Beyond words - the potential of arts-based research on human-nature connectedness

Many scientists agree that the increasing disconnect between modern societies and nature is one of the greatest sustainability challenges of our time. At the level of individuals, human-nature connectedness has shown to be positively correlated with pro-environmental behavior and well-being. Reconnecting humans to nature may therefore constitute a leverage point for sustainability transformation. While a more comprehensive understanding of the multiple dimensions of human-nature connectedness is vital, many studies inquire exclusively into cognitive connections to nature, often following quantitative approaches. In this paper, I examine the potential of arts-based methods to overcome the reliance on language and unveil nuances of human-nature connectedness that lie beyond words. Arts-based research is capable of tapping into emotions and embodied experiences, which are often neglected in science. Since most art forms entail a non-verbal component, using them in the research process may transcend the cognitive to elicit unspoken knowledge. This makes arts-based research eligible particularly for investigating and enhancing emotional connections with nature. Nonetheless, arts-based methods pose specific challenges in data collection, data interpretation, and data representation and should be carefully integrated alongside quantitative and qualitative methods. This paper aims to provide valuable impulses for all researchers, artists, and practitioners concerned with human-nature connectedness.