“Like soundscape field recording, data sonification presents a rich area for blurring the disciplinary boundaries between art and science.” (Polli)

Andra Polli is one of the pioneering, environmentalist artists crossing the border between science and art. She describes here in her article Listening to the Poles how she has worked together with scientists making soundscape recordings from the ice of the Antarctic. The soundscapes have not only been used as material for public concerts, but are also used by the scientists as a tool for gathering environment data. Polli describes how this kind of art produces a mutual interchange of knowledge and inspiration so that both artists and scientists benefit from the collaboration. “The soundscape is a part of the whole system of an environment and the interdisciplinary practice of soundwalking provides an alternative pathway for understanding that system.”

But can art really cross the borders between art and science? And what good does the artist do the scientist? Can artistic material eventually be used as scientific data—or would that reduce the importance of our environment? In what way does an artist have a different perspective on complex matters as climate change? And how can this broaden the scientist’s horizon and make him/her come to new realizations?

Please join the discussion of whether or not and how the borders between art and science can be broken down.