Our Story
Climate Crisis Café originated as a biweekly coffee meet-up between two friends. In the summer of 2022, Nolan Scharper and Mallory Furlong were working as research assistants under Professor Simon Appolloni at the University of Toronto. Their research focussed on climate anxiety and how this manifests for post-secondary students.
Throughout their research, Nolan and Mallory would meet for coffee to discuss the work they’d been doing. They would compare notes, share findings, and, more often than not, end up talking about their own climate anxiety. They quickly realized that these conversations were helping them to manage their own eco-emotions and they thought to themselves, “How can we help other people with this?”
And Climate Crisis Café was born!
Meet The Founders
Mallory Furlong (she/her) holds a Master of Science in Sustainability Management and a Bachelor of Environmental Science, both from the University of Toronto. She has a broad range of experience in education, social media and communications, tourism, and the entertainment industry, which gives her a unique perspective on her work. Mallory is currently working as a Project Coordinator, Grid Innovation at Alectra Utilities’ GRE&T Centre supporting Vehicle-to-Grid projects and the transition to a cleaner energy system.
Nolan Scharper (he/him) is a PhD student at York University’s Department of Environmental and Urban Change. He has previously worked as a programming coordinator at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, ON. His research interests include eco-anxiety, ecological restoration, and digital ecosystems.
Want to talk more? Email us! climatecrisiscafe@gmail.com
