“I sing to open my heart for connection and communication in the cultural response to global environmental change. I sing as a way to demonstrate my humanity and empathy for Inuit culture and our history of colonization and marginalization of these people. I sing as a way to process the knowledge I am surrounded by in this PhD work on Inuit and Arctic climate change.”
These are words of Kaitlyn Rathwell, an environmental change scholar and practicing performance artist in the Waterloo community. Rathwell is a PhD candidate with the Environmental Change Governance Group (ECGG) at the University of Waterloo.
Rathwell's doctoral research aims to connect Arctic transdisciplinary environmental science to include arts. It's an area of study which she calls, “Art + Science Alchemy.” Rathwell describes her PhD research “as straddling two realms, those of science and those of art.” She also stresses the fact that textbooks, scientific articles, or list of facts cannot motivate people’s soul-souls are inspired and empowered by art. Through her research, Rathwell hopes to bridge these two knowledge systems to connect, inspire and empower a sustainable earth.
Not only does she find a way to bring passion for the arts into her PhD research, but she also creates collaborative music compositions based on her research experiences.
Rathwell performs under the stage alias of “K. La. Luna” and is part of the emerging indie-pop duel Post-Normal.
In their song “Arctic Blood and Ice,” Post-Normal uses themes and imagery inspired by Inuit song tradition, Inuit mythology, and awe at the tremendous capacity of Inuit people to adapt and navigate drastic climate change.
In her blog, Rathwell talks about her experiences studying in the Arctic and how she used music as an opportunity to share how she was processing the themes and emotions of the Arctic environmental change to connect with Inuit hunting families.
For Rathwell, her PhD research is more than just work, it’s the way she learns; the way she communicates; and it is ignition of her true passion.