The art of exploring

Within the European Horizon-2020 project PlanMap - whose aim is to provide integrated cartography with spectral information, stratigraphy and 3D geologic models of the subsurface - several artists contributed in shaping the vision of geological exploration of planetary bodies of our Solar System for the wide public (https://planmap.eu/content/artists). We addressed a broad audience of kids, students and general public by means of dedicated artworks and the production of a project soundtrack. We realised the following initiatives: (a) The “Drawing for Kids” storyline tells the adventures of the project's mascot Geolyn who is portrayed in stand-alone contexts related to planetary geology and exploration. These paintings aim to present geological mapping to the young public depicting in a very friendly and simple way the mapping process; (b) The “Drawing the Future” illustrations aim to deliver the vision of a near future where the tools and the scientific products of Planmap become hands-on applications for the exploration of the Moon, Mars and Mercury. This storyline aims to engage secondary school students and the general public showing planetary landscapes explored through enhanced tools and augmented reality; (c) “Drawing the Comic” is an initiative that is regularly published in the PLaNCK! Magazine (www.planck- magazine.it) and narrates the adventures of Marie, Max, Planck and nanny Rose delivering accurate and correct scientific information using vocabulary and narrative strategy suitable for the target audience; (d) The Planmap soundtrack project led to the realization of a dedicated multi-instrument track within the ITH project which aims to explore the baffling emotions and feelings of dreams from the point of view of a blind child. ITH is a one man band project with exploration desire at its core and each song has references to space, stars and science.

 

This initiative is supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement N°776276 (PLANMAP).