Ecologos/Water Docs takes a unique approach to education and motivation. Rather than resorting to doom and gloom and guilt to move people, we appeal to their fundamental connection to nature. We all have powerful memories of encounters with the natural world. Our programs reconnect people with these deeply felt experiences, and nourish a commitment to action for water, a liveable climate, and a sustainable future.

Best known for its 10 years of producing the annual Water Docs Film Festival, Ecologos has been delivering environmental education and action programs since 1999. The film festival concluded with its 10th year in 2021. Current active programs include Water Docs at School Action Projects, Water Docs Where You Live Community Screenings, and in development is the #LaterNoMore: Activating Climate Solutions Now! project.

We've found three approaches with the power to shape attitudes and motivate action, to effect change. These approaches underpin all of our programming:

1. Documentary cinema – the storytelling of our time

2. Experiential learning – reconnecting people with their most powerful experiences of water and climate as a foundation for action

3. Encounters with the arts – to provide an experiential foundation to build pathways for meaningful change

As we remember water’s power to touch us deeply, including the power of climate, the spirit rises to commit ourselves to its protection.

Methodology

To engage people in water issues, shape attitudes and motivate action, Ecologos weaves together three ingredients: documentary storytelling and the arts, experiential learning, and channeling the resulting inspiration into specific water projects. These strand together helping to change attitudes and connect people to ways of protecting water and a liveable climate in everyday life.

Our experiential learning model is called Image Shifting – based on 40 years of research by educational pioneers. In particular we draw on Kenneth Boulding’s insights in The Image. He states that each of us holds deep-seated operational beliefs and assumptions as meaning constructs or images. These images govern behaviour and can be created or changed by specially designed messages.

Image Shifting reaches beyond simply supplying information into the deeply felt emotional experiences and powerful beliefs that lie at the very heart of resolve and action.

Our working values

Ecologos is a diverse group of volunteers and staff who are passionate about the well-being of water and a liveable climate. We come from many backgrounds ourselves and we foster respect for each other as we work to develop an ever deeper respect for water and climate. We foster a culture of appreciation for everyone’s contributions, experiences, insights and energy, and we oppose disrespectful or exclusionary behaviour in any form. We strive to create a safe and supportive workspace for staff and volunteers.