Saule

I am extremely thankful for the chance to engage in the NORDPLUS Creative Arts Pedagogy and the Environment CAPE Network multidisciplinary project.  I met many fascinating professionals who shared their perspectives on school education through their passion for environmental issues. At the conference held in Faroe Islands from June 5th to June 12th, 2022, I got the opportunity to hear a brief talk by the associate professor in Biology and Natural Science Didactics Dr. Erla Olsen about exciting and essential school courses. Her talk brought me into understanding that interesting subjects like art and music doesn’t came with usefulness in the eyes of students and vice versa with valuable subjects like math and history.

At the meeting I presented our research study results about Arctic bottom organisms living under the influence of melting glaciers in the bays of so-called European Arctic, Svalbard. During the presentation I highlighted the importance of correctly presenting data with interesting and easily understandable results to a broader community - essential part in the scientific world, unfortunately commonly missed. It is often difficult to present the results in one or a few sentences, especially when the research results are not always straightforward. Nonetheless, this is required if we, as scientists, intend to truly impact change by involving the public in climate change and other environmental issues. Because of this, the artist's touch is needed and could be seen as a bridge between scientists and the masses.

As a student and aspiring educator, I vowed to incorporate entertaining and engaging elements into the scientific subject explanation.