Papa Westray is one of the most northerly isles of the Orkney archipelago, being a low level island, climate change and rising sea levels are a very real factor in the lives of the people who live here. We aim through this project and other associated events to raise awareness of our relation to the sea and the changes happening within it.
On the shore at South Wick we will set up a temporary Papay shoreline research station, a centre for island habitat information gathering. From our temporary base a group of island diy scientists will set out to investigate and survey the shoreline in exciting and fun ways.
– Using kite cameras we will get an overview of the shore, a birds eye view of the moving tide.
– Timelapse cameras will document the movement of the sea and its relation to the shore and the seaweed within it, throughout the day.
– Our diy scientists will be fully equipped with an artist designed science pack to assist them in their research, hand lenses, field guides, measuring equipment, sample jars all a diy scientist would need.
– As the tide comes in we will use underwater cameras to capture some of the marine life along the shore, including fish, seals and the wakening of the seaweed.
– Using archive maps of Papay we will attempt to measure the rate of sea level rise along this particular shore using historic sites and crofts as reference points.
Encouraging dialogue between age groups on the island.
All of the research data collected will be shown in an exhibition on the island and available to view online.

This workshop will be lead by Saoirse Higgins, artist, in collaboration with Jonathan Ford the Papay Ranger and Papa Westray Development Trust.

No booking required. Email papayranger@gmail.com / tel. 0185252028