Submersion - an immersive art-science experience exploring ice loss and rising sea level

Global warming, driven by human activities, is disrupting the balance of glaciers and polar ice sheets. The water lost from these ice masses flows into the oceans, irreversibly reshaping coastlines. The European research project PROTECT, led by the Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement (UGA, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP), investigates changes in the cryosphere and provides robust projections of future sea-level rise, alongside potential global adaptation strategies over time.

SUBMERSION embodies these scientific challenges through a hybrid graphical and digital exhibition, designed to raise awareness by blending emotional experience with scientific understanding. We present here the two poster series. More information about the entire exhibition here: https://protect-slr.eu/submersion-art-science-exhibition/.

Two poster series

Find below a document displaying all posters and their labels as well as all posters in high definition for printing.

1. The aesthetics of the cryosphere – a series of 8 augmented reality posters
A collection of serigraphed posters visually narrates the life cycle of ice, from snowflake formation to glacial retreat. These posters present the raw beauty of the cryosphere, without explanatory text, inviting viewers to reflect. Augmented reality (AR) content, accessible by scanning first a QR code and then the posters, provides additional scientific insights.

2. Individual impact on glacier melt – 4 informative posters

Based on key behavioral choices highlighted in the IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report (2022), four posters quantify the climate impact of: avoiding air travel, not owning a car, adopting a plant-based diet and not having pets.

These are directly linked to glacier melt impacts, as shown in the study by Marzeion et al. (2018).

Contributors

Alizée De Pin – Illustrator and graphic author
Dominique Cunin – Artist-researcher and lecturer, ÉSAD Valence

Gaël Durand – CNRS Senior Scientist
Anne Chapuis – CNRS Communications Officer

Acknowledgments

We warmly thank the ÉSAD Grenoble-Valence, especially the Valence site, and its faculty, including Dominique Cuninand Tom Henni, for their support.
Special thanks to Florian Veydarier, Raphaëlle Vermeil, and Lionel Chalaye, who supported the artistic workshops, as well as the administrative teams.

Funding

This project was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 869304 (PROTECT project). The content reflects the views of the authors only; the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.