holding the ocean
a journey connecting Scotland and the changing ocean and Arctic
MEET OSSIAN
Ossian was a story sharing chatbot. Designed in partnership with the technology team at inChat, Ossian took people on an interactive journey through stories collected from North Atlantic researchers and on the ground changemakers in Scotland.
THE STORIES
The research(ers)
After the intro sounds, the user is prompted to imagine themselves at the coast and to share what they see, hear, feel. These responses through keywords and ideas will prompt the chatbot, Ossian to share a story.
The story is from a conversation with a North Atlantic researcher and illuminates their research and their personal connections to the research.
The intros
The scene is set in the conversation with a randomised selection of intro sounds inspired with the water - sounds under the water and near the water.
The responses
After hearing the research(ers) story, the user is prompted to select an image which signifies how they are feeling. This then prompts Ossian to deliver to them a story from someone working on the ground in Scotland to deliver change in relationship to climate impacts.
Responses to "Why did you select that image?"
"hopeful in spite of obstacles"
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"Because it feels lonely and like the stones miss the ice that normally would protect them from the waves"
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"I am thinking about the water, mostly - beneath the ice and swirling around the world and currents"
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"The recording shows the broken feeling of ice breaking, the ice becomes water after breaking, I enjoy the beauty after breaking, cold but tolerant"
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"felt like it fit with the music above, there's some hope in that image"
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"I want to feel like I am soaring"
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"The sun represents hope, but the dark rocks represent the looming "tipping point"."
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"It reminds me most about the complication of tracking the change in gravitational energy from the sun and moon to the water molecules and then, as the waves hit us, to our bodies."
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"The narrator talked about changing density and precipitation. I have the feeling like that picture gives me mixed emotions of calmness and stormy sea."
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ABOUT
Take a journey that connects you to the ocean, exploring both intuitive and hidden links with the waters that define so much of Scotland. You will be invited to reflect and interact with the platform by artist, Eve Mosher. Jump in and consider how you are Holding the Ocean.
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Holding the Ocean connects Scotland to its oceans through interactive and personal experiences. You are invited to explore stories from marine researchers, witnessing the changing Arctic and Northern Atlantic, with the on-land activities of Scots engaged in adaptation and mitigation projects across many sectors.
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The stories include those of researchers in the Arctic and North Atlantic observing, recording and modeling climate change as well as stories from people in Scotland observing, responding to and making change.
Click here to experience the stories through Ossian, or you access see the full list of stories here.
You are invited to submit your own story, or schedule an interview.
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Holding the Ocean is a project of Ocean ARTic, a programme developed in partnership of People Ocean Planet fromt the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland, Blue Action EU Project, and Creative Informatics . Ocean ARTic is predominantly funded by Creative Scotland. Steering group partners are Marine Scotland and EcoArtScotland.