Data Landscapes: Toward an art of environmental change

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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.