#REturn
A model for a social media movement aimed to raise awareness of a wicked problem that may otherwise intimidate individuals into becoming bystanders.
How can biodiversity be more accessible in order to increase engagement and knowledge within the community regarding the bee problem?
The above question is the central research question our group chose to build our project around. We were interested in utilizing social media as a means of spreading awareness and information surrounding the wicked problem of biodiversity loss, and how it affects pollinators like the bees. The stakeholders of this issue that we chose to focus on are average citizens. When faced with issues too complex and connected to be solved by the individual, one of the greatest powers we have is to raise awareness. By doing so, we increase the amount of potential problem-solvers and can gather people from all walks of life in hopes to generate care about biodiversity loss. For this project, our group aimed to capitalize on the interdisciplinary nature of our team in order to best accomplish our goal of increasing awareness and interest in the biodiversity issue. As a team composed of biomedical engineering, fine arts, environmental studies, and early childhood education majors, we had a diverse set of skills we could contribute to this project. Collaboratively, we were able to create a model for a social media movement, #REturn, that consists of an augmented reality filter in Snapchat, comparison display boxes, digital renderings, and an informational handout and website. The concept behind the title of our model for a social media movement, #REturn, is based on the idea of returning to what natural land looked like before severe human intervention. Specifically, returning the native biodiversity to areas where humans have massively depleted such plants by implementing extensive grass lawns. Our novel augmented reality filter was coded in the Snapchat lens software, and produces images of a biodiverse plant, clovers, growing on the identified ground surface in snapchat videos and pictures. We chose to create this as an artifact of part of our model for a social media movement, accessible to all Snapchat users via the Snap code available on the informational handout and on display in the gallery. The filer is also accessible by link when viewing an image or video from another user that includes the filter. The goal of the filter is to generate interest and allow individuals to see what biodiversity could look like in spaces around them. In doing so we hope to eliminate the stigma that biodiversity is synonymous with unruly, overgrown, tall weeds, and instead depict a tame, short biodiverse option that may be less off-putting to the individual.
Above are images of the acrylic display boxes that we included in our presentation to display a comparison of typical grass and wildflowers. We included this as a "stop and think moment" to allow the viewer to contemplate the dichotomy of the boxes side by side, while learning about benefits of a biodiverse lawn and drawbacks of a typical grass lawn. They were constructed by laser cutting acrylic and welding the pieces together with a special acrylic polymer glue. The box in figure 1 contains grass that is typical of a lawn. It is plain green and homogenous. The box in figure 2 contains examples of wildflowers: colorful, interesting, and heterogenous. Something interesting that we learned while researching during this project was that there are many drawbacks to having grass lawns. Currently over 50 million acres of land in the United States are taken up by grass lawns, depleting natural habitats and food sources of native pollinators, like the bees. By implementing biodiversity in their lawns, individuals are able to provide habitat and food sources for pollinators, while contributing to cleaner air and water due to the nature of biodiverse plants' deeper root systems. Additionally, mowing the grass for one hour alone produces the same amount of air pollution as driving a car for 100 miles! By implementing a biodiverse lawn that requires less mowing, fertilizers, and pesticides, individuals can also contribute to a decreased negative environmental impact.
Figure 3: Informational Handout Distributed During Presentation and On Display in Gallery
Figure 3 depicts the informational handout that was distributed during our presentation and is on display in the DAAP Gallery. This handout includes a summary of the main points of our project and a call to action, encouraging individuals to scan the QR code that leads to the informational website, and scan a Snapchat code on the back to share images and videos using the filter and #REturn or #REwild that links to the #REturn movement. Figure 4 depicts the home screen of our informational website, with tabs to more information regarding various topics. A link at the bottom of this webpage directs you to the website for further viewing.
Figure 4: Website Header
We acknowledge that this is not a final solution to the problem of biodiversity loss and decline of the bee population; rather, we hope this effort would increase awareness and foster a care in individuals to be more aware of the problem, spread their awareness, and get involved at any capacity. This could mean anything from simply sharing images or photos with the Snapchat filter linked to the informational website, to petitioning a local HOA to allow for biodiverse lawn options in their neighborhood. We recognize that there are limitations to this solution. These include that the main form of information spread for this movement is via social media, and would not reach individuals without a social media presence. However, we hope #REturn could still be effective at producing change, as social media movements have been in the past, such as #Fantasticfungi, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and #BlackLivesMatter. While starting on social media, these movements are great examples of spreading information to a larger audience, and generating care regarding important issues. We expect another limitation to be that not everyone enjoys biodiverse plants, and may not be open to implementing them at any capacity in their lawns, even after being exposed to their benefits. As a counter measure, we included some short options on the website that may be more appealing, but recognize that this still may not be an attractive option for individuals passionate about their own grass lawns. Even if less than a majority of people who receive information via this movement were to implement biodiverse lawns, the impact would remain beneficial to pollinators, the environment, and the individual. While biodiversity loss and its impact on pollinators is a wicked problem, we can remain hopeful that by spreading information and not letting this issue go unnoticed, we can have a positive impact on the earth.
Follow the link below to view examples of the Snapchat filter in action, as well as some digital renderings of wildflower lawns:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15HsDe2V53L2z0qimxswyX6YDmsL8KZtBx53pqQDdVjY/edit?usp=sharing
Follow the link below to view our website that includes more information about the biodiversity problem, how it relates to the bees, history of lawns, other nations' efforts, and biodiverse plant options for the Ohio area. Sources for our research are also included on the website:
https://stickeyinnovation.wixsite.com/blank-spaces
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15HsDe2V53L2z0qimxswyX6YDmsL8KZtBx53pqQDdVjY/edit?usp=sharing
Follow the link below to view our website that includes more information about the biodiversity problem, how it relates to the bees, history of lawns, other nations' efforts, and biodiverse plant options for the Ohio area. Sources for our research are also included on the website:
https://stickeyinnovation.wixsite.com/blank-spaces