Sarah Silbiger/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty; Araya Doheny/Getty Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's eldest child, Violet Affleck, published an academic research paper in Yale University's Global Health Review The Sunday, May 18, paper included how she found herself shocked by her own family's misunderstanding of the ongoing climate crisis The college student also drew comparisons between the public health protocols during both the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic Violet Affleckcontinues to use her voice to find solutions for public health. Ben AffleckandJennifer Garner's eldest child is currentlya freshman at Yale Universityand publishedan academic research paperin the school's Global Health Review on Sunday, May 18. Violet, 19, who has been outspoken about public health and theCOVID-19 pandemic, recalled her experience of living through the Los Angeles wildfires that devastated the Pacific Palisades in January. The student explained that, along with finding similarities between the response to the wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, she found that she and her mother had different interpretations of the dangerous situation. "I spent the January fires in Los Angeles arguing with my mother in a hotel room," she explained. Garner, 53, was "shell-shocked, astonished at the scale of destruction," Violet wrote. Despite that, Violet was confused by her mother's reaction. "As a lifelong Angelena and climate-literate member of generation Z, my question had not beenwhetherthe Palisades would burn butwhen." Eric Thayer/Getty She also noted that the miscommunication wasn't just between her and her mother, but with her younger brother,Samuel, 13, as well. "'Did globalwarminghave to do with the speed of thewind?' " she recalled Samuel asking. She continued, "Hopefully, most of us understand the climate crisis better than my little brother." Garner and the Oscar winner, 52, who were married from 2005 to 2018, share three children: Violet, 16-year-oldSeraphinaand Samuel. Violet concluded her paper by comparing public health protocols administered during climate disasters and airborne disease transmission. She also argued that climate scientists should recognize the "methods and the political commitments" that COVID-conscious and disabled people have made. Sarah Silbiger/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Before her college career, Violet appeared at aLos Angeles County Board of Supervisors meetingin July 2024 to discuss COVID-19 precautionary measures. During the public comment section, Violet called to keep mask bans at bay, likely in response to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass discussing in June the possibility of creating a mask ban that particularly targeting protesters, according toThe Guardian. She also opened up about a private health matter she faced five years earlier: a post-viral condition. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Garner has continuously celebrated how her daughter is a "self-starter." And in a November 2023Live with Kelly and Markappearance, she said, "I'm proud of her no matter what." Earlier that year, in April 2023, Garnerspoke about parenthood to PEOPLE. "I mean, I'm learning as much from them, or more from them, than they'll ever learn from me," the actress shared. Read the original article onPeople
