BSG sponsored session at the RGS-IBG Conference 2025: Art-science collaborations in the geosciences

Art-science collaborations in the geosciences – *BSG Sponsored*

Hywel Griffiths (Aberystwyth) and Caroline Clason (Durham) are running a session titled “Art-science collaborations in the geosciences” at this years RGS-IBG Annual International Conference, which the BSG is pleased to sponsor. If interested, please submit abstracts to Hywel and Caroline at the addresses detailed below the session proposal. Deadline Friday 21 February.

Proposal

Recent years have seen increasing collaboration between artists (including visual and non-visual artists, writers, poets, musicians and others) and geoscientists, particularly geomorphologists (Tooth et al., 2016; Griffiths, 2021). The aesthetic appeal of landscapes and the often significant impact of geomorphological processes on society mean that artists have historically been inspired by landforms and landscapes, and in recent years geomorphological data have provided new inspiration for a wide variety of makers (e.g. Ruddock et al., 2012). For geomorphologists and other geoscientists, co-created collaborations with artists (e.g. Macklin and Macklin, 2019) can lead to new perspectives on old problems, as well as engaging and inclusive methods of communication of scientific findings to new audiences (Illingworth, 2020; Clason et al., 2022; Wright et al., 2023).

This session seeks to explore how geomorphologists and those in allied disciplines (e.g. hydrology, glaciology, geology, Quaternary science) and artists might collaborate to address some of the key challenges in the geosciences, and in geomorphology in particular. What kinds of geomorphological data can inspire artistic creativity? How can geomorphologists make these data more accessible to artists and how can we create spaces for collaboration? How can art and geomorphology together foster increased inclusivity and engagement with communities that are affected by geomorphological processes and change? How can we encourage more art-science collaboration in primary and secondary education? What lessons can artists and geomorphologists learn from each other?

We would welcome proposals for traditional academic papers as well as more creative and participatory activities e.g. readings or demonstrations of collaborative artistic projects.

Please submit abstracts (maximum 300 words) to: Hywel Griffiths (hmg@aber.ac.uk) and Caroline Clason (caroline.clason@durham.ac.uk) no later than Friday 21 February.