[Full Interview] Multi-species Entanglements - with Dr June Harrower
Nov 1, 2022
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Dr. June Harrower, a specialist in multi-species entanglements under climate change, discusses blending art and science in ecological research. They explore human impact on ecosystems, plant sentience, and the intersection of art, care, and environmental activism. The episode also covers their exhibition featuring leaves as portals and advocacy for Joshua tree conservation.
Dr. Harrower bridges art and science to showcase ecological interconnectedness through deep plant evolution and mycorrhizal networks.
Art and science complement each other in addressing research questions, emphasizing the emotional impact of plant extinction.
Deep dives
Exploring the Fusion of Art and Science with Dr. Juniper Harrower
Dr. Juniper Harrower, a scientist and artist, explores the intersection of art and science in understanding ecological systems. Through her environmental arts production company, SimBioArtLab, she delves into deep plant evolution, mycorrhizal networks, and the language of leaves to showcase the interconnectedness of all life forms.
Challenging Dichotomies Between Art and Science
Dr. Harrower discusses breaking down societal stereotypes of being either scientific or creative by embodying both roles. She highlights the limitations of specialization in science, emphasizing the complementary nature of art and science in addressing research questions and ecosystem complexities.
Processing Ecological Grief Through Art and Science
She emphasizes the emotional toll of witnessing plant extinction and climate change impacts, leading her to blend art and science to humanize data. Through art exhibitions like 'Botanical Entanglements,' she captures the vulnerability and beauty of nature, prompting viewers to reflect on their connection to the environment.
Advocating for Environmental Awareness Through Artistic Practice
Dr. Harrower encourages budding artists to infuse environmental activism into their art practice. By engaging with organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity and showcasing artistic responses to ecological issues, she promotes a deepening of personal connections with the natural world and a call to action for environmental preservation.
Specializing in multi-species entanglements under climate change, Dr Juniper Harrower works at the intersection of ecology, art, activism and policy.
She uses science methods and a multimedia art practice to investigate human influence on ecological systems, while seeking solutions that protect at-risk species and promote environmental justice. A founding member of the international arts collective The Algae Society Bioart Design Lab, she also founded the environmental arts production company SymbioArtlab. Harrower is the director of the art+science initiative at UC Santa Cruz where she also teaches art.
In this episode we discuss the tensions that might exist between the fields of art and science, and how Juniper manages to blend both disciplines in her research. We explore the different ways that each field asks questions, and samples (spoiler: ecology involves a lot of counting), and then move into descriptions of her art exhibitions which reveal the language of leaves, Joshua Trees, mycorrhizal networks, deep plant evolution and settler culture.