Research Symposium

BIO

I am a first-generation student born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico. I have always been interested in research and learning new things. Psychology and neuroscience research is what I am most drawn to, but I have found research in other fields just as inspiring. I hope to be part of many other projects in various fields to continue growing my research knowledge and skills and hopefully one day direct my own questions and interests.

The Butterfly Affect: Eco-Puppetry for Envisioning a Joyful Environmental Praxis

Abstract

The Butterfly Affect is a performance-based experience that uses the stages of a butterfly as a symbol for change to encourage individuals to self-reflect on their personal growth and transformation.This research investigates how eco-theatre and eco-puppetry create a catalyst in the minds of people to encourage their self-reflection on their involvement in the anthropocene, and mobilize activism and cultural change.The connection between the puppet and touch in eco-theatre has been seen to have great effects on the person's ability to want to start the change themselves.
We explore the theoretical and creative aspects of eco-puppetry. First, we analyse the existing literature to understand what eco-puppetry is, its potential psychological effects, and how it impacts people’s engagement with environmental justice. Second, we reflect on our process of creating the various puppetry components of the project, such as The Butterfly Care Deck (for adults, children, and Spanish-English speakers), and the Paper Dolls. This research demonstrates how small actions or events can spark larger societal, political, and cultural movements, shedding light on the role of theater as a vehicle for social change.

Keywords: Butterfly, Effect, Eco- Puppetry