Exploring ecology through creative processes
Dynamic professional development opportunities for people who want to strengthen their understanding of eco-literacy and systems thinking. Aviva’s pedagogical practice engages with contemporary environmental challenges through the arts, humanities and the sciences, encouraging creative and critical ways of thinking about complex ecological systems. These courses offer a fresh and engaging pathway into ecological literacy.
These courses are suitable for educators, landscape architects, planners, community practitioners, social entrepreneurs, artists and all curious beings.
“Aviva's innovative workshops brought together art, science, storytelling, intellectual rigour and so much more. They were truly transformative.” Dr Jane Merewether, Edith Cowan University
UPCOMING ONLINE COURSES
Ecology 101 offers an interactive online course that combines ecological science with humanities and philosophy, through conversation, creative expression, storytelling, mapping, drawing, reflective practice, and collaborative inquiry.
Rather than memorizing terminology, participants learn by seeing themselves as part of the living systems that sustain life on Earth. Through guided conversations, visual exercises, nature observation, thought experiments, art making, creative prompts, and dialogue learners develop an ecological lens for understanding how organisms, landscapes, and physical processes interact to create the diversity and resilience of life.
By the end of the course participants will:
Understand ecological vocabulary
Describe how energy moves through ecosystems
Develop systems-thinking skills through creative practice
CURATED WORKSHOPS
For educational, community and corporate communities.
SEMINAR, PRESENTATION & WORKSHOP THEMES
Microbial- Explore the magical world of microbial life through Aviva’s co authored series, Small Friends Books. Learn about symbiosis, soil health, coral bleaching, phosphorescent squid and microscopic organisms through storytelling and painting.
Water Stories- Dive into the science of water cycles, healthy catchments, river ecology and water stewardship. A dynamic session combining water ecology and illustration.
Soil and Decomposition- Explore soil ecology, composting, fungi, and food webs. Illustrate the hidden worlds beneath their feet while uncovering the science behind decomposition and regeneration.
Deep Time- Travel into the vast story of Earth itself. In this immersive workshop, will explore the concept of Deep Time — the geological timescale that stretches billions of years into the past and also, into our deep time futures.
Carbon literacy- A journey through carbon cycles using six key carbon molecules as main inspiration towards watercolour artworks.
“Aviva’s thoughtful workshops brought soil’s infinite connections alive in immersive ways, stimulating a creative response and inviting all participating teachers to envisage new possibilities for child-soil relations in their daily practice. In the very moving Soil Biome Immersion experience we were reminded of being soil ourselves, and in the carefully guided Ecological Portraits experience we became attuned to noticing soil’s multiple relations. Our research project has been greatly enriched and expanded by the encounter with Aviva”.
Dr Stefania Giamminuti, Edith Cowan University
Select past clients include:
