Within the Nuclear Natures research project, not only are the technical and environmental aspects of nuclear power production examined, but also how these processes influence our understanding of nature and the long-term changes occurring in landscapes surrounding nuclear power plants and waste repositories. To make these complex processes more tangible, art has assumed an increasingly prominent role as a complement to research
The role of art in research
Although art was not originally a part of the research project, it has gained greater significance thanks to the involvement of Marko Marila, one of the researchers in the project. As a part of the project, the installation Gentle Reminders, created by the research collective Pebble in My Shoe, which includes Marko Marila and Jeffrey Lee Benjamin, aims to illustrate the slow and invisible processes surrounding radioactive waste and its impact on the environment.
The installation features images created using the anthotype technique, where turmeric and baking soda have been used to treat the paper. Photographs of old uranium mines are projected onto the turmeric-treated surfaces, and by exposing them to sunlight, the images gradually emerge. The UV radiation from the sunlight causes some parts of the image to brighten while others remain hidden – a process that symbolises the invisibility of radiation and the difficulty of controlling its effects.
– In the installation, there are two petri dishes containing powders: one with turmeric, whose yellow colour resembles "yellowcake," the powdered substance produced during the uranium mining process. The other contains red iron oxide, which recalls how some old mines, where uranium was extracted, are stained by iron in the rock, making the landscape appear as though it is "bleeding," explains Marko Marila.
The images are accompanied by rocks and other materials sourced from uranium extraction sites, providing a physical reminder of how technical and natural processes are intricately intertwined.
– Art offers us an alternative entry point to understand the long time horizons and the challenges posed by radioactive waste. It can convey something that is difficult to articulate and make it more graspable, says Marko Marila.
Interdisciplinarity – a prerequisite
– I have never encountered an environment like TEMA, where interdisciplinary work comes so naturally. Here, your disciplinary background is not questioned; instead, it is about collaborating to address complex problems that require a variety of perspectives, says Marko Marila.
Marko Marila emphasises the importance of including different perspectives to understand the multiple dimensions of nuclear power – technical, social, and cultural. He believes that an interdisciplinary approach is essential for addressing the challenges posed by nuclear power production and waste management.
– Nuclear power cannot be studied solely from a technical perspective. The human and cultural aspects are equally important, especially when it comes to issues like the invisibility of radiation and the long-term consequences for both nature and society. Therefore, we need humanists, social scientists, and artists to illuminate questions that involve not just technology but also life and our perceptions of nature, explains Marko Marila.
International conference in Norrköping – with artistic elements
– The conference provides an important forum for exchanging insights and ideas among researchers from different backgrounds. By combining various perspectives, including artistic elements, we aim to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the long-term challenges posed by nuclear power and its waste, says Marko Marila.
The Nuclear Natures project is led by Anna Storm, Professor of Technology and Social Change at Linköping University, and is funded by the Swedish Research Council.
