“Insectopolis” - ISOE awards art scholarship on the topic of insect diversity in the city

In order to halt the trend of global insect decline, insects must regain habitats, both in agricultural landscapes and in cities. This requires people to appreciate insects and their ecosystem services and be willing to contribute to insect conservation. To this end, the SLInBio research project, led by ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research, is developing interventions where citizens can experience the diversity of insects in a positive way – for example through artistic works pointing to the value of insect diversity in public spaces. As part of this research project, ISOE is now awarding a grant for such an artwork.

It is not only science and research that can offer new perspectives to address societal challenges. Art is another way to inspire people to reflect on complex issues from a personal and social point of view thus enabling transformative forces to emerge which is a basic prerequisite for change. “So, in combining art and science we see a great potential for social-ecological transformation says ISOE biodiversity researcher Florian Dirk Schneider.

The transdisciplinary research project SLInBio, led by ISOE and dedicated to the conservation of insect diversity in the city, makes use of this potential: “The interplay of scientific findings and artistic-aesthetic perspectives can not only create new spaces for hitherto unfamiliar experiences and for the emergence of new thought patterns,” explains Schneider, “Communication between different disciplines can also generate new knowledge and urgently needed new narratives that can be used to win people over for the protection of insect diversity.”

Promoting access to knowledge about the necessary coexistence of insects and humans

To support this communication, the ISOE research team of SLInBio is offering the “Insectopolis” project grant, which is aimed at artists based in the Rhine-Main region. The grant is embedded in a transdisciplinary setting and aims to promote the co-productive process between the arts and the sciences. The funded artistic work is to be implemented in a public space in the city of Frankfurt am Main. The thematic focus is on the topic of insect biodiversity.

“We are looking forward to receiving applications and project proposals that have the potential to reflect on the existing relationships between humans and insects,” says Nina Queissner, who is accompanying the “Insectopolis” project as artistic curator. “Essentially, the aim is to use an aesthetic experience to sensitize viewers to the fact that the coexistence of humans and insects is an essential prerequisite for life and survival in the Anthropocene.”

Application deadline for “Insectopolis” on January 31, 2024

The proposals that can be submitted until January 31, 2024, should reflect the diverse relationships between humans and insects as well as their entangled habitats and joint living conditions in the city. “Insectopolis” will be realized between April and July 2024 in close cooperation with ISOE researchers and partner institutions such as Palmengarten Frankfurt am Main or Senckenberg Natural History Museum.

The selected artist will receive a remuneration of 5,000 Euro for the conceptualization, for investigative work in cooperation with the researchers as well as for the implementation including exhibition rights. In addition, a material costs budget of 4,500 Euro will be made available for the realization of the artwork in a public space.

More detailed information on the conditions of participation and application process can be found at www.isoe.de/en/insectopolis.

About ISOE

ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research
is one of the leading independent institutes for sustainability research. It develops scientific foundations and forward-looking concepts for socio-ecological transformations. To this end, ISOE conducts transdisciplinary research on global problems such as water scarcity, climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation, and finds viable solutions that take into account ecological, social and economic conditions.

Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Dr. Florian Dirk Schneider
ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research
Tel. +49 69 707 6919-71
florian.schneider(at)isoe.de
www.isoe.de

Weitere Informationen:
https://www.isoe.de/en/insectopolis/
http://www.insektenvielfalt-frankfurt.org (german only)