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“National Geographic, for decades, has been a standard-bearer for disseminating information about the scientific realities of the world around us and what we’re doing to change it,” Muller said in his presentation, but said he felt perhaps a “human dimension” was missing that he could turn his lens to.

Muller was granted a National Geographic storytelling fellowship for his project, which will be featured in the April National Geographic, a special issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

The conversation below is a combination of a brief interview and questions addressed on stage and has been edited for length.

Q. When did you first hit on the concept of solastalgia?

A. Solastalgia, yeah, I heard it in a documentary film that National Geographic distributed, I want to say that was maybe like the summer of 2016, maybe (2017), but several years ago.

Q. What’s your sort of thumbnail explanation of solastalgia?

A. I’m careful to always credit the theorist (Albrecht) who came up with this, whenever I’m talking about it, because I’m really kind of interrogating his idea. What he would say is, it is it’s the homesickness you have while you’re still at home. The familiarity of the landscape has been altered in such a way that you no longer feel that sense of comfort you once did. But yeah, he would even say the bumper sticker definition is the homesickness you have at home.

Q. From your work, what leaves you despondent, and what gives you a sense of hope, as a species, for the future?