In science, findings and knowledge are usually spread through papers and reports that are usually contained within the scientific community. Terrain.org is an online journal that helps ordinary people, environment enthusiasts, and experts spread their thoughts and findings through a very different channel: art.
On Terrain you can find literary art like poems and prose; you can find visual art like photographs and videos; or you can read informational pieces through nonfiction work, columns, interviews, and articles about urban centers. Terrain tries to connect the physical and natural environment to the built and human environment. Readers and viewers can really gain insight on issues involving these two contrasting realms. Terrain says that “the works contained within Terrain.org ultimately examine the physical realm around us, and how those environments influence us and each other physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.”
Although the works are more personal pieces and not based on experimental findings, all topics pertain to either environmental/geographical issues or an individuals personal feelings on the topic. It’s a unique space and translator for the natural environment and gives a different perspective to physical geography than what we usually encounter in class.
Suggested Pieces:
BioMap2: Conservation Roadmap for Massachusetts
Antarctica: A Year in Photos by Ben Adkinson
Interview with Andres Duany ( Founder of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company: the architectural firm in charge of the East End Transformation Project in Richmond)
I really liked this site! It reminded me of an underwater sculpture park in Grenada that I read about. here’s the link for it!! http://grenadaunderwatersculpture.com
I loved this site! What a great concept. I love seeing different areas of life coming and merging together. I believe art is a great way to express oneself, and what better way to express your love of the environment than through artistic expressions!
This is such a cool site! I think it’s an excellent tool to get people thinking about geography who may not usually be as interested and it shows the power of combining disciplines that may seem very separate.
This site provided are really interesting perspective on the topics we studied in class. It is sometimes easy to forget the beauty and awe of the natural world when looking at models of ice melt or predicted habitat loss. The Biomap2 specifically provided a nice visual of the natural systems functioning over time combined with predictions for the future of those systems. This site also helps bring environmental issues to a more personal, real world perspective by showing the specific effects human actions may have on the natural environment.
This is such a neat site. Usually scientific websites are quite boring but this really sparked my interest. This really shows how humans impact the environment like the depiction of habitat loss.