How art, songs and poetry can help communicate our work

Chris Corrigan

CEO

I am an ecologist and proud to be part of an evidence-based organisation where science underpins everything we do. Science and evidence are also powerful communication and advocacy tools which can influence decision-makers and the way we choose to lead our lives.

However, these don't always reach everyone. Data, statistics and reports often fail to engage our emotional side. This is where art, songs, and poetry can be a powerful ally. These forms of creative expression can breathe life into scientific findings, helping us connect emotionally on the urgent issues of biodiversity loss and the climate crisis

While facts inform, art and culture can inspire. A powerful painting or an evocative poem can communicate complex environmental issues in ways that are immediate and personal. Art speaks the language of the heart. It can visualise unseen threats, like species extinction or carbon emissions, in ways that charts and graphs cannot. When people feel emotionally connected to an issue, they are far more likely to take action.

This struck home recently when I came across a powerful poem by the young American poet and activist Amanda Gorman. Earthrise is a brilliant contemporary poem on the issue of climate change. For me, it resonates as strongly today as it did when it was written in 2018. It is well worth spending five minutes watching a piece of poetry and environmentally compelling genius.

For organisations rooted in evidence-based action, like ours, art can complement science by reaching new audiences, evoking emotional responses, and inspiring change. By combining the power of our scientific evidence with the creativity of the arts, I hope we can create a deeper understanding of nature and the urgent need for climate action.

By all means share with us in the comments if you are a Sussex-based artist, musician, poet or writer who communicates about wildlife and the natural world though your work!