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Masters in Environmental Governance
MA Wild Writing
iCES
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Rachel Hine
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Karen Kolbe
Ambra Sedlmayr
Pippa Mansell
Zaheer Nasar
Indra Candanedo Diaz
Suresh Sahu
Marion Ericsson Nolan
Dr Zulfiqar Ali
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Madeline Bain
 Research
Student & Environmental Outreach Officer
Research Topic: Science in the community: the loss of ecoliteracy and
consequences for the future of environmental sciences and the engagement of
society in environmental issues
Supervisors: Dr David Smith & Prof Jules Pretty
“In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we
understand, and we will understand only what we have been taught.” Baba
Dioum (1968).
Research indicates that ecological knowledge acquisition in the United
Kingdom is slowing and with young people becoming less connected to their
environment and less engaged in societal issues, it begs the question - what
are the implications for the future security of our environment?
It would seem that current teaching methods of formal education alongside
the influences of the media are contributing to the current pattern of loss
of local ecological knowledge in younger generations, with the implications
for future generations as yet unknown. It is feared that a future
ecologically illiterate and unengaged society will not be able to cope with
the environmental challenges they are faced with.
My PhD research aims to identify the key driving factors behind engagement
with environmental issues for both young people and society as a whole. This
research explores the linkages between these varying levels of engagement
with the natural environment and the long term resultant influences on life
course (including education and career) in terms of environmental outcomes.
This research also aims to produce a typology of both the formal and
informal environmental education mechanisms which result in varying levels
of engagement; so identifying the most formative and effective green
education strategy. Specifically the identification of those most effective
in increasing the longevity of engagement in individuals is of most interest
and the resultant influence on an individual in pursuing an environmental
education and/or career route.
Through novel statistical modelling techniques this research will allow for
the examination of the stage of life where society becomes disconnected from
nature whilst at the same time determining the point at which individuals
are most susceptible to incorporating pro-environmental life style changes
and life decisions. This research hopes to pave the way in understanding and
overcoming the current barriers that exist to pursuing a specific life
course in environmental preservation.
For more information on this research please contact Madeline Bain
mbain@essex.ac.uk
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