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Practicing Landscape Field Guide No. 1: Landscapes of Energy and Extraction: Mining the Animal - Foreword
No full textPracticing Landscape Field Guides are a series of publications that Reading Landscape has developed from a series of online seminars run during academic year 2021-22, entitled Practicing Landscape: Landscapes of Energy and Extraction.
Field Guide No. 1, 'Landscapes of Energy and Extraction: Mining the Animal', has been developed from the original seminar to form the first in this series of publications. As a result of participating in the online seminar, Michael Mersinis, Elizabeth A. Hodson and Jim Harold continued their dialogue offline, discussing lingering questions that the seminar had prompted for them. The resulting publication reflects the subsequent expansion and consolidation of their ideas. These essays also pick up on where both the 'Practicing Landscape: Land, Histories and Transformation' online symposium (2020) and the 2021-22 seminars concluded: drawing out the tensions and legacies between the human and non-human environment.
In the collaboratively authored Foreword, Brind and Bird provide a context for consideration of these ideas, teasing out how 'Mining the Animal' directs attention to the relation between the more than human, landscape and people. Specifically, the way in which contributors discuss how the voice of the animal reveals itself; whether through its absence or artistic intervention
Serious stories seeking positive outcomes
No full textContext
Spoiler alert. There’s another pandemic on its way. It’s silent and quite deadly (BBC Ideas 2022; O’Neill 2016). Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which occurs when bugs develop the ability to defeat the medicines (e.g., antibiotics) designed to kill them, poses a major threat to human health. Infection and protection control (IPC) training has a vital role to play in containing the rise of AMR, both by reducing infections and in the prescribing of antibiotics. The microbiological sciences and IPC regimes are vital for understanding the nature and behaviours of pathogens, their effects on us, and the best ways to mitigate their undesirable consequences. Conventional approaches to IPC training are very much predicated on content from these dominant epistemologies (e.g., NHS Education Scotland 2023).
Question
Given that each and all of us must play our part in reducing infections and antibiotic use, are these current approaches to IPC training - alone - the most effective way of engaging the wider lay public and non-specialist professionals, and influencing preventative behaviours?
Findings from prior studies
This paper reflects on the findings of two approaches, in linked but separate studies, to developing IPC training interventions for a range of healthcare professionals (HCP). Each involved an inter-disciplinary team, the co-development of content, novel visual methods to ‘make the invisible [pathogens and behaviours], visible’, and an interactive digital model of the environment in which infection scenarios were acted out on a tablet or mobile app. Involved in the co-design process within each study was a mixed team of research disciplines including co-design, software engineering, microbiology, IPC training, and nursing or veterinary practice, as well as non-team participants development workshops.
Study 1: hospital ward
Content was heavily influenced by microbiological sciences and proven efficacy of IPC regimes, naming common healthcare acquired infections (HAI) found in the hospital ward setting, their locations within environments or people, routes of transmission, persistence, and impact of IPC measures. The novelty was in portraying typical IPC scenarios in a visual and interactive manner within a digital model of the hospital ward (figure 1). Participant trainees reported improved awareness and understanding of the pathogens responsible for HAI, and the types of information relevant for different staff cohorts. The tool appeared to offer staff a new perspective on pathogens, being able to ‘see’ them contextualised in the virtual ward, making them seem “more real [about] what we know in theory” (Macdonald et al. 2017).
Figure 1: A screen from one of the interactive tablet-based training tool prototypes, developed during the hospital-based study, visually highlighting different pathogens, and the locations (reservoirs), survival and routes of transmission for each.
Study 2: veterinary practice
Set in a digital model of a veterinary practice (figures 2a,b,c), this departed from typical microbiological and IPC training content and approaches. Pathogens were not named but implicated in scenarios inviting trainees to identify primary and secondary sources of infection, behaviours (risky or precautionary) potentially spreading or containing infections and mitigating IPC measures. Driving the central narrative was the question: ‘What can be done to get [the dog] into theatre with as little contamination as possible’. This approach was found to change perception of risky behaviours in a sample population of veterinary practitioners; after experiencing training, 92% participants agreed to change their behaviour and stated an intention to implement an IPC behaviour that aligned with training objectives. Trainees also found that the 3D graphics enhanced the delivery of training content by making difficult and abstract contamination concepts easy to understand (Macdonald et al. 2020). A post study reflection on study 2 reappraised its approach as a form of ‘serious story’ (Macdonald et al. 2023) discussed with reference to the achievements in the field of serious health games (e.g., Wang at al. 2016; Maheu-Cadotte 2021a; Maheu-Cadotte et al. 2021b).
