The two-day conference, Thinking About Climate Change: Art, Science, and Imagination in the 21st Century, occurred on October 25 and 26 of 2024 on the University of Massachusetts Boston campus. The event was organized by Dr. Margaret Hart and Senior Lecturer Carol Scollans from the Art and Art History Department with the help of many individuals. The first of its kind conference was hosted by the University of Massachusetts Boston. During the two-day event there were panel presentations by invited artists, scientists, public policy representatives and others to provide a transdisciplinary focus and discussion on climate change. Accompanying the panel discussions were two art exhibitions, a video program from the Revolutions Per Minute Festival, student-initiated events, three pop-up exhibitions, and sponsorship tables introducing the many current climate initiatives in our area.
Funding was provided from many sources, including: the Art and Art History Department, the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Office, research funds donated by Professors Margaret Hart and Carol Scollans, the School for the Environment, the UMB Alumni Association, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Policy Across Disciplines Grant Program offered through the McCormack School, and the Public Service Grant Program offered through the Office for Research and Special Projects.
The 4 panels all provided reflections on the role of art in fostering global cooperation and inspiring change. Interdisciplinary collaboration emerged as a recurring theme. Such initiatives, such as private and public collaborations, reveal the potential of partnerships to spark creativity and innovation.
The two on campus art exhibitions were Artists and the Archive at the Walter Grossmann Memorial Gallery and the Nuture: Empathy for the Earth exhibition at the University Hall Gallery.
Video links to panel presentations:
