Artist-Led Aeroecological Policy Language Residency
Emergence is an artist-led research and development residency embedded within the BioDAR Project at the University of Leeds. It builds on three years of collaborative work exploring ecological systems, data and institutional language across previous projects.
Our earlier research examined how environmental evidence moves between science, governance and public understanding. Through engagement with radar-based aeroecological data, we encountered a gap between the complexity of atmospheric ecological systems and the policy frameworks designed to interpret them.
This residency marks a shift from translation to embedded practice. By participating in radar meetings and cross-sector dialogue, we position artistic language inside the environments where ecological evidence becomes actionable. Emergence develops new artistic framings capable of operating at policy level while remaining legible across scientific and public contexts.
What is BioDAR?
BioDAR is a UK research project led from the University of Leeds that uses weather radar to monitor insect biodiversity in the atmosphere. Weather radar networks scan the sky regularly and, although originally designed to detect rain and clouds, also capture biological signals from flying insects and other aerial life. BioDAR develops methods to recognise and quantify these biological signals, turning what was once treated as “noise” into meaningful ecological data. By producing maps of insect diversity and abundance at large spatial scales, the project aims to improve understanding of how environmental change, urbanisation and land-use affect wildlife. BioDAR’s approach offers a step-change in large-scale biodiversity monitoring and has potential to inform conservation decision-making and policy.
Previous Projects
Our recent practice sits at the intersection of ecology, infrastructure and meaning-making: how technical systems produce evidence, how institutions legitimise it, and how language shapes what becomes actionable.
Critical Storytelling
Aeroecology – A Living Language for Life in the Air
An early exploration of radar-based ecological data developed in collaboration with aeroecologist Chris Hassall. The project treated radar not only as measurement, but as material for translation, developing narrative and visual frameworks that allowed atmospheric life to be read across scientific and policy contexts. The work established ongoing dialogue with institutional partners including DEFRA, Natural England, and the National Trust.
Mediate Environmental Evidence
UNRESP – Unseen but not unfelt: resilience to persistent volcanic emissions
An interdisciplinary research project addressing persistent volcanic air pollution (vumo) at Masaya volcano in Nicaragua. The work combines science, social research, health and arts & humanities to understand and communicate the lived experience of environmental hazard and resilience. Our role focused on translating complex environmental and health data into visual and narrative forms for community understanding and policy relevance, bridging scientific evidence with lived experience.
Language as infrastructure
AIAI – Artificial Intelligence, Art and Indigeneity
A research project examining how algorithmic systems encode particular epistemologies and how artistic practice can interrogate those infrastructures. Through publications and collaborative enquiry, the work explored language, classification and knowledge production within technical systems. It established a methodological foundation for working critically inside complex research environments.
Policy Adjacency
Newland – A New Vision for a Wilder Future
A research-led documentary developed alongside the University of Leeds’ Land Lines project, translating regenerative farming research into shared narrative form. The film was showcased at COP26 and recognised by the AHRC Research in Film Awards as Best Climate Emergency Film of the year, demonstrating the capacity of artistic storytelling to operate within international climate policy contexts. The film’s impact supported individual narratives for conservation to interact with institutional policy in localised contexts.
Embedded practice
LivingBodiesObjects – Technology and the Spaces of Health
A £1m Wellcome-funded research lab co-developed at the University of Leeds. The project formed intentionally cross-disciplinary teams to explore health, technology and embodiment through creative experimentation. It demonstrates embedded art–science infrastructure and the long-term development of collaborative research methods.
