The programme for the Education for the Future: Climate Emergency Conference where Teach the Future was launched 10 days ago is here.
Highlights included:
- What would a sustainable curriculum look like? – Richard Dunne, The Harmony Project
- Students reforming the curriculum – Quinn Runkle, SUS-UK / Maeve, Rethinking Economics
- Practical steps to green your school – Henry Greenwood, the Green School Project
- Teach Climate Truth: Going Green through the Primary curriculum – Francesca Manning, a Wandsworth primary teacher
- Teach Climate Truth: Environmental Education through Citizenship and PSHE – Phil Coales, secondary teacher
- Teach Climate Truth: Creating Space for Environmental Education in Secondary Science and Geography – Marjia Taznin / Daisy Maxwell / Lucia Manville (Tower Hamlets)
- Climate Science 101: Lessons from IPPC. What a difference a degree makes! – Hazel Graham, Cumbria Action for Sustainability and One Million Climate Jobs
There were lots more including plenary addresses from the likes of Professor Carole Parkes (University of Winchester), Kevin Courtney (NEU Joint General Secretary), Douglas Chalmers (UCU President) and Sakina Sheikh (Labour for a Green New Deal).∫∫∫
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An outdoor primary school has opened in south London where children spend 95% of their days outside — even in winter. Liberty Woodland School is in Worcester Park and caters for children ages four to 11. The school says its lessons will take some influence from the national curriculum but will be taught via creative projects and play-based learning. ∫∫∫
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The British Academy is organising a series of events throughout 2020 on Sustainable Futures. The programme on the following themes: Sustainability and environmental education; indigenous futures; gender, conflict and environmentalism; urban futures; and tourism and sustainability. They will address questions such as:
– How can peace and prosperity for people and planet be achieved, given rising populations, limited natural resources and a fragile environment?
– With the Sustainable Development Goals – set by the UN in 2015 for the year 2030 – providing a framework to guide national and global action, how are we doing five years on and in the lead up to the crucial COP26 Climate Summit?
Detail to follow.∫∫∫
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The London National Park City initiative has launched a Schools Network to help London’s children become greener, healthier and wilder. Schools in the city can join the network and connect more children to nature. Details here. ∫∫∫
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The CLOtC National Conference 2019 (Beyond the Classroom) is being held on Thursday 7th November 2019 (9:30am to 4pm), at Blackpool Tower. The theme is: bringing an ambitious, broad and balanced curriculum to life. There may be a few tickets left. Details here.∫∫∫
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Here are some fascinating insights into conservation innovation c/o the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and work on its Coombe Bissett nature reserve. The Trust is inviting local residents and visitors to help sow and plant up a new butterfly bank, whilst learning more about the diverse range of species that can be found on their doorstep. Keep an eye on the Trust’s website and social media pages (Facebook / Twitter) to find out more about the community events taking place on the downs and how you can be a part of giving the wildlife here a helping hand.∫∫∫
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RSPB says you should take its Wild Challenge. You could help wildlife, explore nature, and work towards awards by making your way through wild schools activities. You can find out more and register for free here.∫∫∫
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Schools in England, Scotland and Wales can apply for up to £500 worth of outdoor equipment and two hours of professional outdoor training as part of the third instalment of Local School Nature Grants from Learning through Landscapes (funded through the People’s Postcode Lottery. The grants have so far provided £900,000 worth of equipment to 800 schools. This year the scheme aims to reach a further 500 schools.
Details here. ∫∫∫
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The GA is looking for entries for the International WorldWise competition. It’s looking for students aged 16-19 to represent the UK at the 17th International Geography Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey from 11–17 August 2020. This will focus on conservation and management of the rainforest ecosystem.
Last year’s team came third in the world at the competition in Hong Kong. More details here. ∫∫∫
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The British Ecological Society asks if you’d like to discover the wider impacts of ecological research and how it can affect the public, policy, management. You can do this in its recent Virtual Issue, Why Ecology Matters. The articles, curated from all six BES journals are free to read for a limited time. More detail here. ∫∫∫