Leviathan – Human & Marine Ecology is a non-profit launched by Shezad Dawood in Venice in 2017, exploring the fault lines between climate change, migration and mental health. Steeped in its origin as a multidisciplinary artist’s project featuring a ten-episode film series at its heart, Leviathan has since developed into an open-source resource, including a free, online platform featuring a publishing outlet and a public programme archive that makes specialist research accessible to non-specialist audiences. These resources are created in collaboration with an ever-growing number of activists and academics, including marine biologists, oceanographers, anthropologists, activists, trauma specialists, and more.
Additionally, Leviathan is committed to supporting innovative research at the forefront of the climate crisis, specifically in marine conservation, and is especially keen to amplify the diversification of specialist academic knowledge. By identifying innovative and collaborative, cross-disciplinary funding strategies, it has to date raised funds and developed programmes for research and environmental action with organisations including; the Institute of Marine Science (ISMAR, Italy); Médecins Sans Frontières; and Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS, Australia).
Most recently it has launched a new study into the economic benefits of Nature-based Solutions for the ocean in collaboration with Dr. Lousie Firth, The Marine Institute at Plymouth University, and the Deutsche Bank Ocean Resilience Philanthropy Fund.