Exploring the Psychology of Climate Change: Minha Hossain Receives the 2025 Dr. Lawrence Balter Excellence in Psychology Scholarship

November 17, 2025

Baruch College psychology major Minha Hossain (’26) has been awarded the 2025 Dr. Lawrence Balter Excellence in Psychology Scholarship, presented annually to a student who demonstrates exceptional academic promise and intellectual engagement in the discipline.

Hossain’s unique research lies at the intersection of psychology, climate studies, and cultural identity. Earlier this year, he presented his paper on climate change and parenthood at the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA) conference—his first professional presentation—where he received the Psi Chi EPA Regional Research Award. His study examined how climate anxiety shapes reproductive choices, revealing that non-parents are increasingly disinclined to have children due to environmental concerns, while parents often express a sense of resignation toward climate outcomes.

Born in New York and raised partly in Bangladesh, Hossain brings a deeply personal perspective to his research. “I saw my grandmother waking before sunrise just so she could cook before the heat of the day,” he recalls. “Neighbors would stack wooden planks at their doors in anticipation of floods. Those experiences made me realize that climate change isn’t only an environmental crisis—it’s a psychological one that reshapes how people make decisions about their lives.”

At Baruch, Hossain has distinguished himself through participation in the NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) and the CUNY Pipeline Program, both designed to prepare underrepresented students for graduate study. He is currently conducting an independent study on climate anxiety among college students, focusing on how environmental stress influences long-term life decisions, and developing his honors thesis on gendered stereotypes in responses to climate change.

Looking ahead, Hossain plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, specializing in clinical ecopsychology—a field exploring the interplay between environmental change and mental health. “My goal is to help create a more culturally responsive model of mental health care,” he explains, “one that recognizes how cultural identity and lived environment shape the ways people experience and cope with change.”

Hossain also hopes his journey can inspire others to pursue research that resonates with their own stories. “I want more students to explore questions that feel personally meaningful—something connected to who they are and where they come from,” he says. “That unique perspective is what helps us Baruch students stand out.”

The scholarship honoring Hossain’s achievements was established in 2017–2018 by Dr. Lawrence Balter (’60), Professor Emeritus of Applied Psychology at New York University, to celebrate excellence, curiosity, and compassion among Baruch’s psychology students.

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* This copy originally appeared in The Weissman Newsletter. Visit the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences to read about its undergraduate and graduate academic programs.