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Past event

Empowering teachers and young people through nature, outdoor learning and environmental sustainability education

This online webinar is co-hosted by two BERA SIGs, Nature, Outdoor learning and Play and, Education for Environmental Sustainability. Following a successful and engaging series of sessions at BERA Annual Conference 2023, this event provides an opportunity to bring together expertise and inspiration in relation to climate change and environmental sustainability education and research, such that it empowers teachers, young people and researchers. The event will have a focus on nature and outdoor learning in the context of environmental and sustainability education and will include a series of short contributions from a range of speakers working in research, practice and policy contexts in England, Scotland and Wales.

Contributions from speakers will include Katie Parsons (Loughborough University), Smriti Safaya (University of York), Meryl Batchelder (Corbridge Middle School) and Hazel Scurr (Northumberland County Council). This will include research which explores intergenerational and participatory approaches to young people’s engagement with coastal change in their communities (Katie Parsons), experiential environmental education (Smriti Safaya) and regional approaches to climate and environmental sustainability education (Meryl Batchelder and Hazel Scurr). After hearing from the speakers, there will be a Q&A session.  

Draft Programme:

16:00 Welcome & Introduction
16:05

INtergenerational Stories of Erosion and Coastal community Understanding of REsilience ‘INSECURE’
Katie Parsons, Loughborough University

16:20

Nurture in Nature for Nurture of Nature
Smriti Safaya, University of York

16:35

Climate and Sustainability Education in Northumberland; a regionally-relevant resource pack for schools
Hazel Scurr, Northumberland City Council; Meryl Batchelder, Corbridge Middle School

16:50 Q&A and Discussion
17:25 Concluding Remarks
17:30 Event Close

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Chairs

Profile picture of Lauren Hennessy
Lauren Hennessy, Ms

Research Associate at University of Bristol

My main area of interest is sustainable education and in particular the intersections with issues of social, racial and epistemic justice. I am interested in participatory approaches to research and education which centre young people.

Profile picture of Amanda Anderson
Amanda Anderson, Mrs

Postgraduate Researcher (PhD) at Anglia Ruskin University

I am a PhD student at Anglia Ruskin University at the Faculty of Education – in Cambridge. My reserach is on ESE (Environmental and Sustainability Education) and my focus is Christian ESE providers. My research method is ethnography to look...

Profile picture of Rachel Manning
Rachel Manning, Dr

Head of Youth Networks at Global Action Plan

Dr Rachel Manning is the Head of Youth Networks at Global Action Plan. As Head of Youth Networks, Rachel oversees the UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN). UKSSN brings together regional networks of school students and staff to connect and...

Speakers

Profile picture of Katie Parsons
Katie Parsons, Dr

Research Associate at Loughborough University

Katie Parsons is a transdisciplinary research associate at Loughborough University after completing her thesis on the lived experiences of children and young people and their experiences of the natural environment during and after...

Profile picture of Smriti Safaya
Smriti Safaya, Dr

Postdoctoral Fellow at University of York

Smriti Safaya is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of York, where she earned her PhD in Education. Her current research focuses on the impact of experiential environmental education on how youth feel, think and act towards nature. She is an...

Profile picture of Hazel Scurr
Hazel Scurr, Miss

Project Manager (Climate Change) at Northumberland County Council

Hazel Scurr is a Project Manager within Northumberland County Council’s Climate Change team. She has led climate change engagement projects for the Council since September 2021, utilising her experience teaching Geography at secondary school...

Profile picture of Meryl Batchelder
Meryl Batchelder, Dr

Subject Leader for Science at Corbridge Middle School

Dr Meryl Batchelder is a Science Teacher in Northumberland and is an outspoken proponent of climate and sustainability education. She is a TeachSDG Ambassador raising awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and was one of the first UN...

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