Teaching stewardship and conservation through the arts

Scientists concerned with the environmental challenges facing humanity often find that their facts and figures do not evoke changes in human behavior. Social science now suggests that to foster effective decision making and action, good communication must include cognition and affect (or intellect and emotions) working together. Since prehistoric times, the affective power of the arts has moved people - emotionally and physically - to act. In this study, scientists and artists are collaborating to create science-informed artworks for a room-sized animated globe display system called Science On a Sphere®. The team hopes these sustainability-focused narratives will inspire audience members to become more engaged in the stewardship and conservation of the main character of the stories: the Earth.