"Navigating the Complexities of Environmental and Sustainability Education: Contradictions, Overlaps, and the Role of Data"

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

This panel session is dedicated to exploring the transformative potential of data for development (D4D) within educational systems, specifically focusing on its impact on Environmental and Sustainability Education (ESE). As global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequality intensify, the need for effective and inclusive education that addresses these issues becomes increasingly urgent.
The project behind this panel is the result of a collaborative effort among a network of international scholars who bring different perspectives and methodologies on a common concern: the extent to which education systems worldwide are effectively addressing the interconnected challenges of our time. By drawing on diverse academic fields such as education, Science and Technology Studies (STS), curriculum studies, philosophy, and anthropology, the panel underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in tackling complex global issues.
Understanding that the landscape of ESE is vast and multifaceted, with often overlapping and even contradictory concepts about how education should embrace sustainability, this panel seeks to portray the inherent complexities and tensions within the different levels of intervention. ESE is not a monolithic discipline; it encompasses a wide range of pedagogical approaches, curricular frameworks, and theoretical underpinnings. This diversity, while enriching, also poses challenges for educators and policymakers striving to create coherent and effective educational programs. Through the lens of data-driven insights, this panel will delve into these complexities, offering a nuanced understanding of how education can be better aligned with the goals of sustainability.
Central to the discussion is the role of knowledge based solutions in enhancing educators' and policymakers' capacity to navigate the evolving landscape of ESE. ICTs have revolutionized the way data is collected, analyzed, and utilized in educational settings, providing new opportunities for identifying gaps in knowledge, skills, and resources. By leveraging big data, machine learning, and other advanced technologies, educational institutions can gain a deeper understanding of where their efforts are falling short and what strategies might be employed to address these shortcomings. This panel will highlight specific examples of how ICTs have been used to uncover capacity development gaps, design targeted interventions, and ultimately, improve the effectiveness of ESE programs.
The panel will feature presentations that showcase the work of interdisciplinary research teams and their efforts to integrate data-driven approaches into ESE. These presentations will cover a broad range of educational settings, from K-12 schools to higher education institutions, and will include both formal and informal educational contexts. By not restricting the scope of ESE to traditional classroom settings or formal educational policies, the panel aims to demonstrate the wide applicability and relevance of its findings across different educational domains.
One of the key themes of the panel is the intersection of technology, pedagogy, and politics in ESE. As ICTs become increasingly embedded in educational practices, they offer new ways of engaging students with the complex and often abstract concepts related to sustainability. The panel will explore how these technological innovations are being used to enhance the teaching and learning of sustainability, and what challenges remain in integrating ICTs into ESE effectively.
Another important aspect of the panel is the focus on the global dimension of ESE. The triple challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequality are not confined to any single country, region, or city; they are global issues that require coordinated and collaborative responses. The network of international scholars involved in this project brings together diverse perspectives from different cultural, political, and educational contexts, offering a rich and varied understanding of how ESE is being implemented around the world. The panel will highlight case studies from different regions, showcasing how local contexts shape the implementation of ESE and how global networks can support the sharing of best practices and resources.
In addition to showcasing successful examples of data-driven approaches to ESE, the panel will also critically examine the limitations and challenges of using data approaches in this field. While ICTs offer powerful tools for enhancing ESE, they are not without their pitfalls. Issues such as data privacy, digital divide, and the potential for technology to reinforce existing inequalities will be addressed in the panel discussions. The goal is to provide a balanced view of the role of ICTs in ESE, recognizing both their potential and their limitations.
The panel will conclude with a discussion on the future directions for ESE and the evolving role of data in this field. As the global sustainability agenda continues to evolve, so too must the educational strategies and tools used to support it. The panel will explore emerging trends in ESE, such as the increasing emphasis on systems thinking, the integration of indigenous knowledge systems, the leveraging of youth engagement in sustainability-oriented action, and the role of education in fostering global citizenship together with strategic cross-sectoral partnerships taking shape in the wake of these trends. It will also consider how ICTs can continue to support these trends, and what new technologies might be on the horizon that could further advance the goals of ESE.
Overall, this panel session aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of ESE, the role of data in advancing this field, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By bringing together a diverse group of scholars and practitioners, the panel hopes to foster a rich and productive dialogue that will contribute to the ongoing development of ESE and the global sustainability agenda. This session is not just about showcasing the achievements of the past; it is also about looking forward to the future and envisioning new possibilities for how education can contribute to a more resilient, sustainable and equitable world.

Sub Unit

• Environmental and Sustainability Education SIG

Organizer

• Ezequiel Gomez Caride, Universidad De San Andrés

Chair

• Aaron Benavot, University at Albany-State University of New York

Individual Presentations

• Exploration of the Causes and Consequences of Greening the Curriculum: a global, cross-national perspective - Aaron Redman, Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education MECCE Project; Aaron Benavot, University at Albany-State University of New York; Marcia McKenzie, University of Melbourne

• “Harnessing Data for Improving Environmental Sustainability Education in New York City” - Oren Pizmony-Levy, Teachers College, Columbia University; Maja Dahms, Columbia University, Teachers College

• “Green Citizenship in Latin America: A Curricular Mapping Approach” - Ezequiel Gomez Caride, Universidad De San Andrés; Carla Andrea Sabbatini, Universidad De San Andrés

Discussant

• Axel Rivas, Universidad de San Andres