Story.Earth and the Cloud Institute: Bringing Systems Thinking to Life

At the Cloud Institute, we are always excited to spotlight new resources that bring education for sustainability to life in vivid, accessible ways. Last spring, we shared a wonderful new Earth system science website called Story.Earth, developed by our long-time partners, WorldLink. Like us, WorldLink’s work is deeply inspired by the ideas of Buckminster Fuller—cultivating systems thinking, futures thinking, and ecological literacy.

A Powerful Lens for Systems Thinking

Story.Earth transforms science education through geovisualizations—interactive maps, globes, and multimedia exhibits that invite learners to explore Earth’s systems and vital trends. These visual tools embody what we at the Cloud Institute call “the habits of mind that sustain life”: reading the feedback, observing patterns, emphasising relationships and networks, and shifting perspective. By allowing students to move fluidly between global and local contexts, Story.Earth helps them develop the kind of big-picture thinking that’s essential for understanding our changing world.

A Pilot that Sparked Discovery

This past spring, WorldLink piloted Story.Earth in Santa Rosa City Schools (Northern California) in partnership with the Sonoma County Office of Education. Six teachers from Title I schools implemented the program with students in grades 5–8 following professional learning workshops. The results are very promising! Students found the visualizations “incredible,” and teachers said the lessons plans were “crystal clear.” After spending time with the online platform and learning content, students exhibited a more global perspective in their thinking and more personal agency on environmental issues. Teachers also found the visualizations accommodate various learning styles and support learning in both formal and informal settings. Many students said they kept on using the platform after class.

An Invitation to Explore

We consider Story.Earth a model for how digital tools can empower educators and inspire young people to become planetary stewards. We encourage you to visit story.earth and experience how visualizing the planet can ignite wonder, deepen systems literacy, and cultivate hope for a regenerative future.