AGM Discussion – At the NAEE AGM last November, there was a presentation by Stephen Scoffham and Steve Rawlinson, co-editors of Sustainability Education A Classroom Guide. This was followed by a discussion based on issues raised in the book. The presentation and discussion was recorded and the link to the video is here [ passcode byGd7x*b ].
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People Vs Climate Change – Into Film has created a resource to help secondary schools run their own mini climate assemblies. Produced in association with Doc Academy and Picture Zero Productions, it includes themes of climate change, global issues, consumption, recycling, green initiatives, net zero, sustainability, and youth voice. A feature-length documentary, The People Vs Climate Change, is the catalyst for the activities within this resource which guide young people through four phases in the process of researching, discussing, debating and voting for their own solutions to help the UK reach its net zero goal.
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Environmental Awareness Today – An OECD report looks at young people’s awareness of environmental issues, the skills development needed for them to engage in activities and the coming green transition, and how whole school approaches can support cultural change towards sustainability. You can read it here.
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Green Football Weekend – February brings a climate action football tournament for schools. There’s information about the Green Football Weekend website here. There is also a Planet League. Toolkits for schools, including classroom resources can be found here. If there are any questions, just email: schools@planetleague.co.uk
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Restoring Woodland – Gorne Wood in Lewisham has been designated by Natural England as Ancient Woodland and it is the closest example to the City of London. After 20 years in the hands of a property company the site has fallen into neglect, and there is now an active campaign including local schools to restore it. NAEE Trustee, David Dixon, is involved. Details here.
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A Day in the Life of – In a Curious Kids article, Paul Ashton, of Edge Hill University asks: “what do plants do all day? It turns out that they are pretty busy.
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Wellbeing in Devon – There is a call for presenters at the Wellbeing in Environmental Education Conference at Slapton Ley (and on-line) in February. Following Children’s Mental Health Week, this one-day conference will address issues of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people in outdoor and environmental education from the perspectives of outdoor education practitioners, teachers, schools, researchers, and mental health and wellbeing professionals. We are invited to submit proposals for either a 20-minute presentation or a 30-minute interactive workshop. Organisers are interested in hearing from those based in schools, such as teachers, headteachers, support staff and mental health professionals, outdoor and environmental education practitioners and organisations, as well as researchers in the field.
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Are they really Vermin? – Academics from Nottingham and the IUCN say in The Conversation that although rodents are the most numerous of all Earth’s mammals, they are also the least studied. They are much needed, it’s argued, for healthy ecosystems.
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High and Mighty – Simon Hogg, Durham University, writes (also in The Conversation) that some wind turbines these days are as high as Canary Wharf with Big Ben-sized blades. The new Dogger Bank wind farm will eventually have nearly 300 of these General Electric’s Haliade X, turbines which can each generate 13MW of electricity. Hogg explores whether there is a limit to their size. It turns out there is.
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Solar and Leap Years – January 4th saw the Earth at its closest point to the Sun in its annual trek round the elipse it traces through spacetime each year. In the most recent Explaining Science blog, there’s an explanation of the concept of a year and why it is important astronomically and culturally.
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Renewables – Wind generated a record amount of electricity last year, the National Grid said. Radio 4’s most recent Rethink Climate series had asked whether people with power are doing enough to solve the climate crisis. Previous episodes focused on technology and innovation, the green economy, and communication.
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Swift Action Needed – Hannah Bourne-Taylor has launched a petition, supported by the RSPB asking the government to make swift bricks compulsory in all new housing. Swift numbers in the UK more than halved between 1995 and 2016, partly because of a reduction in nesting sites. Swift bricks, which are also used by house martins, starlings and house sparrows, provide sanctuary for the birds to build their nests. You can view the petition here.
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Nature Positive – The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) is a collaborative partnership created to exchange biodiversity information. The NBN Trust, the charity which oversees and facilitates the development of the Network, has a membership including many UK wildlife conservation organisations, government, country agencies, environmental agencies, local environmental records centres and many voluntary groups. The Network’s latest output is here. At the moment its coverage of education and schools is not extensive.
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Life-Size – Students have demonstrated against the University of Winchester’s decision to erect a statue to Greta Thunberg which cost £23,760, describing it as “greenwashing”. The Times quotes a third year archaeology student, who said: “Take beef off the menu and replace it with chicken and fish if need be. Make your plant-based meals affordable. Focus on making the university buildings energy efficient and sustainable rather than wasting money on meaningless statues. …” The BBC has more on the story.