Science Integration with Arts and Humanities
2007 - present

Bonanza Creek LTER has established successful collaborations between scientists, artists and K-12 schoolchildren. Field-based workshops provide opportunities for scientists and artists to engage in observation, education and two-way exchanges of perspectives on our ecosystem. Out of these workshops, creative artistic performances for the general public on the theme of climate change have emerged.

2010 Is Underway!

Visual artists, writers and performing artists have been selected to participate in field trips this summer, followed by an art exhibition at the Bear Gallery (September, 2010) and a stage performance at Pioneer Park Theater (tentatively dates: September 10-12, 2010).

Artists and Scientists Involved

Events:

June 10, 2010 Potluck at the Georgeson Botanical Gardens

Artists and scientists gathered together Thursday evening for potluck and cookout at the Botanical Gardens to meet one another and discuss the upcoming collaborations.

Group Introductions (photo by Lisa Schumacher)

(photo by Lisa Schumacher)

(photo by Lisa Schumacher)

Viewing silk piece Karin Franzen created for the upcoming dance performance (photo by Lisa Schumacher)

Field Trip to Bonanza Creek LTER June 30, 2010

Dr.Teresa Hollingsworth (left) explains the differences between white and black spruce.	Jamie Hollingsworth, Nancy, and Karin Franzen	The group after eating lunch at the Bonanza Creek Bluff
Discussion on the way to the APEX project	On the peatlands	Standing on the thick moss, Jamie Hollingsworth explains permafrost coring
Permafrost Core	Artists and Scientists talk, at the end of the day cookout	Karin Franzen, in the foreground, tries her hand at a theater exercise

Field Trip to Bonanza Creek LTER July 17, 2010

Dr. Mary Beth Leigh explains a soil sample in her lab. (photo Jason Downing)

Stephan Golux, Jacqui Jones-Butler, Mary Beth Leigh, Fred Freer, Roger Ruess, Terry Chapin, and Teresa Hollingsworth (l to r) between white spruce and alder trees. (photo Jason Downing)

Walking to the next site, Stephan Golux points to something interesting... (photo Bess Matlock)

Group discussion in the forest. (photo Jason Downing)

The day begins a bit rainy, but soon clears up (photo Bess Matlock)	At the meterological monitoring site: Carolyn Kremers, Jamie Hollingsworth, and Teri Viereck (photo Bess Matlock)	Carolyn Kremers takes the opportunity at lunch to write (photo Bess Matlock)
Roger Ruess, Mary Beth Leigh, Fred Freer, and Teresa Hollingsworth watch Jamie Hollingsworth (not pictured) drill for permafrost (photo Teri Viereck)	Dr. Teresa Hollingsworth is the only one who looksback as we head onto the peatlands (photo Bess Matlock)	The group watches as Jamie tries (unsucessfully) to light methane on fire after encouragement from Jason Downing, Dr.Mary Beth leigh, Carrie Baker, Michaela Swanson, Craig Cheladinas, Carolyn Kremer, and Jacqui Jones-Butler (photo Bess Matlock)
(photo Teri Viereck) (photo Michaela Swanson)	(ABOVE) Teresa Hollingsworth sews (AKA sets up for the cookout) on a cooler beside Bess Matlock (photo Teri Viereck) (RIGHT) At the end of a great day, artists and scientists look out and chow down	(photo Bess Matlock)

Upcoming: July 28th, Pot Luck at Pioneer Park

2009
The Earth is Changing, Whatcha Gonna Do?
A middle school course, entitled Climate Change and Creative Expression, was offered for early college credit at a local Alaska native charter school, which combined field and classroom science with creative writing and dance training, and culminated in a multi-media performance and book of poetry developed and performed by students for the public, entitled The Earth is Changing, Whatcha Gonna Do? (click here to learn more about this and other K-12 activities). 

2008

The second BNZ LTER artist-scientist field trip (August, 2008) took participants on a boat trip down the Tanana River to explore the floodplain ecosystem. This trip was featured in the LTER's online newsletter, The Network News. For the article with photos from the journey, click http://www.lternet.edu/news/Article226.html

In a Time of Change: A performance by writers, artists and scientists
The performance of In a Time of Change: A performance by writers, artists and scientists was presented March 21, 2008 at Pioneer Park Theater, Fairbanks, AK to over 350 members of the public. The program featured readings by Alaskan writers, including former Poet Laureate of Alaska, John Haines, John Morgan, Marjorie Kowalski Cole, Carolyn Kremers and Teri Viereck, an original play by former Poet Laureate of Alaska, Anne Hanley which featured BNZ scientist Teresa Hollingsworth. An original modern dance piece based on 25 years of LTER data tracking plant succession following the Rosie Creek wildfire was performed by Deliquescent Designs (BNZ scientist and dancer, Mary Beth Leigh, with Stephanie Dixon and Tamora Satterfield of New York City and Karen Voyles of Oklahoma City). An original story and song co-written by Susan Grace and Mary Shields was performed along with schoolchildren, entitled What's a Shrew to You? This story with accompanying song was later published as a children's book with illustrations by Jon Van Zyle. [Link to book site - http://www.maryshields.com/shrew/index.html]. Local folk singer Susan Grace served as emcee of the performance and performed a number of songs, including her original song based on her experience at the BNZ workshop, entitled Adaptation. Scientific presentations were made by Terry Chapin and Roger Ruess. Sculpture and photography by Mary Matthews, Douglas Yates, Jamie Hollingsworth and Lorien Nettleton were integrated into the show. The production was directed by Anne Hanley and produced by Mary Beth Leigh.

