Olivia Erskine, a recent graduate of the University of Georgia’s MAEE with a focus in Science Communication, has made significant strides in understanding how climate change intersects with food security and community well-being. Olicia was part of the Lamm Lab at UGA, with research focused on the role of community gardens in adapting to the impacts of climate change—particularly in terms of food sustainability, health, and social connections.

In her recent study, published in the Journal of Applied Communications, Erskine explored U.S. adults’ motivations for engaging in community gardens and their recognition of the importance of climate-smart adaptations to ensure these gardens can continue to thrive. The study, co-authored by Dr. Alexa Lamm, Dr. Kevan Lamm, and Dr. Catherine Sanders revealed most respondents engaged in community gardens for health and social reasons, and they also assign significant importance to the integration of climate-smart strategies to safeguard these gardens against climate impacts.
Erskine’s work emphasizes the need for environmental communicators to develop messaging that underscores the risk of losing these health and social benefits if climate change is not addressed. As climate change intensifies, local, resilient food systems like community gardens become increasingly vital to ensuring a steady supply of fresh, affordable food.
Looking ahead, Erskine’s research calls for further exploration of how factors such as rurality, food access, and socioeconomic status influence people’s engagement with community gardening and their willingness to adopt climate-smart practices. Her findings offer valuable insights into how we can build more sustainable, adaptive food systems in the face of climate change. To read the full article, visit Journal ofApplied Communications: Volume 10, Issue 4, Article 3.