Art, Science, and Anthropology: Co-Creating Knowledge and Building Peace in Colombia
Publisher: Leonardo
Author(s): Alejandro Valencia-Tobon
Date: 2021
Topics: Conflict Prevention, Programming, Renewable Resources
Countries: Colombia
After signing a peace agreement with FARC guerrillas in November 2016, Colombia is transitioning from almost six decades of violence to a post-conflict period. In such a process, members of society have to re-establish dialogue and learn to co-exist. Based on a participatory art approach used during a science project that involved ex-combatants, community leaders and biology researchers, this paper presents research methods that combine art and design exercises to advance scientific knowledge. Participants contributed to and developed new ways of understanding biological knowledge, and their collaboration also forged mutual trust and built towards peace in the region.