Artists Jill Pelto creates gorgeous watercolours inspired by the natural world.

The kicker?

Each one also includes a hidden, graphic representation of climate change data, including sea level rise and aquatic systems affected by ocean acidification.

Click to read and see more.

Artist Jaume Plensa believes "all objects, people and elements moving in space have an aura and an energy that just goes on and on" - enough energy to completely fill a space.

His large-scale public works incorporate both the human form and letter forms, and has appeared in public spaces from Antibes to New York.

Click to read this recent interview and see more of his beautiful work.

Dutch artist Gerco de Ruijter noticed an odd thing when driving through the US countryside.

He dug deeper and discovered the process that was used to adjust the strict national Jefferson Grid system to the curve of the Earth's surface, using a system of periodic 'grid corrections'.

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In many cities the most socially vulnerable people also live in the hottest urban areas.

A recent pilot study in Melbourne suggested that integrating social and environmental data could help cities plan better: by planning for and planting more trees, educating communities (and themselves) on the benefits, and encouraging community champions could all help improve the places where we live, and our resilience to urban heat.

Click to read the article.

AILA Queensland is holding its first event for 2016, and its the latest in its always-popular Beautiful Parks series. At this breakfast event on Wednesday 2 March, Paul Hardyman of Urbis will present the design concept for Howard Smith Wharves, about to start construction in Brisbane, whilst AILA Qld President Shaun Walsh will discuss the ChonGae Canal redevelopment and Songdo Central Park in Seoul.

Click for more information and booking details.

Image: Ken Eckert via Wikimedia Commons.

The results from a study in Illinois show that students do better when their classrooms have a view of trees and landscape, compared with a view of carparks or no view out at all.

The researchers found there is a causal link, and that “green views produced better attentional functioning and stress recovery.”

Click to read more.