COLLABORATIVE QUILTING FOR SHARING EARTH SCIENCE

For centuries, groups of individuals have gathered together to sit and sew stitches that contribute to the completion of a quilt. The techniques for and approaches to generating quilts have expanded over the years, and the opportunity to be a part of this collaborative activity have continued through to the present. In addition, quilts have served as a medium for storytelling on topics to raise awareness and to encourage activism.

In the earth sciences, we are at a critical time for scientists to share what we know when it comes to our grand challenges (renewable energy, clean water, etc.) and how to move forward in a safe, sustainable, and equitable way. Scientists are excellent at communicating with and to other scientists, and we are making progress in expanding our science communication toolkit on social media, through podcasts, and at local science outreach events. One item we can add to our toolkit is the collaborative generation of quilts by and for scientists and non-scientists.

One example of collaborative quilted storytelling relates to International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expeditions 390/393. Scientists that sailed on JOIDES Resolution for two months, as well as students, mentors, and scientists onshore that utilized the core material collected by the JR, generated two quilts that began with drawing on individual fabric squares. Quilts posted at: https://www.sciodquilts.studio/

Another collaborative quilt was completed by students enrolled in a university’s introductory-level coastal oceanography course, writing stories and drawing fabric squares that discuss how the coastal zone plays a role in climate change solutions. Quilts posted at: https://journeysofdrg.org/2023/11/28/sciquilt-coastal-climate-solutions/

Collaborative quilts where participants design their own fabric squares allow them to select the story to tell, design how the story is displayed, and be a part of a community of voices sharing what is important to them in the earth sciences. Importantly, the quilts themselves are then shared and continue to serve as science storytellers.