At the heart of Radical Ocean Futures is a bold idea: science fiction can have the capacity to communicate oceanic challenges and possibilities more powerfully than scientific papers alone. This innovative art and science project blends scientific fact with creative storytelling to spark new ways of thinking about the future of our seas. 

The project, led by Dr. Andrew Merrie of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, combines art with science to presents four scientifically grounded narratives of potential futures for our global oceans. These vividly imagined and scientifically grounded scenarios, each brought to life through imagery and audio narration, offer multiple ways to engage. Radical Ocean Futures invites audiences to explore the surprising, complex futures that may unfold as climate change and human choices reshape marine environments. 

The project has reached global audiences, from exhibitions at the Nordic Embassies in Berlin and the Helsinki Design Museum, and was chosen as the official artwork by the government of Sweden for the Inaugural UN Ocean Conference, display in the lobby of the General Assembly building at the United Nations HQ in New York. It has inspired podcasts, been featured in journals, and even sparked the development of a science fiction drama series, Ocean Rising. 

For TIDAL ArtS applicants, Radical Ocean Futures is a powerful example of how art and science can unite to inspire action and foster deeper connections to the ocean. It demonstrates the potential of creative storytelling to challenge perspectives and catalyze change, for anyone passionate about reimagining our relationship with the blue planet. 

Learn more about the project and read a selection of science-based stories about our future oceans at the Radical Ocean Futures website: https://radicaloceanfutures.earth/  

Image Credits:
Header images featured in this post are sourced from the Radical Ocean Futures project. All visual artwork is credited to Simon Stålenhag — simonstalenhag.se