TY - JOUR

T1 - Sustainability in out-of-school science education

T2 - Identifying the unique potentials

AU - Evans, Henry James

AU - Achiam, Marianne

N1 - This research was funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, grant #0052319

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Out-of-school science education institutions, such as museums, science centres, zoos and aquaria, have strong potentials to promote sustainability, yet seem to lack an operational definition of sustainability that aligns with their specific characteristics and institutional remit. Here, we use the anthropological theory of didactics to systematically develop such an operational definition, designated as the reference model. We draw on literature from research and practice to account for the features of sustainability science and policy, as well as the different specific strengths of out-of-school science education institutions, to identify unique potentials for sustainability education. These potentials are synthesised and illustrated in a set of institutionally specific guidelines that optimise the organisation of sustainability for each kind of out-of-school science education institution. We conclude by considering the implications of our findings for sustainability education.

AB - Out-of-school science education institutions, such as museums, science centres, zoos and aquaria, have strong potentials to promote sustainability, yet seem to lack an operational definition of sustainability that aligns with their specific characteristics and institutional remit. Here, we use the anthropological theory of didactics to systematically develop such an operational definition, designated as the reference model. We draw on literature from research and practice to account for the features of sustainability science and policy, as well as the different specific strengths of out-of-school science education institutions, to identify unique potentials for sustainability education. These potentials are synthesised and illustrated in a set of institutionally specific guidelines that optimise the organisation of sustainability for each kind of out-of-school science education institution. We conclude by considering the implications of our findings for sustainability education.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - museum

KW - science center

KW - zoo

KW - aquarium

KW - sustainability

KW - education

U2 - 10.1080/13504622.2021.1893662

DO - 10.1080/13504622.2021.1893662

M3 - Journal article

VL - 27

SP - 1192

EP - 1213

JO - Environmental Education Research

JF - Environmental Education Research

SN - 1469-5871

IS - 8

ER -