Stories in the dust: the arts as a medium to communicate climate science
Stories in the dust: the arts as a medium to communicate climate science
Modern society urgently needs to address dangerous climate change. This is hugely challenging and requires active public engagement. Many political, environmental, social, technological, legal, and economic approaches have been trialled, but only slow progress has been achieved. Scientists universally face considerable difficulties in communicating research findings to the public in an effective manner. Historically, scientific communication has focused on public education and raising awareness. However, recent studies have highlighted that ideology, not knowledge, best predicts environment-related attitudes and behaviour and hence emotion-based approaches are being tested. This paper provides an overview of techniques used for scientific communication and makes the case that new, more impactful methods are necessary. We outline an interdisciplinary approach that combines science and theatre to generate a co-created show that applies intergenerational influence combined with emotional responses and personification to help promote pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. Stories in the Dust (SITD) is a theatre show for ages 5-12 with themes of climate change, displacement, and hope. SITD was initially devised by two actors who tested the show concept, receiving positive feedback from research & development period in partnership with a primary school and a university professor who acted as a scientific and educational consultant to engage participants & develop show/wraparound content. The show went on tour October to November 2023, with pictures, reviews, and resources available on a dedicated website. Reflections on the approach detail what worked well, what challenges were faced, how practice could be replicated elsewhere, how innovations may be sustained, and future aspirations and plans. The SITD team’s plan is to provide entertaining and thought-provoking theatre shows that provide employment for the arts community as well as improving the way that scientists engage in scientific communication.
Climate change, Interdisciplinarity, Scientific Communication, Theatre, intergenerational influence, Behaviour change
129-145
Document for the Key Cities Innovation Network
Williams, Ian
c9d674ac-ee69-4937-ab43-17e716266e22
Harriott, Anna
6923daaa-9dfe-437f-85e0-d3661b679e4d
Johnson, Iona
bd08d8ef-24e7-4991-94af-5fe498a2df43
23 April 2024
Williams, Ian
c9d674ac-ee69-4937-ab43-17e716266e22
Harriott, Anna
6923daaa-9dfe-437f-85e0-d3661b679e4d
Johnson, Iona
bd08d8ef-24e7-4991-94af-5fe498a2df43
Williams, Ian, Harriott, Anna and Johnson, Iona
(2024)
Stories in the dust: the arts as a medium to communicate climate science.
In,
Hinfelaar, Maria and de Graaf, Kasper
(eds.)
Civic Partners in Net Zero: Innovative approaches to universities working with their places to achieve net zero targets.
(Urban Innovation, 1)
Document for the Key Cities Innovation Network, .
Record type:
Book Section
Abstract
Modern society urgently needs to address dangerous climate change. This is hugely challenging and requires active public engagement. Many political, environmental, social, technological, legal, and economic approaches have been trialled, but only slow progress has been achieved. Scientists universally face considerable difficulties in communicating research findings to the public in an effective manner. Historically, scientific communication has focused on public education and raising awareness. However, recent studies have highlighted that ideology, not knowledge, best predicts environment-related attitudes and behaviour and hence emotion-based approaches are being tested. This paper provides an overview of techniques used for scientific communication and makes the case that new, more impactful methods are necessary. We outline an interdisciplinary approach that combines science and theatre to generate a co-created show that applies intergenerational influence combined with emotional responses and personification to help promote pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. Stories in the Dust (SITD) is a theatre show for ages 5-12 with themes of climate change, displacement, and hope. SITD was initially devised by two actors who tested the show concept, receiving positive feedback from research & development period in partnership with a primary school and a university professor who acted as a scientific and educational consultant to engage participants & develop show/wraparound content. The show went on tour October to November 2023, with pictures, reviews, and resources available on a dedicated website. Reflections on the approach detail what worked well, what challenges were faced, how practice could be replicated elsewhere, how innovations may be sustained, and future aspirations and plans. The SITD team’s plan is to provide entertaining and thought-provoking theatre shows that provide employment for the arts community as well as improving the way that scientists engage in scientific communication.
Text
KCIN UI1 CIVIC PARTNERS IN NET ZERO ONLINE
More information
Published date: 23 April 2024
Keywords:
Climate change, Interdisciplinarity, Scientific Communication, Theatre, intergenerational influence, Behaviour change
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 489285
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/489285
PURE UUID: a9e24844-db88-470b-acb3-49a66649c4e3
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Date deposited: 19 Apr 2024 16:33
Last modified: 20 Apr 2024 01:43
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Contributors
Author:
Anna Harriott
Author:
Iona Johnson
Editor:
Maria Hinfelaar
Editor:
Kasper de Graaf
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