Welcome to the world of solastalgia and beyond.
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This is a term coined by philosopher Dr Glenn Albrecht, a retired university professor of sustainability, author - and Duns Creek resident who will officially open the Paterson Allyn Williams Festival of Science on August 10.
The Science Hub's John O'Brien will have a discussion with Dr Albrecht about solastalgia - the peculiar feelings of loss and despair that many people, especially children, feel about the future of the planet.
The term solastalgia is now universally accepted and adopted by numerous artists in various mediums - including Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins who has an album of the same name.
While Dr Albrecht is internationally renowned for his work on solastalgia he said the talk would not be all focused on disaster and doom and gloom but equally cover his optimism for a bright future for the planet.
"The world is now experiencing some really horrendous climatic and environmental problems that are so in your face that people can't ignore them anymore," he said.
"Solastalgia is trying to explain how we are emotionally disturbed by what's happening to our home the earth on all scales, not just Dungog and then there's the opposite, which is the positive earth emotions that need to come from a change in the way that we live which is what I call Symbiocene."
Dr Albrecht will also locally launch his new book, Earth Emotions: New Words For A New World, which has just had its worldwide release and is published by Cornell University Press.
As a noted bird enthusiast the conversation will also feature a slide show of Dr Albrecht's nature photography including one of a grey goshawk who tried to steal one of his chickens.
Dr Albrecht's presentation at 3.30pm on Saturday, August 10 at The James Theatre kicks off the Science Festival.
More details on the week of activities including junior science on the street, a show and tell of inventions and the popular Scinema, the collection of scientific films, can be found on the Science Hub's web and Facebook pages.