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Developing public communication methods by combining science, creative arts and intergenerational influence: the Trace Project

Developing public communication methods by combining science, creative arts and intergenerational influence: the Trace Project
Developing public communication methods by combining science, creative arts and intergenerational influence: the Trace Project
E-waste is one of the fastest growing global waste streams. As e-waste accumulates scientists struggle to communicate scientific findings and concepts effectively and expediently to the public in a way that raises awareness and inspires discussions. The TRACE (TRAnsitioning to a Circular Economy with creative artists) project was a collaboration between scientists, creative artists and primary schoolchildren to develop new ways to communicate to the public about e-waste. It combined i) intergenerational influence and ii) music / art to raise public awareness, educate and provoke discussion. Two musical performances by schoolchildren and two art exhibitions by a professional artist were created to evoke emotional responses to e-waste, particularly by imbuing e-waste with personality through anthropomorphism in their songs and artwork. Key findings indicate that awareness was raised in audiences, artists, schoolchildren, and their caregivers due to their involvement in the TRACE project; 99% of the audience reported a rise in awareness of e-waste issues; 70% of participants indicated an intention to change e-waste disposal; and 65% indicated an intention to change reuse and repair behaviour. Audiences demonstrated strong emotional reactions to the project alongside change in behavioural intent. The degree to which awareness was raised, and its intensity, demonstrates the viability of the use of intergenerational influence and the creative arts as tools to communicate environmental issues effectively. The project consequently won a prestigious 2021 UK National Recycling Award for (communication) Campaign of the Year (Large).
E-waste, Music, Art, intergenerational influence, communication
2611-4135
114 - 128
Brock, Alice
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Browning, Robin
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Campanie, Anca
565b6d69-b89e-410b-8ef2-ce1f475c928d
Pal, Susannah
f16607bc-92b1-47d7-92d3-c6aaa05f1386
Williams, Ian D.
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Brock, Alice
506feb54-f65a-46f1-b5fb-9ba4ac6e9b16
Browning, Robin
3dbc17e9-e994-4bd2-8a65-a1a3cd25e5de
Campanie, Anca
565b6d69-b89e-410b-8ef2-ce1f475c928d
Pal, Susannah
f16607bc-92b1-47d7-92d3-c6aaa05f1386
Williams, Ian D.
c9d674ac-ee69-4937-ab43-17e716266e22

Brock, Alice, Browning, Robin, Campanie, Anca, Pal, Susannah and Williams, Ian D. (2022) Developing public communication methods by combining science, creative arts and intergenerational influence: the Trace Project. Detritus, 21, 114 - 128. (doi:10.31025/2611-4135/2022.17230).

Record type: Article

Abstract

E-waste is one of the fastest growing global waste streams. As e-waste accumulates scientists struggle to communicate scientific findings and concepts effectively and expediently to the public in a way that raises awareness and inspires discussions. The TRACE (TRAnsitioning to a Circular Economy with creative artists) project was a collaboration between scientists, creative artists and primary schoolchildren to develop new ways to communicate to the public about e-waste. It combined i) intergenerational influence and ii) music / art to raise public awareness, educate and provoke discussion. Two musical performances by schoolchildren and two art exhibitions by a professional artist were created to evoke emotional responses to e-waste, particularly by imbuing e-waste with personality through anthropomorphism in their songs and artwork. Key findings indicate that awareness was raised in audiences, artists, schoolchildren, and their caregivers due to their involvement in the TRACE project; 99% of the audience reported a rise in awareness of e-waste issues; 70% of participants indicated an intention to change e-waste disposal; and 65% indicated an intention to change reuse and repair behaviour. Audiences demonstrated strong emotional reactions to the project alongside change in behavioural intent. The degree to which awareness was raised, and its intensity, demonstrates the viability of the use of intergenerational influence and the creative arts as tools to communicate environmental issues effectively. The project consequently won a prestigious 2021 UK National Recycling Award for (communication) Campaign of the Year (Large).

Text
DETRITUS 21-2022_pages 114-128_DJ-22-036
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More information

Published date: 31 December 2022
Keywords: E-waste, Music, Art, intergenerational influence, communication

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 473930
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/473930
ISSN: 2611-4135
PURE UUID: 6162ebaa-2f04-4007-a1d7-4727c3170e5a
ORCID for Ian D. Williams: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-0121-1219

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Date deposited: 06 Feb 2023 17:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:01

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Contributors

Author: Alice Brock
Author: Robin Browning
Author: Anca Campanie
Author: Susannah Pal
Author: Ian D. Williams ORCID iD

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