Creative Workers in Schools
Creative Portfolio / Jessamie Yule & Nayan Puri
Creative Workers in Schools Expression of Interest The Creative Arts have the ability to help kids understand science at an early age and the potential to activate and enhance their imagination as a part of the environment, not separate to. Our idea is to use arts-based, inquiry-led design workshops to teach children about sustainability. Jess and Nayan are currently developing an education program called The Eco-Friendly Workshop that addresses Sustainability Criteria in the Victorian curriculum, leading with the A in STEAM. They would like this to be an ongoing program offered to Government Primary Schools and see the Creative Workers in Schools program as an opportunity to develop this program so that it is ready to take to schools in 2022. We would like to suggest the workshops include several small hands-on activities which contribute to the development of a larger project such as a garden pavilion, eco-cubby, sensory garden, animal habitat, outdoor play learning space or an event that showcases sustainable living. We have included a snapshot of our working progress of activities and projects for The Eco-Friendly Workshops on Page 2. The projects will be designed to be simply built, safely and with sustainable materials and technologies that can be adapted for construction by small hands, avoiding the need to use heavy vehicles or complex machinery. We’d certainly be interested in exploring alternative creative practices through this programme as we would like it to be site-specific and relevant to the school.
Jessamie
Nayan
Eco engineer, facilitator, artist
Eco architect and educator
Jessamie is an ecological engineer who likes to cross disciplines with sustainable design. Studying a bachelor’s degree of Civil Engineering, Jessamie was just as curious about knowing how structures were made as she was about why they were being created in the first place. This kind of curiosity led her to find explanations through training in Architecture, Permaculture, Ecology, Environmental Advocacy, Community Development and, mostly recently, Regenerative Development.
Nayan is an architect and educator who is passionate about ecologically sensitive design and empowering younger generations to create positive solutions for a stressed planet.
Through the process of facilitation, she cultivates caring and commitment amongst people, supporting them to understand sustainability from many perspectives. Her strength comes from an ability to combine technical knowledge with a deep curiosity of ecological systems and human behaviour, sharing and communicating this with warmth, zeal, and candour. By observing and understanding the patterns of natural systems Jessamie is able to provide people with place-based, nature-based design, education and engineering for projects that will align with the ecological systems which support it.
Nayan has worked in the field of architecture for over ten years and has specialised in environmentally sustainable design (ESD) and educational building design. She has also spent nearly six years working with university students at Melbourne University, educating in sustainability, design, and construction. She is inspired to support university students master their creativity and develop a deeper understanding of how they can design and build ecologically sensitive environments. She has had a rich and adventurous career, working on projects all around the world and close to home. All her endeavors are driven by a deep connection with nature and a desire to connect humans to their environment. Nayan would like to branch into environmental and design education for young people, as she strongly feels that empowering children with sustainable design frameworks today could have positive impacts for the buildings and landscapes of tomorrow.
Nayan & Jessamie Nayan and Jessamie are friends, workmates and sustainable designers who both share great joy in environmental advocacy and education, teaching others about how to appreciate and care for their environment. An architect and an engineer, together Nayan and Jess have worked for 15 years in STEAM finding creative ways to solve the environmental challenges of our time. Along the way they have combined their passions with the fields of teaching/sustainability education, community development, natural earth building, ecology and gardens, energy efficient design and regenerative design. In 2020 Nayan and Jess started talking to teachers and realised that there is a need for quality education programs in Schools that helps teachers address the new Sustainability Curriculum. So, they decided to put their heads together and create an education program!
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The Eco-Friendly Workshop The Eco-Friendly Workshop is a six-part programme using arts-based, experiential methodologies to empower children with a holistic set of tools and skills to integrate earth friendly, sustainable practices into their everyday lives.
Defining Sustainability: Natural Science, Ethics, Collaboration
The workshops range from classroom-based to immersive, naturebased workshops. We plan to make the workshop sessions a whole body learning experience for children, with activities that allow children to observe, imagine, experiment and connect with themselves, each other and their environment.
