The artistic workshop: “The Breath of the Earth: Memory Nexus” explores relations between soil ecosystems and humans through the language of smell. The smell of soil, produced by microbial life and chemical processes, carries ecological knowledge while evoking personal emotions and memories that shape our identities and bonds with the environment.
The workshop is rooted in the Horizon Europe / Mission Soil project: SPIN-FERT.
Within 90 minutes, participants are guided through a collective experience combining science, art and memory. The session starts with an introduction to soil health challenges and analysis. Participants then smell soil samples and record memories triggered by the scents. These reflections are clustered into four groups, serving as bases for creating a collaborative “RNA memory molecule”—a 3D molecular-poetic model symbolising soil as the basis of life. The model is later printed in bioplastic and returned to the soil, recalling circular processes in nature and soil economy. The memory molecule is also archived as part of an interactive online collection.
Goals
To raise awareness of soil as a fundamental resource, central to biodiversity and human well-being.
To cultivate empathy for soil through sensory, emotional, and cultural engagement.
To demonstrate the value of interdisciplinary art-science methodologies in addressing complex environmental challenges.
Expected Outcomes
A collective “RNA memory molecule” as a physical artefact and digital archive.
An insight into soil ecosystems and EU Mission Soil.
Enhanced environmental awareness and appreciation of soil as a living biological and cultural medium.
Inspiration for participants to integrate creative, participatory methods into their own fields of research, education, or community engagement.