2024-06-12 –, Room E - Flexroom
In a race to respond to the multiple and strongly interlinked planetary crises facing us, we are witnessing diverse greenwashing efforts across states and industries. Dominating efforts to save one’s own yard obscure people's realities in other parts of the world increasingly threatened by destructive and extractive practices. Yet, these spatially distant ecosystems and the Indigenous wisdom held within them are pivotal for nurturing an emergent, regenerative future.
This installation will use sound and visual elements to stimulate an immersive experience that breaks through geographic boundaries. It invites participants on a sonic and visual journey of climate resilience through local languages and Indigenous wisdom in Indonesia — a country in Asia Pacific, rich in linguistic diversity and biodiversity. With over 700 languages and thousands of islands surrounded by oceans and forests, Indonesia's Indigenous communities face threats from the climate crisis. It risks the loss of their cultural and ecological knowledge, and excludes them from technological advancements like AI-driven language tech. Engaging in dialogues with communities in Bali, Sulawesi, and Sumatra, where languages such as Balinese, Buginese, and Minangkabau are spoken and communities of various genders and identities live, we explore the intricate relationship between nature and its co-habitants.
From a planetary justice lens, we examine how technology and power dynamics rooted in colonial history impact the delicate balance of ecosystems and Indigenous communities, and what implications this holds for ecological resilience. We've collected open-access language corpora with these communities and are developing AI systems to preserve languages and ecological knowledge, debunk climate myths, and centre marginalized voices often excluded from these conversations.
Inclusivity for individuals with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ communities in technology and environmental justice initiatives requires shifting agency and deliberate strategies to promote their active participation and representation while addressing historical exploitation. Recorded climate and environmental stories in this installation offer opportunities for listeners to immerse themselves in knowledge of ecological resilience and inclusive tech development.
This installation aims to challenge prevailing narratives and co-envisions actionable strategies for a planetary and socially just future in the face of the climate crisis.
Ruth (she/they) serves as an Advisor for Artificial Intelligence and Climate at the "Fair Forward - AI for all" initiative within the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ). This initiative focuses on c-creating AI projects in Africa and Asia, striving for a more open, inclusive, and sustainable approach to AI on a global scale.
With a background in ecology and data science, Ruth has been leading projects on finding sustainable solutions for agriculture, food security, and climate change challenges. They are an advocate for the inclusion of marginalized communities in tech and science and have a passion for social and climate justice. They hold a PhD in Ecology and Computational Biology from the University of Wageningen, the Netherlands.
In his professional life, Daniel Brumund (he/him) works as technical advisor on AI and digital public goods with GIZ's initiative "FAIR Forward - Artificial Intelligence for All". Recently, he has been focusing on community-driven data collection, NLP in low-resource languages, open-source business models as well as equitable data governance and licensing towards more inclusive, open and sustainable AI.
Privately, Daniel loves the outdoors, sitting under a tree with a thought-provoking book, attempts to be a photographer during travels, and generally operates better with a good flat white and sufficient food.
Karlina (she/her) is a digital anthropologist and digital communication strategist with experience of more than fifteen years in journalism, digital media, knowledge management, and community-driven development. Currently, she works as an Adviser for Artificial Intelligence of FAIR Forward, GIZ Indonesia. She advises the implementation of global project FAIR Forward - “Artificial Intelligence for All – FAIR Forward”, an initiative dedicated to the open and sustainable development and application of Artificial Intelligence and particularly supports partnering countries in Africa and Asia on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. She is a digital activist who supports safe access for women and vulnerable communities on the internet. Karlina holds a Master of Science in Digital Anthropology from University College London as a UK Government Chevening FCO scholar.