Street Art: A tool for increasing
by Diane Arrieta
Conservationists often find it difficult to communicate the complexities of the
various aspects of biodiversity (i.e., genetic, species, and environmental diversity)
and how this web of interdependent ecological interactions affects
human well- being. The media generally provide scattered, incomplete, and
unbalanced information to the general public, leaving great gaps in knowledge
and understanding that can impede a person’s ability to make sound
life-decisions. For this thesis work, a street art mural was constructed in a public
space (in Boynton, Beach, FL U.S.A.) as a means to test a novel approach
for communicating information about biodiversity and raising awareness to a
public audience. The aim was to examine public awareness of the term biodiversity,
gauge the ability of this particular mural image to convey a complex
biodiversity concept, and determine if this mural image could act as an incentive
for people to actively seek out new knowledge related to biodiversity.
self-directed survey was placed online, with a project webpage that included
a brief overview of biodiversity and links for resources on more in depth information.
A Quick Response Code (QR Code) was placed on the mural to
direct traffic to the survey and website. This study used a non-probability
convenience sampling approach. Results show that only 20 of 187 (10.8%) of
the total respondents understood the entire meaning intended concerning
biodiversity and the link to human and animal wellbeing. However, 94 of 187
(50.5%) of the respondents reported they would visit the links provided in
order to learn more about biodiversity.
Conceptual images, as used in this
mural, may not be completely understood by the general public, but can
still be effective at piquing interest and motivating behavior towards seeking
out knowledge. Street art can be used to encourage public dialogue about
environmental topics and initiate an examination of the repercussions environmental
degradation has on human (and animal) welfare.