Thursday 6th Feb 2025 @ 7:00 pm –
Thursday 6th Feb 2025 @ 9:00 pm
South Perth Uniting Church (entrance on Sandgate St.)

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, yet it remains a divisive topic, including within Christian communities. This talk explores the complex dynamics of climate science denial in communities, distinguishing denial and avoidance from healthy scepticism or questioning. We will examine the scientific foundations of climate change, address common arguments against climate science and discuss the historical journey for reaching consensus, which involved many sceptics. We will also explore the roots of climate science denial in religious communities, the intersections with other ideologies, such as anti-government sentiment, and how these challenges relate to broader societal attitudes toward science and faith. For non-religious audiences, we will consider how to foster coexistence and meaningful dialogue, emphasising the importance of respective engagement and recognising diversity of thought within faith communities. For Christians, we will discuss biblical principles of stewardship, care for the vulnerable and humility, alongside practical examples of faith-driven environmental action. In emphasising the need for respect and grace, this talk aims to inspire care for the planet by engaging with the moral and spiritual dimensions of this critical issue. Ultimately, this talk invites us—whether religious or non-religious—to reflect on how we can approach climate change and its challenges with respect, humility and a commitment to truth.
About the speaker
Dr Jacob Martin is a lecturer in Physics and Astronomy at Curtin University. His research is focused on carbon materials science for energy storage materials and decarbonisation. He has a passion for communicating science through articles and podcasts with the ABC and COSMOS magazine, public lectures including TEDx and an art exhibition at the Science Art Gallery Bengaluru. He also completed an ABC TOP5 Science Media Residency in 2022. He received his PhD in 2019 at the University of Cambridge studying air pollution reduction and decarbonisation. In 2020 he was a research fellow at the Cambridge Centre for Carbon Reduction in Chemical Technology in Singapore. In 2021 he took up a Forrest Fellowship to study energy storage materials at Curtin University.
Getting there
Enter South Perth Uniting Church via Sandgate St., parking is available on Sandgate St or Hampden St.
Other notes
- Tea and coffee refreshments
- For any questions and/or RSVP (not essential), email peterthomas@iscast.org