Invest in Research to Improve Practice

students with animal flashcards

Continue to invest in research and evaluation in the field, to drive innovation and new thinking about what can help create a more environmentally literate and civically engaged global society. Deliver clearer actions, outcomes, and impact.

Here's a sample of the feedback from the global community:

  • "There is a need for the enforcement of an interdisciplinary dialogue and synergies for the enrichment of the field. Environmental philosophy, psychology, anthropology etc. have a lot to offer to EE."
  • "Develop and promote a research agenda that could fill current gaps of knowledge about the benefits of environmental education to an individual's physical, emotional, social, and academic health; then how that relates to global change for a [healthy] planet."
  • "Build capacity of educators to monitor educational effectiveness."
  • "Ensure that EE programs are backed by the EE research findings."
  • "Build mutually-beneficial collaborations. Foster active collaborations between educators, researchers and other professionals from varied backgrounds within and outside of EE to ensure ongoing learning exchanges."
  • "Highlight multidimensionality. Focus on research that examines how EE can function adaptively and productively in varying political, cultural, and curricular contexts around the world."
  • "Invest in evaluation. Ensure that all EE programs include a comprehensive, adaptive evaluation strategy, and ensure all staff are trained on effective EE evaluation techniques."
  • "Develop shared metrics. Develop a set of shared, global metrics that can be used broadly, and adapted to fit various cultural and geographic contexts."
  • "We need more training in research and evaluation for those working in this field. And we can't forget the importance of evaluation."