Engaged Curriculum Grants
Theatre and Climate Change
Bringing local stories to the stage to illustrate the cultural impact of climate change on Finger Lakes communities.
The science of climate change is well documented, but its cultural impact on families and communities has not been fully explored. This class, a collaboration between the Department of Performing and Media Arts, the College of Engineering, and Civic Ensemble, delves into the ethical and sociological dimensions of climate change in the Finger Lakes. Students use applied theater techniques to conduct “story circles” in which a diverse range of local residents (including scientists, skeptics, farmers, pro- and anti-fracking advocates) share their personal narratives. The team then crafts this ethnographic research into Living Newspapers, a type of multimedia performance, that is staged on campuses and across communities. Performances include curated talkbacks to foster a socially engaged dialogue at the intersection of the humanities and the sciences.
Grant type: Development (2018-19), Development (2017-18)
Topics: Arts, Communication, Media and Design; Energy, Environment and Sustainability
The Team
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Sara Warner, Department of Performing and Media Arts
College of Arts and Sciences
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Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr., Department of Performing and Media Arts
College of Arts and Sciences
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Toby Ault, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; College of Engineering
- Community partner: Sarah Chalmers, Civic Ensemble
In The News
NOVEMBER 28, 2017
New collaborative theatre course focuses on climate change in the Finger Lakes
– College of Arts & Sciences
OCTOBER 5, 2017
Civic Ensemble & Cornell to Investigate Climate Change Through Theatre
– BroadwayWorld.com
Engaged Curriculum Grants
Funding teams that are integrating community-engaged learning into new and existing curricula.