UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES) is developing a series of GreenShorts in-class lessons to bring to the Los Angeles classrooms. Science lessons often focus on developing technical skills but not on sparking interest — this program aims to do both. Topics they explored include climate change, human health, and water consumption.

I worked with the UCLA IoES team on producing this educational video as part of their Water Usage lesson.

Client: UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Direction & Animation : Margaret To

Script: Dr. Moana McClellan & Dr. Peter Kareiva

Music & Sound Design: David Bertok

Voiceover: Kara Bertok

Storyboarding.

I worked with UCLA’s youth initiative director and professor to develop the storyboard based on the Water Conservation lesson plan. Our target audience was high school students, so we made sure the information is clear and engaging. We also aimed to convey a sense of urgency and inspire action as we described the consequences of climate change and human consumption.

Visual Style.

Climate change is a heavy topic, and animation helps deliver the information in a lighter and digestible way. The use of colors also make the content fun and engaging. We went for a mixed-media style - merging live action, photos, and animation, aiming to spark interests and make these issues relatable to students.

See below for the style frames: