Dr. Sally Flint
Creative Lead: 'We Are the Possible' (Green Futures - COP28) & Continuing Professional Development Co-ordinator
S.Flint@exeter.ac.uk
South Cloisters 2.07
South Cloisters, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
Overview
Dr Sally Flint brings her experience as a storyteller, poet, editor, publisher and lecturer in English/Creative Writing and work in healthcare to forge collaborations at the interface of science, health, education, translation and the arts to raise awareness of social/cultural change, planetary health, and climate justice, to accelerate postive action to protect and restore our planet.
She is Creative Lead on Climate Stories, One Chance Left (COP26, Glasgow 2021) and We Still Have a Chance (COP27, Egypt 2022 - which has reached over 28 million people). In 2023, after designing and facilitating innovative virtual creative writing workshops between interdiscipinary groups of over 200 scientists, health experts, educators, youth leaders and artists in UK and UAE, she led a unique editorial process which enabled the publication of a bilingual poetry anthology: We Are the Possible -12 Poems for 12 Days of COP28 with a foreword by internationally recognised climate leader Christiana Figueres - which was showcased in the Blue and Green Zones at COP 28 in Dubai, (Dec 2023), to both policy makers and the public. The poems demonstrate how linking science and the arts can encourage and communicate ‘desirable climate behavioural changes'. Working with The Theatre of Others these new poems are the inspiration for new sustainable performances at theatre schools around the world, and the bedrock of music and soundscapes created by academics and students at BIMM Institute - these outputs were also showcased at COP28 and far beyond. Sally is also part of a groundbreaking programme connecting 'Schools Across the Ocean', partnering the University of Exeter, the University of Khorfakkan and Emirates Literature Foundation, and others, which brings together scientists, teachers and young people to understand that healing and protecting marine ecosystems is vital for all living things to thrive. As a result the bilingual We Are The Ocean weaves over 400 children's voices in an anthology of poems and images which was launched at COP28 to get young people's voices heard and ask what climate action is being taken now? Links to climate projects/articles below:
We Are the Possible (Green Futures, University of Exeter)
New Narratives for a Healthy Planet - The Lancet Planetary Health
When Climate Science Met Poetry - The Lit Platform
Climate Stories: enabling and sustaining arts interventions in climate science communication
Qualifications
MA Degree English & Creative Writing
PhD English & Creative Writing
Research
Research interests
Planetary Health - past, present, and future-focussed narratives connecting climate science, education and the arts as a way to accelerate positive change
Medical writing/themes related to short stories and poetry
Ekphrasis and the relationship between text and image, especially in a contemporary context
Publishing and ‘the best words in the best order’
Research projects
Poetry project: 12 poems for 12 days of Cop28 in Dubai
Riptide Journal
External Engagement and Impact
Co-Founder/Editor: Riptide Journal and Press
Associate Editor: Culture Matters
Teaching
* English/Creative Writing & Publishing* Creative Approaches to Climate Science
* Medical Humanities
* Liberal Arts/Culture
I design and faciliate academic and public-facing creative writing workshops online or in-person. The workshops might link disciplines on an international level - or focus locally on one subject. EG I have worked with the Met Office, libraries, museums, schools, literature and science festivals, astrophysicists, engineers, medical professionals, trainee lawyers, Devon Drugs Project, on co-creating and publishing stories and poetry. As poet Wallace Stevens writes: 'The Imagination is the only genius'.