Environmental Dialogues

Environmental Dialogues. Anne Bevan & Ross Mclean. A public exhibition to coincide with the International Symposium on Antarctic Research, University of Edinburgh, July 2011. The exhibition was hosted by a number of public institutions across the city, including the Filmhouse, National Libraries, Creative Scotland and BBC public screens to promote environmental issues and included a programme of cultural events, installations and temporary artworks. It was organised through CORE, the interdisciplinary research network that Anne Bevan leads as Principal Investigator. Bevan was a contributing artist to the project as well as co-curator with Jane Warrilow and the artist Elizabeth Ogilvie.
As part of her work, Bevan installed text works in public venues throughout Edinburgh. These related to her research into oceanographic history and change in the marine environment. She worked with over a dozen venues including galleries, libraries, theatres and cinema - to host work invited from 24 participants from the CORE network, featuring a range of media and disciplines including film screenings, live music performances, video, photography and text.
Environmental Dialogues was organised in collaboration with the International Symposium of Antarctic Earth Sciences (ISAES XI) which brought together 500 scientists from around the world to discuss the latest research from the Polar Regions. The aim of this experimental project was to bring a creative perspective, through visual art, creative writing, music and film to a major scientific conference by infiltrating public spaces for the duration of ISAES XI.
CORE is supported by a grant from the Scottish Government administered by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Environmental Dialogues was specifically supported by a Beacons for Public Engagement Beltane Award, and funding from the National Environment Research Council (NERC). The idea was developed in partnership with researchers in the School of GeoSciences who are involved in ground breaking Antarctic research, and with the British Antarctic Survey.
A documentary film has been produced about the project and will be used to disseminate the work; plans are in development to exhibit this in the Scottish Parliament and to make available for schools, colleges and online.