As May sees the smashing of spring-time temperature records, it’s hard to avoid the reality of the changing climate and fear for the future. To explore climate anxiety, its impact on our wellbeing, and how we can respond more positively and proactively, we are delighted to welcome a varied panel of guest speakers, including journalists, practitioners, and academics. Join us to be part of the conversation.
5.30pm, Monday 22nd June
Darwin College
BBC – Photographer: Jude Edginton
Ben Rich
Ben is one of the BBC’s Lead Weather Presenters. He produces and presents weather forecasts across all the BBC’s main TV and radio channels, appearing regularly on the News at One, Six and Ten. He also reports on weather and climate stories across BBC News output.
Ben studied Geography at the University of Southampton before completing a Masters in Broadcast Journalism at University College Falmouth. He began his career as a newsreader and reporter at local and regional radio stations before joining the BBC as a weather presenter in 2009.
He trained as a meteorologist at the Met Office, completing the Initial Forecasting Course (IFC) and working as an aviation forecaster at RAF Northolt. Ben has also participated in the Reuters Institute’s Oxford Climate Journalism Network.
Svetlana Chigozie Onye
Svetlana Onye is a writer, climate journalist, and Head of The Eco-Anxiety Africa Project. Her work explores the psychological and gendered impacts of climate change, while creating pathways for resilience, well-being, and youth leadership.
Her journalism has appeared in publications including The Guardian and Carbon Brief. She has spoken at COP29 and COP30, contributing to conversations on transparent climate governance and meaningful youth participation. She also contributed to the first African Youth Position Paper on Climate Change and Health, championed by UNICEF.
She holds an MSc in Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice and is a TuWezeshe Young Women’s Leadership Fellow.
Dr Charles Ogunbode
Dr Charles Ogunbode is an Assistant Professor in Applied Psychology at the University of Nottingham, where he leads research on environmental psychology, climate emotions, and wellbeing.
His work spans over 50 publications in leading outlets including Nature Climate Change and Nature Human Behaviour. He currently leads a Canadian-government-funded research programme investigating climate change and mental health among urban youth in West Africa in collaboration with local partners.
Rosie Eacott
Rosie is a Researcher and UKCP-accredited Integrative Psychotherapist. She joined Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in 2024 as a PhD Researcher under the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship, investigating climate-related health risks to enable place-based wellbeing for ageing populations. Her research focuses on how vulnerable older communities in the East of England need to adapt to climate-related health challenges through community engagement and resilience-building to help identify priorities for action.
Alongside her academic work, Rosie has a private psychotherapy practice working with adults which includes eco-psychotherapy, building on her MSc research. She brings experience across both public and private sectors, including work within education, recruitment, and mental health services, and has lived and worked in Cambridgeshire for over 25 years.
