EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES AND REIMAGINING DYNAMIC EARTH

Young people from the Grassmarket Community Centre, members of Get2Gether and Upward Mobility (Upmo), learners from Royal Mile Primary School’s Nurture Hub, adults from SEASONS adult support group and members of LGBT Health and Wellbeing worked with the Dynamic Earth Communities Team across sessions throughout the year on projects that mattered to them around climate change and climate justice.

Across a series of workshops, Grassmarket Community Project’s Young Members created their own superheroes to respond to the climate and planetary emergency. The group explored contemporary environmental issues, including climate change impacts, air pollution, deforestation and biodiversity loss, and we worked with an animator to bring their creations to life in a video scripted by them.

“The Dynamic Earth team could not have given more… it was so ambitious, over-the-top (in the best way), captured the imagination and encompassed the varied activities in our programme in one narrative, which was climate change.”

Working with Grassmarket Community Project at Dynamic Earth.

Animated characters created as part of the Mindsets and Missions project. 

Watch the video created as part of Mindsets and Missions with Grassmarket Community Project and Dynamic Earth. Many thanks to George Summers (George Summers┃Animation & Motion Design) for making all the climate superheroes come to life.

LGBT Health and Wellbeing’s project focused on the theme of climate justice through a queer lens. The series of interdisciplinary workshops included a queer climate justice zine-making day, and culminated in a ‘Pride Breakfast’ event in partnership with Dynamic Earth as part of Edinburgh Pride, where families made queer climate justice posters and learnt more about the project and the importance of protecting our planet.

“The participants were able to comfortably and accessibly engage in science, climate science and climate justice as a community, whilst feeling validated, seen and understood as people with LGBTQ+ identities.” – LGBT Health & Wellbeing Group Coordinator

Creating Zines with LBGT Health and Wellbeing at Dynamic Earth.

Dynamic Earth team working with LGBT Health and Wellbeing at Dynamic Earth.

After our Community Learning team visited learners at Royal Mile Primary School to introduce the project, the group took part in a series of workshops on the theme of rainforests inspired by our immersive tropical rainforest gallery! Learners created their own Scottish rainforest artwork after a hands-on session with lichens and mosses and learned about the role of forests in supporting a healthy and thriving planet. The pupils’ artwork is now installed in our rainforest gallery along with new interpretation, adding the group’s voice and perspectives into our exhibition.

“Thank you once again for this valuable experience for our nurture group. They learnt so much from sessions and not just curricular based, socially too.” – Royal Mile Primary School Teacher

Investigating lichens at Dynamic Earth.

Creating rainforest artwork with Royal Mile Primary School.

Members of get2gether attended a series of in-person and online workshops that looked at climate change and the language surrounding it with a focus on examining the accessibility of language used when discussing climate change. Inspired by these discussions, get2gether and Dynamic Earth co-created an easy read document on climate change which is available for all Dynamic Earth visitors to use

“The easy read document which we will create using content from all six workshops will have a HUGE impact on disabled people accessing Dynamic Earth and looking to understand more about climate change.” – get2gether Events Coordinator

get2gether members visiting Dynamic Earth’s galleries.

get2gether members visiting Dynamic Earth’s galleries.

Three community groups from Upmo engaged in workshops and group discussions on climate change and climate justice. The conversations around climate change, combined with tours of Dynamic Earth’s galleries, encouraged the groups to create nature-based art pieces. These include photography on members’ local environments, habitat posters and seagrass artworks which are all on display in Dynamic Earth’s Mindsets and Mission exhibition.

“I think what worked incredibly well was how you were able to inspire the students. Even more so, you simply (yet brilliantly, not enough people do this with education in my opinion) gave them the tools to do it themselves. It wasn’t learning that was just handed over. You made it accessible in a way they could do it, this is why they engaged with it on a personal level.” – Upmo Team Leader

Creating artwork at Dynamic Earth.

Seagrass artwork from Upmo group members.

SEASONS Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing support group took part in creative workshops with a large focus on discussions and storytelling around climate justice and environmentalism. Guest speakers and interactive investigations into sustainability were bought to a conclusion with a final climate justice poster workshop facilitated by an external artist.

“I think it’s fantastic that a high-profile resource like Dynamic Earth seeks to support and empower individuals from community groups to learn and participate in science and environmental activities.” – SEASONS Group Leader

Artwork at Dynamic Earth with SEASONS.

Climate justice poster artwork with SEASONS.

Each community partner also took part in an informal focus group to provide feedback and reflections on the stories we’re telling in our science centre, and what narratives, perspectives and framings they would expect to see in the future, to ensure our exhibitions are representative of diverse voices, perspectives and people. Community feedback and voice was captured beautifully by artist Cara Rooney:

Illustration by Cara Rooney.

As part of Mindsets + Missions, we worked with independent evaluators from ScotInform to find out more about what our staff team – including the Board of Trustees – knew about our community programme, our community partners and the impact of the charitable work we do. The results are now being used to drive the development of our community programming strategy.

Reflecting on the programme, Lawrence Murphy, Learning and Engagement Manager (Community Programmes) said “It has been fantastic for Dynamic Earth to be a part of Mindsets and Missions, an incredibly important project that has brought numerous community groups into the core of Dynamic Earths community programme. The project has been a resounding success in promoting diversity within Dynamic Earth, increasing the accessibility of our spaces, and allowing community partners the opportunity to have their voices represented within our galleries and exhibitions.”

Conor Ellis, Science Learning and Engagement Director said “Working with community partners is mission critical to everything we do at our science engagement charity. Mindsets + Missions has given us a launchpad to explore new ways of working with, empowering and representing communities at our science centre, supporting our commitment to ensure our exhibitions and learning programmes are driven by authentic co-creation and audience voice.”