The Oxford Seascape Ecology Lab joins the Art, Biodiversity & Climate Network
By Rosalie Wright
We are the Oxford Seascape Ecology Lab, an interdisciplinary group based in the School of Geography and the Environment working at the intersections of Ocean research, policy, and conservation. The Lab is particularly excited to be announcing our latest partnership with the Art, Biodiversity and Climate Network.
“The ABC Network facilitates joint-projects, collaborations, and discussions between the arts, sciences and the humanities, that do not only aim to illustrate new research, but to integrate creative methods into the process of knowledge-making itself.”
Seascape ecology is the application of landscape ecology to marine environments to understand causes and consequences of complex spatial patterns and ecological processes over space and time. This lens is particularly critical to consider in the fluid, dynamic and three-dimensional system of a highly connected Ocean with interdependent human societies. We use this approach to link place-based scientific research findings to inform Ocean governance and to address complex social-ecological challenges.
We are mapping blue carbon habitats (e.g., seagrasses, salt marshes and mangroves) to help in estimating blue carbon sequestration. Oxford Seascape Ecology Lab PI, Dr Lisa Wedding, is communicating these recent findings about incorporation of blue carbon habitats into California’s sub-national climate policies (read more here). Also found throughout the UK, these blue carbon habitats support local sustainable economies, community resilience and food production, amongst many other benefits. Their restoration and conservation through multi-stakeholder collaborations may facilitate progress towards global targets like the Sustainable Development Goals.
“This network engages creative practitioners and researchers to build a new common imaginarium of the world as-it-could-be, transcending academic disciplinary boundaries and short-term political incentives.”
With the upcoming COP26 conference and current United Nations Decade of Ocean Science, it is an exciting time to communicate the importance of marine and coastal habitats in creative ways. We are thrilled to be co-developing innovative ways to stimulate engagement in our Oceans through the ABC Network and our partnership with artist Jenny Lines, and to build art-science partnerships that we hope will continue beyond this programme.
