An Investigation of Environmental Knowledge and Practice among Undergraduate Students in Belize

• In Event: Socioscientific Issues and Community Knowledge

Abstract

Effective environmental education is a viable way to spread awareness about sustainable environmental strategies; are schools doing enough to foster knowledgeable and empowered citizens for sustainable lifestyles? Accordingly, environmental knowledge and environmental practice were investigated among a sample of Caribbean undergraduate students (n=207). The cluster sampling procedure resulted in (n =121) females and (n = 86) males, from two main faculties: Science & Technology (n= 101) and Management & Social Science (n=106). The Undergraduate Environmental Literacy Survey (UELS) was used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistical procedures revealed low environmental knowledge, poor environmentally responsible practice, and no significant relationship between environmental knowledge and practice. Students from the Science & Technology group received higher scores across the two environmental variables.

Authors

• Rasheda Renee Moody-Marshall

• Babalola J. Ogunkola, The University of the West Indies