During Climate Week NYC, around 60 individuals—including climate scientists, activists, students, professors, and communicators—gathered on Governors Island for a film screening focused on the importance of observation in understanding climate issues. The event was organized by The New York Climate Exchange in collaboration with Stony Brook University and the Science Communication Lab/Wonder Collaborative. The centerpiece was the documentary “OBSERVER,” which was released in March 2025.
The venue, a converted church on Governors Island, featured stained glass windows and red frames on stage, reflecting motifs from the film. “OBSERVER,” directed by Ian Cheney, documents scientists, artists, and other observers as they are taken to different locations around the world without prior knowledge of their destinations. They are then asked to describe what they see, revealing diverse perspectives on the environment.
One segment of the film follows two scientists, including biologist David Haskell, who participated in a Q&A session after the screening. They were brought to Sicily with only 48 hours’ notice. The film also travels to places like Greenland, Seoul, and Chile, showing how each observer’s background shapes their understanding of a place.
The event was funded through a grant obtained by J.D. Allen, a lecturer at Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism who specializes in climate communications. Sarah Goodwin, executive director of the Science Communication Lab, co-secured the funding.
After the screening, a panel discussion included Goodwin, Allen, Haskell, and producers Eliza Schiff and Meredith DeSalazar. Attendees then participated in an observational activity using replicas of the film’s red frames to describe parts of Governors Island’s landscape from their own viewpoints.
J.D. Allen highlighted the value of shared observation: “I think that as we learn to observe together with our individual expertise, we can find common ground on issues like clean energy, conservation and climate impact. When you bring many people together to build that story, you gain a deeper sense of what that reality is.”
David Haskell commented on reconnecting with local environments: “We live in a time where we can’t name the trees on our street or the sound of a bird’s calls. It is important to dig down where you are at home and learn about the world around you.”
Maryam Elfeky, a Stony Brook student who attended the event, reflected on its impact: “The film made me think about empathy, and how if more people could take the time to view those different perspectives, it could do so much good for the world.”
Financial support for the event came from grants provided by organizations including the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and Schmidt Sciences.
