Water Color: Inspiring Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystems by Painting With Algae

Science is one of the best ways to explore and understand the natural world, but many significant findings remain too intimidating for people without background knowledge to access. One way to get data out to the public is by utilizing the emotive strengths of art. This project aims to use watercolor painting as the mode of communication for the science behind the causes, effects, and solutions of harmful algal blooms in freshwater ecosystems. A novel aspect of the project is the development and use of algae paint to clearly depict relationships between what people do (even when those actions are far removed from visible water), how that impacts the environment and human populations, and how those actions can be altered to promote a better future.