Art, Science, and the Threat of Extinction: Who lives and who dies on tropical mountains?

Leonardo LASER Talks Bergen Digital artist Donna Davis and ecologist Darren Crayn come together to discuss how artists and scientists can work together in the field. Their research and practices raise important questions around species extinction, the role of artists in the future of endangered species, and who decides which species get scientific focus and which are forgotten to time. They will focus predominantly on their collaborative project the Tropical Mountain Plant Science Project, that saw Darren's team, with artist-in-resident Donna, working together in extreme tropical Australian mountain ranges to document, and potentially save, endangered plant species found nowhere else on earth. Join us to explore the same concepts through two parallel lenses: the scientist's aims and the artist's eye. Donna Davis: Donna Davis is a multi-disciplinary artist who examines human and non-human relationships with respect to ecological health. Exploring the intersections between art and science, she is often embedded within ecological research projects. Her work tells stories that examine the science through a creative lens; exploring imagined futures and constructing new ways of ‘seeing’ complex natural systems and the role of humans within them. To do so she has undertaken a number of residencies with scientific institutions such as the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment and Science and the Australian Tropical Herbarium to name a few. Darren Crayn: Darren Crayn is a failed engineering student, born again as a biodiversity scientist, and now Director of the Australian Tropical Herbarium. His professional life is equal parts management, leadership, teaching and research. His research aims to find out how many plant species exist, where they occur, how they are related, how they have evolved, and how people use them. This means fun outdoors in interesting places, but also helps humanity understand the natural world so that we can best conserve it both for its intrinsic value and for the benefit of our descendants. He has published over 140 scientific articles, undertaken research in 12 countries, and sits on many national and international advisory boards and panels.