Aspen Ideas: Climate to Showcase the Power of Storytelling in Shaping our Climate Future; Kathryn Murdoch and Ari Wallach to Preview New PBS Docuseries

February 9, 2024

Hundreds of inspiring climate leaders and innovators will gather in Miami Beach from March 11-13 to explore climate solutions. 

Contact: Jon Purves
Media Relations Director
The Aspen Institute
jon.purves@aspeninstitute.org

Miami Beach, FL, February 9, 2024Aspen Ideas: Climate today announced that Futurific Studios co-founders Kathryn Murdoch and Ari Wallach will appear on-stage previewing and discussing their new PBS docuseries, A Brief History of the Future. The six-part series, which premieres April 3, challenges dystopian narratives about our shared future by showcasing potential solutions to existential threats – including climate change – inspiring each of us to understand our power to shape what comes next. Learn more about the series here, and watch the trailer here.

A key theme of Aspen Ideas: Climate 2024 is “Narratives of Change,” which will uplift storytelling, in its many forms, as climate solutions. From the curation of museums to imaginative fiction, and from the stories we don’t hear about climate solutions to the journalists and newsrooms that are telling them, programming will explore climate communication and how it can be masterfully hidden in the unexpected….

This power in storytelling and the arts, will be woven throughout the agenda, with authors C. Pam Zhang, Lily Brooks-Dalton, Jenny Offill, and Téa Obreht exploring the role fiction plays in conveying the reality of climate change, with podcast host Mitzi Rapkin, among other sessions. Additional programming with speakers to be announced will explore climate literacy and the importance of diverse environmental newsrooms; the role of the entertainment industry in tackling climate change; and the importance of weaving climate narratives into museum design.

Aspen Ideas: Climate 2024 takes place from March 11-13, 2024, with a dynamic combination of main stage events, breakouts, roundtables, excursions, and arts programming focused on mitigating and adapting to climate change. Now in its third year, the event is known for bringing together ambitious problem solvers from all backgrounds and ages from the fields of science, technology, business, politics, the arts, education, media, and more, to share ideas spanning areas of expertise and identify paths forward for addressing a changing climate.

A full confirmed speaker list is available here, with new speakers added every week. Tickets to the third Aspen Ideas: Climate are on sale, and press registration is open here.

As part of organizers’ commitment to sustainable programming, Aspen Ideas: Climate has partnered with ClimeCo to offset the event’s carbon emissions, funding greenhouse gas abatement projects in Florida. Aspen Ideas: Climate is supported by title sponsors John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Related Group, and the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation. Additional sponsors include Howard and Caroline Draft, Ami and Jack Glottman, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lennar Foundation, LSN Partners, AstraZeneca, Wells Fargo, American Airlines, Miami-Dade County, and the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority.

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The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

World-famous Miami Beach welcomes millions of visitors each year to its white, sandy beaches, turquoise waters and vibrant cultural scene. Known for its colorful art deco and MiMo architecture, the 7.2-square-mile island offers some of the finest dining and hotel experiences anywhere along with a beautiful oceanfront promenade that connects South Beach to North Beach. Steps away from the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach is also at the forefront of identifying workable solutions to meet the challenge of sea level rise.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FUTURE weaves together history, science, and unexpected storytelling to expand our understanding about the impact that the choices we make today will have on our tomorrows. Each episode follows those who are working to solve our greatest challenges. The series also features valuable insights from a wide range of thinkers, scientists, developers and storytellers including French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur, musician Grimes, architect Bjarke Ingels, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, legendary soccer player Kylian Mbappé, and more.

FUTURIFIC is the production studio that helps creators imagine better tomorrows. Founded by Kathryn Murdoch and Ari Wallach, we bring together storytellers, technologists, artists, and scientists to share the stories that will inspire us all to become great ancestors. Futurific is launching a six-part documentary series, A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FUTURE, in April 2024 on PBS to showcase the brilliant minds and brave pioneers shaping our collective futures.

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