Climate activism studies aim to bring brighter future

DEAKIN UNIVERSITY is examining how climate change education can be taught within traditional Australian science classrooms.

The research, which is spearheaded by Associate Professor Peta White of Deakin’s Centre for Research for Educational Impact discusses how climate activism can be interweaved into traditional subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics and earth and space science.

Her studies follow a shift in focus by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to prioritise socio-ecological competencies in school science programs.

This is supported by changes to the national curriculum in 2022, which strive to put a greater emphasis on climate change.

Associate Professor White said her research with colleagues from the universities of Waikato and Florida and Stanford University aims to encourage preparedness for their future.

“We need to consider if our educational system prepares young people to address problems related to how we generate energy, produce food, process waste, manage materials and design our communities.

“This is not about replacing physics with teaching students how to be a climate protestor – it is about creating a deeper learning within the current education model that equips students to be more empowered and effective climate actors.

“Learning about climate change is one thing; knowing what to do about it is another.”

Associate Professor White said school learning activities could include students using science to identify and research local socio-ecological challenges.

“Students could give presentations and create newsletter articles and posters on their community’s role in clean energy transitions.

“They could also work together to design and build a new biodiverse garden, for example, applying practices from science, mathematics, English, technology and the arts.

“We know the magnitude of the climate crises can lead to eco-anxiety, but we also know that hope for the future is often strongly linked to a sense of agency or knowing how to act and what to do about it.”