Sonic Worlding: co-creation, equitable participation, and climate justice is a five-year artistic research project (SSHRC, 2026-32) led by Dr. Ellen Waterman at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. The Sonic Worlding team includes artist researchers and climate activists who are collaborating with d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent musicians to explore what it’s like to live during this time of climate crisis and to imagine more livable futures. Their practice/artistic-based research methodologies involve making music, sound art, films, and podcasts and reflect on how Disability, neurodiversity, and d/Deaf communities are some of the most impacted by climate disruption, but their perspectives are all too often ignored in climate change policy (UNHRC 2020, Jodoin et al. 2020). These communities, however, have expertise in adaptation and resilience that can make a valuable contribution to our ability to imagine liveable futures. This interactive session will discuss and demonstrate how through storytelling and co-listening, participatory sonic arts can be a powerful vehicle for climate justice artivism and offer an socially impactful story. It will explore the question: How do we move from art making to climate action, and how can we tell if our work is having an impact? Can music really affect climate justice?Music Matters XXXI: Can music affect climate change?- A Discussion with Dr. Ellen Waterman
Sonic Worlding: co-creation, equitable participation, and climate justice is a five-year artistic research project (SSHRC, 2026-32) led by Dr. Ellen Waterman at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. The Sonic Worlding team includes artist researchers and climate activists who are collaborating with d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent musicians to explore what it’s like to live during this time of climate crisis and to imagine more livable futures. Their practice/artistic-based research methodologies involve making music, sound art, films, and podcasts and reflect on how Disability, neurodiversity, and d/Deaf communities are some of the most impacted by climate disruption, but their perspectives are all too often ignored in climate change policy (UNHRC 2020, Jodoin et al. 2020). These communities, however, have expertise in adaptation and resilience that can make a valuable contribution to our ability to imagine liveable futures. This interactive session will discuss and demonstrate how through storytelling and co-listening, participatory sonic arts can be a powerful vehicle for climate justice artivism and offer an socially impactful story. It will explore the question: How do we move from art making to climate action, and how can we tell if our work is having an impact? Can music really affect climate justice?