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Art and science can work together to raise public awareness and propel conservation efforts needed to safeguard coral reef ecosystems, a group of coral scientists argues in a new research article<\/a> published in Science Advances<\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n Coral reefs are among Earth\u2019s most threatened ecosystems amid climate change<\/a>, coral bleaching<\/a> and threats from mining<\/a>. However, most people rarely see or think about corals. The study argues that artists can help shine a light on coral fragility and the resilience of nature. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cArtistic interventions can render the largely unseen underwater world into something visible and accessible,\u201d the authors note. \u201cWhen paired with scientific data, interactive design, and clear calls to action, coral-inspired art installations in cities worldwide can amplify public understanding and galvanize support.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n They argue music, dance, film and visual art can help corals get noticed. However, many initiatives to address the coral reef crisis are often local or disconnected from one another. \u201cWhile these projects successfully blend ecological restoration with public engagement, their impact is usually limited to specific regions,\u201d the article notes.<\/span><\/p>\n However, article co-author Monica Medina, a biology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the U.S. told Mongabay in an email that local art can also take the global stage. She offered the example of Jalimer, a young Champeta musician in Colombia. Champeta is a local genre of music from the Colombian Caribbean, similar to reggaeton. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI spoke with him [Jalimer] near one of my field sites, about how Champeta could play a role in changing local people\u2019s perceptions about the environment if there were more songs with relevant lyrics,\u201d Medina told Mongabay. \u201cHe surprised me months later with a song that he asked me to fact-check for the environmental impact statements.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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