Visual Art: Foram by AlanJames Burns

As part of National Science Week and European Geoscience Day 2024, i CRAG presents Foram by AlanJames Burns.

We all inhabit a vast, interconnected ecosystem, where every being – no matter how big or small – plays a vital role in fostering a harmonious world. Among these, Planktonic Foraminifera, or Forams, are tiny microscopic organisms with an outsized importance. These tiny beings hold essential clues about the Earth’s ancient climate patterns, helping us to better understand the effects of our rapidly changing climate. ‘Foram’ explores how all things, even what can appear as the most isolated and marginalised elements of our world, play a crucial role in protecting our planet.

Foram builds on artist AlanJames Burns’ own lived experience and their disability focused arts practice, exploring how Climate Change disproportionately impacts marginalised and disability communities. Foram is a celebration of diverse perspectives, voices and lived experiences and how the power of inclusive collaboration can reshape the world towards a more just and sustainable future.

Through a public talk and installation, Foram presents research from Burns’s artistic residency on board the Celtic Explorer research cruise CE23011. This expedition, led by chief scientist and collaborator Dr. Audrey Morley from the University of Galway and iCRAG, ventured to one of the most remote regions on Earth in July 2023. Here, amidst the icy expanses of the Arctic Ocean and the Greenland coast, the research team studied Forams— small yet significant organisms that can help us unravel the mysteries of our planet’s past, and perhaps, safeguard its future.

On 14 November European Geoscience Day, there will be two drop in sessions when you can meet artist AlanJames Burns, and interact with the scientists from iCRAG. These will be at 11:15am to 12:30pm, 3:15 pm to 4pm, and 1pm to 1:45pm which will have an accompanying talk chaired by Dr Fiona Byrne will bring Burns, Dr Morley and Dr Fergus McAuliffe together to discuss the themes of the research in more depth. This will be ISL interpreted. To book, click here.

Access

The talk on the 14 Nov, will have ISL interpretation. If you cannot make the event in person a recording and transcript of the talk will be available on alanjamesburns.com one week after the event. They have created a Know Before You Go Document for Foram which you can access below.

For more information visitalanjamesburns.com