Based on my 5+ years (and counting) as co-chair of the A4E Educational Resources working group, I want to share my personal experiences with the group as an uplifting, life-giving space for sharing creative ideas, interdisciplinary exploration, and exploring new ways of connecting and relating. As a primarily volunteer run group, we have a great deal of freedom to come as we are, express our nascent ideas that may not be fully formed, and support each other in finding and creating new voices and healing narratives inspired by the cosmic perspective.
While some of our discussions focus on logistics of uploading astronomy-climate resources to the A4E Documents and Materials page, or studying climate science communication reports, I have found deep meaning and personal connections from our conversations that are perhaps beyond the boundaries of what might be considered a more traditional working group that is focused on accomplishing tasks and achieving outcomes. We meander. We express our emotions. We share our dreams. I find these opportunities to be both a much needed balm for myself, and an authentic exploration of a newer way of being and working as practitioners who share a deep responsibility to share the cosmic perspective with our communities and the world.
The painting shared here is one of my efforts to express my work in a new and creative way. I painted this representation of my co-chair, Julie Bolduc-Duval, as part of my “Climate Women” painting series. This painting is one of several that I have created as a way to listen to the artistic side of myself, find inspiration from women climate activists, and draw attention to the many ways people can take climate action. The choice to paint Julie was an intentional effort to weave in the cosmic perspective and our group’s efforts to integrate climate with astronomy education for climate action, resilience, and hope. Painting this work, communicating with Julie about it, and putting it out into the world, feels like one small example of how I am personally meant to express myself in the world as an integrated whole, with both my science and artistic sides integrated.
So, this post is a personal invitation to you to perhaps explore those small seeds of wonder and inspiration in yourself that may not be considered part of your traditional astronomy role, but nonetheless inspire you to do what you do, and which help you feel more integrated and whole. Where can you find the liminal space to experiment with new ways of bringing your astronomy professional self across boundaries? What does it mean for you to become more fully the Earthling you want to be? You may find inspiration and support from a variety of avenues, and if you’d like, you are always invited to drop in to our working group meetings to share with us as we all learn to navigate our cosmic journeys on our one and only home, planet Earth.
Image: Oil painting of Julie Bolduc-Duval by Kathryn Williamson
