The Abundance and Scarcity of Sand

'The Abundance and Scarcity of Sand' is a symposium focused on the critical discussion of sand as one of the most quickly disappearing natural resources in the world. Every year, we remove billions of tons of sand from beaches, rivers, oceans and land, and lock it away in our infrastructure and technologies. This has resulted in what experts are now calling a global sand scarcity. Hosted by Atelier NL & MU, this symposium invites artists, designers, scientists, environmentalists, and the local community to participate in both lectures and in-depth conversations regarding the environmental challenges and potential solutions surrounding sand.                                                                                                                                                                               We dedicate this symposium to the memory of Micheal Welland (1946-2017), British geologist and author of the award-winning book ‘Sand’: A Journey Through Science and the Imagination'. Micheal had a profound poetic understanding of life and the natural world and his passion for sand inspired this very symposium. His spirit will never leave us and neither will his words.                                                                                              To learn more about sand, geology, and the perspectives that Micheal imparted with us, please visit his blog here.

We would also like to thank Marcus Fairs, founder of Dezeen, for the beautiful article that was published the day that Michael Welland passed away. It was written in preparation for the symposium where Marcus was one of our panel speakers. He was also the head of the Good Design for a Bad World collaboration with Dutch Design Week, which highlights designers who are addressing major global challenges. Read the article by clicking the link below:                                                                                                                          Dezeen | Marcus Fairs | 11 October 2017 Sand becomes "increasingly scarce and expensive", threatening glassmaking and construction

This intensive symposium brought together scientists, designers, and the public to discuss the ubiquitous everyday material of sand and how it impacts our lives at every scale. Hosted by Atelier NL and MU Artspace, keynote speaker Denis Delestrac, award-winning filmmaker, and director of 'Sand Wars' (2013), kicked off the conversation in our very first sand symposium. The lecture that Michael Welland had prepared for the evening was presented to the group in his honor. Additionally, curator, artist, and community developer Jacqueline Heerema of Satellietgroep shared perspectives of sand along the Dutch coastline. The event then culminated into an interactive panel discussion in which the public was welcome to participate. Inclided in the panel was Denis Delestrac, Jacqueline Heerema (Satellietgroep), Lonny van Ryswyck (Atelier NL), Mindert de Vries (Deltares & Waddenacademie), Winy Maas (MVRDV), and Marcus Fairs (Deezen). As editor-in-chief of Dezeen and as a 2017 DDW ambassador, Marcus Fairs is the leader of the 'Good Design for a Bad World' initiative, which celebrates designers who are addressing major global challenges. Sand scarcity is a serious problem with potentially far-reaching consequences not only for our planet and its ecology but for our economy and society.