The LINGCLIM research group undertakes research on narratives and language use related to issues of climate change, energy transition, nature and ecology, in a cross-disciplinary perspective.
Climate change is no longer conceptualized as only a physical phenomenon. As the effects are increasingly being felt, the social, political, ethical and cultural dimensions of climate change become apparent, as do its complex relations with the natural environment. This gives rise to debates and narratives with many different voices, views and interests.
Communication and language use are therefore important in both the dissemination and interpretation of climate and environmental issues. Language does more than represent; language also influences attitudes and behaviors, and creates new stories and realities.
LINGCLIM studies this complexity through literature, linguistics, and philosophy, forming interdisciplinary approaches within the environmental humanities.
Photo: Private. LINGCLIM group, September 2023.
Professor Kjersti Fløttum started the cross-disciplinary LINGCLIM research group in 2010 and headed it until she retired August 2023. She is still active in the group as professor emerita. The research group has collaborated with NORCE, the Bjerknes Center for Climate Research, NHH Norwegian School of Economics, the Research group for Environmental Humanities (HUMKLIM) and Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation (CET). For surveys and experiments LINGCLIM has collaborated with the Norwegian Citizen Panel within the DIGSSCORE infrastructure.
Contact: Associate professor Øyvind Gjerstad (head of the research group)
- Professor emerita Kjersti Fløttum (kjersti.flottum@uib.no)
