TransForming Environmental Communication: Combining the Practices of Filmmaking, Poetry and River Walking as a New Method of Ecological Thinking

This practice-as-research project will explore how the practices of walking, filmmaking and poetry can be combined to bring new perspectives to environmental communication through non-binary thinking. The project centres on the geography and interconnected ecologies of the River Wye, Rheidol and Severn who share their source at Plynlimon, Mid-Wales. I will use the gesture of walking to negotiate different physical entanglements with nature and to nurture a radical form of ecological documentary that challenges existing environmental communication through an embodied response to climate crisis. To achieve this, I will draw on theories of hydrofeminism, queer ecology and transmateriality, creating research outcomes that are also crucially designed to foster public engagement: first, I will produce a series of essay films based on encounters with river ecologies; second, I will produce an interactive map of creative river samples in the digital realm that will be delivered via a dedicated website; finally, the project will result in a public exhibition of film and poetry.