Art‐based perceptual ecology

Abstract

Much discussion and effort have been directed toward developing a more diverse membership at the Ecological Society of America (ESA) and other professional scientific societies. To better meet diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals, these societies must expand their views of diversity, yielding broader participation in the sciences. I am the founder of and research director at Citizen Artist, a participatory science research platform employing art-based perceptual ecology (ABPE) research methodologies to study ecological systems change. At Citizen Artist, we honor multiple ways of knowing – exploring and investigating differently; engaging in unbounded curiosity, imagination, and creativity; and embracing holistic, integrative approaches to scientific practice and thinking. We offer alternative methodologies, tools, and field practices – non-conventional approaches that attract underrepresented populations to participate in science. Extending the parameters of how ecologists conduct field-based science may bolster participation and lead to unexpected and revolutionary solutions for our most pressing issues, such as the impacts of climate change, loss of habitat, and biodiversity decline. Duly note, Citizen Artist is an approved scientific content provider for ESA's Professional Certified Ecologist Program. In the early 1990s, during my graduate studies in art therapy, I was introduced to art-based research (ABR) methodologies, which originated in the social sciences and were designed to work with a human population. I recognized they could have great potential and application to more than human populations. Simultaneous with pursuing a PhD in environmental studies, I envisioned how I could expand ABR methods and frame them within ecological and biological principles to serve field-based scientific research. Through an iterative process, I developed a new methodology and set of tools responding to applied questions within the natural sciences, specifically in studying environmental change. The evolution of this process resulted in the birth of ABPE research methodologies. Historically, ecologists have discussed the need to include interdisciplinarity within our professional practice. At Citizen Artist, we engage in a transdisciplinary approach to science practices – weaving together multiple disciplines’ perspectives, theories, and methods, transcending their traditional boundaries to generate knowledge and a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all life. When creating and collecting data in the field using ABPE methods, the researcher engages in art-based inquiry through a kinesthetic act of “making with the hands” in which neural connections are established and knowledge is constructed. Grounded in multimodal knowledge systems and sensory-based learning, ABPE data communicate through multiple “languages” to tell the land’s story, including the visual language of mark making or drawing, and the languages of metaphor and symbol. Using the visual language at the inquiry stage of scientific thinking has historical ties: consider these connections to important discoveries, such as Galileo's drawings of the moon, or Maria Sibylla Merian's paintings of insect metamorphosis. According to ABPE methods, both the process and the product hold equal value. The art-making process offers a springboard for new insight and questions to arise, ones that had not been considered previously as the information was not yet available. The art product (data) concretizes original knowledge; provides context and frames of reference; and deepens the researcher's understanding of ecological phenomena. The data do not offer finality, but rather a turn in the conversation that often leads to more questions than answers. At Citizen Artist, we are building a diverse, global community trained in best practices within a transdisciplinary research framework, to mutually learn from and explore new pathways to address current ecological challenges. Since the summer of 2020, I have taught an online course, “Introduction to Citizen Artist and Art-Based Research Methods”, offering training in ABPE methodologies for field-based practices and increasing access to science for underserved populations. To date, more than 120 individuals – including researchers, educators, and doctoral and master's students hailing from 14 countries and 22 states – have taken the course, 95% of whom belong to science disciplines (within which 15% are interdisciplinary) and 3% of whom are in the arts. Each of these individuals is working with a larger constituency of stakeholders at universities, government agencies, NGOs, and Indigenous communities. Contrary to our name, there is no need for artistic skills to take the class or engage in ABPE. In conclusion, I believe integrative approaches to science diversify and strengthen the field. Including transdisciplinary approaches to both scientific practices and ways of thinking opens the field to communities of creative co-collaborators, expanding the boundaries of scientific innovation and transformative solutions. For more information on Citizen Artist programs, visit www.citizen-artist.com.