The refrain is familiar: “Why don’t more people care?” If you are someone who does care—about the planet, about its beings, about the state of the world, about the very scary (and enraging and heartbreaking) challenges we’re facing - it can sometimes feel like you are screaming into the void, a tree falling in the woods with no one to hear it. And so the impulse is often to scream louder, share the information, share it again, share it more. Because surely—surely—if people know, if they understand, they’ll also care, right? 

A recent post by Dr. Renee Lertzman contradicts a key component of this common belief. An environmental/climate psychologist, Lertzman contends that most people actually do care. So the real question is not, “why don’t more people care?” but, rather, “what prevents people from turning that care into action?” 

Research from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communications backs up Lertzman's contention. Their research shows that, in the US, six distinct groups represent beliefs about climate change (as opposed to the usual assumption that there are only two), and only 24% are “doubtful” (13%) or “dismissive” (11%). Instead, the majority do care, with 52% falling into “concerned” (27%) or “alarmed” (25%), and another 17% are “cautious,” meaning they don’t feel like they have enough information to have an opinion. Notably, the numbers of “disengaged,” “doubtful,” and “dismissive” have not shifted much in the past 10 years, but the number of “alarmed” or “concerned” has increased by 10 points. 

So what gives? In her post “Is the Climate Movement Finally Growing Up?,” Lertzman argues that “what actually impedes action is internal, emotional, deeply relational to one’s sense of self and place in the world: anxiety, ambivalence, grief, complicity, the fear of losing things we love even as we know they’re contributing to harm.” She calls for a shift in how we approach engaging and activating others, and ourselves. This shift draws from the exploding field of climate psychology and relies on a more relational approach that is deeply human and draws from what is messy and complex and absolutely amazing about the human animal. The work of Lertzman and her ilk (including UO’s very own Professor Kate Mills in Psychology and alum Dr. Sarah Jaquette Ray) invite new approaches to how we bring others into awareness of just how much they care about the world and then what they can do to activate that caring.   

Editorial note: This letter from the office was created without the use of generative AI. It is our editorial policy that any uses of AI will be clearly cited and identified.  

The Get Inspired section features an interview or profile with a UO staff, faculty, student, or alum making a difference on campus and beyond. 

Paulina and her friends at Oregon v. Indiana College Game Day

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself: What are you studying and doing in school, and at what point are you in your undergraduate studies?

I’m Paulina Siri, a fourth-year student majoring in Environmental Studies with minors in Sustainable Business and Science Communication. I’ve always been curious about how our society and institutions shape the environment, and these programs have given me an awesome blend of courses to explore that passion.

Q: What are your current professional goals? 

In the near term, I’m looking for entry-level roles around energy consulting where I can combine my interests in strategy, people-focused work, and problem-solving. Long-term, I hope to build an organization that brings together people from diverse backgrounds to address energy challenges, because understanding differing perspectives is key to “getting it right” in this field.

Q: What is a Home Energy Score and how did you get involved with this topic? 

A Home Energy Score is an assessment that gives homeowners a snapshot of their home's energy use, like a fuel economy rating but for your house. A simple 1-10 scale communicates how efficient a home is and suggests steps to improve it. In October of my junior year, I was hired in the Office of Sustainability’s SCORE Program, where students become DOE Score Certified, learn building science principles and conduct energy assessments. This role was one of the most formative experiences of my college career and sparked my passion for energy work. 

Q: What has been the focus of your internship with the City of Eugene? 

My internship has been centered on helping communicate sustainability topics clearly to a range of audiences. I was initially hired to support staff in conducting engagement on a proposed Home Energy Score Ordinance, helping bring public input to the City Council. My experience conducting scores and speaking with homeowners allowed me to understand technical concepts and navigate varying perspectives that came up during this process. My role expanded into broader communication-oriented projects, including managing databases to identify new data points and leading a cross-departmental pilot project. 

Q: What are your hopes for a sustainable future, in Eugene and beyond? 

Staying optimistic can be hard at times, but through my courses and work experience, I've seen how many people are quietly and persistently working to improve their communities. I keep coming back to this idea of an "ecosystem of change”; a reminder that building a healthier, more resilient future takes all kinds of people in different roles. That perspective has kept me grounded, and my hope is that more people find their place in that ecosystem.

