Discussion, Data Visualization, and Dialogical Learning Materials for Diverse Audiences Education and Action for The Last Animals Foundation

Abstract

The struggle to conserve endangered species is often framed as military or punitive legislative and policy action. We worked with The Last Animals Foundation (TLAF), formed from Kate Brook’s documentary, to change that framing, using the film to advance environmental education and formalize data visualization tools. We structure our materials according to Paolo Freire’s levels of relational knowledge production outlined in Pedagogy of the Oppressed. (1) For young learners, through literature review and consultation with multiple partners in the U.K. and Indonesia, we synthesized environmental education policies, the educational use of films, and conservation priorities in the Leuser ecosystem in Indonesia. That synthesis informed the development of a curriculum that builds secondary school students’ understanding of wildlife conservation and related environmentally sustainable career options . (2) For the media and an engaged public, we developed a case study sharing tactics that fostered increased global impact for the film, using ESRI’s StoryMaps. Users immerse themselves in the film’s story, learn about outreach work, and see the result of that work in the forms of public engagement (through interactive maps) and policy outcomes (through explanations and videos). (3) For specialists and scientists, we partnered with a team of U.S. and foreign government agencies led by prominent conservation biologist Dr. Samuel Wasser to produce an ivory seizure network application to assist in prosecuting the heads of transnational crime organizations driving elephant poaching and the ivory trade. This work is in review at a prominent scientific journal and being presented at international conferences.