Figure 2: The AMRSim/VIPVis studies developed a three-layered interactive training tool to: a) prompt identification of potential infection risks in the monochrome layer animated sequences (upper); b) reveal potential direct/indirect contamination sources through the ‘red’ layer (middle); and c) show the mitigating effects of infection prevention and control measures through the green layer (lower).
Discussion
There is little robust evaluation of the effectiveness of current IPC training. This paper develops the discussions in prior publications of these two studies to explore, in greater depth, the potential opportunities afforded by questioning the epistemological conventions of IPC training as the sole approach to be considered when engaging the wider, non-IPC specialist audience. It also questions the necessity of extended training programmes for busy, time-pressed non-IPC professionals and the wider public and asks what might be achieved through short, generic and engaging IPC training packages that might quickly change perception of infection risk sufficiently to change behaviour.
Conclusions
It is clear that a prospective AMR pandemic poses a significant threat and will require all to engage with the challenge. The author posits that creative approaches to IPC training, derived from the arts and humanities, may offer accessible, effective techniques for training and awareness-raising, helping to achieve desired shifts in perception and behaviour, and providing a useful complementary role, alongside more conventional approaches, in helping to containing AMR.
Acknowledgements
Although the opinions expressed here are purely those of the author, he is deeply indebted to those colleagues and participants involved in the studies above. The author also acknowledges funding from the AHRC for these studies: AHRC Follow-on Fund Ref: AH/M00628X/1; AHRC AMR Theme 3b Grant Ref: AH/R002088/1; AHRC Follow-on Grant Ref: AH/V001795/1.
Selected References
BBC Ideas. 2022. “What Would a World Without Antibiotics Be Like?” https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/news/dame-sally-davies-features-in-new-film-about-the-silent-pandemic/
Macdonald, A.S., C. Macduff, D. Loudon, and S. Wan. 2017. “Evaluation of a Visual Tool Co-developed for Training Hospital Staff on the Prevention and Control of the Spread of Healthcare Associated Infections.“ Infection, Disease & Health 22 (3): 105-116. https://www.idhjournal.com.au/article/S2468-0451(17)30020-2/abstract
Macdonald, A., M. Chambers, R. La Ragione, K. Wyles, M. Poyade, A Wales, N. Klepacz, T. Kupfer, F. Watson, and S. Noble. 2020. “Addressing Infection Risk in Veterinary Practice through the Innovative Application of Interactive 3D Animation Methods.” The Design Journal 24 (1): 51-72. https://doi.org/10.1080/14606925.2020.1850225
Macdonald. A.S., O. McCorry, M. Poyade, C. Trace, and M. Chambers. 2023. “The Art of Serious Storytelling: Using Novel Visual Methods to Engage Veterinary Practitioners in Reducing Infection Risk During Preparation for Surgery.” In Teaching, Research, Innovation and Public Engagement: New Paradigms in Healthcare, edited by Ourania Varsou, 91-107. Cham: Springer. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-22452-2_8
NHS Education Scotland (NES). 2023. “Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (ARHAI)”.
