Art from my recently published article: Species Loss: Exploring Opportunities with Art-Science, was featured on the cover of the journal of Integrative and Comparative Biology!
In this article my co-authors and I discuss art and science interdisciplinary work, with a focus on the art-science collaborations in my eco-art case studies.
This work will be presented at the upcoming Ecological Society of America conference in New Orleans (August 2018), the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities in Athens Georgia (November 2018), and at the Balance and Unbalance Symposium in Rotterdam (September 2018).
You can read the article here:
Harrower, J., Parker, J., Merson, M., 2018 Species Loss: Exploring Opportunities with Art-Science. Journal of Integrative and Comparative Biology: https://doi.10.1093/icb/icy016
Abstract
Human-induced global change has triggered the sixth major extinction event on earth with profound consequences for humans and other species. A scientifically literate public is necessary to find and implement approaches to prevent or slow species loss. Creating science-inspired art can increase public understanding of the current anthropogenic biodiversity crisis and help people connect emotionally to difficult concepts. In spite of the pressure to avoid advocacy and emotion, there is a rich history of scientists who make art, as well as art–science collaborations resulting in provocative work that engages public interest; however, such interdisciplinary partnerships can often be challenging to initiate and navigate. Here we explore the goals, impacts, cascading impacts, and lessons learned from art–science collaborations, as well as ideas for collaborative projects. Using three case studies based on Harrower’s scientific research into species interactions, we illustrate the importance of artists as a primary audience and the potential for a combination of art and science presentations to influence public understanding and concern related to species loss.