The XR Lab at the Atlantic Institute is proud to be supporting Atlantic Fellows Myriam Hernández and Ana P. Santos, in an exciting new immersive virtual reality (VR) storytelling project funded by the British Council’s Connections Through Culture program. “Swallowed By Water” addresses climate injustice by exploring rising sea levels and their devastating impact on younger generations in island nations. The final work combines 360 film and animation to enable audiences to feel what it is like to have climate anxiety permeate every aspect of your life as a young person living in the Philippines. This shift from talking about the crisis to feeling it is at the heart of the project’s mission, using extended reality (XR) to create an authentic, emotional connection to climate justice.
The British Council’s Connections Through Culture grants program is designed to foster new artistic collaborations between the Asia-Pacific region and the U.K. and generates new perspectives and solutions to urgent global challenges.
The work is being delivered In partnership with Rappler, a Philippines news agency led by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Maria Ressa.
The British Council grant is being used to support the research and development of Swallowed by Water. Currently, the project team is working to identify possible film locations already affected in the climate-vulnerable areas of the Philippines.
The Atlantic Institute will then guide the development of the work through a four-day residency held in person at the XR Lab in Rhodes House, Oxford, in June 2025. The residency will explore ethical storytelling alongside co-creation principles. Workshop participants will include journalist and Atlantic Fellow, Ana P. Santos; award-swimming VR producer and Atlantic Fellow, Myriam Hernández: and Rappler production specialist, Errol Almario, with the XR Lab team Deepa Mann-Kler, Alice Wroe and Richard Smith.
The Philippines alongside island nations globally is facing an existential threat because of rising sea levels. The climate crisis disproportionately impacts communities that have contributed the least to climate change. From the Pacific Islands to the Maldives, entire cultures face displacement, loss of heritage and economic devastation. Climate activism rooted in equity demands urgent global action, amplifying the voices of frontline communities.
VR is revolutionizing climate storytelling by immersing audiences in the lived experiences of those most affected. Unlike traditional media, VR allows viewers to step into the realities of rising sea levels, extreme weather and displacement, creating a visceral connection to climate injustice. By simulating these firsthand experiences, VR is fostering deeper empathy and understanding, which pushes the climate discourse simply beyond abstract data and policy reports. Policymakers, often detached from the frontline impacts of climate change, can experience the crisis through the eyes of affected communities. Such immersive storytelling strengthens advocacy efforts, reinforcing the urgency for equitable climate policies. It further shifts power dynamics, ensuring that those most impacted, often the most marginalized communities in the Global South, are not just subjects of reports but are active participants in shaping their solutions. Equity-driven activism ensures that solutions are not dictated by wealthier nations but are co-created with those on the frontlines.
We are delighted that Ana and Myriam met during a previous XR residency, forging a collaboration that aligns with the XR Lab’s mission of immersive, equity-driven storytelling. Their partnership strengthens the XR Lab’s work by integrating ethical, impactful XR narratives that amplify marginalized voices in climate justice and policy advocacy.
Swallowed by Water will serve as a compelling tool in policy discussions, influencing decision-makers to prioritize adaptation funding, just transitions and climate reparations. The fight against rising sea levels is not just environmental but also a struggle for justice, sovereignty and human rights.
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