Hello! My friend Sinead (who was one of my science consultants for Goldilocks) and I have been working on a project over the last few months, and we’re finally ready to launch it! The official press release is below–please feel free to spread the word. The first episode (which we filmed outside before it got really cold/we were back in strict lockdown) is up, and we’ll be having regular episodes going forward. I’m so excited! An excuse to learn more science and talk to interesting people and feel like we’re at least trying to make a little bit of a difference. We have some great guests lined up. If you’re involved in climate change research and would like to be interviewed (especially if you’re a scientist), you are welcome to get in touch via the contact form! I hope you enjoy and like, subscribe, hit the bell, all that sort of things you’re meant to do for visibility.
The lovely icon was designed by Cat Hellion.
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Sunday Times Bestselling SFF author and Edinburgh Napier creative writing lecturer Laura Lam (Goldilocks, Seven Devils) and University of Edinburgh evolutionary biologist Sinead Collins have launched C.Y.O.TOPIA, or Choose Your Own Topia. This is an interdisciplinary project that investigates two different approaches to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and limiting the global average temperature rise to 1.5C— we create two near-future worlds, one which met carbon emission goals by less equitable means (Stick) and one with more equitable strategies (Carrot).
C.Y.O.TOPIA will primarily be a YouTube channel, with episodes looking at elements of the societal and scientific changes needed in order to reach emissions goals. Episode 1, which sees the launch of the series, looks at the ramifications of ground transport. The second episode will look at migration patterns as a result of climate change. A future episode will attempt to theoretically spend Jeff Bezos’ or Elon Musk’s fortune to solve climate change. In the videos, Edinburgh in Carrot & Stick are being illustrated by Scottish artist Alex Naughton, with each episode adding more detail. Research assistance is provided by Jeremy Lowe.
In between these larger episodes, Collins & Lam will interview artists and scientists about their work. Future confirmed guests include critically acclaimed YA writer Lauren James, author of upcoming Green Rising and founder of The Climate Fiction Writers League, and Dr. Johanne Vad, an early-career scientist in the Changing Oceans group at the University of Edinburgh.
Subscribe to C.Y.O.Topia and learn more about climate change science, help build these two versions of a future, and discover what we can do collectively to bring about a better world.
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