Transform our World reminds us that there are fewer than three weeks to go until the Youth Climate Summit (13 to 19 November 2020). You can read more here about the Youth Ambassadors who are spreading the message of the Summit, encouraging schools from all over the UK to come together online for a week of climate action and pledges for the planet.
This is a 90-second video about the summit made by students in the London Schools Eco-Network. And this link takes you to the latest news on the summit. Primary and secondary schedules where you can register for entire days or individual events are here. §§§§
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Teach the Future was one year old this month, and Joe Brindle celebrated it by putting n update on what TtF is now doing on their blog. You can read it here. It begins:
“We started off with just 1 volunteer, now we have over 30 plus 5 young staff. We also now have over 130 supporting organisations, have written well over 15 letters to the English government (including one signed by 1,000 students), have sent over 300 emails to MPs, and have met with the Scottish Education Minister. To celebrate this important day, we’ve sent another email to Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education for England. §§§§
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In its introduction to a video of a recent webinar about Education Futures: Neuroscience, Climate Change and Learning – the British Educational Research Association [ BERA ] – argues that the 21st century is offering both challenges and opportunities for education. The meeting examined the role of cognitive neuroscience in initial teacher education and in empowering teachers with a critical understanding of their practice. The event looked at climate change education as an area of curriculum in urgent need of development, examining various possibilities for change, informed by recently collected data revealing the views of teachers. It analysed the potential role of cognitive neuroscience in developing and implementing a new climate change curriculum.
The video is here. A range of teacher views on climate change education are reported and discussed in the third input by David Sands ( from ~50 to ~75 minutes ) in the video. This final presentation provided an exploration of how the sciences of the mind and brain literature might support education in the 21st century. In this, Paul Howard-Jones explores what neuroscience tells us (and doesn’t tell us) about climate change education “for action”. His take-away messages are: [i] start early; [ii] set up collaborative projects in local familiar contexts; and [iii] use action-based projects to manage eco-anxiety. There is much to think about in what was said. §§§§
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As asking children about their experiences directly is important to provide young people with a greater stake in and voice about the natural environment Natural England commissioned research to understand the perspective of children and young people relating to nature during Covid-19. A total of 1,501 children, aged between 8-15 in England, participated in an online survey in August 2020. The detail is here. §§§§
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November 12th sees the publication of a new book from NAEE member Paul Vare and our Chair of Trustees, William Scott. Its title is: Learning, Environment and Sustainable Development; a history of ideas.
The publishers say: This book is an introduction to the long history of human learning, the environment and sustainable development – about our struggles with the natural world: first for survival, then for dominance, currently for self-preservation, and in future perhaps, even for long-term, mutually beneficial co-existence. It charts the long arc of human–environment relationships through the specific lens of human learning, putting on record many of the people, ideas and events that have contributed, often unwittingly, to the global movement for sustainable development. Human learning has always had a focus on the environment. It’s something we’ve been engaged in ever since we began interacting with our surroundings and thinking about the impacts, outcomes and consequences of our actions and interactions. This unique story told by the authors is episodic rather than a connected, linear account; it probes, questions and re-examines familiar issues from novel perspectives, and looks ahead. §§§§
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The Trust of the Worshipful Company of Educators wishes to confer its awards for inspirational educators in 2021 on outstanding practitioners in environmental education. The Trustees particularly welcome nominations for candidates who are delivering learning in challenging, unconventional or community settings. The award is open to full-time or part-time educators teaching, supporting or facilitating educational activities at any level of education, in any formal or informal educational setting, with any type or age of learner. It is, therefore, open to educators working across a wide range of establishments. Nominations would also be welcomed for those who teach others or who are specialist curriculum innovators and project developers and managers, so long as personal initiative and practical impact can be demonstrated. The deadline for nominations 19th January 2021. More details here. §§§§
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In the next DERC seminar on November 17th Doug Bourn will discuss themes from his forthcoming book on pedagogical approaches for education for social change, bringing in issues of social justice, transformation and impact of globalisation.
Doug Bourn has also co-authored a new research report reviewing the level of interest and engagement in education for sustainable development within the UCL Institute of Education’s initial teacher education programmes, as well as their response to e.g. climate strikes and student led action. §§§§
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The Centre for Global Learning: Education and Attainment (GLEA) has announced a week-long series of events that showcase, discuss and share ideas on important issues related to reconstructing education through a global lens. The event, rather than taking place as a traditional one to two day conference, will take place completely online. Taking into consideration your current commitments in the office or at home, we will be hosting short, one to one-and-a-half hour pick ‘n’ mix sessions so you can get involved in the topics which truly interest you. It’s taking place from November 2nd to 6th. Details here. §§§§
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Click here to read an appreciation of Sir David Attenborough’s latest film, A Life on Our Planet, from the steady state economy perspective. §§§§
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Selling Planet Earth: re-purposing science communications for sustainable human wellbeing is the title of the I-SEE webinar by Iain Stewart, Professor of Geoscience Communication, and Director of Sustainable Earth Institute, at Plymouth on Tuesday 27 October 1630 to 1800:
“Scientists are being encouraged to ‘go public’ with our science, it is less clear to how our current science communications are effectively addressing the long-term planetary concerns that confront society. This talk presents the provocative view that scientists – as the interface between the research organisations that produce knowledge and the wider public who could use that knowledge – are akin to marketers in the business world. Drawing from the dominant paradigms that shape business marketing, it re-considers our prevailing models of science communication and their consequent sense of purpose. It argues that addressing issues of long-term sustainability will require not only re-thinking communication practice within universities, but also radical institutional regime change towards universities becoming purpose-driven organisations”. You can register here. §§§§
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The new Hulu film I am Greta is launched next month. More details here, where a short trailer can be viewed. And Luke Jerram’s Gaia, Earth artwork has been exhibited in Gloucester Cathedral and can be viewed here. §§§