Natural Habitats: Architecture, Creative Thinking, Problem Solving, Participatory Design,
Key Themes: The programme is organised into six themes as part of a systems-thinking strategy (see matrix to right). Listed under each theme are examples of activities which can be adapted for people of all ages with ageappropriate resources. As in nature, where all systems are connected, similarly, there are overlaps and interconnections between the themes and activities. Themes are designed with a final creation project in mind to consolidate the learning as well as provide something symbolic and tangible that will facilitate learning into the future. These projects are listed in the Project column of the programme matrix. Each project ranges in complexity and time required, but all are child friendly. Educators could adapt, mix and match and incorporate new activities as new ideas and inspirations emerge.
Creative Portfolio / Nayan Puri & Jessamie Yule
Sense of Place: Seeing Nature’s Patterns, Systems Thinking, Ecosystems, Local Species
Sustainable Systems: Science, Technology, Energy, Building Materials Earthkeeping: Landscapes, Gardens, Food, Plants, Soil Make, Build, Create: Team Building, Co-creation, Caretaking
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What is Sustainability? By encouraging students to define sustainability for themselves with imagery, words, places, thoughts, emotions and anything else that they associate with the concept, we will explore why sustainability is important. A sustainability definition of Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share will be established as a lens to use throughout the programme. With a defined understanding of sustainability, students will be able to confidently evaluate decision making and actions throughout the programme and design project. Beyond the programme, this sustainability lens can be applied to any sphere of life. Our projects and experiences related to Sustainability: Renew (formerly Alternative Technology Association) / Jessamie / Sustainability Education and Sustainable Housing Environmental Building Studio - University of Melbourne / Nayan / Master of Architecture Studio Leader / image 5 Mullum Creek Environmentally Friendly Housing Development / Nayan & Jessamie / Design Review Committee, Sustainability Research & Education / image 6 Endangered Species Citizen Science Programme / Jessamie / Gippsland Environment Centre Office / image 1 & 4 Women in Environmental Leadership (WELA) / Jessamie / Leadership Program / image 4
Creative Portfolio / Nayan Puri & Jessamie Yule
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Sense of Place Having a sense of place will help our future creators consider the environment in anything they do. Being able to recognise local species, knowing the name of the nearest waterbodies instils a sense of belonging and place that will extend to an ability to care - relating to other topics such as recycling, energy and water use. With an established sense of place, the looking glass can be brought back to see the natural systems which brings life to the land, sea and sky. How water travels across the globe, forming across the ocean and above trees which then shed leaves to feed soil, allowing more trees to grow. Knowing these cycles will foster an understanding of what forms a climate and what keeps the Earth’s life-support systems in balance.
Illustrations, Paintings & Photography / Jessamie / all images Eco-anthro Design, Education & Engineering / Jessamie / Ecology Walks, Species Identification & Photography Regenesis Institute / Jessamie / Regenerative Design Ecological Pattern Making Framework Natural Elements Environmentally Sustainable Design / Nayan / Sustainable Design & Consulting
Creative Portfolio / Nayan Puri & Jessamie Yule
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Sustainable Systems
Project Initiatives: 7.5 Stars Energy Rating / 4k
In the cycle and recycling of life, all creatures need the same natural resources to live; water, air and food (energy), and all produce forms of waste. By examining the inputs and outputs of a system, from raw materials to landfill waste plastics, an appreciation for the web of life, renewable resources and the need for healthy environments is formed. Looking at an area like a garden, a house or a watershed, students will learn to identify how the flows of water, air, energy, food and waste streams interact with a system, and ripple on to affect others. Whether it is coming up with ways to reuse waste, mend items or use renewable materials, valuing resources encourages creative thinking and activities that are essential to living sustainably. Projects and experience related to Sustainable Systems: Mullum Creek Environmentally Friendly Housing Development / Nayan & Jessamie/ Design Review Committee, Sustainability Research & Education / all images Renew (formerly Alternative Technology Association) / Jessamie / Sustainability Education and Sustainable Housing University of Melbourne / Nayan / Lecturing, Tutoring, Curriculum Development in Sustainable Design and Technical Systems Eco-anthro / Jessamie / Regenerative Design Education and Lecture Natural Elements Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) / Nayan / ESD Consulting Certified Passive House Consultant / Nayan Regenerative Design Practitioner / Jessamie Permaculture Design Certificate (CERES) / Jessamie & Nayan
