Program News from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Xavier Cortada, a Miami artist who integrates climate science into his work, has seen the first-hand impacts of climate change in his home state of Florida. “We’re seeing all sorts of events that weren’t customary when I was growing up, like flooding during a sunny day,” reflected Cortada at a recent National Academy of Sciences (NAS) event. The event was held on November 14, 2024, as part of the DC Art Science Evening Rendezvous (DASER) series hosted by the office of Cultural Programs of the NAS. Just this summer, Florida faced two compounding disasters approximately a week apart, Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “This new normal is completely unknown,” he said, expressing his concern that people aren’t connecting the dots between how carbon emissions are contributing to the climate crisis.
That’s why Cortada works to bring the science of climate change to life through his artwork, to facilitate real community engagement and a meaningful dialogue about the climate crisis and the solutions that can be implemented. He is inspired to spark climate conversations with art at the center.