Spectrum of the Reef , Weaving Data Workshop
Brief:
How can we engage the public on climate issues with positive feelings and experiences rather than provoking anxiety? My colleague, Ramaa Sahasrabuddhe, and I were selected to participate in a brief from the Horniman Museum and Royal College of Art to create an experience focussed on corals, evoking the emotion of inspiring love for the late event at the museum.
Solution:
Spectrum of the Reef is a data-visualization weaving workshop designed to make complex data on coral bleaching and its reversal accessible and engaging. The project invites audiences to connect with the impacts of climate change through participatory learning. The workshop transforms scientific information into a tangible experience of weaving that fosters empathy and awareness. It highlights pathways toward reef recovery and resilience.
Aim & Feedback
Late events get crowded easily and can often feel overwhelming. My aim for this project was to create a secluded environment to which participants can contribute when needing to refocus their energy or talk to friends, having creative freedom. People appreciated that aspect, returning to the experience multiple times to finish their piece. The ice-breaker board was particularly popular and helped us gather data on where they stand, beginning a further conversation.
Process
The participants begin their journey with the ice-breaker board to allocate their ‘ideal coral bleaching method’, one of the data visualizations on the topic of coral bleaching. Later, they are given the booklet, and a chosen template, and invited to join the workshop. Throughout the workshop, they can dive deep into the problems and solutions regarding coral bleaching through the booklet. When they are finished with their design, they hang it on the community installation board, contributing to the idea of rebuilding the coral reefs through the knowledge they gained.
