Dana R. Fisher
As unfair as it may seem, the future is up to us. These times will not be easy or pain-free. But unless we get realistic about the path that we are on, too many of us will be caught off guard…We must all work together to make our communities more resilient in the face of climate shocks.
About
Dana R. Fisher is a dynamic speaker and author. She studies democracy, civic engagement, activism, and climate politics. Her most recent books are Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action (Columbia University Press 2024) and American Resistance: From the Women’s March to the Blue Wave (Columbia University Press 2019).
In 2024, she delivered a TED talk about being an apocalyptic optimist. She has published seven books and more than 80 chapters and peer-reviewed articles, including in Nature, Science Advances, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Fisher currently serves as the Director of the Center for Environment, Community, & Equity (CECE) and a Professor in the School of International Service at American University. She is also a Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Governance Studies program at The Brookings Institution. She regularly writes for the media and hosts the Apocalyptic Optimist Podcast. She has presented her work to the US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, federal agencies, foundations, presidential campaigns, and other political organizations. Fisher served as a Contributing Author for Working Group 3 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Review (IPCC AR6) writing about citizen engagement and civic activism. For more information, go to www.danarfisher.com
Dana R. Fisher calls herself an “apocalyptic optimist” based on her research as a sociologist of large social movements. Her studies suggest that ever-increasing climate disasters will get people out in the streets demanding the action we need. She breaks down how to cultivate resilience to catastrophe in yourself and your community — and how to rally for change in the face of seemingly intractable problems.
