Climate protection intersects with art and technology:
Ars Electronica Solutions is proud to support the European Space Agency (ESA) in an extraordinary project that connects science, art, and society. The multimedia arrangement,
created in collaboration with Robert “3D” Del Naja, a member of Massive Attack, was part of a three-day celebration marking Liverpool’s designation as the first UN Accelerator City for climate action. Ars Electronica Solutions contributed its expertise in Science Experience to this event.
Contribution to the Climate Initiative with ESA and Massive Attack
The collaboration between ESA and Massive Attack opened the exhibition days with stunning images from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission, showcasing the changing environmental conditions of our planet. The exhibition highlighted melting glaciers, rising sea levels, endangered rainforests, advancing desertification, and urban growth. The musical backdrop was provided by Robert Del Naja and Euan Dickinson. The journey culminated in satellite images of Liverpool, underscoring the city’s commitment to advancing climate protection through the development of low-carbon urban technologies. The complete video of the installation is available on the ESA Extras YouTube channel. Throughout the event, the focus was on Earth observation and climate action, with the ESA demonstrating how space data supports efforts to address the climate crisis.
Interactive Experiences in Earth Observation
A central element of the event was the interactive ESA Climate Installation, which allowed industry professionals and the general public to experience environmental changes from the perspective of Earth observation satellites. This installation combined high-resolution satellite images from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission with scientific explanations to make the impacts of climate change, such as melting glaciers and deforestation, visible. Through the interactive installation created by the ESA climate team, both experts and laypeople could explore Earth’s changes as seen by Earth observation satellites.
The members of this team work globally with scientists to transform satellite data into useful information that helps the international community monitor and mitigate the effects of climate change.
A significant component of the installation was the mobile Half Dome Globe. Developed in collaboration with Ars Electronica Solutions, the Half Dome Globe represents global challenges. It allows for the simultaneous display of an entire hemisphere based on Earth observation data, visualizing various global atmospheric data, land surface information, ocean data, and much more.
Science Experience
This project is firmly rooted in the Science Experience approach, which is one of the foundational aspects of our work at Ars Electronica Solutions. This approach aims to present complex scientific insights and data in an accessible and experiential way that sustainably inspires audiences. Science is not only explained but also made tangible through interactive and audiovisual technologies, fostering a deeper connection between knowledge and emotion.
For Ars Electronica Solutions, this project is more than just a technical implementation; it is a matter of the heart. Our mission was to transform the vision of the ESA and Massive Attack into a coherent and engaging experience—one that raises awareness of climate change and inspires active participation in its mitigation.
This project represents a step toward a future where technology serves not only as a tool but as a connecting element—bridging knowledge and action, data and emotions. It also reflects our mission to develop innovative methods for communicating science and technology through the Science Experience approach.
While Liverpool stands in the spotlight as the first Accelerator City, the spirit of this initiative—the connection of art, science, and technology—should shine globally. Ars Electronica Solutions will continue to work on creating such connections to raise awareness and motivate people to address the major challenges of our time.
