Research & Development
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
– Albert Einstein
Research & Development
Informed, factual, scientific and social research, which enables us to make intelligent decisions as we evolve into the changing climate scenarios ahead is an essential element of Green Futures. Changing weather patterns will have far reaching implications for our Farmers, Communities, wildlife and species and we need to be prepared.
Research Laboratories and Art Studios within Offaly will include opportunities for internships, student placements, cross disciplinary collaboration, exhibition space and courses.
The Natural Sciences (Life and Physical Sciences) research covering areas such as Carbon Farming, Carbon Banking, Carbon Pricing; are all initiatives that are essential to limiting Carbon Emissions on our planet to a safe level. Future farmers, gardeners, foresters and urban landscape architects will all need information concerning what trees, crops and energy feedstocks are best suited to the changing conditions ahead.
Biomimicry and Biophilic Design are disciplines that we are excited about at Green Futures. Biomimetics or biomimicry is the emulation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems. Biophilic Design relates to the construction of buildings and public spaces modelled on designs occurring in nature.
‘Circularity, sustainability, regenerative design — it all means that the things we humans make become a force for restoring air, water, and soil instead of degrading it. Nature uses structure to change functions and also uses passive forms of energy, whereas our inventions use brute force like mining ancient carbon and a multitude of harmful chemicals. We can create conditions conducive to life, just like nature does.” –Extract from The Biomimicry Institute.
"When we look at what is truly sustainable, the only real model that has worked over long periods of time is the natural world."
– Janine Benyus
At Green Offaly we are passionate about the role that the Arts have to play in our Green Futures programmes. The association between the Arts and Climate Change is not an immediate one but when you delve a bit deeper the connection becomes profound. Historical paintings communicate a wealth of knowledge to us about the Climate of the time. Artists paintings from the past centuries can inform us about air pollution (the colour of the sunsets), glacial extent and plagues. It is all there – captured long before the advent of photography and modern science. SciArt – the arena where Science and Art meet is something we are particularly looking forward to developing in the coming years.
Throughout the ages artists have translated and visually preserved the cultural zeitgeist, ‘the spirit of the time’ in which they lived. The work – Art Forms of Nature, by Ernst Haeckel, a german zoologist, physician, naturalist, biologist and artist, began publication in 1899 and served to further the public acceptance of Darwin’s theories of Evolution. His work is still recognised as the most extraordinary illustrated record of life on earth.
"Art is the Queen of all sciences communicating knowledge to all the generations of the world."
– Leonardo da Vinci
Desmidiaceae Algae by Ernst Haeckel
Andy Goldsworthy is an Environmental Landscape artist who works with natural materials, creating transient artworks outdoors in nature. He states, “We often forget that WE ARE NATURE. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves.”
Artists also record and question the prevailing and socially acceptable narratives of the times in which they live. Artists and writers such as Hogarth, Dickens and the modern day Darren Cullen, all bear witness to the hypocrisy and inequalities which afflicted the societies that they were living and working in. In this sense the Arts act as a democractic voice for us all in times of upheaval and profound social change such as the one we are living through.
Research based programmes for Social Scientists and Artists will examine the impact of Climate Change on culture and society. How will things change? What does it mean for us as a collective?
It is widely acknowledged that ‘Climate Change is Everything Change’ and while the emphasis is being placed on the technical challenges involved in transitioning to a low carbon society; the cultural implications for our communities, society and way of life are often glanced over.
For more information check out the Art & Climate Change website.