Directors of the Energy Stories Lab Awarded a SSHRC Insight Grant

We are excited to announce that the Directors of the Energy Stories Lab have been awarded a prestigious SSHRC Insight Research-Creation Grant for their innovative project, Orphan Wells AR (Augmented Reality): Community-Driven Creative Reclamation. This five-year initiative will delve into the environmental and community impacts of orphan wells in Foothills County, Alberta, merging art and technology to reimagine these spaces through augmented reality (AR).

The project seeks to explore the intersection between community and contamination, focusing on 20 orphan wells that are in various stages of remediation and reclamation. By collecting stories and images from local residents and stakeholders, the team will create artistic interpretations of these sites. The AR creations will offer symbolic, creative representations of each well, reflecting the historical, environmental, and emotional dimensions of these locations.

This community-driven approach aims to highlight both the challenges and potential for renewal in landscapes impacted by energy extraction. Through the power of augmented reality, viewers will be able to experience these sites in a new way, gaining insights into the ongoing efforts to restore the land and the stories of those affected by it.

The Energy Stories Lab’s work is a testament to the power of creative expression in addressing critical environmental issues. This project will not only document the current state of orphan wells but also offer a hopeful, imaginative vision for their future, bridging the gap between art, community, and environmental reclamation.