BGS partners with leading artists in COP26 project to bring climate change science to life through poetry
BGS is part of an inspiring new project designed to bring science and poetry together to imagine a more prosperous, sustainable planet.
28/10/2021 By BGS Press
BGS is part of an inspiring new project designed to bring science and poetry together to imagine a more prosperous, sustainable planet.
Hot Poets is a new Arts Council-funded project run by Tongue Fu and its writer founder, Chris Redmond, and poet Liv Torc.
BGS is among 12 leading environmental organisations and charities supporting the project to partner with some of the UK and Africa’s most prominent and talented spoken-word artists. Each has created a new commissioned poem about what’s really going on in the fight for the planet, using their creative vision to re-imagine a better and possible future.
The full collection of works, called ’12 poems about saving the world for COP26: art and science working together to imagine better possible futures’, explores a range of complex, vital and inspiring scientific subjects, including:
- flood and fire prevention
- empowering African women on the equator to plant forests
- re-greening of the Sinai Peninsula
- Forest School: education on the national curriculum
- beach data as a way to leverage change in plastic manufacturing
- climate litigation
- the restoration of peat land
- the hidden energy underground
- more effective weather warning systems
- the green whale’s impact on carbon reduction
Geoscience-focused Geology Rocks is a poem by artist Francesca Beard, highlighting the lesser-understood role of geoscience in finding sustainable solutions to protect our planet from the impact of climate change.
All the poems are being professionally filmed and released, one on each day of the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow, which starts on 3 November 2021.
With funding from the Arts Council England, Hot Poets aims to prove the intrinsic value of placing the arts front and centre in the climate change conversation, reconnecting people to hope, cutting through the doom and despair and sharing positive ways to gain agency and take action in the fight against climate catastrophe.
Commenting on the experience, Francesca said: ‘This commission has been a profoundly inspiring journey through the landscape of geothermal energy, carbon capture and our possible future route through the challenges of the climate emergency. I expected to think and learn through the collaborations; I didn’t expect to feel so hopeful about the future.’
Hazel Napier of BGS, who leads research in geoscience and society, said: ‘It’s extremely rewarding to take part in such an inspirational collaboration. Adapting to a changing planet requires a complex understanding of natural earth processes that can often be difficult for audiences to engage with.
‘Hot Poets enables science to shift beyond technical explanations and connect with climate change through a transformative experience. Poetry evokes feelings, it reflects, it connects and it inspires. We can be encouraged by the poetry of geoscience.’
The films will be accompanied by five Tongue Fu shows where the Hot Poets will come together to perform their commissions to live improvised music from the Tongue Fu Band. They include Cheltenham Literary Festival and performances in Oxford, Bristol and London.
Along with the 12 films, there will be a Hot Poets book, album, ‘Hot Words’ competition and participatory and schools programme.
Other organisations bringing science to life though poetry are:
- Word Forest in the UK and Kenya
- Whale and Dolphin Conservation
- Weather Makers in the Netherlands
- Forest Schools in Birmingham, UK
- University of Manchester
- Somerset Wildlife Trust
- Beach Co-Op in Cape Town, South Africa
The internationally renowned artists Include Joelle Taylor, Yomi Ṣode, The Repeat Beat Poet, Vanessa Kisuule, Zena Edwards, Matt Harvey, Jonny Fluffypunk, Toni Stuart, Elvis McGonagall, Liv Torc and Chris Redmond.
Relative topics
Latest news

BGS to lead new research project on barrier systems to support more sustainable coastal management
06/12/2023
Scientists at BGS will lead a new four-year project that will enhance our understanding of gravel barrier systems across the coastlines of the UK.

BGS publication included in Environment Agency’s review of drought in the UK
05/12/2023
A BGS essay on groundwater and drought has been included in the Environment Agency’s review of the research and scientific understanding of drought.

BGS receives award at the World Landslide Forum 2023
30/11/2023
BGS’s landslide team has been designated a World Centre of Excellence on landslide risk reduction by the International Consortium on Landslides.

Natural flood management: is geology more important than trees?
23/11/2023
Looking at innovative ways of creating resilience to flooding hazards with natural flood management.

First annual Critical Mineral Intelligence Centre conference takes place
23/11/2023
The conference took place at BGS’s headquarters in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, on 21 November 2023.

Evidence report on deep geothermal energy opportunities in the UK released
16/11/2023
BGS has published a detailed evidence report that underpins a deep geothermal White Paper.

The optimisation of plutonium separation
07/11/2023
BGS research leads to advancements in the detection of plutonium and ultimately the determination of soil erosion rates in tropical soils.

Antarctic mountain named in honour of BGS scientist
06/11/2023
BGS’s Ian Millar has been honoured for his geological research in Antarctica by having a mountain on the continent named after him.

New method developed to identify wetland inhabitants
01/11/2023
BGS-led research has helped develop a method to identify ancient human and animal wetland inhabitants.

New book launched on groundwater in Northern Ireland
30/10/2023
BGS and the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) have launched a new book and map on Northern Ireland’s groundwater.

Dr Gavin Mudd appointed director of the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre
19/10/2023
Dr Gavin Mudd brings with him expertise in sustainable mining, environmental impacts and management of mine waste.

‘First of its kind’ online tool created to help tackle pollution in London
17/10/2023
The new Road Pollution Solutions tool predicts pollution levels from road runoff and suggests nature-based solutions to combat it.