Research Symposium

BIO

Hi! My name is Sophia Miller and I am the researcher for the UROP research project "You Have Arrived". I am from St. Augustine Florida and my family is from Italy where I have a strong familial heritage and cultural connection. I love the beach, surfing, skating, and traveling! My dream is to become a eco-wellness travel journalist where I can travel the world, tell stories, and teach others about holistic healthcare and wellness. I have already begun growing my brand where I will host group trips and wellness retreats around the world! I also have a strong passion for environmental conservation, specifically focused on marine life and habitats. With a naturalist view on life I strive to make the most out of every day and make the world around me a better place, one day at a time. Here at FSU I am very involved in the FSU Surf Club, Catholic Noles, and UROP. I look forward to my next years here and all that's to come!

You Have Arrived

Abstract

You Have Arrived is an arts-based research project that employs autoethnography, using personal life histories to explore social phenomena, and puppetry to explore climate-induced displacement through an educational performance designed for children and youth. Addressing a gap in existing scholarship, the project investigates how puppetry can foster young audiences’ understanding of the interconnected social, environmental, and human dimensions of climate change and forced migration. Grounded in arts-based research and critical pedagogy, or a philosophy of education and social movement, this study uses puppetry as both an educational medium and a research method to translate complex scientific and sociopolitical concepts into developmentally appropriate narratives. Methodologically, the project integrates creative performance with qualitative inquiry, focusing on audience responses such as reflections and discussions, artist-researcher journals and field notes, and performance documentation such as video recordings and scripts. Guided by research questions focused on the educational potential of puppetry and the role of autoethnography in socially engaged education, the study uses multimodal analysis to examine themes of understanding and civic awareness, all to advocate for more sustainable ways of living to protect our planet and those living in it. By merging creative practice with inquiry, this project advances scholarship in arts-based pedagogy and environmental education while fostering environmental awareness, creative problem-solving, and active citizenship among students. The project contributes to art education, climate education, and social justice scholarship by demonstrating how personal narrative and embodied artistic practice can support engagement with climate displacement and support the development of socially and environmentally conscious learners.

Keywords: arts, climate change, migration