Why public engagement matters in times of transformation, and how it is possible to empower local communities to address the climate crisis?

In an era defined by climate change and environmental urgency, the webinar will delve into the significance of collaboration, knowledge exchange and community engagement to catalyze the transformative change that is essential for a sustainable future.

Annette Klinkert, Executive Director of the European Science Engagement Association, will explore the critical role of researchers in addressing complex challenges within and outside academia.
Eulàlia Baulenas, Postdoctoral researcher at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, will present the activities dedicated to citizens’ engagement developed by the project AGORA “A Gathering place to cO-design and co-cReate Adaptation”.

The event is organized as a joint initiative between Foresight Dialogues and the AGORA project.

“Foresight Dialogues” is the CMCC online events series in which writers, artists, journalists, scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs discuss the role of communication, in its various forms, in accelerating the climate transition. TheForesight Dialoguesseries is organised in the context of theCMCC Climate Change Communication Award “Rebecca Ballestra” initiative.

AGORAis an HORIZON project started in January 2023, coordinated by CMCC. It supports the overall objectives of the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change by promoting societal transformational processes in different social, economic and political contexts through transdisciplinary tools and approaches. The project promotes an effective engagement of citizens and communities in climate actions, accelerating and upscaling adaptation processes for building a climate resilient Europe.

Annette Klinkert

Dr. Annette Klinkert is an internationally experienced networker, practitioner, facilitator and trainer in the fields of science communication, public engagement and knowledge-based urban and regional development. Since 2016 she is Executive Director of EUSEA, the European Science Engagement Association. Annette Klinkert is founder and CEO of city2science GmbH – Science Communication and Strategy Consulting in Germany.

Eulàlia Baulenas

Eulàlia Baulenas is a postdoctoral researcher in the Knowledge transfer team of the Earth System Services Group at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), specialized in participatory methodologies and knowledge co-production for climate services. Her background is in political science with a PhD in Environmental Policy by the University of Freiburg, Germany, conducted at the Chair of Forest and Environmental Policy until 2021. Previously, she gained experience in the field of consultancy working on comparative studies for the European Commission. Currently, she is engaged with the knowledge co-production processes and dissemination activities of the H2020 project EUCP and the H2020 project NextGEMS.