’World Environmental Education Congresses’ og naturfagenes rolle innen utdanning for bærekraftig utvikling

Abstract

This paper elucidates the role of the sciences within education for sustainable development as it is reflected on the World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC), a leading international conference since 2003. A historical perspective, and observations, conversations, interviews and a look at the presentations of the WEEC 2015 and WEEC 2017, this study reveals an underrepresentation of science education, while a dominance was registered on WEEC conferences for ten years ago. Both the WEEC 2015 and WEEC 2017 provided plenty of information about science related realities, but little about how to get children and the youth to understand them. Only few of the papers and posters were addressed to children’s and pupils learning related to physics or biogeochemical basic understanding. The understanding of natural interrelationships and concepts is essential for children and the youth for to become informed decision-makers and active participants in a sustainable society.