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Climate Science and Creativity

Quay Words’ spring writer-in-residence Ellen Wiles hosts a discussion between Devon writers and scientists about the ways they address the climate crisis in their work.

Leigh Curtis

Quay Words’ spring writer-in-residence Ellen Wiles will host a discussion on Wednesday 27 April at Exeter Custom House with three creative writers and three scientists, all based in Devon, talking about how they address the climate crisis in their work.

Joining Ellen Wiles are poet John Wedgewood Clarke and novelist Ben Smith. All three lecture in creative writing at the University of Exeter.

Also from the university is Richard Brazier, co-director of the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste.

Lizzie Kendon is an expert in extreme rainfall and predictive modelling of flooding events and future climate impacts at the Met Office, and Sam Bridgewater leads the Lower Otter Restoration Project and manages Pebblebed Heaths, a new National Nature Reserve, at Clinton Devon Estates.

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Ellen Wiles will speak about her new residency exploring Devon’s riverscapes and the role of beavers in the context of climate change.

The panel will then discuss the similarities and differences between creativity and science and how new experimental work could enable collaboration between these oft-divided worlds. Audience questions will follow.

The event, which starts at 6.30pm, will also be livestreamed. Tickets cost £4/£3. Visit the Quay Words website for more information.

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