#blogtakeover SWISP Lab x University of Melbourne Interns Yi Guo and Peiyi Jin
Deeply inspired by the transformative power of SWISP Lab hackathons as a chance to work on big complex problems and by the potential of personal storytelling as a way for us to be present to each other (Adams et al, 2014, p.5), Peiyi and Yi embarked on a mini-hack adventure at the University of Melbourne. Our goal was to weave together climate stories of living in the Anthropocene through a unique blend of art, technology, and collective imagination by inviting passersby to share their personal climate narratives.
The Exquisite Corpse Game
To infuse our mini-hack with creativity and inclusivity within its brief duration, we integrated the Exquisite Corpse game, where each participant builds upon the contribution of the previous one, adding a delightful twist to our mini-hack. This collaborative approach not only amplified the collective voice but also fostered an atmosphere of shared creativity and engagement.
“Exquisite corpse is a method by which a collection of words or images is collectively assembled. Each collaborator adds to a composition in sequence, either by following a rule or by being allowed to see only the end of what the previous person contributed.”
From Narratives to Creations
With an array of heartfelt climate narratives in hand, we turned to AI tools to transform these stories into visual art, stories, and poems. The results were stunning—each creation captured the essence of our participants’ experiences with vivid clarity and emotional depth.
Let’s dive into the amazing narratives we’ve gathered!
Participant 1: A City Dweller’s Reflection
“I think it’s very easy to feel a disconnect regarding climate change living in a major city – I find I am more desensitised than I would like to be…”
Participant 2: From Takayama, Japan
“I worry about the climate change in my hometown. During the winter season, we often see very beautiful snow but it’s getting less now.”
Participant 3: Tasmania’s Concern
“I’m from Tasmania, where the air is quite fresh. I’m scared of that change. Most people in my life are very disconnected and ignorant about climate change, it’s not discussed or even represented in my small town/school/city, so I feel that I have to find that representation elsewhere ー but now living here and studying at a bigger university and city I find that discussions about climate change are louder.”
Participant 4: Confronting Reality
“It’s so easy to live your life in a way that ignores the impending doom that climate change is bringing. Sometimes I hear one thing, a news story about flooding or fires or eroding coastlines, and the weight of knowing that we are in grave danger comes crashing down on me.”
AI-Generated Story I
Living in a major city, it’s easy to feel a disconnect regarding climate change. The bustling streets and towering buildings often create a barrier between us and the natural world, desensitising us more than we’d like to admit. Despite our passion for the world, the reality of climate change feels distant, almost like an abstract concept rather than an impending crisis.
In contrast, my hometown of Takayama is a place where the seasons once painted a vivid picture of nature’s beauty. Winter used to bring an abundance of snow, transforming the landscape into a serene white wonderland. But now, as the years go by, the snowfall is becoming less frequent. The warmth that creeps into our winters is a stark reminder of the changes we are facing, and it fills me with a quiet worry for the future.
From the fresh air of Tasmania, I find myself fearful of losing the purity that defines my homeland. The people around me often seem disconnected and ignorant about climate change, rarely discussing it or acknowledging its presence. In my small town, the silence around this issue is deafening. However, my move to a larger city and university has been eye-opening. Here, the discussions about climate change are louder and more frequent, offering a sense of representation and urgency that I previously had to seek elsewhere.
Yet, it’s alarmingly easy to live in a way that ignores the looming threat of climate change. Daily life has a way of masking the impending doom, making it seem like a distant concern. But every now and then, a news story pierces this illusion—reports of flooding, wildfires, and eroding coastlines serve as grim reminders. In those moments, the weight of knowing that we are in grave danger comes crashing down, making it impossible to ignore reality any longer.
The Tasmanian bushland is where I feel most at home, and the thought of it changing is deeply unsettling. The beauty of nature and the stark changes we observe around us serve as constant reminders of what is at stake. Our collective experiences, whether from cities or small towns, from places of disconnect or those deeply intertwined with nature, highlight a shared fear and a call to action.
As we come together to share our stories, we create a tapestry of experiences and emotions that reflect the diverse impact of climate change on our lives. Through these narratives, we find a sense of solidarity and urgency, reminding us that despite our different backgrounds and perspectives, we are all connected by this common challenge. And together, we can amplify our voices to make a difference.
In cities vast, where lights obscure the skies,
A disconnect grows, a numbing veil,
Desensitised, we pass the days,
While distant storms and silent gales,
Whisper of a world in pain.
In winter’s grace, snowflakes danced,
A pristine ballet, pure and white,
Now warmth encroaches, flakes retreat,
Our hearts worry, day and night,
A future where the snow might wane.
Air once fresh and pure to breathe,
Holds memories of untainted past,
Yet fear creeps in with every dawn,
A change we dread, approaching fast,
In silence, towns ignore the signs.
But in the city’s larger scope,
Voices rise, discussions grow,
Where once was silence, now is noise,
A call to arms, a chance to know,
That climate’s change is ours to bear.
Easy is the path to live,
Ignoring doom, embracing blind,
Yet floods and fires break the dream,
Reality in harsh design,
The coast erodes, the forests cry.
Nature’s home, my heart’s own space,
The change you face is mine to fear,
We share these tales, our truths align,
From different lands, our voices clear,
We weave a story, rich and vast.
Together, strong, we raise our plea,
For Earth, for air, for snow, for sea,
In unity, our strength is found,
A tapestry of hope set free, To change the world, our common ground.
