Blog
Mapping Our Way Home: Young People Reimagining Anglesey
In December, I had the privilege of hosting a creative workshop at Llangoed Village Hall on Ynys Môn which brought together the inspirational group of people working with me on the Cultural Strand of the Public Map Platform who've been working tirelessly to help young people map and explore their connection to this remarkable island.
Mapping the Imagination
In ‘Mapping the Imagination’, Gillian Brownson talks about the Young Bards she has met on Ynys Môn, and how their imagination offers an insight into their wellbeing, their needs and their future.
Home Edders become Mappers
In this blog, Kim Hutchinson, a Community Mapper on Public Map Platform, shares how, through the Home Edders become Mappers project that she’s been leading, she is delivering free digital mapping workshops to young Home Edders to enable them to have a say about where they live and become Mappers themselves.
Life on the Line
Here, Tansy tells us about her experience of capturing and mapping Walter Glyn Davies’ life stories of the now disused, Anglesey Central Line, and through oral histories such as these, how important it is to celebrate the memories told by those who have lived and invested so much into their community.
A Postcard from Ynys Môn.
As a ‘Bard’ working on the Public Map Project over the summer, I used the humble postcard as a starting point for conversations with children and families about the good places on Ynys Môn. I discovered a deepfelt passion for the Island and desire to protect its unique landscape, shared by visitors and locals alike, while hearing inspirational stories of family, community resilience, and connection to place.
Empowering Welsh Students Through Creativity and Culture
The Public Map Platform demonstrates the potential of an open, flexible approach to education. By teaching students the power of mapping, it highlights the positive impact this practice can have on communities. Through the integration of creativity and culture, Public Map Platform brings theoretical concepts about creative learning into real-world application, showcasing how effectively these methods engage and benefit children.
The Evolution of Mapping: From Paper to Digital in Community Projects
In this blog, Joseph discusses the transition from traditional paper maps to digital mapping tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and open-source platforms such as OpenStreetMap (OSM). He highlights how digital mapping enhances accuracy, facilitates collaboration, and empowers communities to document their environments. Despite challenges like the digital divide and data privacy concerns, emerging technologies such as LiDAR and AI offer opportunities for improved spatial data analysis. Joseph emphasises the importance of integrating local knowledge with advanced mapping technologies to support sustainable community development.
Mapping through Zines
This blog explores the concept of zines—small, self-published booklets that allow individuals to creatively express their views, personal stories, or experiences. It highlights the potential of zine-making as a tool for political expression, particularly for young people who feel disconnected from formal politics. Drawing on personal experiences and political aesthetics, the blog discusses how zines can empower individuals to share their perspectives in an accessible and creative way. It also introduces a project combining zine-making workshops with a public map to showcase young voices and experiences on Anglesey.
The Beating Heart
In this blog, Tansy Rogerson draws on her experiences in Gracia, Barcelona and Otavalo, Ecuador and her work as a Community Mapper on Public Map Platform to advocate the importance of a sense of place, the love and warm hug of the community that makes you feel like to belong, safe, the tender care, the protection, the real beating heart which is the community.
Creating a Community of Mappers
We’re creating a community of Mappers! The Public Map Platform is working towards an ideal in which everyone is able to map what’s important to them in the space in which they live, to help shape the future of that area in ways that are meaningful to them. We are doing this by enlisting the help of our Community Mappers. They are local people with valued insight and knowledge as to what’s important for the future of Ynys Môn.
Shaping Ynys Môn’s Future Together: Your Opinions Matters to Us
Discover how your voice can shape Ynys Môn’s future! Join Dr. Kewei Chen and Dr. Ronita Bardhan in their mission to research the impact of the Public Map Platform (PMP) as it tackles the social, cultural, and environmental challenges facing Ynys Môn. Find out why your input is crucial to the project’s success and how you can help build a brighter future for our communities and the island.
A Journey of Creativity and Connection: Designing and building the Rural Roaming Room, Lle Llais
Owen of PEARCE+ guides us through the design and construction process of our innovative Rural Roaming room, Lle Llais.
What is a Map?
Play:Disrupt are reminded that children will always outplay them as they experiment with methods for co-designing digital maps
The What and Why of Inclusion
This blog looks at the importance and power of working inclusively within a team that is working in two languages, across cultures, with multiple organisations, a diversity of academic disciplines, each with its own technical language and a range of access needs and different communication styles.
Designing the Rural Roaming Room
An innovative space to imagine a better future
