Fragmented: A ClimArts Short

In a world facing urgent climate challenges, the most impactful stories are often found where science and art intersect. 

At ClimArts, we believe in creating artistic narratives that are not only emotionally resonant but also grounded in rigorous scientific evidence. Our goal is to bridge the gap between cutting-edge climate research and public understanding by bringing together leading scientists and creative professionals.

Our latest project, Fragmented, is a powerful testament to this approach. This short film, which premiered at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) to an audience of 30 and has since been selected for the 2025 Eugene Environmental Film Festival, is a compelling dance film that explores the devastating issue of coral bleaching. 

The film has already reached over 150 people through screenings at prestigious venues like Harvard University, demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to spark awareness and action.

The story behind the film

The inspiration for Fragmented began with an unexpected parallel. During a ClimArts fellowship, ballet dancer and choreographer Ann Wall was recovering from a foot injury. As she researched coral bleaching, she found a profound connection between her own healing process and the struggles of a stressed coral reef. Just as her body needed the right conditions and time to heal, so too did the coral. When exposed to extreme temperatures, corals become fragmented—losing their relationship with the algae they depend on for survival. This shared struggle became the emotional core of the film.

Ann's powerful choreography, which embodied this parallel, captured the attention of the ClimArts team. We realized that a dance film could communicate the struggles and solutions of coral bleaching in a way that a scientific report or a news article simply could not.

A collaborative framework

The creation of Fragmented was a true collaboration, bringing together a diverse team with a shared vision. 

We worked with Dr. Elise Rigot, a lecturer in design at the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, who provided stunning 3D imagery of coral, and Jessica Zamborain Mason, a postdoctoral research associate at Harvard's Golden Lab, who served as a scientific consultant. Their expertise ensured the film's scientific accuracy, from the visual representation of coral to the information conveyed about the communities most affected by their loss.

This project demonstrated the power of our three-phase framework:

• Scientific Foundation: We began by integrating expert research and data. Ann drew on her conversations with Dr. Rigot and Jessica Zamborain Mason, using their insights to inform the choreography and narrative.

• Creative Translation: The team then translated this scientific information into an artistic vision. Through iterative development, the artists and scientists balanced artistic expression with factual data, ensuring the film was both emotionally compelling and scientifically credible.

• Production & Partnership: The final phase brought the project to life. The director, choreographer, and ClimArts founder worked together to storyboard the film, adapting the choreography for the camera and weaving in spoken-word elements to make the message even more accessible.

This process was a learning experience for everyone involved. "The combination of the integration of the scientific data into the art itself was the most challenging aspect," said Ann Wall. "I realized that there is so much urgency around this issue and that...I needed the information to reach people through multiple ways." The result is a film that successfully combines visual art, music, dance, and spoken word to tell an urgent and beautiful story.

Fragmented has shown us that short films are a powerful tool for inspiring climate action. We are now seeking partners—from academic institutions to community organizations and technology platforms—to help us scale this model.

 If you are a research institution with an important story to tell, a community group looking for an innovative way to engage your audience, or a funder passionate about science communication, we would love to hear from you. Together, we can create more impactful narratives that move people to act.