top of page

SYSTEMS THINKING + WATER 

ThinkWater is a national campaign supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help people of all backgrounds and ages think and care deeply about water. It does so by applying systems thinking to existing water education and research efforts and by actively engaging people in a new way around water issues. Our Mission-Vision is to Engage, Educate and Empower a world of Systems Thinkers to solve wicked water problems.

EXPERIENCE WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT:
We Are ThinkWater
What we do

WHAT WE DO 

ADDRESSING ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME

Few issues are as important to the well-being of our nation and planet as water. We increasingly face short- and longer-term crises due to a host of complex factors involving climate, ecology, and human use patterns.

ThinkWater uses systems thinking to magnify the impact of existing water lessons and research. We teach systems thinking to youth, adults, water educators, and scientists to improve their ongoing education and research in the field to produce positive, measurable outcomes. READ MORE

DSRP 

Four simple rules of systems thinking

We utilize the groundbreaking research of Dr. Derek Cabrera, which isolates four underlying rules of systems thinking: recognizing Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, and Perspectives (DSRP). READ MORE

A Little Film About a Big Idea
DSRP
NEWS & EVENTS

NEWS & EVENTS

THINKWATER FELLOWS

Rethinking Water USDA Thinkwater

STATE IMPLEMENTATION

ThinkWater is implementing systems thinking-based water education, research, and Extension programming to better address our complex water problems. Through this implementation, ThinkWater is researching the effectiveness of this strategy (Does ST improve education, research, and Extension programming?) and compiling resources and documentation to enable implementation by others.

Wisconsin

As the flagship state for ThinkWater implementation, Wisconsin is innovating, piloting, and researching new strategies and compiling resources and research to share with other states, regions, Tribal Nations, and territories in the United States. Primary components of ThinkWater implementation thus far include the Wisconsin ThinkWater School and the Wisconsin Water Thinkers Network, along with multiple overlapping outreach and professional development efforts engaging small and large groups and institutions throughout the state. READ MORE

State implementation

RESOURCES

INFOGRAPHICS, POSTERS, CASE STUDIES, PLECTICA MAPS, etc.

ThinkWater has created a wide variety of free resources designed to increase deeper understanding of the concepts that underlie systems thinking.           

SYSTEMS THINKING CARD SET   Download card set here

Card set no.2 v42
Card set no.2 v43
Gallery ST card set9
Gallery ST card set10
Gallery ST card set5
Gallery ST card set6
Gallery ST card set3
Gallery ST card set4
Gallery ST card set19
Gallery ST card set20
Gallery ST card set11
Gallery ST card set12
Gallery ST card set14
Gallery ST card set13
Gallery ST card set15
Gallery ST card set16
Gallery ST card set17
Gallery ST card set18
Gallery ST card set26
Gallery ST card set25
Gallery ST card set7
Gallery ST card set8
Gallery ST card set23
Gallery ST card set24
Gallery ST card set27
Gallery ST card set28
Gallery ST card set21
Gallery ST card set22
Gallery ST card set33
Gallery ST card set34
Gallery ST card set32
Gallery ST card set31
Gallery ST card set29
Gallery ST card set30
Resources

INFOGRAPHICS  

Click on the INFOGRAPHICS below to download .pdf files. SEE MORE INFOGRAPHICS

POSTERS  

Click on the POSTERS below to download .pdf files. SEE MORE POSTERS

cas poster 2019 thumbnail.jpg
think D thumbnail.jpg

PLECTICA MAPS  

Click on the PLECTICA MAPS below to see the live maps at plectica.comSEE MORE PLECTICA MAPS

Map_The 5 senses.jpg
i = pat.jpg
PB & J simple map.jpg

CASE STUDIES  

Click on the CASE STUDIES below to download .pdf files. SEE MORE CASE STUDIES

CASE STUDIES  

Click on the CASE STUDIES below to download .pdf files. SEE MORE CASE STUDIES

EDUCATION - Water lessons restructured with systems thinking  

SEE DOWNLOADABLE WATER LESSONS

MORE THINGS YOU CAN DO

READ OUR LATEST BOOK 

Systems Thinking Made Simple is for anyone interested in learning the foundational ideas of systems thinking.

USE THE APP 

Learn the newest Systems Thinking and modeling software available today.

What is Plectica software? An elevator speech intro

Get smart. Sign up for Plectica

JOIN THE DISCUSSION 

Get everyday examples of DSRP. Lurk, post, and learn in this online DSRP discussion group.

Systems Thinking Daily

GET TRAINED 

Learn systems thinking online from world renowned researchers in the field.

STMS 101: Systems Thinking Made Simple 101

Learn the principles of Systems Thinking online through practical videos and interactive modeling.

TT 101: Teaching Thinking 101 is currently in development. ETA: Mid 2019

ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT

ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT 

ThinkWater's collective impact is achieved through mutually reinforcing activities with many private and public organizations.

INDIVIDUAL IMPACT 

INDIVIDUAL IMPACT

Water Researchers, Extension Agents, and Educators transform their work.

Contact
bottom of page