One Health through Art communication - “Circle of Life: One Health Interconnected”

This artwork was created by Esther O. Onuselogu as an educational piece to promote One Health and to help raise awareness about One Health through Art communication.......In the web of life, human health cannot be separated from the health of animals or the environment we all share. There are many complexities of One Health topics, especially the dynamics of Vector Borne diseases like Lyme disease, Chagas disease, and West Nile virus etc. .......To make these connections tangible, I created Circle of Life: One Health Interconnected, an art-based science communication piece that transforms research into a visual story accessible to everyone........At the center of the piece stands a human figure, arms outstretched, encircled by flowing lines that link a bird, a cow, a dog, rivers, trees, and symbolic microbes. Each element carries meaning: 1) The Dove represents freedom and fragility, reminding us that environmental change affects even the most delicate aspects of nature. 2) The Cow and Dog reflect the domestic animals closest to us, sources of food, companionship, and livelihood. 3) The Swirling Rivers and Trees symbolize life-giving ecosystems that sustain both humans and wildlife. 4) The Circular Microbes viruses and parasites, represent the invisible threats that can ripple across species. 5) The One Health Professionals (implied through connected lines and care in the scene) symbolize the collaboration needed across disciplines to maintain planetary health................. Circle of Life reflects the cycle of nature: disturbances in forests, rivers, or wildlife ultimately return to us. This mirrors my research in parasitology, studying how infections like Trypanosoma cruzi circulate among animals and humans. By blending science and art, this piece invites viewers, scientists and non-scientists alike, to reflect on our shared responsibility for environmental and community health................Art can make complex science accessible without sacrificing accuracy. Circle of Life serves as an educational tool, a conversation starter, and a visual call to action, demonstrating the power of art–science collaboration to engage audiences, amplify public health messages, and inspire collective awareness.......................As we celebrate One Health Day, let this piece remind us that the connections we cannot see are just as vital as those we can. Through creativity and science, we can illuminate these links, confront urgent health challenges, and honor our responsibility to all life on Earth.