Creative Portfolio / Nayan Puri & Jessamie Yule
Passive Solar Design / Rain Water Harvesting / Revegeneration of Landscape
kW Solar Power Array / Sustainably Sourced Timbers / 20,000L Water Collection / Water Sensitive Landscaping / Natural Colour Pallete
e / Indigenous Planting / Waste Management Plans / Eco-friendly Cement
20,000L Water Collection / Water Sensitve Landscap
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January 2018
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Habitats and Homes
STEM Ce
From the smallest microbial critters in the soil to the largest mammals, all have a home and habitat where they can find water, food and shelter. Some homes, like trees, will provide a home for thousands of species. Understanding that each environment is a home for other living things, the need to design and build ecologically considerate spaces becomes clear. We understand the needs of humans and human communities, but what are the needs of plants, forests (plant communities) and animals? Homes and Habitats encourages a shift in perspective to better understand the positive and negative impacts that human development can have on our environment. Architectural Experience
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McIdowie Partners Architects / Educational Design / Architect / 7 years Imogen Pullar Architects / ESD & Residential Design / Architect / Current Projects Sports Centre / Rangi Ruru Girl’s School / Concept Design / image 1 STEAM Centre / Secondary School / Concept Design / image 2 Eco - Centre / Secondary School / Concept Design / image 3 The Gibson Centre / Rangi Ruru Girl’s School / Project Architect / images 4 - 6 Inglis Oaklands / Showroom / Project Architect Master Plan / Erasmus Primary School / Project Architect Science and Technology Building / Lowther Hall Grammar / Design Team Kindergarten Design / Melbourne Montessori School / Concept Design Renovations / Various / Architect Off-grid Houses / Various / Architect
Creative Portfolio / Nayan Puri & Jessamie Yule
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Earthkeeping How do you keep around your habitat healthy? You earth-keep it! All materials, even the processed ones, had beginnings in the soil. And there is an abundance of invisible microbial life below ground-level, secretly providing the basis of food for the entire food chain. From bacteria and fungi to seeds, shrubs, stones and trees, all contribute to improving soil, water and air... yes, even the weeds! Having a vocabulary for different kinds of terrain and knowing how to cultivate healthy soil for food growing and landscapes is a skill which will never go out of date. Through the sensory experience of learning in nature, the language of landscapes is developed by noticing the plants and animals which communicate the health of an ecosystem. Art is used to express what students have seen and to explore connections.
Projects to note: Eco-anthro Design, Education & Engineering / Jessamie / Ecological Garden Design & Landscaping / all images Permaculture Design Certificate (CERES) / Nayan & Jessamie Eco-anthro / Jessamie / Ecology Walks, Species Identification & Photography Tree Planting / Jessamie & Nayan / Landcare & Deep Shift Collective Master Planning & Landscape Design Projects / Mcildowie Partners Architects / Nayan
Creative Portfolio / Nayan Puri & Jessamie Yule
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Make, Build, Create Through ‘learning by doing’, students will engage their senses, develop many practical skills and apply new concepts from the programme, turning abstract ideas into experience. In the end they will have created something they are responsible to take care of that represents their definition of sustainability. Make, Build, Create projects can take the form of many small projects or of one, large collaborative group project. We have included a snapshot of the working progress for activities and project ideas on Page 2. All projects will be designed to be easily and safely built with sustainable materials and technologies that can be made with small hands. Particularly for larger projects, it is important that they be useful, site-specific and relevant to the school, and as such all projects are open for all kinds of creative and inspiring ideas.
Arts & Craft / Jessamie / Drawing, Sewing, Pottery, Painting, Sculpture, Jewelery Making, Costume Design, Market Stalls Arts & Craft / Nayan / Illustration, Sewing, Pottery, Sculpture, Basket Weaving, Painting / image 1 Auroville Bamboo Centre, India / Nayan / Building bamboo structures & Design Panya Project, Thailand / Nayan / Natural Building (mud bricks, bamboo, earth bags, cob) Design & Project Managing / image 3 - 5 Giant Grass, Melbourne / Nayan / Helping out on bamboo building projects / image 6 Earthship & Landscape Design / Jessamie / Ecological Design Engineering
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To Contact Us: Jessamie Yule jessamie@eco-anthro.com.au eco-anthro.com.au linkedin.com/in/jessamieyule Nayan Puri nayanpuri@gmail.com naturalelementsesd.com linkedin.com/in/nayan-puri
Front Cover / Artwork by Allan Mas from Pexels Back Cover / Artwork by Charles Parker from Pexels
Thank you We hope the ideas here have inspired you as much as they inspire us!