SONG OF ICE AND FJORD

A section of Song of Ice and Fjord a mural coming to Oakland in July.

At sunset, ice and sea meet in warm embrace, whispering words only they can hear. New life springs forth and creatures draw near, hoping to decode the secrets of their exchange, which sweeps across a vast landscape, ranging from coastline to desert. 

So too are scientists seeking to understand the complex interaction between the ice sheet and the ocean, microbes and the sea, and fire and watersheds. The mural challenges viewers to consider the global reach and impact of climate change. A melting glacier at the poles can cause the submergence of a Pacific island. Warming polar regions can cause devastating droughts, wildfires, and coral bleaching. As we heat our planet, a tenuous relationship is thrown into disarray. This mural was shaped by conversations with Dr. Lisa White, Dr. Fiamma Straneo, Dr. Bethanie Edwards, Dr. Leigh Stearns and Dr. Wendy Smythe.

Artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya will invite youth and community members to the site to participate in the making of the mural and hear about the science that inspired it on June 23rd.