Art-science for exploring the lived realities and socio-hydrological interactions of drought-to-flood events

The PerfectSTORM project studies the risk of cascading hazards of extreme rainfall after drought, focusing on hydro-social feedback to guide the future management of drought-to-flood events. Within this project, art-science methods have been employed not only as tools for dissemination, but as integral methodologies throughout the research process. For example, narrative interviews and drawing workshops helped participants express complex ideas and lived experiences.

We would like to showcase some of the art-science collaborations from the project, focusing on three art-science activities. (a) Our Travelling Exhibition is an interactive, portable exhibition that engages diverse audiences. The exhibition integrates multimedia storytelling, scientific visualisations, poems and artistic installations, fostering dialogue and bridging cultural and linguistic barriers. (b) A Documentary Series delves deep into the dynamics of drought-to-flood events, weaving together scientific insights, historical data, and human stories. These films highlight the cascading impacts of drought-to-flood events through scientific analysis and human narratives.c) Our interactive website aims to bring the complexities of drought-to-flood events to life through scientific data, creative visualisations, and participatory storytelling. The website includes interactive maps and visualisations of the models, timelines, and graphs; these features help convey the cascading nature of hazards and their impacts on various scales, from local communities to global patterns.