This project looked to create an Art-Science Interactive pieces for inclusion in the exhibition, Biomes (https://streamcommunity.com.au/biomes/). Biomes was presented alongside Brain at the Newcastle Museum during National Science Week, 2022 (13th-28th August).
Wetland Food Webs Mural
Funded by Inspiring Australia, this mural was conceived (Rose Upton) as a way to bring community together to celebrate our local wetlands. This mural was designed and executed by Jemma Gillard, a local Natural History Illustrator (https://www.jemmagillard.com/), with additional help from artists Olivia Unicomb and Tallulah Cunningham. The mural is displayed at Waratah Public School.
An additional chalkboard version was created for exhibit at Newcastle Museum that allowed community engagement through this interactive piece.
Funded by Inspiring Australia, this mural was conceived (Rose Upton) as a way to bring community together to celebrate our local wetlands. This mural was designed and executed by Jemma Gillard, a local Natural History Illustrator (https://www.jemmagillard.com/), with additional help from artists Olivia Unicomb and Tallulah Cunningham. The mural is displayed at Waratah Public School.
An additional chalkboard version was created for exhibit at Newcastle Museum that allowed community engagement through this interactive piece.
Wetland Mural Scientist Statement – Rose Upton
Globally, more than half our wetlands have been lost due to human disturbance and land conversion. However, wetlands are critically important sites for our biodiversity and play a vital part in the health of coastal and inland habitats. Wetlands offer popular tourist spots for recreational activities and hold cultural significance for the Aboriginal people of Australia. Within the Newcastle and Hunter region there are several wetlands that offer refuge to endangered species, such as the green and golden bell frog pictured within the mural. Each organism within a wetland plays a vital role in energy cycles, food webs and carbon storage, and with direct links to the health of other ecosystems, seemed like the perfect backdrop for a collaborative and educational mural.
Globally, more than half our wetlands have been lost due to human disturbance and land conversion. However, wetlands are critically important sites for our biodiversity and play a vital part in the health of coastal and inland habitats. Wetlands offer popular tourist spots for recreational activities and hold cultural significance for the Aboriginal people of Australia. Within the Newcastle and Hunter region there are several wetlands that offer refuge to endangered species, such as the green and golden bell frog pictured within the mural. Each organism within a wetland plays a vital role in energy cycles, food webs and carbon storage, and with direct links to the health of other ecosystems, seemed like the perfect backdrop for a collaborative and educational mural.
Photo and Pledge Wall – Rose Upton, Mattea Taylor, Rebecca Seeto and Cassandra Bugir
Additional interactive photo and pledge boards were designed and created by Mattea Taylor, Rose Upton, Cassandra Bugir, Rebecca Seeto, Samantha Wallace and Louise Williams so inspire sustainable behaviours in our everyday lives.
Additional interactive photo and pledge boards were designed and created by Mattea Taylor, Rose Upton, Cassandra Bugir, Rebecca Seeto, Samantha Wallace and Louise Williams so inspire sustainable behaviours in our everyday lives.
Photo and Pledge Wall Scientists' Statement:
These pieces were designed to encourage everyday participation and thought into how we can all do things in our lives to improve the future for nature and biodiversity. It’s easier than ever to contribute to real scientific research for biodiversity conservation, the inspiration behind the “Become a Citizen Scientist” piece. Apps on our phones like Frog Find, Frog ID and iNaturalist, to name a few, can help create huge datasets for biodiversity conservation, built from hundreds of observations submitted by the public. On the other hand, we can all do little things around our own homes to help our local biodiversity. Planting natives is one way we can help our local pollinators: not only insects such as butterflies and bees, but birds and mammals too! These plants also provide refuge for all kinds of wildlife which we can then see and learn about. This is what we wanted to illustrate with the “Plant natives… attract pollinators” piece. To tie all this together, we have collected a series of videos from celebrities, politicians, conservation biologists and members of the public detailing what biodiversity means to them and how they pledge to help biodiversity in their own lives. We are calling these our ‘biopledges’ and invite everyone to make their own on our Biopledge wall!
These pieces were designed to encourage everyday participation and thought into how we can all do things in our lives to improve the future for nature and biodiversity. It’s easier than ever to contribute to real scientific research for biodiversity conservation, the inspiration behind the “Become a Citizen Scientist” piece. Apps on our phones like Frog Find, Frog ID and iNaturalist, to name a few, can help create huge datasets for biodiversity conservation, built from hundreds of observations submitted by the public. On the other hand, we can all do little things around our own homes to help our local biodiversity. Planting natives is one way we can help our local pollinators: not only insects such as butterflies and bees, but birds and mammals too! These plants also provide refuge for all kinds of wildlife which we can then see and learn about. This is what we wanted to illustrate with the “Plant natives… attract pollinators” piece. To tie all this together, we have collected a series of videos from celebrities, politicians, conservation biologists and members of the public detailing what biodiversity means to them and how they pledge to help biodiversity in their own lives. We are calling these our ‘biopledges’ and invite everyone to make their own on our Biopledge wall!
