A free course aimed at educating people about the global climate and ecological emergency will start in a few weeks.

The Planetary Emergency and Us is a four-week study programme at University College IoM beginning Saturday, February 27 until Saturday, March 20.

The programme is designed to give a deeper understanding of people’s relationship with the world and the challenges posed by environmental threats. Topics will include land-use, food, energy and transport, and will delve into emotional responses to the issue.

Julie Bibby, Dr Philippa Tomlinson and Rowan Henthorn will be leading the course.

Mrs Bibby works part-time as a UCM staff welfare officer and has taught mindfulness for many years. More recently she commenced training in compassion-focussed therapy and group work.

Dr Tomlinson is a consultant ecologist who looks after the wildlife records for the Manx Biological Recording Partnership. In 2018 she became a climate activist with Extinction Rebellion and took part in the demonstration in London.

Ms Henthorn is a marine scientist who grew up on the island, where her initial fascination with the natural world started. Much of her career so far has revolved around her devotion to the ocean. She’s sailed across one of the most remote areas on earth, through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, to gather evidence and analyse the impact of plastics in the oceans.

She told us: ’A lot of people are becoming more aware about the situation we find outselves in, but might not know how to navigate that or what we should do as a society to create change. The course is to help with that and help people connect and come-up with solutions together. I think between the three of us [speakers], we have a nice balance between the science and the psychology of creating change.’

She said that it’s important for action to be taken by people within communities such as on the island: ’I think learning about the solutions to climate change offer a really important solution to becoming reconnected with nature and help our overall wellbeing. It’s a win-win situation, if we can help people and help the planet in turn.

’I’m doing the course in my own free time, so that’s fulfilling and it’s been exciting to have creative control. The Isle of Man has a strong sense of community and I think that’s one of the most important things we need to address the climate and ecological crisis. We’ve shown during the pandemic that our community can work together and show strength and leadership and be agile, and I think that we can approach the environmental crisis in much the same way.’

An enrolment form can be obtained by emailing [email protected] and returned to [email protected], quoting course code: Q4155.