Creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art
Interdisciplinary approaches are necessary for exploring the complex research questions that stem from interdependence in social-ecological systems. For example, the concept of biocultural diversity, which highlights the interactions between human diversity and the diversity of biological systems, b...
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Resilience Alliance
2017
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08711-220204 https://doaj.org/article/b65d0b1f88ae4d7b9cf2c1817d9aab39 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b65d0b1f88ae4d7b9cf2c1817d9aab39 2023-05-15T17:46:45+02:00 Creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art Jean L. Polfus Deborah Simmons Michael Neyelle Walter Bayha Frederick Andrew Leon Andrew Bethann G. Merkle Keren Rice Micheline Manseau 2017-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08711-220204 https://doaj.org/article/b65d0b1f88ae4d7b9cf2c1817d9aab39 EN eng Resilience Alliance http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol22/iss2/art4/ https://doaj.org/toc/1708-3087 1708-3087 doi:10.5751/ES-08711-220204 https://doaj.org/article/b65d0b1f88ae4d7b9cf2c1817d9aab39 Ecology and Society, Vol 22, Iss 2, p 4 (2017) art biocultural diversity biodiversity bridging knowledge systems caribou collaborative research interdisciplinary social-ecological systems subarctic traditional knowledge visual communication visual facilitation visual methods Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2017 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08711-220204 2022-12-31T10:08:51Z Interdisciplinary approaches are necessary for exploring the complex research questions that stem from interdependence in social-ecological systems. For example, the concept of biocultural diversity, which highlights the interactions between human diversity and the diversity of biological systems, bridges multiple knowledge systems and disciplines and can reveal historical, existing, and emergent patterns of variation that are essential to ecosystem dynamics. Identifying biocultural diversity requires a flexible, creative, and collaborative approach to research. We demonstrate how visual art can be used in combination with scientific and social science methods to examine the biocultural landscape of the Sahtú region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Specifically, we focus on the intersection of Dene cultural diversity and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) intraspecific variation. We developed original illustrations, diagrams, and other visual aids to increase the effectiveness of communication, improve the organization of research results, and promote intellectual creativity. For example, we used scientific visualization and drawings to explain complex genetic data and clarify research priorities. Visual facilitation during meetings helped establish accurate representations of both cultural and biological diversity by externalizing heterogeneity and avoiding standardization. Group mind mapping enhanced collaborators' ability to visualize connections between Dene concepts, like bets'erı̨hchaÌ "respect" and caribou, and to recognize differences between knowledge systems that challenge translations and reduce the effectiveness of research outcomes. Collaborative visual products, like posters that represented different caribou types, allowed Dene partners to more clearly articulate subtleties within caribou intraspecific variation that are manifest through distinct dialects, place-based relationships, and cultural practices. Our results point to the potential for visual art to be used to improve communication, ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Northwest Territories Rangifer tarandus Subarctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Canada Northwest Territories Ecology and Society 22 2 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
art biocultural diversity biodiversity bridging knowledge systems caribou collaborative research interdisciplinary social-ecological systems subarctic traditional knowledge visual communication visual facilitation visual methods Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
art biocultural diversity biodiversity bridging knowledge systems caribou collaborative research interdisciplinary social-ecological systems subarctic traditional knowledge visual communication visual facilitation visual methods Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 Jean L. Polfus Deborah Simmons Michael Neyelle Walter Bayha Frederick Andrew Leon Andrew Bethann G. Merkle Keren Rice Micheline Manseau Creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art |
topic_facet |
art biocultural diversity biodiversity bridging knowledge systems caribou collaborative research interdisciplinary social-ecological systems subarctic traditional knowledge visual communication visual facilitation visual methods Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Interdisciplinary approaches are necessary for exploring the complex research questions that stem from interdependence in social-ecological systems. For example, the concept of biocultural diversity, which highlights the interactions between human diversity and the diversity of biological systems, bridges multiple knowledge systems and disciplines and can reveal historical, existing, and emergent patterns of variation that are essential to ecosystem dynamics. Identifying biocultural diversity requires a flexible, creative, and collaborative approach to research. We demonstrate how visual art can be used in combination with scientific and social science methods to examine the biocultural landscape of the Sahtú region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Specifically, we focus on the intersection of Dene cultural diversity and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) intraspecific variation. We developed original illustrations, diagrams, and other visual aids to increase the effectiveness of communication, improve the organization of research results, and promote intellectual creativity. For example, we used scientific visualization and drawings to explain complex genetic data and clarify research priorities. Visual facilitation during meetings helped establish accurate representations of both cultural and biological diversity by externalizing heterogeneity and avoiding standardization. Group mind mapping enhanced collaborators' ability to visualize connections between Dene concepts, like bets'erı̨hchaÌ "respect" and caribou, and to recognize differences between knowledge systems that challenge translations and reduce the effectiveness of research outcomes. Collaborative visual products, like posters that represented different caribou types, allowed Dene partners to more clearly articulate subtleties within caribou intraspecific variation that are manifest through distinct dialects, place-based relationships, and cultural practices. Our results point to the potential for visual art to be used to improve communication, ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jean L. Polfus Deborah Simmons Michael Neyelle Walter Bayha Frederick Andrew Leon Andrew Bethann G. Merkle Keren Rice Micheline Manseau |
author_facet |
Jean L. Polfus Deborah Simmons Michael Neyelle Walter Bayha Frederick Andrew Leon Andrew Bethann G. Merkle Keren Rice Micheline Manseau |
author_sort |
Jean L. Polfus |
title |
Creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art |
title_short |
Creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art |
title_full |
Creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art |
title_fullStr |
Creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art |
title_full_unstemmed |
Creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art |
title_sort |
creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art |
publisher |
Resilience Alliance |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08711-220204 https://doaj.org/article/b65d0b1f88ae4d7b9cf2c1817d9aab39 |
geographic |
Canada Northwest Territories |
geographic_facet |
Canada Northwest Territories |
genre |
Northwest Territories Rangifer tarandus Subarctic |
genre_facet |
Northwest Territories Rangifer tarandus Subarctic |
op_source |
Ecology and Society, Vol 22, Iss 2, p 4 (2017) |
op_relation |
http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol22/iss2/art4/ https://doaj.org/toc/1708-3087 1708-3087 doi:10.5751/ES-08711-220204 https://doaj.org/article/b65d0b1f88ae4d7b9cf2c1817d9aab39 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08711-220204 |
container_title |
Ecology and Society |
container_volume |
22 |
container_issue |
2 |
_version_ |
1766150576471539712 |