Event—Public Programming

Sea Change: An Atlas of Islands in a Rising Ocean

Former Newberry fellow Christina Gerhardt, in conversation with climate and environment journalist Indira Khera, discuss the disproportionate impact that climate change has on island communities.

Postcard of Coconut Island, Hilo, Hawai'i. 1940. Call number: Midwest MS Teich Co, production number 0B242

This program will be held in-person at the Newberry and livestreamed on Zoom. The online version of this event will be live captioned. Please register below.

Low-lying islands are least responsible for global warming, but they are suffering the brunt of it. Atlases are being redrawn as islands disappear. What does an island see when the sea rises? Sea Change: An Atlas of Islands in a Rising Ocean weaves together essays, maps, art, and poetry to show us—and make us see—island nations in a warming world.

In this Meet the Author event, Christina Gerhardt and Indira Khera will discuss how Sea Change reorients our vantage point to place islands at the center of the story, highlighting Indigenous and Black voices and the work of communities acting for local and global climate justice.

At once serious and playful, well-researched and lavishly designed, Sea Change is a stunning exploration of the climate and our world's coastlines. Full of immersive storytelling, scientific expertise, and rallying cries from island populations that shout with hope—"We are not drowning! We are fighting!"—this atlas will galvanize readers in the fight against climate change and the choices we all face.

Sea Change is available to purchase at the Newberry bookshop, and the author will sign copies after the talk.

Speakers

Christina Gerhardt is Associate Professor at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Senior Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, former Barron Professor of Environment and the Humanities at Princeton University, and former short-term fellow at the Newberry. Her environmental journalism has been published by Grist.org, The Nation, The Progressive, and Washington Monthly.

Indira Khera is a Metro Reporter at WBEZ. She’s at the station on the year-long Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship. Her reporting focuses primarily on science, climate and environment.  Indi started at WBEZ as an Audio News intern. Prior to WBEZ, she worked with NPR’s science podcast Short Wave. Indi graduated from The University of Chicago with a degree in biology.

Cost and Registration

This program is free and open to all. Advance registration required.

In-Person Registration

Support the Newberry

Your generosity is vital in keeping the library’s programs, exhibitions, and reading rooms free and accessible to everyone.

Make a Gift

Questions?

Call us at (312) 255-3592 or send us an email.

Email Us

Past Public Programs

Check out video recordings of past Newberry public programs on our YouTube channel.

Watch

More Free Programs