https://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/media/rm1iwv45/arhai-leaflet-spring-2023.pdf
Maheu-Cadotte M-A, S. Cossette, V. Dubé, G. Fontaine, A. Lavallée, P. Lavoie, T. Mailhot, and M-F. Deschênes. 2021a. “Efficacy of Serious Games in Healthcare Professions Education: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” Simulation in Healthcare 16 (3): 199–212. https://doi.org/10.1097/SIH.0000000000000512
Maheu-Cadotte M-A, V. Dubé, S. Cossette, A. Lapierre, G. Fontaine, M-F. Deschênes, and Lavoie P. 2021b. “Involvement of End Users in the Development of Serious Games for Health Care Professions Education: Systematic Descriptive Review.” JMIR Serious Games 9 (3):e28650. https://doi.org/10.2196/28650
O’Neill, J. 2016. “Tackling Drug-Resistant Infections Globally: Final Report and Recommendations. The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance.” Wellcome Trust/HM Government. https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/file/b28644797_160525_Final%20paper_with%20cover.pdf
Wang R, S. DeMaria Jr, A. Goldberg, and D. Katz. 2016. “A Systematic Review of Serious Games in Training Health Care Professionals.” Simulation in Healthcare 11 (1): 41–51. https://doi.org/10.1097/SIH.000000000000011
A multiscalar methodology for holistic analysis of prehistoric rock carvings in Scotland
Get PDFPrehistoric rock carvings are one of Scotland’s most enigmatic and poorly understood monument types. This article discusses the pioneering approach used by Scotland’s Rock Art Project to enhance understanding of the abstract motifs through multiscalar computational analyses of a large dataset co-produced with community teams. The approach can be applied to suitable rock art datasets from other parts of the world and has international relevance for rock art reserach. Our analysis incorporates data from across Scotland in order to investigate inter-regional differences and similarities in the nature and contexts of the carvings. Innovative application of complementary analytical methods identified subtle regional variations in the character of the rock art and motif types. This variability suggest an understanding of the rock art tradition that was widely shared but locally adapted, and reflects connections and knowledge exchange between specific regions
Inside Job, Memories of an Art School
Get PDFMemories of a lifetime spent in an Art School are captured and fictionalised here in 100 drawings.
With this bookwork, Fiona Robertson uses humour and absurdity to explore ideas of memory and to interrogate her precarious self-identification with the role of artist and teacher. A series of skittish, colourful scenes are interspersed with biting vignettes describing her experience teaching fine art over the last thirty years
Transforming diabetes through innovation - mapping the current landscape and identifying future priorities in Scotland
Get PDFThe role of innovation in supporting transformation within healthcare is well recognised. This research aimed to map the current diabetes digital innovation landscape in Scotland and present an overview of its potential impact on the experiences of people living with diabetes. Through engagement with people living with diabetes, healthcare, and third-sector professionals we sought to understand unmet needs and identify gaps to inform future diabetes data-driven, digital and service innovation developments.
Research ran from summer 2022 to November 2023 and involved an online survey of people living with diabetes and healthcare professionals that sought to identify current challenges and priorities for diabetes innovation . Survey and desk-based research findings were used to build a map of the main scale-up challenges and current diabetes innovation projects. Interviews and workshops were designed to engage people living with diabetes and relevant healthcare and third-sector professionals in validating and identifying gaps, priority areas and aspirations for future innovation.
Survey responses (n=275) and desk-based research findings were analysed to build a map of current projects and priority areas, which was validated and used to identify opportunities for future innovation in interviews (n=8), four in-person workshops (n=25) and one virtual workshop (n=16). The findings are presented as interactive digital maps structured around seven thematic challenges: individualising care, lifestyles, education, health and digital inequalities, mental wellbeing, technology and data, and flexible care pathways. The current landscape maps identified innovation projects, highlighting their innovation type and readiness for adoption. The future landscape maps ideas and aspirations for future care and specific innovation ideas alongside current innovation projects. Finally, we identify five challenges in innovating diabetes care: implementation, resourcing, variation in resources and services, integrating user data, implementation timescales and managing expectations.
This research undertook a novel, and person-centred approach to identifying innovation priorities and explored the impact of innovations on the experiences of service users. By mapping future aspirations against current innovation projects, we highlight key thematic gaps in the current diabetes innovation landscape.
