Not everything has to be doom or denial, all or nothing. This month's picks make the case for nuance, whether we're facing a warming planet, celebrating a leader's steady leadership through turbulent times, or deciding when (and whether) to reach for AI.
What’s Making Us Curious?
Control, Influence, Accept
“Even though it’s sometimes hard to read articles that detail just how bad our global climate situation is, I appreciated this one for walking a line ‘between denial and doomerism.’ In ‘These Fires Will Burn for 100 Years,’ Anya Kamenetz of The Golden Hour asks why our current situation is so hard to talk about, and argues that even though cutting emissions won't undo what's already here, that's no reason to give up. She presents a ‘control, influence, accept’ framework to avoid completely shutting down, and points to real reasons for hope, like clean energy advancements, climate justice efforts, and small local wins.”
— Stephanie
Reflecting on Lonnie Bunch’s Resignation
“With the news of Lonnie Bunch’s resignation as Secretary of the Smithsonian, I took a dive into his past publications. He led the Smithsonian through what many might call a chaotic period of time, with the grace and perspective that must be shaped in part by his professional training as a historian. He was the leader we needed, particularly as we commemorated America’s 250th birthday.”
— Amanda
4 Questions to Disrupt the AI Narrative
“In her most recent newsletter Rachel Ropeik shared a tool that she created called Ask Yourself Before You Ask AI, a guide that features 4 questions she asks herself before using AI. I appreciate how they help subvert a ‘predetermined social narrative’ about AI that we’re damned if we do, damned if we don’t. It’s always more nuanced than that! Here’s the first one as a teaser: ‘Do I have a concrete question, or am I in an uncertain situation that’s making me uncomfortable?’”
— Hannah
New on the Learning Hub
What’s New At Kera?
Hannah was at the Eiteljorg recently in Indianapolis to interview Native invited artists at 2026 Great Lakes Native Art Convening. This year’s theme was weaving, and she got to learn so much about North American Indigenous weaving practices and specific Anishinaabe traditions.
We completed our summative evaluation of APAC’s How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories exhibition during its residency at NMAH. Learn more about the project on our website.
Katie traveled to the Cape Fear Museum in North Carolina to train data collectors to support our upcoming evaluation of their newly opened Science Matters exhibition.
Moment of Wonder
“Every September during the Monarch butterflies’ migration, we get at least one batch of Monarch caterpillars that hatch on the Butterfly Weed in our backyard. This year was the first time I was able to capture a caterpillar changing into its chrysalis, and it was so different than I imagined it would be. I was surprised at how the transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis came in this quick burst of hard work. And after all that work, the transformation continues quietly under the surface before the butterfly eventually emerges from the chrysalis. It was a welcome reminder that change and growth can come in fits and starts."
— Katie