Q: Enough about formal stuff, what’s a fun fact (or two or three) about you?

In my free time I love to bake and cook for my friends and family. I grew up watching The Great British Bake Off and recently have been nerding out over Anthony Bourdain; I just finished his book and I'm working through every episode of No Reservations. When I'm not working or in the kitchen, you can find me hanging out with my friends, staying active, or planning a new side quest. (I’m headed to Europe for a month and a half after graduation!) 

In honor of Bike Month, we would like to share some recent updates from Transportation Services and invite your feedback on a new UO Commute Planning Tool currently in development.

Recent Updates include:

Enhanced employee onboarding materials: New UO employees can now quickly learn about transportation benefits and options (for example, the  UO new employee transportation flyer. Human Resources and other departments have these updated materials available to share.

Improved bus trip planning and live tracking: Employees can plan trips and track buses more easily using the free Transit App provided by Lane Transit District (LTD). We also encourage you to explore LTD’s significantly improved website.

Transportation Options Roadshow: We've developed a Transportation Options Roadshow presentation that departments can request for staff meetings.

Transportation events and engagement: We continue to coordinate fun and informative transportation events, including May is Bike Month. Visit the event list for details, including UO Bike to Campus Day on May 15.

Commuter rewards program relaunch: We are restarting a commuter rewards program through Get There Oregon. During May, UO employees can log trips to earn rewards such as a Cotopaxi Hip Pack.

Personalized commute support: We’re offering one-on-one commute planning assistance during several drop-in sessions this spring and hosting an FYI Fridays presentation focused on commute planning on May 1.

New Commute Planning Tool

We are excited to announce a new Commute Planning Tool for the Transportation Services website. Users can enter a starting location on an interactive map to receive travel itineraries and recommendations for getting to the Eugene campus. The tool prioritizes active and sustainable transportation modes.

Not all locations will display every travel option; itineraries are designed to reflect realistic commute choices. Please note that the tool does not include driving-alone itineraries.

Thank you for your continued engagement with transportation at UO!

As of this writing, AAA reports the average gas price in Oregon is $4.848/gallon while diesel is $5.859/gallon (current price). While there is mixed signaling on whether the Iran war might wind down soon, and on the timing for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, many experts are predicting that it will take some time for the oil supply chain to return to normal. In part this is because of needed infrastructure repair, and in part due to the time required for shipping fuel once it starts the journey from the Persian Gulf, which is often measured in weeks (depending on where it is going), so there will be an inevitable gap in deliveries once shipping resumes.

The spike in gas prices corresponds with a surge in availability of used electric vehicles (EVs) thanks to many 3-year-old vehicles coming off lease. Used EVs have depreciated faster than expected since the end of pandemic supply chain disruptions, and as a result purchase prices are favorable compared to similar internal combustion engine vehicles. But if gas prices do remain elevated, those discounts may not last for long, as we all remember from the high used EV prices during the pandemic.

The federal tax credit for used electric vehicles is gone, but Oregon’s $5,000 Charge Ahead rebate for eligible used vehicles still exists although it is presently suspended while awaiting additional funds. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has not yet announced when the program will open for 2026, but the rebate will become available at some point. Last year the program opened on May 22, but there is no policy setting a specific date.

One day left to explore all that ASUO Street Faire has to offer, including checking out the expanded recycling collection and reuse offered by UO Zero Waste and the Office of Sustainability. Look for special collections of hard-to-recycle items - open to the public during Street Faire.

Bring in your specialty recyclables during Street Faire (May 6-8, 2026):

-Food scraps for composting! (Useful if you don't eat all your lunch to save room for funnel cake...)
-Battery recycling (rechargeable batteries)
-Styrofoam
-Packing peanuts
-Electronics

Standard recycling will also be available for paper, cardboard, metal, drink cartons, glass beverage containers, and plastic (bottles, jugs, tubs, and jars).

Collections will be held during Street Faire Hours, 10 am-5:30 pm

Join us at the booth on the east end of Street Faire for an educational presentation and earn a reusable Spork-A-Knife. 

Bright ideas start here! Get your shop lit (responsibly) with LED lighting tubes available now at the UO Surplus store. Watts not to love? 

instagram.com/uo_surplus

Start treasure hunting today!

