96th ESA Annual Meeting (August 7 -- 12, 2011)

SS 12 - Environmental Literacy For a Sustainable World: An Action Plan

Tuesday, August 9, 2011: 8:00 PM-10:00 PM
6B, Austin Convention Center
Organizer:
Teresa Mourad
Co-organizer:
Margaret Lowman
A highly successful Ecology and Education Summit was held October 14-16, 2010 on the theme Environmental Literacy for a Sustainable Future, co-sponsored by ESA and NEA in partnership with over 20 major national organizations. More than 200 participants from across the country attended, representing a wide range of viewpoints including scientists, educators, gaming developers, medical practitioners, religious communities and green architects. After over 5 years of planning, ESA has emerged as a leader in sustainability education initiatives due to our leadership role in this Summit and our pioneering efforts as a society to embrace education outreach, training of underserved communities, and STEM education policy. An Action Plan was drafted that laid priorities for collective action for the next 10 years. Among the priorities in the plan are action items that will link key science concepts to societal issues, articulate a comprehensive green schools program, empower grassroots leaders at various levels to create sustainability initiatives, promote citizen science opportunities, facilitate development of games and simulations for environmental literacy, develop a coordinated, comprehensive program of education research, create the technological infrastructure to inventory, synthesize and share best practices, programs, and research and develop new process for mutually beneficial partnerships focused on high priority societal needs e.g. jobs, crime, health, education, equal opportunity, social justice. This session will report on the Action Plan and invite discussion on ways ESA members can participate as well as explore gaps that need further attention.
See more of: Special Session