5.10 We Get One Planet // Dr. Jessica Murfree

During this walk, Dr. Jessica Murfree speaks to us about how sport can be used as a tool to understand climate change. A Georgia native, Dr. Murfree has attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill to pursue a her life long dreams to become a veterinarian. After learning she was no longer experiencing joy in academic study, she changed her major, told her parents "just watch, I'll show you," and pivoted her focus to pursue a career in sports. During graduate school, she discovered that she can combine her love for both sport and the natural environment through the study of sport ecology. She earned her doctoral degree from the University of Louisville and has not looked back. Dr. Murfree is a sport ecologist, researcher, and professor who studies how people come to know the realities of climate change through sport. A Forbes 30 under 30 recipient, she has been invited to speak, train, and teach all over the world, most recently the 2023 Sport Positive Summit in London. She lso went to the Falcons v Jaguars game in the U.K. Discussion points during the episode include: How are we raising questions about the environment during diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conversations? Environmental sustainability: What are the policies, initiatives, and ideas being shared? Who are the beneficiaries? Franchise relocation as an environmental adaptation strategy (e.g, potentially the Jacksonville Jaguars) Social justice issues with deep roots of environmental racism (e.g. Black folks relationship with water) What are our individual roles to help protect the planet? How can sport be used to drive and facilitate conversations and initiatives right now? We get one planet. Let's protect it. Leveraging sport will help. Let's walk. Dr. Murfree's website: https://www.jessicamurfree.com