ANIMAL POV: 

A Climate Challenge


Welcome to our extremely fun and educational virtual reality experience that shows the world through an animal's point of view (POV). Put on a VR headset and have a first-person experience of an animal's unique ways of moving and sensing. Contend with challenges that are introduced by climate change. Learn about hopeful actions that are restoring habitats and reducing some of the impacts of climate change.  

WANT TO DO SOMETHING?

Download the free Climate Action Now app! (Click here, or scan QR code below). You can use it to take concrete actions in minutes.  It is the leading app for citizen advocacy about climate change. Climate Action Now is unaffiliated with the Auditory Lab at CMU. We recommend using this free app based on our own experiences with it. 

EAGLE EDITION: WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Click images and words below to find out more about Eagle Conservation, Wildfire Prevention/Forest Restoration, Climate Crisis Solutions,  and learn about positive actions that you can take.

Watch a Bald Eagle catch a fish,

just like you do in AnimalPOV!


Bald eagles are threatened by rising temperatures and wildfires. 

The Alaska Raptor Center is one of many successful efforts to save bald eagles. They treat and release hundreds of injured bald eagles and other birds each year.

Eagle conservation also helps regulate other animal populations and benefits the ecosystem.

https://alaskaraptor.org/about-us/


Forests are being destroyed by wildfires, made worse by drought and heat from climate change. 

Firebreaks are created by firefighters to stop the spread of wildfires. Forest conservation also involves planting new trees.

Preventing wildfires and preserving our forests will protect forest-dwelling species and combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide.

https://www.nationalforests.org/tree-planting-programs/climate

https://action.outdooralliance.org/a/wildfire

https://www.outdooralliance.org/landscape-conservation


One Earth is a nonprofit organization working to accelerate collective action to solve the climate crisis through groundbreaking science, inspiring media, and an innovative approach to climate philanthropy. The solutions for the climate crisis already exist, and the latest science led by One Earth shows we can achieve the critical 1.5°C goal through collective action,

https://www.oneearth.org/

ANIMAL POV: A Climate Challenge is a VR experience being developed at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) for educational outreach and research. The faculty directors are Laurie Heller (Psychology) and Diane Turnshek (Physics). Two prototype editions of this experience have been developed by teams of graduate students at CMU's Entertainment Technology Center (ETC), with advisory input from ETC instructors. The first edition embodies a dolphin and the second embodies a bald eagle.

Our schedule for play-testing and demonstrations:

Saturday, Nov 4th, 2023, at ETC headquarters in Pittsburgh  (by invitation only)

Friday, Dec 8th, 2023, at ETC headquarters in Pittsburgh (by invitation only)

Sunday, Feb 18th, 2024, at Tepper Building on CMU's Pittsburgh Campus (RSVP required)

Saturday, April 6th at ETC (by invitation only)

Tuesday, April 9th at CMU Hunt library (email for details and confirmation)

Sunday, April 28th, 2024, at the Cohen University Center, McKenna/Peter/Wright rooms


Contact us if interested in other 2024 play-testing: auditory@andrew.cmu.edu


Below, read about team FeatheryFriends, graduate students who made a prototype of Animal POV, Eagle Edition, (Spring 24) at the Entertainment and Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University:

Image of an painting of an eagle with the title "Feathery Friends" and a list of team members: Caiyu Zhang, Esther Pan, Howard Hou, Kimi Du, Minghao Zhou, Tiran Zhang. Instructor, John Dessler. Clients: Laurie Heller and Diane Turnshek.

DOLPHIN EDITION: WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Click images and words below to find out more about Dolphin Conservation, Mangrove Restoration, Climate Crisis Solutions,  and learn about positive actions that you can take.


Dolphine Edition realism notes: The echolocation simulation is simplified and exaggerated for humans. Echolocation is not just for fish, and fish don’t glow from echoes. Also, dolphins need to breathe at the water’s surface. Oh, and dolphins don’t talk to each other in chat boxes. 😉


Individuals can make a difference!

8th graders planted mangroves as part of a larger mangrove restoration effort in Florida.

