Jill Johnston collaborates to create animated TED-Ed video on climate change, part of "awesome nature" series

Above: Johnston's interpretation of the industrial revolution. Below, of photosynthesis.

SUNY Fredonia Associate Professor of Animation and Illustration Jill Johnston (at left) has designed a four-minute animation for the highly popular TED-Ed Conferences website. Professor Johnston collaborated with educator Nathaniel Manning on a video exploring the the cyclical relationship of carbons, humans, and the environment, released on TED-Ed's site, as well as its Youtube channel on Oct. 2.

“I am honored to have been chosen to work with them, and to have been selected among over 1,000 submitted animation reels,” said Ms. Johnston, a faculty member in the Department of Visual Arts and New Media.

Within the first 24 hours of its launch, the video had received more than 1,000 views, and well over 8,000 within the first week. The video can be seen at: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-carbon-cycle-nathaniel-manning.

TED-Ed is an initiative from TED Conferences, LLC, which carries out its mission of sharing ideas through sharing lessons from technology, education, and design. The TED-Ed site features collaborations between animators and educators who have created educational videos for use by teachers.

Ms. Johnston received her M.F.A. in Cinematography from the University of South Florida in Tampa and has previously taught at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, the Ohio State University, the Columbus College of Art and Design, and the Maryland Institute College of Art.

She has created 11 independent films, including seven animations, which have been screened at international festivals in several countries across the world.