547 Q St store - Mon–Wed, 10 AM–5:20 PM

Faculty/staff hours at Romania warehouse - Fridays 10am-1pm and by appointment

The UO Surplus public store celebrates one year of operations at our Springfield location! Between the store and reuse on campus, UO Surplus diverted over 63 tons of materials from the landfill over the last year. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome as members of the public to come to the public store to purchase items for personal use. Surplus is also partnered with NextStep Recycling to offer home electronics, such as desktop and laptop computers, projectors, monitors and TVs, small appliances, sewing machines, speakers and sound systems, space heaters, air purifiers, and more.

Store hours - 547 Q St.:
Monday-Wednesday, 10am-5:20pm
1st Saturday of the month, 11am-3pm

Surplus also maintains a faculty and  staff reuse space at the Romania building. Romania items are free to faculty and staff on campus, when claimed for use as part of their official job duties. Surplus is currently located in the NE corner of the building, facing Transportation Services. Moving Services can deliver from the Romania location (but not the store).

Campus Reuse Center:
Friday, 10am-1pm, 2-4pm.

Thank you for your continued support of UO Surplus and materials reuse!

UO's greenhouse gas emissions data is now available on the Sustainability Data Dashboard. The energy flowchart shows which energy sources flow into the university's footprint, what they are used for, and their carbon pollution impacts. A key part of this year's story is the increase in air travel emissions from Athletics since UO joined the Big-10 conference. Explore the data yourself, including comparing to previous years, and feel free to make use of the downloaded data spreadsheets and graphics for your research!  

It's a treasured destination for fly-fishing and paddling, a soothing soundtrack to a mossy forest hike, the perfect spot for a waterfall photo op. From its headwaters in the Cascades to its confluence with the Willamette River just north of Eugene, the McKenzie River is a special place for many Oregonians.

For thousands of years, it’s helped sustain the communities, people, plants and animals who call this region home.

Today, the McKenzie River is also a living lab for University of Oregon scientists, students and community collaborators. Researchers working along the McKenzie River are studying watershed health, wildfire recovery and climate adaption. Their work is fostering a deeper understanding of how ecosystems change over time and building stronger connections to the resources in our backyard.

This year marked the 44th year for the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, the oldest and largest event of its kind. Aaron Isherwood, a managing attorney with the Sierra Club, has attended regularly since he was a UO law student in 1992. 

Few events unite activists, lawyers and grassroots organizations from around the world in the same way, Isherwood added. Over the years, he’s participated on panels and helped organize speakers. 

But what he values most about the conference is the community it cultivates, adding that it helps attendees realize they’re all part of a greater struggle. 

This year’s docket included film screenings, speakers, and award ceremonies. In law school classrooms, environmentalists from around the world learned about diverse topics and strategized during panel discussions. 

Lively conversations spilled into the hallways. The law school’s common areas, usually study zones, buzzed with animated conversation.  

Get your hands dirty to beautify campus on University Day, May 14th, anytime between 9-2pm! In partnership with UO Landscaping and Grounds and the Natural Areas Program, volunteers are invited to take part in a campus-wide beautification effort at the Millrace Natural Area.

Participants will help extend the Millrace nature trail and remove invasive plant species. This work supports a healthier ecosystem and prepares the area for a beautiful spring season. Whether you can stay for the whole event or just part of the day, your help makes a difference.

Come ready to work outdoors (rain or shine). Meet at the NW corner of Franklin Blvd and Onyx.  We look forward to seeing you there!

The Office of Sustainability offers monthly walking tours of sustainability features and practices at the Eugene campus. Tours occur monthly, and attendees learn about infrastructure, academic programs, and student groups, among other topics. The next tour will be Friday, May 22 from 11:10-12:10 pm. Meet at the Unthank Welcome Center. 

An amazing image captured by Enterprise IT Project Manager and unofficial campus natural areas photographer Anapam Katkar. 

Anupam notes: This barn swallow was photographed over the wild pea plants growing just to the west of the Willamette Riverfront Fields. The bee actually survived by closing her wings at the last moment and dropping like a rock. In the photo, you can also see how the barn swallow is using his nictitating membrane at the very last moment to protect his eyes from possible injury. 

Have a UO or Eugene/Springfield-related delight or a story idea to share? Send to sstoeckl@uoregon.edu.