Mapping resilience: Supporting water knowledge networks - Tracey Benson

In this presentation Tracey will discuss some of the implications for mapping local understandings of water management in flood prone south east Queensland and how transdisciplinary approaches can support resilience in a future of flood, not just in SEQ but in all of our communities.

Dr Tracey M Benson works at the nexus of media arts, digital transformation, ecological systems and citizen empowerment through connecting to place and identity, having originally trained in the fine arts disciplines of photography and printmaking. With a passion for understanding different knowledge systems and engaging and activating audiences, she often collaborates with Indigenous communities and Elders, knowledge keepers, technologists and scientists. Belonging, place, wellbeing and identity are ongoing themes in her socially engaged practice. Tracey's work has been extensively presented internationally in media arts festivals and exhibitions including ISEA, Walk*Listen*Create, Balance UnBalance, Transmediale and touring exhibitions. Tracey has also been commissioned to produce numerous public artworks including murals, installations and participatory experiences for audiences. As a researcher she has an extensive background including a PhD in Media Arts and Technology (Australian National University), a Masters in Applied Science by Research looking at energy vulnerability and barriers to change (University of Canberra), and a Masters of Arts by Research focusing on souvenirs and personal collections (Queensland University of Technology). Tracey was recently awarded a full scholarship for a second PhD to explore climate resilient home design for flood futures at University of Queensland. Her research on issues related to belonging, place, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour change underpin her ethos and focus as a transdisciplinary practitioner.

Livingmaps Network is a volunteer-run organisation and was established in 2013 to develop a network of researchers, community activists, artists and others with a common interest in the use of countermapping for social change, public engagement, critical debate and creative forms of community campaigning.

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