Reimagining Higher Ed for the Climate Era with Unity Environmental University, Ep #131
Invested In Climate · Jason Rissman
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Show Notes
Education and our ability to respond to climate change are inexorably linked. Major international studies have shown that education is the single strongest predictor of whether or not someone is aware of climate change. In the US, while 74% of Americans support climate action, support is typically 10–20 points higher among those with a college education.
It's not about perceptions on climate change; a more educated workforce is better able to innovate, accelerate the climate transition, and adapt in a less stable world – especially if that education builds climate resilient skills.
One could almost imagine a university designed around this need – and that is exactly what the team at Unity Environmental University are building.
Today, we're joined by Unity President Dr. Melik Khoury who is creating not just a new curriculum, but a new, more inclusive approach to higher ed. Dr. Khoury argues powerfully against the elitism that has underpinned our educational system and climate narratives. We spoke about his background, the role of education in addressing climate change, how Unity is different, and the influence it could have. Dr Khoury’s energy is contagious and we're sure he’ll get you thinking. Enjoy.
On today’s episode, we cover:
- 03:06 – Dr. Khoury’s upbringing in West Africa and awakening to environmental issues
- 04:24 – Discovering the real impacts of resource exploitation
- 06:01 – Choosing higher education transformation as the main lever
- 08:32 – The core climate problem: beyond politics and single-issue framing
- 09:04 – Climate as transdisciplinary: food, energy, people, commerce
- 11:05 – History of Unity Environmental University
- 13:07 – Transforming Unity’s model and unbundling education
- 15:14 – New operational model and rethinking the faculty role
- 15:23 – Scaling Unity and redefining what a university is
- 19:42 – Preparing students to operate in complex, uncertain systems
- 20:15 – Embedding climate and sustainability across the curriculum
- 23:14 – AI’s challenge to traditional notions of knowledge and learning
- 23:48 – What Unity is learning from its students and their needs
- 28:14 – What success looks like for a climate-focused university
- 28:30 – Influencing the broader higher-ed ecosystem
- 31:47 – How AI is changing higher education and climate learning
- 32:11 – Why Unity embraces rather than bans AI
- 35:58 – Concrete AI experiments at Unity (UNA, tutors, automation)
- 39:31 – Is climate momentum fading? Perception vs. reality
- 39:57 – Climate’s “brand problem” and the real enemy: ignorance
- 42:58 – Depoliticizing climate and making the economic case
- 43:16 – How we broadly attack ignorance through education reform
- 45:52 – Call for partners and funders to back scalable climate education
- 45:52 – Closing thanks and episode wrap-up
Resources Mentioned
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