Dr Gabi Mocatta is a climate social scientist whose research focuses on communicating climate science and climate-driven hazards, as well as building public climate literacy. Gabi is a Senior Research Fellow in Climate Science Communication with Climate Futures, School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania. Dr Mocatta is a 2025 Fulbright Fellow, visiting the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University and in the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Gabi is an Associate Deputy Editor of the journal Climatic Change.
Contact Information
gabi.mocatta@utas.edu.au
Website
Google Scholar
Gabi Mocatta
Senior Research Fellow, Climate Futures, University of Tasmania
Selected Publications
“Mocatta, G., Mayes, E., Hess, K., & Hartup, M. E. (2023). The trouble with ‘quiet advocacy’: local journalism and reporting climate change in rural and regional Australia. Media, Culture & Society, 45(1), 157-177.
Mocatta, G., Allen, K., & Beyer, K. (2022). Towards a conceptual framework for place-responsive climate-health communication. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 7, 100176.
Mocatta, G., Saville, S., Payne, N., Lai, J., Jansson, L., & Hess, K. (2024). Covering the Planet: Assessing the state of climate and environmental journalism globally. A report for Internews’ Earth Journalism Network. Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. http://doi.org/10.26187/6wxa-t669”
Courses Taught
KGA104 Introduction to the Science of Climate Change
KGA105 Responding to Climate Change
KEA105 Natural Hazards and Disasters
Climate Change Communication: https://www.futurelearn.com/microcredentials/climate-change-communication
In the Media
MEDIA INTERVIEW
Repeating climate denial claims makes them seem more credible, Australian-led study finds
8 Aug 2024
Interview with The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/08/repeating-climate-denial-claims-makes-them-seem-more-credible-australian-led-study-finds
MEDIA INTERVIEW
Just 2 Degrees
21 Jun 2024
Television/online interview for TRT World on the ‘Covering the Planet’ study of climate and environmental journalism
MEDIA INTERVIEW
Nearly half of journalists covering climate crisis globally received threats for their work
5 Jun 2024
Media coverage in The Guardian of research study on climate and environmental journalism.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/05/climate-crisis-journalists
MEDIA PUBLICATION
‘How long before climate change will destroy the Earth?’: research reveals what Australian kids want to know about our warming world
21 Mar 2024
https://theconversation.com/how-long-before-climate-change-will-destroy-the-earth-research-reveals-what-australian-kids-want-to-know-about-our-warming-world-226122
MEDIA INTERVIEW
Can journalism do a better job covering climate change?
12 Sep 2023
Interview with Cosmos Magazine, the publication of the Royal Institution of Australia
https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/climate/can-journalism-do-a-better-job-covering-climate-change/
MEDIA INTERVIEW
Q&A: School students connecting with experts on climate change
9 Nov 2022
Interview with Teacher Magazine about Curious Climate Schools
https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/q-a-school-students-connecting-with-experts-on-climate-change
MEDIA PUBLICATION
How well does the new Australian curriculum prepare young people for climate change?
23 May 2022
How well does the new Australian Curriculum prepare young people for climate change?
MEDIA INTERVIEW
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp pivots on climate change
9 Nov 2021
Interview about News Corp’s attempt to change its long-held climate denial narrative
https://www.npr.org/2021/11/09/1053932111/rupert-murdochs-news-corp-pivots-on-climate-change-louise-erdrichs-the-sentence
LEARN MORE
MEDIA PUBLICATION
Children deserve answers to their questions about climate change. Here’s how universities can help
19 Oct 2021
https://theconversation.com/children-deserve-answers-to-their-questions-about-climate-change-heres-how-universities-can-help-169735#:~:text=Universities%20can%20be%20leaders%20in,just%20this%20kind%20of%20leadership.
MEDIA PUBLICATION
What’s behind News Corp’s new spin on climate change?
18 Oct 2021
https://theconversation.com/whats-behind-news-corps-new-spin-on-climate-change-169733
Education
“BA (Hons) Modern European Languages, Durham University
MA Political Science, University of Melbourne
PhD Environmental Communication, University of Tasmania”
Recent Accomplishments
Fulbright Fellowship, George Mason University and University of Colorado Boulder
Dissertations Supervised
“EXTERNAL PHD/MASTERS SUPERVISION
Communicating the climate change emergency in rural communities
1 Dec 2023
EXTERNAL PHD/MASTERS SUPERVISION
(Re) Focusing Everyday Voices: Social representations of climate change impacts in the Philippines and Australian media
15 Oct 2023
EXTERNAL PHD/MASTERS SUPERVISION
Short stories based on scientific abstracts as a creative tool to communicate science
3 Apr 2023
EXTERNAL PHD/MASTERS SUPERVISION
Nitrous oxide, the forgotten greenhouse gas and its coastal sources
1 Mar 2023
HONOURS SUPERVISION
Representations of Animal Agriculture and Climate Change in Australian Media
1 Jun 2022 – 1 Aug 2023
Deakin University
MASTERS BY COURSEWORK SUPERVISION
The empathetic turn during COVID-19: Australian and New Zealand government communication with publics to motivate behavioural change
22 Feb 2022 – 31 Oct 2023
Deakin University
EXTERNAL PHD/MASTERS SUPERVISION
Environmental Communication for Climate Change Adaptation using Participatory WebGIS
1 Aug 2021
EXTERNAL PHD/MASTERS SUPERVISION
Media representation of brumby management
30 Nov 2020
MASTERS BY COURSEWORK SUPERVISION
An investigation of digital media use by NPOs in crisis communication, A pathway to improved reputation and donor relations?
16 Feb 2020 – 20 Jun 2020
Deakin University
HONOURS SUPERVISION
Science communication as praxis: creating and interrogating science journalism, and its capacity to call for social change
3 Feb 2019 – 15 Oct 2019
University of Tasmania”