Earth! One

      Earth! One is a theatrical “planet earth” with an approximate 12’ radius planned to be temporarily installed on the east side of the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus pond. This original scenic and technical design uses theater technology best practices to bring much needed attention to the issues of climate change and environmental sustainability. Planned to be in place for up to one week (April 22-29), this is an interdisciplinary project that is an integral part of the Theater Department’s outdoor production of “The Rights of Spring”. In addition, this visual spectacle will also be in place for Earth Day, April 22 (weather permitting) and on Friday April 23.

In the evening after dark, a short ~7 minute student-created presentation will be shown consisting of rear-projections (from within) on a surface detailing the  “public problems” related to climate change and the environment more generally and hopeful messages on what humans are doing to address them.  After this presentation, there will be a lighting effect; a symbolic reminder of the life of the planet earth and how important our efforts are to change our present course of self-destruction. There will be signage around the periphery asking the public to observe at a distance (and social distance as well).

Several Theater Department technology classes together with a Natural Resource Policy and Administration class offered jointly by the Department of Environmental Conservation and the School of Public Policy represent participating students from across campus (Environmental Conservation; School of Public Policy; BioChem; Building and Construction Technology; Political Science; Mechanical Engineering; Communications; Theater; School of Management; BDIC; Honors College and Computer Science). They have come together to technical design, fabricate, and install this example of the creative interdisciplinary application of science, technology, and the arts.

This scenic effect is to be viewed from a minimum of 20’ when the projections are being presented so as to encourage social distancing. During the lighting effect (and during the day), this object will best be viewed from an even greater distance so as to appreciate the scale.

       Specific technical elements include:

• Welded aluminum frames assembled on-site
• 110V projectors powered by nearby outlets on lamp
• 12V lighting effect will have separate battery power
• Sustainably created with Theater Department materials and hardware
• The entire structure to be reused on designed stage elements
• Design to be open sourced to allow other universities to develop new derivatives of the piece on their own campuses
• The development of Raspberry Pi devices to project the slide show

Special thanks go to:

• Nicholas Szczepura, UMass Computer Science student, for development of the Raspberry Pi devices that ran the slide show
• Bill Russell – UMassIT, Classroom Technology Services (projector loans and support)
• Curt Griffin, Co-Director School of Earth and Sustainability
• Steve Brewer, Biology, Raspberry Pi technical support
• All the students who designed and built Earth! One and the students who researched and developed the slides displayed and the posters below.