POOL Project explores the hidden life of temporary wetlands – art and science meet in the final exhibition
Beneath the forest canopy of Finland lies a world teeming with life. The POOL project, which has investigated the dynamic life and ecological importance of seasonal wetlands in Finland, is organizing a final exhibition and closing seminar combining science and art at the Botanic Garden of the University of Turku in November.
In the heart of Finland’s boreal forest lies an overlooked world – the temporary wetlands, also known as vernal pools. These small, temporary waterbodies come alive in spring when snowmelt and rain fill forest depressions, then dry out completely during the summer, creating a constantly changing habitat.
Despite their fleeting nature, they are biodiversity hotspots and play a crucial role in boreal ecosystems by supporting a wide range of plant and animal life, from sedges, mosses to aquatic insects, amphibians, and waterfowl.
These dynamic ecosystems are quite abundant in southern and central Finland, where snowmelt and rainfall create temporary pools across forested landscapes. However, they remain poorly known and rarely mapped.
Their existence depends on natural seasonal rhythms, making them especially vulnerable to climate change, forestry, drainage, and land-use change. As weather patterns shift and summers become drier, many of these wetlands now dry out too quickly or fail to form altogether – posing a growing threat to the species that depend on them.
Since 2021, the POOL project Led by Turku and Helsinki universities has studied the ecological functions of temporary wetlands – from water levels and quality to the greenhouse gas fluxes and the breeding success of invertebrates, amphibians and birds.
In parallel, POOL has explored how art can deepen scientific understanding and raise public awareness. Through collaborations in photography, painting, dance, animation, and music, the project reveals both the ecological and aesthetic value of these habitats.
Final exhibition and art-science workshop at the botanic garden
The project’s final exhibition, on view at the Botanic Garden of the University of Turku until 22 November 2025, offers a comprehensive overview of this art–science dialogue.
It features scientific posters alongside Radka Tuháčková-Vogel’s paintings, Pierre-Lou Chapot’s photographs, Maria Luna Tescari’s animations, performances by Katja and Joonas Sallinen, and the playful duckling rap by Castor F.
Together, these complementary works invite visitors to see, listen, and feel the pulse of Finland’s overlooked vernal pools.
In November, a public closing seminar and art–science workshop will also take place, gathering researchers, artists, and the public to reflect on the project’s outcomes and future perspectives for wetland conservation.
The closing seminar and workshop will be held on 22 November from 12 to 15 at the Botanic Garden. The event is open to everyone.
Through the combination of research and creativity, POOL shows how art and science can complement each other to highlight the ecological importance of temporary wetlands. By linking observation, expression, and knowledge, the project encourages a more attentive and responsible approach to these fragile ecosystems.
