Description

Around the globe, research is undertaken on the plant knowledge of people across a wide range of demographics. Qualitative and arts-based research methods are increasingly used for these studies. This workshop shared research methods from three projects in Australia, Ireland, and Sweden which researched plant awareness with different groups of research participants. The common methodological strand across the projects was an arts-based approach. In this workshop, postcards, layered mapping, drawing and photographs, art installations, impression sheets, and conversations over time were examined in relation to the following questions:

• Which research methods could enable the study of plant awareness across diverse demographics? 
• How can the arts support researchers to collect data on plant awareness? 
• By looking through an artistic lens is it possible to appreciate/identify/ acknowledge plants in new ways? 

References

Beasley, K., Hesterman, S., & Lee-Hammond, L. (2022). Reviving botany in the curriculum: The botanical journey of two Western Australian early childhood teachers. Australian Journal of Environmental Education. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2022.42 

Beasley, K., Lee-Hammond, L., & Hesterman, S. (2021). A framework for supporting the development of botanical literacies in early childhood education. International Journal of Early Childhood, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-021-00291-x 

Snæbjörnsdóttir, B., Wilson, M. & Sanders, D. (2020) Beyond Plant Blindness: Seeing the importance of plants for a sustainable world. Green Box Publications: Berlin