How Can Art and Design Based Approaches Synthesize with Technical Solutions to Support a Regenerative Conservation of Tropical Rainforests?
Project by Polygence alum Olivia
Project's result
50-page published paper analyzing pre-existing data about the arts, technology, and conservation efforts in the Amazon Rainforest; five minute elevator pitch presentation featured at Polygence's Symposium of Rising Scholars
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Summary
Harmony in Green: How Art Based Approaches Integrate with Technical Solutions to Support Conservation of the Amazon
As the acclaimed “lungs of the Earth”, the Amazon Rainforest, located in Brazil, has faced grave challenges by deforestation, industrialization, and commercialization in the past century, which all threaten to deplete its biodiversity, impede natural food webs, and adulterate the rainforest climate. Conservation efforts have risen globally in protest, yet often overlooked in the field of sustainability are the art based techniques often integrated with advanced technology to provide a nuanced experiment of forest protection. Reductionist, technocentric practices have dominated the field of sustainability yet lack a complex and holistic overview of the variegated issues plaguing the Amazon. This project aims to harness the power of creativity and innovation to protect and sustain the Amazon Rainforest, analyzing several benefits of integrating design-based approaches in modern conservation projects.
Objectives: Explore the notion of a holistic world view and regenerative sustainability provided by the traditional, creative minds of artists and Indigenous communities Developing an understanding of historical contexts and exigence regarding conservation efforts and threats to biodiversity in the Amazon region and analyzing the situation at hand Discuss pre-existing technology used to aid in Amazon protection, including both the benefits and limits of a reliance on calculations and technical solutions Introduce various art-based solutions and their applications to the Amazon conservation efforts, including how they will assist technology to provide an even better outcome Hypothesize a synthesis of both technology and design in the future of the Amazon
Matthew
Polygence mentor
MFA Master of Fine Arts
Subjects
Computer Science, Social Science, Arts
Expertise
Graphic design, data science, sustainability, participatory design, information design, sound design, film making, photography, creative writing, user experience design
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Olivia
Student
Hi! My name is Olivia Liu, and I am working with Polygence to research the mutualistic relationship between art and technology! After my project is finished, I plan on working with local professors in the Cleveland area and focusing on how computer algorithms assist digital art and animation!
Graduation Year
2025
Project review
“The amount of knowledge I gained exceeded my expectations as I was introduced to many new philosophies, practices, and ways of thinking that align with my own passions. I grew more aware of the environmental issues plaguing our society, as well as innovative research and practices that may provide massive beneficiary information for the future of conservation.”
About my mentor
“Matt is extremely knowledgable and great to work with, especially in philosophical topics such as holism. His ideas gave me endless inspiration for my project, as well as information that changed my own world views. Alongside being flexible with topics, he was also extremely helpful in guiding me towards something I was truly passionate about.”
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