Placing users’ needs at the centre of the innovation agenda as demonstrated in this research, offers a fresh perspective and enables organisations to gain valuable insights into unmet needs. Furthermore, it fosters collaboration, empathy, and a deeper understanding of challenges leading to potentially more sustainable long-term innovative solutions
Work exhibited in the group exhibition "Salon D' Inclusion"
No full textParticipation in the group show 'Salon D' Inclusion'
The work is from a body of work called ‘Eathquake/Event’ that is in progress. Custom pinhole cameras are installed on islands, islets and unnamed rock formations across the seismic ridge in the Mediterranean sea between what is now Greece and Turkey. A location of political tensions, migrant crossings and military operations, the cameras remain dormant, until activated by the seismic activity of the area. Each exposure is initiated, paused, continued for the duration of the earthquake. The process, like the exposure is unreliable and relies on processes that are unpredictable, but catalytic towards the formation of image. Solid Sterling silver plate etched with reduced selenium
Net Zero Leadership and Low Carbon Construction: Workshop Programme 2023
Get PDFIn 2023, the Strategic Territory Partnering Board (STPB) and Built Environment Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) established a partnership to develop a collaborative sector-wide Net Zero Programme. The programme’ ambitions have been to share and understand emerging best practice approaches to net zero leadership and the delivery of low carbon construction solutions for new build and retrofit projects across the Hub North territory.
The School of Innovation and Technology (SIT) from the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) were commissioned to facilitate a co-design process that brought together Hub North, Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), Local Authorities, blue light services and NHS estates from across the region, along with delivery partners and solution experts.
This collaborative process involved five large-scale creative events running two workshop streams, Net Zero Leadership and Low Carbon Construction, from May to December 2023. The workshops supported cross-sector and territory-wide participation within the development of the Net Zero Programme. The outputs from this workshop series are intended to create the basis for long term collaboration and action, maximising opportunities for successful implementation and informing the wider Territory Net Zero Partnership
Being Bella Baxter : 'Poor Things' in book and film
No full textA comparison of the differing worldviews and philosophies which underlie Alasdair Gray's book 'Poor Things' (1992) and Yorgos Lanthimos's film version of the book released in 2024
Surface Tension
No full textLandscape as Archive addresses the practice of what Henk Slager calls the para-archive, provoking affective ways of thinking and making that have the potential for new intersubjective relations to manifest between the human and the world. The archaeological tropes of excavation and stratigraphy speak to the discipline’s historic concern for the extraction and archiving of artefacts, including human remains, from the past. However, to think of the landscape-as-archive is to orient our attention to the surface, and to the archaeology of the present. The contributors to this Field Guide encourage us to slip between different temporalities in order to be fully conscious.
The text is response to Dr Gina Wall's and Alex Hale's work in Practicing Landscape: Field Guide #2 'Landscape as Archive'. The text considers ideas of loss and hauntology, discusses burial customs and puts forward ideas about taking refuge in the oracle of the dead, and proposes an intercultural reading of these practices alongside a critical response to Wall's and Hale's wor
Practicing Landscape Field Guide No. 2: Landscapes of Energy and Extraction: Landscape as Archive
No full textPracticing Landscape Field Guides are a series of publications that Reading Landscape has developed from a series of online seminars run during academic year 2021-22, entitled Practicing Landscape: Landscapes of Energy and Extraction.
Field Guide No. 2, 'Landscapes of Energy and Extraction: Landscape as Archive', has been developed from the original seminar to form the first in this series of publications. As a result of participating in the online seminar, Gina Wall, Alex Hale and Michael Mersinis continued their dialogue offline, discussing lingering questions that the seminar had prompted for them. The resulting publication reflects the subsequent expansion and consolidation of their ideas. These essays also pick up on where both the 'Practicing Landscape: Land, Histories and Transformation' online symposium (2020) and the 2021-22 seminars concluded: drawing out the tensions and legacies between landscapes that are inherited and the historeis that lie beneath their surface.
In the Foreword Sue Brind provides a context for consideration of these ideas, teasing out how the various guises of landscape throughout the history allows the re-alignment or re-attachment of objective and analytical modes of categorisation to our subjective, poetic and imaginal worlds.
In the Afterword, Michael Mersinis explores the history and custodianship of burial places and traces symbolic and ritual conventions to the present tense.
Landscape as Archive addresses the practice of what Henk Slager calls the para-archive, provoking affective ways of thinking and making that have the potential for new intersubjective relations to manifest between the human and the world. The archaeological tropes of excavation and stratigraphy speak to the discipline’s historic concern for the extraction and archiving of artefacts, including human remains, from the past. However, to think of the landscape-as-archive is to orient our attention to the surface, and to the archaeology of the present. The contributors to this Field Guide encourage us to slip between different temporalities in order to be fully conscious