In this episode of Climate Shifted, host Eva Frye speaks with Neelambaree Prasad, a pharmacologist and classical Indian dancer who refused to live a "split screen life." After becoming a mother during the pandemic and witnessing how climate change was the root cause of global health crises, Neelambaree co-founded ClimArts—a nonprofit that bridges the gap between climate scientists and artists to create stories that connect with both hearts and minds.
From ancient Indian temples that served as centers of learning through dance and music, to modern collaborations featuring ballet dancers personifying coral bleaching and comedians tackling air pollution, Neelambaree shows us why the future of climate communication isn't just better science or better art—it's the magic that happens when research meets emotional resonance.
Discover how to match scientific expertise with artistic expression, why "bounded imagination" keeps collaborations grounded, and the practical framework any organization can use to create climate stories that actually move audiences to action. Because when we combine data with dance, facts with feelings, we create something neither science nor art could achieve alone.
Key Topics CoveredThe Art-Science Gap in Climate Communication
- Why technical climate messages push audiences away instead of drawing them in
- How scientists and artists struggle to find meeting spaces for collaboration
- The challenge of maintaining scientific accuracy while creating emotional connection
- Moving beyond "doom and gloom" to solution-oriented storytelling
Ancient Wisdom for Modern Problems
- How Indian temples historically served as centers of learning through art
- The composite nature of classical Indian dance (music, theater, poetry, storytelling)
- Applying traditional frameworks to contemporary climate challenges
- The power of personification in connecting audiences to natural systems
ClimArts' Collaborative Framework
- Building trust between scientists and artists through common goals
- The concept of "bounded imagination" to maintain scientific integrity
- Matching art forms to specific scientific messages and audiences
- Managing the collaboration process from initial meeting to final product
Impact and Distribution Strategies
- Creating docu-films for maximum reach and accessibility
- Measuring both quantitative metrics and qualitative transformation stories
- The "train the trainer" approach to amplifying impact through existing storytellers
- Strategies for demonstrating value to funders in the arts-science space
"I always had this unrest in me about why my two worlds cannot converge."
"The pandemic had its root cause in climate change... And that's how ClimArts began."
"Science provides data and analysis and evidence while art accesses emotions and intuition, so together they create a more complete understanding of complex problems."
"It's not science alone that can do it. Not just policy that can do it, but there needs to be a cultural transformation, and that is where art comes in to change the narratives."
"We personified the river through our dance to convey that it's a sentient being."
"You cannot do it alone. That's the one big learning—you have to join forces... Collaboration, collaboration, collaboration is my learning."
"Who is this message for? No funder will accept the answer that my audience is the general public."
Featured Resources & OrganizationsNeelambaree's Work:
- ClimArts.org - Nonprofit connecting climate scientists with artists
- ClimArts LinkedIn and Instagram
- Neelambaree's LinkedIn
- Resilient River - Dance piece about Indian rivers and flooding (featured on ClimArts website)
Key Collaborations & Partners:
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