and A Strange World. After each clip, the experts offered their commentary, explaining the science and reality behind the scenes.

A very special thanks goes out to our expert panel for their valuable film and climate change insight: Jorge Marí (Department of Foreign Languages and Literature) Deja Perkins (Center for Geospatial Analytics), Martha Burford Reiskind (Biological Sciences), and Rebecca Ward (Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management).

Coming Up Next!

If you find the intersection between science and art interesting, then you will definitely want to join our next and final (Y)Our Health in the Movies of this semester!