Below, read about team Terratopia, graduate students who made a prototype of Animal POV, Dolphin edition (Fall 23) at the Entertainment and Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University:

Image of a computer-drawn dolphin with the title "Terratopia". List of team member names: Jessica Cromp, Yu Xi Lee, Yue Wang, Yumeng Wei, Wenlong Yan. Clients, Laurie Heller and Diane Turnshek

Some nonprofit organizations supporting related causes and their mission statements:


MANGROVE RESTORATION


Urban Ocean Lab www.urbanoceanlab.org

Urban Ocean Lab cultivates rigorous, creative, equitable, and practical climate and ocean policy for the future of coastal cities.... Coastal ecosystems provide natural shoreline protection, enhance food security, and support coastal economies, all while absorbing tons of carbon. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change, coastal development, and pollution…Mangrove forests are carbon-rich ecosystems and absorb an estimated 24 million tons of carbon globally each year.

 

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation www.sccf.org

SCCF's mission is to protect and care for Southwest Florida's coastal ecosystems through our focus on Water Quality Research, Policy and Advocacy, Sea Turtles and Shorebirds, Native Landscaping, Habitat and Wildlife Management, and Environmental Education.


Coral Triangle Center www.coraltrianglecenter.org

Coral Triangle Center inspires and trains generations to care for coastal and marine ecosystems. 



WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND FOREST RESTORATION


Outdoor Alliance www.outdooralliance.org/landscape-conservation 

Outdoor Alliance engages in Forest Planning efforts across several National Forests, working to protect these places. Among other efforts, they are petitioning for more funding for wildfire prevention, which you can sign here: https://action.outdooralliance.org/a/wildfire,

National Forest Foundation www.nationalforests.org/tree-planting-programs/climate 

The National Forest Foundation works with forestry experts from the U.S. Forest Service to plant the right trees in the right places....By planting trees on National Forests, we are lessening the effects of climate change and helping our forests adapt.



EAGLE CONSERVATION


The Alaska Raptor Center alaskaraptor.org/about-us/

The Alaska Raptor Center rescues, treats, and releases hundreds of injured bald eagles and other birds each year. Eagle conservation also helps regulate other animal populations and benefits the ecosystem. 

   

DOLPHIN CONSERVATION


Wildlife Conservation Society www.wcs.org

For 125 years, WCS has been dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places, powered by the expertise and science in our zoos, aquarium, and global conservation program....Using sound science, WCS discovered that Bangladesh’s vast Sundarbans mangrove forest and adjacent marine coastal zone is a global stronghold for threatened dolphins, porpoises, and whales. The Government of Bangladesh responded to WCS information and encouragement by establishing three sanctuaries to protect Asia’s last two remaining freshwater dolphin species and creating the nation’s first marine protected area.


Sarasota Dolphin Research Program www.sarasotadolphin.org

We conduct the longest-running study of a wild dolphin population in the world and have been learning about the daily lives and threats to the dolphins of Sarasota Bay, Florida, since our program began in October 1970....Today, we share our knowledge through national and international collaborations designed to help conserve wild dolphin populations — not just in Florida and in the U.S., but throughout the world.

 

 

CLIMATE CRISIS SOLUTIONS


One Earth www.oneearth.org 

One Earth is a nonprofit organization working to accelerate collective action to solve the climate crisis through groundbreaking science, inspiring media, and an innovative approach to climate philanthropy. The solutions for the climate crisis already exist, and the latest science led by One Earth shows we can achieve the critical 1.5°C goal through our three pillars of collective action:

Climate Nihilism has, unfortunately, gone viral, especially among the younger generations….today, the greatest threat to solving climate change is a sense of hopelessness….We need everyone to know that the 1.5°C goal is achievable if we act together with focus and determination. 

In 2023, an anonymous donor gave $300 to be split between 3 causes (Mangrove Restoration, Dolphin Conservation, and Climate Crisis Solutions) in proportion to the choices made by the play-testers of the VR experience.  Because the play-testers split their choices evenly among causes, one nonprofit organization from each cause was selected to receive $100.

In 2024, an anonymous donor has again pledged to give $300 based on player responses.