Eco Futurists

Can music, the arts and humanities help us work together across traditional science and industry boundary lines to come up with a solution to climate change? In this episode host Prof Andy Lowe Interim Director of the Environment Institute University of Adelaide, speaks with Airan Berg, Artistic Director of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s Floods of Fire Citizens’ Orchestra event , and Professor Anna Goldsworthy, Director of The Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide. Together they discuss the arts as communicator of complex human situations, a flawed system for tackling climate change, and how working openly between the sciences and the humanities can unite hearts and minds for a better future. Eco Futurists is supported by the Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide. Learn More: Floods of Fire will be performing for the first time ever at a FREE event Friday 3 March 2023 in Elder Park Adelaide, starting at 7:30pm ahead of Spinifex Gum as part of the Adelaide Festival. You can contact Eco Futurists podcast here Enjoying the show? Rate, review, and share it with your friends to help listeners like yourself explore their inner Eco Futurist.

Hear from professor of sustainability science at the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science and coordinating lead author of the IPBES Values Assessment, Christopher Raymond, on monetary and non-monetary values, biocentric and anthropocentric views, the importance of nature based solutions, co-benefits, indigenous perspectives and moving away from a neoliberalisation of nature. IPES Values Assessment Video https://vimeo.com/735690263 We would like to acknowledge the University of Adelaide’s:  School of Social Sciences Institute for Sustainability Energy and Resources Environment Institute Prof Christopher Raymond Biography: Prof Raymond is Professor of Sustainability Science (Sustainability Transformations and Ecosystem Services) at the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science, University of Helsinki, Finland. He is jointly based at the Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme in the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, and the Department of Economics and Management in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. His research interests include sense of place; nature-based solutions; the social valuation of nature; and the conservation of biodiversity. Since 2018, Prof. Raymond has been Coordinating Lead Author (Chapter 2) of the IPBES Values Assessment.

Felix Riebl, The Cat Empire and creative force behind Spinifex Gum, on how music connects with people, describes the stories and experiences of cultures and can be used to motivate environmental action. Recorded last year at WOMADelaide, before the global pandemic really hit.

Ian Scobie, event and theatre producer, on developing the highly successful formula for WOMAD, a heady mix of world music, artistic staging, and cultural immersion to support sustainability demonstration and discussion. Recorded last year, before the global pandemic really hit.

With COP 26 ending in political stalemate, hear from Nigel Jamieson, theatre and outdoor installation producer, on his use of physical theatre to communicate the problems and inaction around climate change, and how art can help tackle one of the greatest moral challenges of our time. Recorded last year at WOMADelaide, before the global pandemic really hit.

Damon Gameau, director of the film 2040, on looking into the future to develop paths to sustainability, making that journey simple and easy to adopt, and providing motivation through hope messaging. Recorded last year at WOMADelaide, before the global pandemic really hit.

Chris Daniels, conservation scientist and urban nature futurist, on the importance of making room for biodiversity in our cityscapes and harnessing people power to connect with nature and promote species survival on our planet.

In this convivial chat, hear from Matthew Wright-Simon, leadership and sustainability facilitator, about how fun and creative collaboration bring new energy to all-too-familiar problems - like plastics waste and climate change.

Craig Walsh, installation artist, on using image projection, or projection mapping, to animate the natural world, provide an engaging interactive experience and bring a forest to life with living faces. Recorded last year at WOMADelaide, before the global pandemic really hit.

In a very human and engaging interview, Paul Ryan, filmmaker, talks about communicating people’s passion and essence in film and documentary, from indigenous rights and polar explorers to environmentalists and footy players.

Heidi Alleway, marine conservationist, on the problem with shifting baselines, using music to attract oyster larvae, and designing and delivering an award-winning oyster habitat restoration global partnership. Here is a short video of the Eureka Awards, highlighting some of the key partners associated with the work: https://youtu.be/Drkl61DGqcM

Jean-Francois Bastin, leading ecosystem scientist, on using satellites to find millions of hectares of unrecognised forest, modeling a zero impact earth to find the best places to replant forest and achieve planetary healing.

Katja Hogendoorn, bee scientist, on the natural wonder of bees, their importance to our diet, and designing plantings that everyone can use, from gardeners to farmers, to encourage bees back into our landscapes.

Julian Bayliss, conservation scientist and eco-adventurer, on using Google Earth to find lost forests, discovering and describing new species, and protecting the world’s most valuable forest blocks through community support.

Natasha Davis, Trees for Life Chief Executive, on the importance of maintaining focus, engaging with people, building effective partnerships, and being adaptable.

Tim Jarvis, conservation scientist and explorer - adventuring in the natural world, capturing these moments to deliver conservation by stealth and realising the difference we can all make in our own backyard.