About the project
The STRUM project aims to expand the concept to engage and inspire the public to accelerate the transition to a low carbon society and economy by partnering academics with musicians and school children to raise awareness, provide inspiration and generate behaviour change.
Climate Change is one of the most pressing global challenges facing society today. One rarely utilised approach involves using musical compositions and performances alongside intergenerational influence to raise public awareness, educate and change attitudes through evoking emotional responses. This was the core concept behind the experimental TRACE project.
Furthering our understanding of the individual, cultural, political and scientific dimensions and interactions will be essential to drive the social, structural and systemic change that is required. All sectors of society have roles in enabling this transition that cannot occur without active public participation.
However, because so many factors influence climate change, finding mechanisms to engage and motivate the public towards effective behavioural change is hugely challenging. Scientists encounter difficulties in communicating research findings to the public in an expedient way, this is particularly notable in environmental science due to the scale and immediacy of the issues at stake. In order to communicate scientific findings in a way that is accessible to the public, new methods are needed.
Specific research questions;
- how can cultural and musical activities combine with intergenerational influence to inspire and enhance the involvement of citizens in endeavours to address the impacts of climate change?
- how can participation in cultural and musical activities inform future educational programmes, policy making, and new scientific methods for addressing the societal challenges associated with climate change?
