Catching a Wave

Catching a Wave is a transdisciplinary arts and research initiative bringing together university-based researchers, artists, and coastal scientists from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Its work connects environmental and social sciences with visual arts, design, film, poetry, and other creative practices to encourage dialogue about coastal sustainability and ocean health. The project aims to move beyond separate, discipline-specific contributions by developing collaborative ways to explore complex challenges and share knowledge with diverse audiences.

A central feature is a flexible installation of sculpted glass waves, created using detailed photography, GPS-enabled cameras, photogrammetry, digital modelling, and glass moulding. Images and text about ocean health are embedded in the glass, while lighting, sound, and visual material help convey ecological, cultural, and emotional connections to coastal places. Catching a Wave also offers gallery and workshop activities, artist features, interactive projects, and public-facing resources. Its website shares news, research publications, and examples of art-science collaborations, including work on climate change, marine life, rising seas, and human well-being.