ICOS Science Conference was held 15–17th September 2026 in Lund, Sweden. For the first time, the program included a special event featuring artistic practices: An evening of Science and Art at Museum Skissernas. Teemu Lehmusruusu was invited to present alongside Professor Leena Järvi from the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) and explore how art and science might converge and operate as critical companions. The work presented at the event, Lungs, is a collaboration between Teemu Lehmusruusu and Roberto Fusco, and was premiered at the LUX Helsinki festival in 2024. The work portrays a gaseous map of the city of Helsinki, integrating high-frequency eddy covariance (EC) CO₂ flux measurements with three-dimensional laser scanning data to create an artistic representation of the city’s “lungs” – urban green areas taking up atmospheric carbon. By translating EC data into a public art context, we aim to foster relation-making of urban carbon exchange and the impact of green areas as carbon sinks and highlight the value of long-term, independent observations in understanding urban carbon budgets. This interdisciplinary approach demonstrates how ICOS data can contribute not only to scientific understanding but also to interpretations of how cities “breathe” – making complex biogeochemical processes tangible and accessible to society.
Session chairs: Nina Buchmann and Timo Vesala.