Environmental Education and Communication

Course goals

The student is able to… A. Conceptual and Analytical Foundation 1.           … analytically distinguish between issues that require an environmental education or communication intervention and issues that require a different type of intervention (such as policy, system change, or technological innovation); 2.           … define and critically relate the concepts of knowledge, attitudes, behavior, action, activism, and climate anxiety/hope within the context of environmental challenges; 3.           … apply leading theoretical frameworks from the fields of environmental education and environmental communication in relation to their practical relevance; B. Application, Analysis, and Design 4.           … translate specific theoretical frameworks into the objectives and operational contexts of organizations that are active in the fields of environmental education and communication; 5.           … understand the specific needs of actors in the field of environmental education and communication; 6.           … conduct a constructive and critical analysis of an existing environmental education or communication practice using relevant theoretical frameworks; C. Reflection 7.           … become aware of their own values and emotions with regard to the goals of environmental education and communication; 8.           … reflect on a potential role as a future professional in environmental education or communication.

Content

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation are already shaping today’s societies and ecosystems. As a result, educating people of all ages and communicating effectively about environmental challenges has become both more complex and more urgent. Environmental education and communication professionals play a key role in shaping understanding, emotions, and action related to sustainability issues.
This course takes a transdisciplinary, practice-oriented approach, centered on a real-life case study. You choose either an education or communication focus and apply relevant theories to critically reflect on existing practices, bridging academic knowledge and professional contexts. Special attention is given to the role of emotions—such as climate anxiety, worry, and hope—and to how educational and communicative interventions can address these emotions in constructive and empowering ways.
You will be offered an integrated perspective education inside and outside schools, as well as environmental communication in the public sphere. You will engage with key and emerging theories, critically examining their assumptions, strengths, limitations, and relevance for practice. You will explore how individuals and organizations make sustainability-related decisions, what drives or hinders sustainable behavior, and how climate literacy, behavioral change, and action competence can be fostered.
This elective is ideal for students who aim to contribute to sustainability challenges through education, communication, and engagement, and who see themselves working at the interface of science, society, and environmental action.