Here is NAEE’s latest round-up of news:
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The NAEE AGM
Last Thursday saw the annual gathering (via Zoom) of NAEE members to receive the annual report and accounts. This brief formality was punctuated by an additional agenda item in which NAEE lifetime membership was bestowed on our former Chair and long-time NAEE champion, Bill Scott. The annual report itself will be available on our website very soon.
Formalities over, we were treated to an inspiring talk by Katherine Burke who presented her book Earthwards: Transformative Ecological Education. Kathrine combined the work of leading thinkers in the field with reflections on practice sharing many important lessons along the way. She closed with an invitation to share our own experiences via her Earthwards Community site: https://earthwards.mn.co/
The recording of Katharine Burke’s talk at the NAEE AGM can be found here.
Passcode: gh+YK#b6
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News and in the papers
What’s next after COP29? As we reflect on the outcomes of COP29, it is important to remain resilient amidst the disappointment towards a, once again, underwhelming result. However, what really shone was the voices of the communities, activists and subnational entities demanding bigger and quicker solutions. We need to look forward with resilience and relentlessness in addressing the climate crisis.
Saying that, another interesting article considers: Will China step up if Trump takes a step back on climate change? With Trump likely to remove the US from the COP process, a tectonic shift could be taking place, with China playing a more central role.
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This report, commissioned by the UK National Association for Environmental Education (NAEE), explores effective practices in delivering environmental, sustainability and climate education in schools across the United Kingdom. Drawing on a comprehensive review of academic and grey literature, as well as relevant case studies, the report identifies key factors that contribute to high-quality educational experiences for young people in the UK.
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News about schools, FE, HE and I/TE
UCET Sustainability and Climate Change Education Forum
A final mention for UCET (Universities’ Council for Teacher Education) which is holding this free event supporting teacher educators in implementing sustainability and environmental education in their courses. Hosted at Liverpool Hope University, it takes place on Monday 2nd December 2024, 1:00-4:00pm. Contributions and case studies will be from the Universities of York, Reading, Worcester, UCL, Liverpool Hope, Gloucestershire and Sheffield Hallam. You can still reserve your place: here.
The event has been organised to coincide with the Teacher Education for Equity and Sustainability Network (TEESNet) 14th Annual Conference being held at Liverpool Hope University the next day Tuesday 3rd December. All are welcome and tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite here.
National Nature Education Park
The Department for Education’s NNEP is holding a webinar on 4th December 4.15-5pm, rounding up the autumn term and sharing highlights. A secondary school will be feeding back on work that they have been doing , mapping habitats and identifying opportunities on their learning site. In addition, one of the regional officers will be talking through top Nature Park activities to do in the new year to encourage and enable planning for next term. You can register here
Teach the Future
The Curriculum for a Changing Climate project has produced new guidance – for AS and A level Economics.
Curriculum for a Changing Climate reviews the current English national curriculum and adds a climate and sustainability education lens to it through ‘tracked changes’ of current subject documents. Already produced are GCSE and primary subject guides on their website, which can be used by teachers as a resource in the classroom.
They are holding a webinar on new guidance for Economics on 9th December, 4pm GMT, and you can hear from students, a teacher, and academics involved in the project, as well as an exciting keynote speaker, on why sustainability in economics teaching is so important. You can Register here
Creative Approaches
If you are looking for creative ideas and information for the classroom and local community, Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination can provide them in abundance along with resources, research and events as shown in their website and through their Newsletter.
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Opportunities and Events
On the 4th December it is the World Wildlife Conservation Day, raising awareness on problems of wildlife extinction, endangerment and global wildlife trafficking and poaching. In the UK, some endangered animals include the hedgehog, red squirrel, water vole, beaver, Scottish wildcat, hazel dormouse, and the grey long-eared bat.
The Harmony Project will be running a science leaders’ webinar on embedding CCSE in the curriculum. They will be sharing resources and demonstrating ways in which the curriculum incorporates the themes of sustainability and nature. The webinar will be held on the 6th February online.
Harmony have also made available the Science subject leader handbook which is being used in schools to develop the science curriculum. You can download a free copy here.
If you would like more information about the Harmony Project, email: info@theharmonyproject.org.uk
You can register for the webinar on the 6th February here.
Podcast series: The UN Sustainable Development Goals and Educational Research
In 2015, United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, framed around 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN describes these goals as “an urgent call for action by all countries,” emphasising the importance of global partnerships.
BERA (British Educational Research Association) has produced a podcast series exploring the intersections of Higher Education (HE) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The series delves into how HE can respond to the urgent call for action set out in The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The series invites academics, practitioners, and policymakers to examine the intersections of HE with personal, social, ecological, and resource needs, including poverty eradication, sustainable cities, clean energy, and justice.
There are 7 podcasts in the series and you can click here to find out more.
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Some exciting job opportunities available:
Research Associate – Future Skills Think Tank – London School of Economics (deadline 2nd December 23:59)
Waste & Recycling Visitor and Education Centre Coordinator – Groundwork, Northeast and Cumbria (deadline 3rd December)
Course managers – Forestry and Arboriculture; Arboriculture and Ecology – Askham Bryan College (York) (deadline 6th December)
Head of School of Earth and Environment – University of Leeds (deadline 15th December)
For a wide range of further opportunities, do look at:
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And to wrap it up…
The Weatherbies: a series of climate-focused children’s books, written by Yvonne Fleming have recently released a new book in their series!
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Please do share our news round-up with colleagues who might be interested. If someone has shared it with you and you would like to join NAEE to support our work, you can do so here.
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National Association for Environmental Education (UK)
Email: info@naee.org.uk Web: http://naee.org.uk