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

After a successul pilot run in 2022 in Swansea University, two Global Climate Labs were scheduled;
in May 2023 and in September 2023.

Climate Lab Swansea

Swansea University, 2022

Artists

Emily Hinshelwood | Marega Palser | Tanya Syed 

See / watch / listen to the creative responses

Global Climate Lab 1

Online, May-Nov 2023

Artists

Carolina Caycedo | Marega Palser

See / watch / listen to the creative responses

Global Climate Lab 2

Online, Sep-Dec 2023

Artists

Christine Kettaneh | Marega Palser

See / watch / listen to the creative responses

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

Resources

Resources – books, podcasts, films, articles, and courses related to climate distress, emotion, eco-therapy and more

Blog posts by Fern Smith (Climate Lab facilitator) about her Climate Lab journeys: Climate Lab Swansea and Global Climate Lab

About

The Climate Lab is an ongoing Swansea University project.

People

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.