Medina Lab

Premier “La extinción”

@ PSU Climate Solutions Symposium 2025
May 19–20, 2025

The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center
State College, Pennsylvania

Creating a coalition of

About The Project

Medina Lab is participating in the Penn State Climate Solutions Symposium, Creating a coalition of scientists, artists and indigenous communities to help address the climate crisis

At the Convention of Biodiversity COP16, we led an interactive event where over 100 stakeholders (e.g., scientists, artists, indigenous communities, concerned citizens, etc.) gathered together to discuss what they envisioned would be an important outcome of a coalition of artists and scientists to help address the climate crisis. We were able to map the discussion on real time through 7vortex , an online platform whose team is committed to help achieve UN sustainability goals. Post-COP16 we set out to use the obtained 7Vortex roadmap to establish a science-art-indigenous knowledge collective at Penn State.

We are currently working with several local and international stakeholders to create a music video focused on the climate and biodiversity crisis. That video (3.5 minutes) will be released during our session at the Climate Solutions Symposium, followed by short (5 minute) interventions from different perspectives. Most of the time will be devoted to open discussion to map the discussion with the audience on 7Vortex to expand the horizons at the intersection of science, art and ancestral knowledge.

Under the direction of Vivian (Yifan) Li and Colin Howe this collaborative project is supported by extensive research and a collection of hundreds of images and video clips contributed by Indigenous representatives Tomás López and Carlos Vanegas (DiskOncept). Both are actively involved in initiatives that work closely with Indigenous communities. The video blends studio footage with authentic glimpses of life in the Amazon rainforest, the Colombia-Ecuador forest, and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, capturing the deep connection between these communities and their natural environment.

Written in 2009, “La Extinción” remains strikingly relevant today, critiquing humanity’s fixation on Mars exploration while neglecting the destruction of Earth’s natural resources. Pernett’s fusion of Afro-Caribbean and Latin rhythms, enriched by traditional instruments like gaitas and maracas, creates a dynamic and uplifting sound. This unique blend transforms a serious environmental message into an engaging, danceable experience that inspires reflection and awareness.