Snap x Google Sustainability Project:
Penguin Rescue
I collaborated with Snapchat and Google for a sustainability project. Using Lens Studio, I built a Snapchat Lens for Earth Week 2021. "Penguin Rescue" allows users to learn about the threats of oil spills, and then place oil-slicked penguin in their sink to rehabilitate!
See the video below for an overview of how I leveraged Lens Studio and Google's Depth API to create the experience.
The Problem: Petroleum and Penguins Don't Mix
Petroleum remains one of the more common toxic substances released into the ocean, and its impact is especially felt by seabirds, most notably penguins.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e2b9ba11d02730c4775fa4f2c814fef5/c44e7de5-84cb-4836-9221-87050cfe2dab_rw_1920.jpg?h=43b653ffb2659c9df708ef0a33f05c2f)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e2b9ba11d02730c4775fa4f2c814fef5/3d5e6943-541d-434f-8435-9b5d5883191a_rw_1200.jpg?h=fa937fa6803f45c27d4874e3e39aa7a8)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e2b9ba11d02730c4775fa4f2c814fef5/ed3bb94e-1bbf-4212-98a5-27f7706fe9cb_rw_1200.jpg?h=7f79e7b74f65e6f1250e6182fd472c9a)
Virtual Interactions With Wildlife & Conservation
My research and applied work has focused on using emerging media technology (e.g., Virtual and Augmented Reality) as a way to connect audiences to the plight of distant and unfamiliar species. For example, below are images from a VR simulation I created and tested in various lab studies. The experience transports users to Antarctica where they help rehabilitate (clean) oil-slicked penguins. Results suggest that such experiences can influence pro-environmental attitudes and actual behaviors (see Pimentel et al., 2018).
Using Snap + Google to Rehabilitate (virtual) Penguins
A logical extension of this work is to adapt it to a more accessible platform: Snapchat. I believe this experience can be adapted to AR and take advantage of ARCore Depth to make people feel as though a vulnerable penguin is actually in their kitchen sink ready to be washed and rehabilitated!
Mock-up of the Countertop Conservation Experience
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e2b9ba11d02730c4775fa4f2c814fef5/99ae6714-45b3-4217-8501-2f94134e66cb_rw_1200.jpg?h=119322345d9e251ff06ea3014abea046)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e2b9ba11d02730c4775fa4f2c814fef5/d91159ad-f6b9-49ee-a434-6147f17f2f9d_rw_1920.jpg?h=84546bccdc46d96aaa30448cc3deaffb)
The Lens was featured on Lens List (above)