Lauren examines why people make the choices they do about the environment and how fostering communities of care – and recognizing the emotions involved in decision-making – can help to achieve sustainable and equitable planetary goals.
She is a deeply interdisciplinary scholar, with experience in social psychology, philosophy, and pro-environmental behaviour change, with current research interests on climate communication and behaviours, emotions, gender equity, and deathcare studies. Her doctoral research examined human responses to life-threatening water crisis communication and the gender biases that emerged within those responses.
Prior to her doctoral studies, Lauren founded a cleantech startup to tackle the microplastic problem.
Experience
Lauren is a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow (2024-2026) at RRU working with Dr. Wolfe and their Society, Environment, and Emotions Lab colleagues.
Beyond her research on emotions, gender equity, and climate communication, they volunteer with several deathcare initiatives.
Lauren resides in Waterloo, Ontario on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaaabeg, and the Neutral / Attawandaron peoples.
Education
2023
PhD in Social and Ecological Sustainability
University of Waterloo
2017
Master of Sustainability Management – WATER
University of Waterloo
2017
Certificate in Environmental Assessment
University of Waterloo
2014
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (Hon.), Minors: Biology; Environment and Resource Studies
N/A
2010
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minor: Philosophy
N/A
Awards
2024
Postdoctoral Fellowship
SSHRC
2020
Doctoral Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
SSHRC
2019
Gender Equity Research Grant: Wolfe, S. & Smith, L.
University of Waterloo
2019
Innovation in Plastics
Clean50 Emerging Leader
Research
Research interest
Pro-environmental behaviour
Emotions
Gender
Publications
Lifshin, U., Wolfe, S. E., Smith, L. K. M., Syropoulos, S., Fritsche, I., and Hess, F. (in press, 2025). “The Nature problem: Wilderness, animals, and the human body.” Chapter in Handbook of the Science of Existential Psychology. Edited by K. Vail, D. Van Tongeren, B. Schlegel, J. Greenberg, L. King, and R. Ryan. (Invited)
Smith, L. K. M., Wolfe, S. E. (in press, 2025). Beyond the watery grave: Death and water reminders as (un)expected ways to increase pro-environmental identity and behavior. PsyEcology, 16(1).
Ross, H., Jones, D. M., Ling, C., Smith, L. K. M., & Wolfe, S. E. (2024). Evidence of emotions and psychological defences in urban water efficiency campaigns’ communications. Water International. doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2024.2396794
Smith, L. K. M., Wolfe, S. E. (2023). Dead in the water: Mortality messaging in water crisis communication and implications for pro-environmental outcomes. People and Nature. doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10505
Smith, L. K. M., Ross, H., Shouldice, S., & Wolfe, S. E. (2022). Mortality management and climate action: A review and reference for using Terror Management Theory methods in interdisciplinary environmental research. WIREs Climate Change, 5(4), e776. doi.org/10.1002/wcc.776
Smith, L. K. M., Lynes, J. K, & Wolfe, S. E. (2019). Community-based social marketing–Creating lasting, sustainable, environmental change: Case study of a household stormwater management program in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario. Social Marketing Quarterly, 25(4), 308-326. doi.org/10.1177/1524500419883288 (IF = 3.0)