It is estimated that only 1% of the 2 to 50 million non-microbial species are being studied or utilized by humans. Rapidly accelerating rates of species extinction due to human activities lead to massive loss of biodiversity across the planet, and the lack of knowledge results in poor understanding of the scale of the contemporary biodiversity crisis. The diversity of species is dramatically affected by human alterations of ecosystems. But it is well understood that the biodiversity, in its turn, influences human well-being through its effects on the ecosystem processes such as, for example, soil formation, oxygen supply, nutrient cycling, water purification, climate regulation. It is basis for food, raw materials, potable water and medicines. Biodiversity has cultural value to humans as well providing nonmaterial benefits through recreation, aesthetic experiences, spiritual enrichment and fundamental scientific research. So, the loss of biodiversity is the most critical global environmental threat.

Besides the socio-economic values, biodiversity has its own intrinsic value which does not depend upon the existence of the anthropocentric values at all. Species result from a dynamic process of evolution throughout millions of years, shaped by their cooperation, allowing majority of fascinating animals and plants to inhabit our planet at the dawn of humankind. A lot of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and other creatures from pre-Christian era would arguably still be with us, if we would learn the art of sustainable cooperation from other species, and instead of developing our superiority would develop our ethical and cultural standards in line with technical progress. There are intense intrinsic relations among the organisms in nature integral to the planetary health, as we know it. Natural world is properly organized and balanced by complex inter-relations of living and non-living forms. Every its part possesses a value which it inherits from the value of the whole. The recognition, research, and acceptance of the intrinsic value of biodiversity underlies sustainability on the planet, peace and appreciation of the diverse human ways of life, societies, and cultures. Finally, biodiversity holds an incredible aesthetic and artistic potential, ready to unfold, provided we are tuned in to appreciate, capture it, and integrate into the future heritage of arts, namely bio-inspired arts.

Within this compilation dedicated to the 2020 International Conference of Young Scientists organized online by the Global Young Academy, we’d like to present the artists who are engaged through their works with ecological issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, destruction and pollution of natural environments. We believe that their unique approaches, where installations, video and sound works are used as the mediums for exploration and better understanding of the issues mentioned above, will complement the interdisciplinary and intergenerational dialogue on the conference topic “Heal the Earth: Sustainable Development Goals in a Changing World”.

Sergey Kostyrko & Alexander Kagansky, Global Young Academy