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UID:pretalx-soil-health-now-2026-TYD3CJ@pretalx.earthmonitor.org
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Athens:20261207T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Athens:20261207T180000
DESCRIPTION:Despite advances in soil health research\, a significant commun
 ication gap persists between scientific jargon and public discourse\, whic
 h can hinder widespread behavioural change . The Horizon Europe SOILSCAPE 
 project addresses this gap by utilising cultural and creative industries\,
  arts\, and participatory methodologies to transform human-soil relationsh
 ips and foster deep\, emotional connections to soil ecosystems. This poste
 r outlines the project’s multifaceted approach to improving soil literac
 y\, structured across five core blocks of action:\n1. Mapping Societal Per
 ceptions & Capacities: To understand current soil narratives\, SOILSCAPE a
 nalysed 122 mass and social media datasets\, identifying dominant metaphor
 s and communication gaps . Concurrently\, the project mapped regional gove
 rnance frameworks and established a capacity matrix of over 900 art-soil s
 takeholders to mobilise cross-sector collaboration.\n2. SEPIA: A Photovoic
 e-Inspired Approach: The project developed SEPIA (Soil Environments Based 
 on a Photovoice-Inspired Approach)\, a participatory methodology that capt
 ures community soil perceptions directly through citizens' camera lenses .
  By facilitating focus group discussions around these images\, SEPIA revea
 ls how diverse groups relate to local "soilscapes\," providing intuitive e
 ntry points to boost soil awareness.\n3. Cultivating "Soil Orchestras": Th
 e project has established a self-sustaining network of eight multidiscipli
 nary "Soil Orchestras" across Europe . Currently engaging 145 members\, th
 ese orchestras function as social learning ecosystems\, rooting scientific
  accuracy in creative engagement to empower local communities.\n4. Empower
 ing Grassroots Action (FSTP): SOILSCAPE launched a Financial Support to Th
 ird Parties (FSTP) program. Demonstrating massive public interest with >40
 0 applications \, the project is funding 36 diverse sub-projects to use ar
 ts-based approaches to increase soil literacy and contribute to the SOILSC
 APE festivals.\n5.  Tools in Progress: The first edition of the SOILSCAPE 
 festival was successfully held in Portugal (April 2026) and France (May 20
 26)\, with festivals planned for 2027 in all 8 orchestra countries. Simult
 aneously\, a Soil Literacy Portal is being co-designed with the JRC and DG
  Agri to host interactive "Soils & Arts" modules\, alongside a finalized S
 oil Literacy Press Kit featuring 12 science-backed fact sheets to bridge t
 he gap between soil research and public discourse .
DTSTAMP:20260825T180106Z
LOCATION:Basement (Foyer)
SUMMARY:Cultivating Soil Literacy: Bridging the Science-Society Gap through
  Arts and Participatory Engagement - Mackenzie Baert
URL:https://pretalx.earthmonitor.org/soil-health-now-2026/talk/TYD3CJ/
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