The Climate Affect is an initiative launched by the Environmental Studies department inviting students, faculty, and the campus community to join a network of events and collaborators aimed at elevating the climate dialogue through the arts. Recognizing that dominant crisis narratives can paralyze action, we ask what kind of affects and atmospheres could pave the way for socio-ecological transitions.

Sponsored by the Lecture and Fine Arts Committee and the Maryland Higher Education Commission, our Spring 2025 programming invites students across disciplines to engage with Jan Burger and Emma Skurnick from Paperhand Puppet Intervention in the design, creation, and performance of a giant puppet Earth Day extravaganza: "Making the Invisible Visible."

Season 1 Spring 2026

“Tilling Tales: Stories from the Kate Farm" is about the Kate Chandler Campus Community Farm at St. Mary's College of Maryland, a public liberal arts college. These stories were collected and recorded by students from the "Food Writing: A Tasting Plate" seminar taught by Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black and in collaboration with Professors Barry Muchnick and Matthew Wilfong. The Kate Farm is named after Dr. Kate Chandler, a beloved former English and Environmental Studies professor, and it serves as a legacy to her vision of a collaborative space for growing good food & a vibrant community.