Erin James, a professor of English at the University of Idaho’s College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, discussed on Apr. 21 how storytelling influences public understanding of environmental issues and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration for addressing sustainability challenges.
James is also the director of the university’s sustainability certificate program and co-director of the Confluence Lab. In her work, she studies narratology—the science behind stories—and examines how narratives can shape human thought and behavior. According to James, research demonstrates that when people engage with stories, their brains simulate real-life experiences, making storytelling an effective tool for communicating complex topics such as environmental change.
Through initiatives like the Confluence Lab and projects such as “Stories of Fire,” James collaborates with researchers from various disciplines—including science, humanities, students, scientists, and artists—to explore new ways to communicate research findings. These efforts focus on making issues like wildfire more relatable for rural communities across the West.
James said that addressing sustainability concerns requires not only scientific data but also cultural, emotional, and social perspectives: “Their work shows that sustainability challenges aren’t just scientific — they’re cultural, emotional and social. And solving them requires more than data. It requires better stories — and more voices at the table.”
The episode also highlights University of Idaho’s commitment to interdisciplinary education through its sustainability certificate program. Listeners are invited to contact vandaltheory@uidaho.edu for more information or feedback about the podcast.
