Climate Lab is a space for collaboration between climate researchers and artists, taking a ‘deep dive’ into the emotions that are usually sidelined by scientific methods.
Ignoring emotion in climate science impedes communication and connection, with a profound impact on our ability to act in the face of the Climate and Ecological Emergencies.
Climate Lab workshops are an experiment in bringing heart and head closer together in order to create pathways out of the inertia that currently besets universities in the face of climate change.
Can we take the expert viewpoint of climate scientists and engineers “outside of the box” of the scientific method?
What happens when we do?
Climate Labs
The Climate Lab is designed and hosted by Fern Smith and Marega Palser of Emergence,
a collaborative network of artists, change-makers and facilitators.
After a successul pilot run in 2022 in Swansea University, two Global Climate Labs were scheduled;
in May 2023 and in September 2023.
Rationale
Traditionally, and especially in science disiplines, researchers are expected to work objectively and logically, and expressing feelings is a “taboo”. However, for climate researchers, the daunting scale of the climate crisis means that suppressing their emotions can stifle effective communication with the public and even affect their mental health.
The Climate Lab challenges this tradition:
By bringing together artists and scientists, the Climate Lab demonstrates the importance of art and creative methods used to image, explore and encourage the processing of emotion related to climate change.
Interested?
We would love to hear from you!
Register your interest for a future event or contact us with your questions – All queries welcome.
Climate Lab participants said:
“I feel inspired to do more impactful work, and through Climate Lab I have found people to do it with.”
– Participant
“It has given me more optimism, enthusiasm and conviction about working in a university environment and using whatever influence I have to drive change.”
– Participant
“Climate Lab has given me a community of others who I know I can do things with.”
– Participant
About
The Climate Lab is an ongoing Swansea University project.
People
Creative Associates
Professor Tavi Murray, glaciologist, Physical Geography, Science and Engineering, Swansea University
Professor Kirsti Bohata, CREW, Arts and Humanities, Swansea University
Dr Anna Pigott, Writer, researcher and honorary lecturer in Human Geography, Climate Action and Activism, Swansea University
Dr Hanna Nuuttila, Marine science and climate resilience, Honorary Research Fellow, Swansea University
Dr Merryn Thomas, Centre for Aging and Dementia Research, Swansea University
Yanis Paikos, Technical support, Swansea
Dr Osian Elias, Director of Language Policy and Behaviour Change, IAITH, Carmarthenshire
Dr Ian Mabbett, Science and Engineering, Swansea University
Prof Owen Sheers, Professor of Creativity at Swansea University, poet and dramatist
Contact:
climatelabwales@gmail.com
Facilitators
The Climate Lab is designed and hosted by Fern Smith and Marega Palser of Emergence, a collaborative network of artists, change-makers and facilitators.
Artists
Carolina Caycedo is a multidisciplinary artist known for her performances, videos, artist’s books, sculptures, and installations that examine environmental and social issues.
Emily Hinshelwood; Poet, playwright, tutor, desk-top publisher, performer and curator of ‘Arts & Climate Change’ programme.
Christine Kettaneh; Lebanese artist based in Beirut. She investigates the boundaries of language and systems in research-based work that are simultaneously sculptural and performative.
Marega Palser; Dancer and performance based visual artist : growing a practise in body based activities – ’The Body Is Home’.
Tanya Syed who presents through the media of film, digital, installation and sculpture.
Funding
Global Climate Lab is made possible by funding from the Morgan Advanced Studies Institute at Swansea University (MASI) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Ethics
Global Climate Lab has received ethics approval from Swansea University.