Participant 5: Futuristic Visionary
“Fifty years from now, I can imagine a world with very less natural plants and trees. The development of urban cities will infiltrate even rural areas. And if our current generation did not address our pollution and waste issues, there would be a surplus of plastic, old devices, and garbage everywhere.”
Participant 6: Climate Activist
“Despite the rather dire consequences of decades of pollution and environmental neglect, a new generation of climate activists sought to change the world for the better. These climate revolutionaries drew strength from each other, using what skills they had to make even the smallest of differences. And it is through their passion to build a better future, that they continued to inspire those around them, both young and old.”
Participant 7: Innovator in Packaging
“People began from the daily express packaging, express is no longer with paper or wood packaging, but the use of a special conveyor belt, which takes no packaging mode, from each site directly delivered to everyone’s home, so more environmentally friendly!”
AI-Generated Story II
Fifty years from now, I can imagine a world with very few natural plants and trees. The development of urban cities will infiltrate even rural areas. And if our current generation did not address our pollution and waste issues, there would be a surplus of plastic, old devices, and garbage everywhere.
Despite the rather dire consequences of decades of pollution and environmental neglect, a new generation of climate activists sought to change the world for the better. These climate revolutionaries drew strength from each other, using their diverse skills to make even the smallest of differences.
And it is through their passion to build a better future that they continued to inspire those around them, both young and old. Their collective effort sparked a wave of eco-consciousness that permeated every aspect of daily life.
People began by transforming the way they received goods. Express packaging evolved dramatically; traditional paper and wood materials were replaced by an innovative system. A special conveyor belt, devoid of any packaging, ensured that products were delivered directly to homes from each distribution site. This method significantly reduced waste, marking a pivotal shift towards a more sustainable future.
Communities came together, redesigning urban spaces to incorporate vertical gardens and green rooftops. These not only improved air quality but also brought a touch of nature back into the concrete jungles. Renewable energy sources became the norm, with solar panels and wind turbines dotting the landscape, powering homes and businesses alike.
Education systems revamped their curriculums to include sustainability and environmental stewardship as core subjects. Children learned the importance of ecological balance and the steps they could take to preserve it. This new generation, armed with knowledge and driven by a deep sense of responsibility, worked tirelessly to reverse the damage done by their predecessors.
In rural areas, reforestation projects flourished. Communities planted native trees and plants, restoring habitats for wildlife and reviving ecosystems. Farmers adopted sustainable agricultural practices, reducing their carbon footprint and ensuring food security for future generations.
Technological advancements played a crucial role in this transformation. Innovations in waste management and recycling led to the efficient conversion of waste into useful products, reducing landfill dependency. Clean water and air initiatives improved public health, and urban planners designed smart cities that harmonised with the natural environment.
As the world shifted towards a more sustainable and connected existence, the dire predictions of the past began to fade. The collaborative efforts of individuals and communities created a resilient planet, where the balance between human development and nature was not only restored but celebrated.
In this future, the once-dominant culture of consumption and waste gave way to one of mindfulness and conservation. The legacy of the climate revolutionaries endured, is a testament to the power of collective action and the enduring spirit of humanity’s will to protect and cherish the Earth for generations to come.
AI-Generated Poem II
Fifty years from now, I see a world,
Where natural plants and trees unfurled,
Are rare, as urban cities sprawl,
Encroaching on the rural thrall.
If we ignore pollution’s rise,
Plastic seas and garbage skies,
Old devices pile, forlorn,
A wasteland future, sadly born.
Yet from this shadow, voices rise,
A new generation, bold and wise,
Climate activists, hearts afire,
With dreams to lift the world higher.
Drawing strength from each small deed,
Uniting in their urgent creed,
Passion driving every move,
To inspire, to teach, to prove.
Packaging rethought, transformed,
No more paper, wood adorned,
Conveyor belts in eco-mode,
Deliveries to every abode.
Urban jungles turned to green,
Vertical gardens, nature seen,
Solar panels, windmills bright,
Powering cities with pure light.
Children learn in schools so grand,
Sustainability at hand,
Stewards of the Earth they grow,
With wisdom that they proudly show.
Reforestation, rural cheer,
Native trees and plants appear,
Farmers work with gentle touch,
Sustainable, they give so much.
Technology aids the quest,
Waste to wonders, landfill less,
Clean water, air, and smart design,
Urban planners intertwine.
From consumption’s greedy haste,
To mindfulness, we shift with grace,
A balance found, a harmony,
In a future wild and free.
The dire predictions fade away,
As we forge a brighter day,
A testament to what we’ve done,
A world united, battles won.
In every heart, the fire burns,
For Earth, for life, the tide now turns,
A legacy of hope and care,
For generations everywhere.
Through our mini-hackathon, we’ve illuminated the diverse impacts of climate change on individuals from different walks of life. From bustling cities to serene rural landscapes, each narrative paints a poignant picture of our collective journey in the Anthropocene.
In closing, we celebrate the power of storytelling to bridge gaps, evoke empathy, and inspire action. Our journey continues as we amplify these voices, weaving a tapestry of narratives that call us all to stewardship and collective responsibility in the face of our changing world.
Through art and collaboration, we strive to awaken a shared consciousness—one that honours our planet’s beauty and resilience, guiding us towards a future where harmony between humanity and nature thrives.
This blog entry captures the essence of our mini-hack journey, inviting you to join us in envisioning and shaping a sustainable tomorrow.