Empowering Environmental Conversations
Named in memory of the sustainable planning advocate, longtime Wrigley Institute board member, and former mayor of Whittier, CA, the Delta Murphy Lecture highlights socially connected topics such as interactions between humans and the natural world, science communication, and environmental leadership.
2026 Delta Murphy Lecture: “How Free Market Thinking Has Blocked Climate Action”
Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Time: 12:00–1:30pm
Location: Mudd Hall of Philosophy, Room 203
For decades, Americans have been told that markets work best when government stays out of the way. But where did that idea come from—and how has it shaped our response to climate change? Join acclaimed historian Naomi Oreskes as she reveals how powerful interests helped make free-market thinking central to American life, how it stands in the way of meaningful climate action, and what history can teach us about moving forward.
Previous Delta Murphy Lectures
2025: “An Evening with Oliver Jeffers”
The 2025 lecture, hosted at the Los Angeles Central Library, featured acclaimed author and artist Oliver Jeffers speaking about his stories about Earth, the environment, and our shared future. With humor, imagination, and striking visuals, Jeffers makes big questions about climate, community, and care for our planet accessible to all ages.
Keynote Speaker:
Oliver Jeffers
Visual artist and author working in painting, bookmaking, illustration, collage, performance, and sculpture. His engagements and practice are truly international in scope. His critically acclaimed picture books have been the recipients of numerous awards, including a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award, TIME Best Book of the Year, and two Emmy Awards for the Apple TV adaptation of Here We Are: Notes For Living on Planet Earth.
2024: “From Stories to Solutions: Inspiring Climate Action through Immersive Narratives”
The 2024 lecture focused on leading storytellers who are using creativity and innovation to inspire action on climate change.
Keynote Speaker:
Jake Barton
Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Local Projects. Barton’s credits include the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. He is currently focused on creating immersive experiences that spark action around climate change.
Panelists:
Johanna Burton
Director, The Museum of Contemporary Art
Art Historian
Billy Zane
Film and TV Actor and Producer
Science Storytelling Consultant
The 2021 Delta Murphy Lecture, held virtually, brought together a distinguished panel of women scientists to discuss their experiences as researchers and leaders.
Dr. Carly Kenkel, a USC Biological Sciences professor, moderated the discussion. Panelists included:
Dr. Rita Colwell, microbiologist and founder of CosmosID, a bioinformatics company
Dr. Hope Jahren, geochemist and geobiologist with the University of Oslo (Norway) and author of the bestselling memoir Lab Girl
Dr. Dawn Wright, geographer and oceanographer and chief scientist at Esri, the leading producer of GIS mapping software
