Data Landscapes: Toward an art of environmental change

Climate Models use mathematical theories to describe how atmosphere, oceans, ice, solar energy, organisms and landmass interact with each other to produce the Earth's climate. Science uses them to predict and analyse how greenhouse gases such carbon dioxide influence climate systems. For members of the general public, understanding of these specialist images can be difficult, as they require specific knowledge of the functioning of ecological systems, underpinning maths and the graphical conventions used to represent phenomena. This proposed research network brings together a dozen researchers in science and art and design from the British Antarctic Survey, Universities of Westminster, Cambridge and Melbourne, industry specialists and public art platforms to find ways of representing this climate data through the production of art and design works. Despite the importance of Climate Models as contemporary visual forms, very little research that combines artistic and scientific research has previously been attempted that seeks make this material more publicly accessible and understandable.

The network provides a unique opportunity to do this by running a series of hands-on practical workshops and seminars in which art and design artifacts will be produced and the theoretical and public implications of research discussed over a 12-month period. These events culminate in a public exhibition and discussion of produced art works. Through these activities the network aims to:

- Bring art approaches into scientific research processes in order to enhance understanding of how art and design methods can help scientists produce more comprehensible images and animations of climate data.

- Gain understanding of how scientific Climate Models can be used as art media to inform digital arts practices concerned with producing art and design projects exploring the changing environment.

- Explore how Climate Models can function as expressive visual, narrative representations of environmental change beyond their original scientific purpose.

- Develop methods for exhibiting this work in ways that enable public access to it.

- Connect art and science, theory and practice to share expertise, and develop ideas and methods.

At completion a number of objectives will have been reached including: the construction and public exhibition of prototype artworks derived from climate data, the development of interdisciplinary methodologies that integrate scientific and art and design practices; academic papers detailing the methodological and theoretical insights produced by the network and a further substantial funding bid building on research leads. Lastly the network aggregates a substantial amount of multidisciplinary expertise that has the potential to act as an intellectual focus for further art-science collaborations in the field.

Research is expected to be of interest to a range of audiences including Art and Design scholars/practitioners, science, media, geography and other academics. Additionally research is expected to benefit public art institutions, science and outreach organizations interested in environmental change, curators and journalists working in the creative industries; members of the public interested in the arts and science and government and policy groups.

Tom Corby an artist from the University of Westminster and Nathan Cunningham, a data scientist from the British Antarctic Survey, manage the network, design workshop and seminar materials, and plan dissemination activities in conjunction with a part-time administrator. A steering group that includes Corby and Cunningham will meet during the course of the project to ensure the smooth running of the project and delivery of aims and objectives.

It is difficult to predict the precise form of impact, but the production of new ideas, methods and ways of representing environmental change are likely to produce varied cultural social and educational benefits for diverse sectors and research end-users. Suggestive project impacts and beneficiaries include:

- Independent art and design practitioners that seek to develop practices that respond to environmental change through access to new methodological approaches, expanded visual languages and enhanced technical capacity in studio practice.
- Raises awareness of environmental change for wider audiences through art production and exhibition. Leading to increased public understanding and participation in debates, knowledge and understanding of environmental issues, and enhanced life experience through access to cultural experience;
- Production of new audiences for the arts using environmental change as a route leading to raised participation in and engagement with cultural experiences thus benefiting UK creative industries.
- Raises awareness for public and private institutions (galleries, museums) of the importance of developing coherent responses to environmental change through this process and through access to, and participation in, the network's discussions.
- Improving strategic understanding for government, policy makers (DCMS, DECC) and climate advocacy groups (LWEC, International Polar Year, Royal Society of the Arts) of the role of the visual arts as a powerful medium for communication and route to public engagement in the area.
- Enhances understanding for government, public sector bodies and policy makers (DEFRA, Skillset) of the role of digital media as a platform through which increased public participation in debates around environmental change can occur.
- Develops the knowledge and understanding of digital and multidisciplinary practices for all network members. Participants benefit through increased skill development in emerging technology (cognitive growth) that positively impact on their future career and employment opportunities.
- Develops non-academic members of the network through change in understanding of how academic skills in analysis and critical reflection can contribute to wider debates around the representation of climate change.

Both the PI and Co/I have experience of managing knowledge transfer and impact activities that will underpin impact planning. To ensure outreach is maximised, regular meetings are scheduled throughout the project with core network members to identify and invite appropriate impact partners to participate. Many network members represent external organisations that already interface with other networks of potential research end-users that aids this process. A comprehensive mailing list will be drawn up to publicise the network to relevant individuals and organisations to ensure high visibility, encourage participation and publicise public events (exhibition/seminars). The project's Ning website also functions as a key component of this process. As a social network platform, it affords high-degrees of communication and participation, i.e. it is not simply a platform for project PR and the publishing of static materials. The Ning will contain a public forum where external participants can start their own topics and communicate with network members. The most engaged of these will be invited to participate in network events. Relevant Internet mailing lists and other online platforms have been identified and will publicise the Ning at project commencement alongside postal mail-outs.

Timescales: suggested benefits are intrinsic and difficult to track. That being said, impacts will begin to emerge from August 09 onwards. Others of a more substantive nature may be realized if further research funding is achieved, and will accrue 4 or 5 years from the end of this n