A DOCTOR has helped create images to document the stories of children and families on the frontline of the climate crisis.
University of Brighton's Dr Marcus Dymond helped create the pictures as part of the Save The Children campaign for the start of COP 26.
Save the Children are showcasing a groundbreaking experimental photo-series documenting the stories of children and their families on the frontline of the climate crisis, captured by photographers in Australia, Cambodia, and Pakistan.
As the subject lead for Chemistry in the School of Applied Sciences, Dr Dymond was asked to bring his expertise to bear in exposing the photographs to environmental elements linked to the climate crisis in different regions – for example, specific chemical pollutants.
For images by Lim Sokchanlina of people dealing with the devastation of fish stocks and forests around Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake - the largest freshwater lake in SE Asia - Dr Dymond treated the pictures with chemicals polluting the lake, so that the pictures physically reflect what is happening to the lake and the lives of those around it.
Images by Nad E Ali from Pakistan, meanwhile, were treated with pollutants harming people in the Pakistan city of Lahore, while pictures by Matthew Abbott from Australia were exposed to harsh sunlight to mimic the effect of extreme heat, as well as related destruction from bush fires.
Dr Dymond said: "Merging art and science, the images and stories in this series represent the devastating impact that the climate crisis is having across the world on children and families.
"I've been working with Save the Children to apply climate change-causing chemicals and pollutants to the Pakistan and Cambodia images, helping visualise their plight.'"
Research by Save the Children found children born in the past year will on average face seven times as many scorching heatwaves, and nearly three times more crop failures and river floods than people born 60 years ago – as well as double the number of droughts and wildfires.
Gwen Hines, chief executive of Save the Children, said: "These stories show the devastating impact the climate crisis is already having on the lives of children across the world.
"Each one is a powerful reminder that children are at the heart of this crisis, being robbed of their childhood today and their futures tomorrow.
"Our climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable, with deadly consequences. In recent years we've seen a surge in flood, droughts, heatwaves and forest fires.
"Without action, we risk handing our children a deadlier and more uncertain world. But we know change is possible. We're calling on the UK government, as hosts of COP26, to lead global action now before it's too late."
Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.
Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.
You can also call us on 01273 021 400.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here