Climate emergency exacerbate inequalities and discrimination, and these impacts are not gender-neutral. Despite multiple scientific studies and international reports highlighting this phenomenon, there is a general lack of awareness about these gender biases. In this context, art can play a crucial role in bridging the gap between scientists and community to raise awareness and communicate gender inequalities.

Our dissemination project, “Augmented Ecofeminism: Women, Water and Climate Emergency”, aims to communicate gender-biased effects of climate emergency and highlight the role of women in environmental leadership, particularly in socio-ecological systems associated with freshwaters. We developed an eight-panel exhibition in collaboration with freshwater ecologists and artists, featuring illustrations, augmented reality, and videos. Also, the exhibition was later adapted into a child´s album.

The topics covered included key environmental issues affecting freshwater ecosystems, such as drought and flood, salinization, eutrophication, contamination, loss of biodiversity, and water as energy resource. This exhibition has showcased at several national and international institutions. The book and the accompanying pedagogic guide have already been presented in several Spanish schools.  All the resources are freely available online.

In this talk, this project will be presented and we will explore how art can increase awareness of the effects of climate change. Finally, we will examine how such initiatives can promote public debate on fostering positive changes.