Environmental magazine breaks ground at LT

Climate change has reached across the world, leaving no one unthreatened by its drastic and quickly approaching effects. Young people have no escape and must face the realities of science, whether it is waiting for the next step to resolving a pandemic or learning each new way climate change attacks the future. Though climate change is not an easy or very exciting topic, F(earth)er magazine aims to make the discussion more interesting and engaging.

F(earth)er magazine is an environmental magazine started by Lane Tech senior Ava Hedeker who hopes to put a new spin on providing environmental knowledge. Hedeker’s team of writers is built up of high school and college students, all with their own unique interests and perspectives.

A statement from the magazine says, “Many individuals have come to believe that in order to help the environment, they must be interested in science…there are several other academic subjects that connect to the environment and are essential for climate action.” Through connecting other subjects to the climate crisis, the magazine is opening up space for change from every perspective, regardless of an individual’s backgrounds or interests, broadening the relevancy of this subject.

The magazine traces back to 2019, where Hedeker attributes her inspiration for the magazine to the book The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells. “It truly shifted my perspective on environmentalism,” Hedeker said. “It demonstrated how political issues are integrally related to climate change.” After recognizing this, Hedeker said she realized she could “utilize (her) interests in the social sciences to help achieve climate action.” Instead of the book scaring her, it did the opposite. It motivated her.

When creating her magazine, Hedeker says her hopes were “to help others find their own ‘aha’ moment when it comes to discovering how their own academic interests can align with helping the environment.” Environmental science is not limited to science students: people pursuing careers in healthcare, business, or art can find ways to contribute to improving the environment.

Another writer at the magazine, Giorgia Fiorani, a freshman at DePaul University, joined because of her interest in environmentalism, and F(earth)er magazine gave her a way to get involved. “I feel like writing for F(earth)er has given me a voice in the climate movement,” Fiorani said, “It feels good to know that you are doing something that is helping bring awareness.”

F(earth)er Magazine is not just a magazine helping bring environmental awareness to their audience, it is also an outlet for the writers. It gives young people a chance to be involved in something bigger than themselves, all while providing readers with new and interesting ways of looking at the climate crisis.

Read F(earth)er magazine at: https://feartherco.wixsite.com/fearther