Program introduction by John Morgan
What does it mean to live in Alaska at this moment in human history and Earth time?
We are a group of writers, artists and scientists exploring the natural world in interior Alaska in a variety of media. The idea for a collaborative performance was born over a long evening of discussion around a campfire near Poker Creek where scientists from UAF and elsewhere are doing research into the long-term effects of the Boundary Fire of 2004. The scientists wanted to share their information and to broaden their understanding of the area by bringing in people with very different ways of seeing it. We agreed that there is an unusual richness and joy in the community of arts and sciences, in the coming together of insights from many different perspectives and disciplines. Blending our talents and knowledge, we are seeking an expanded vision, hoping to find ways to preserve and enhance our community in a changing world. We hope you find our presentation entertaining and enlightening.

• In a Time of Change Program [pdf]

Folk singer Susan Grace emceed the event and sang several songs, including Adaptations, which she wrote after the BNZ field trip.	BNZ PI Terry Chapin gives a talk, entitled The Planet is Shouting but Nobody Listens	Teri Viereck reads her own haiku accompanying photographs by Douglas Yates	Deliquescent Designs (L to R Stephanie Dixon, BNZ scientist Mary Beth Leigh and Tamora Satterfield) perform a modern dance piece, Casting Shadows, based on 25 years of post-fire plant succession data.

Deliquescent Designs (L to R Tamora Satterfield, BNZ scientist Mary Beth Leigh, Karen Voyles and Stephanie Dixon) perform a modern dance piece, Casting Shadows, based on 25 years of post-fire plant succession data.	Poet John Haines reads his work	Nicky Eiseman and BNZ scientist Teresa Nettleton Hollingsworth perform a play entitled Brief Exclosure, an original play written following the BNZ field trip by former Poet Laureate of Alaska Anne Hanley.	BNZ PI Roger Ruess shares thoughts on social-ecological change

Writer Mary Shields, songwriter Susan Grace and a group of school kids perform the original song What’s a Shrew to You?	Kids performing What’s a Shrew to You?	Writer John Morgan reads his poetry	Writer Carolyn Kremers reads her essay, Creating the Story

The entire cast led by Susan Grace in a finale sing along with the audience, Web of Life.	Succession, a sculpture by BNZ site manager Jamie Hollingsworth and Lorien Nettleton burning outside the theater entrance.

     In a Time of Change was sponsored by:

Fairbanks Arts Association
Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program
U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station
Joint-Fire Sciences Program
Alaska Experimental Program for Stimulating Competitive Research (EPSCoR)
University of Alaska Fairbanks Institute of Arctic Biology
University of Alaska International Polar Year
Northern Alaska Environmental Center
Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival through a grant from the Rasmuson Foundation
North Star Ballet
Dance Theater Fairbanks
Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation

2007

BNZ hosted its first field workshop for writers, musicians, dancers, visual artists and scientists in September, 2007. This workshop culminated in a public performance entitled In a Time of Change (see below), which focused on climate change and wildfire in interior Alaska. The trip was co-lead by special guests Frederick Swanson and Kathleen Dean Moore, the originators of the first series of LTER writers' workshops at Oregon's Andrews Experimental Forest LTER.
The group of writers, artists and BNZ scientists visited Caribou Poker Creek Research Watershed (CPCRW), within BNZ LTER, to observe forest burned from a recent year of severe wildfires, melting permafrost and the plants inhabiting the site. The group shared not only information and research about the fires, but memories and emotions from the summer when thick smoke filled the air almost continuously. In the evening, the group gathered around a fire for dinner and reflected upon the day's discussions and enjoyed environmental folk songs by group member Susan Grace. The following evening, the group gathered for a potluck with readings by the group participants. The group brainstormed about a way to share their experience with the public, which ultimately developed into the performance In a Time of Change.

Writers, artists and scientists explore the landscape at Caribou Poker Creek Research Watershed (Photo by Marjorie Kowalski Cole)	BNZ scientists Terry Chapin and Teresa Hollingsworth field questions from artists and scientists at CPCRW (Photo by Mary Beth Leigh)	BNZ site manager Jamie Hollingsworth mans the grill for the cookout at the end of the trip (Photo by Marjorie Kowalski Cole)	Enjoying songs by Susan Grace by the campfire. L to R are Carolyn Kremers, Susan Grace and Teri Viereck (Photo by Marjorie Kowalski Cole)