A Plastic Ocean with Ecolinc
From 2021 to 2025, ACMI partnered with the Ecolinc Science and Technology Innovations Centre to offer high-ability students in Years 5 & 6 a dynamic two-day experience connecting science and the creative arts.
Presented as part of the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series, our program examines and responded to the urgent issues raised in A Plastic Ocean (Craig Leeson, 2016), a powerful and eye-opening documentary exposing the devastating impact of plastic pollution on marine life and our oceans.
After watching the film, students were introduced to the science behind plastics at Ecolinc. Activities included investigating microplastics under a microscope, creating bioplastics, and exploring digital tools like the Beat the Microbead app. Armed with this scientific knowledge and activated by both the film and what they learned at Ecolinc, the students visited ACMI where they worked in creative teams to synthesise their insights into a targeted media messages using animation, video or digital storytelling techniques. Our emphasis on student voice, audience connection and purpose-driven creativity gave students a sense of agency, as they developed the skills to communicate meaningfully in order to make a difference.