Think Tanks
CRESCENDO Faculty and Staff
A musical piece created from environmental data was presented at a ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble concert on February 6. The music is written in two parts: Sanctuary, which represents the coral reef under seige and Cardinal Flow that takes you through the ups and downs of red tide.CRESCENDO (Communicating Research Expansively through Sonification and Community-Engaged Neuroaesthetic Data-literacy Opportunities) is an innovative interdisciplinary project that reimagines how environmental data is communicated. Led by Dr. Heather O’Leary, the initiative translates complex data from critical issues like harmful algal blooms and red tide into immersive experiences that bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding.
By applying collective transdisciplinary expertise to new evidence-based techniques in data-driven arts, CRESCENDO engages local and global communities facing dual challenges of (1) marine or environmental risk and (2) the need to ensure environmental research reaches all communities facing risk.
The CRESCENDO project, focusing on democratizing ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s most compelling environmental research, unites faculty—of all levels and across 8+ colleges—to (1) define an emergent field of transdisciplinary data-driven arts while (2) building a universal mechanism for enhancing the broader impacts of any ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø research project with public outreach capable of reaching community members with varying degrees of data literacy.
Our team builds on traditional publication arcs and outreach with creative projects including research articles on data-driven art (as a field, integrative process, predictor, and diagnostic), multi-level K-20 STEAM lesson plans, artistic products such as public performances (music, dance), music videos, augmented reality experiences, and public gallery installations that enable democratic and lifelong learning.
Through its innovative use of data-driven arts, CRESCENDO positions ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø as a leader in environmental research and public engagement, with the project garnering media attention on and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s CAS Chronicles.
Principal Investigator
Heather O’Leary, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
CRESCENDO Team
- Casey Frechette, Ph.D. (Journalism and Digital Communication, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- Christopher Campbell, M.A. (Journalism and Digital Communication, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- Paul Reller, Ph.D. (Music Composition, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- Matthew McKutchen, Ph.D. (School of Music, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- Mya Breitbart, Ph.D. (Biological Oceanography, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- David Rosengrant, Ph.D. (STEM Education, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- Maggi Mars Brisbane (Biological Oceanography, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- (CITL, Biology, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- Holly Donahue Singh, Ph.D. (Honors Anthropology, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- Sarah Howard (Art & Art History, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- (Hospitality Management, UCF)
- David Watts, MFA (Art & Art History, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- (Library Research and Instruction, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- (Library Research and Instruction, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- Richard Rho (Education, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- Makenzie Kerr (College of Marine Science, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- (Molecular Medicine, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
- (Florida Center for PAInt, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
Student Contributors
- Grace Oh
- Carrie Clarke
- Huron Falkenburt
- Hunter Pomeroy
- Elis Jones
- Latesia Coleman
- Sparrow Collins
- Anabelle Fletcher
- Isabela Fraguada
In the News
- NPR:
- Mother Jones:
- NewsTalk:
- The Guardian:
- NPR - All Things Considered:
- CAS Chronicles: Anthropology Professor Bridges Gap in Scientific Communication Through Music
- ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø St. Petersburg News:
- CBC Radio:
- Symphony – From the League of American Orchestras –