Joshua Hart, associate professor of psychology, collaborated with two professors at the University of South Florida on an op-ed for The Conversation, "Time to Freak Out? How the existential terror of hurricanes can fuel climate change denial."

The three explain how climate-change denial functions as a psychological defense against the existential fear sparked by extreme weather events like Florida's recent hurricanes, as the threat of species annihilation can be too overwhelming to confront.

Additionally, for some, acknowledging climate change threatens core ideologies that provide a sense of stability and purpose, leading (ironically) to a stronger denial response when natural disasters occur. They argue for reframing climate change as a shared, actionable challenge, integrating solutions into ideologies that can empower collective resilience and meaningful action.

Hart joined Union in 2007.