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Postgraduate Environmental Education Research: Meeting the Needs of the Community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2015

John Harris  and
Ian Robottom
John Harris
Affiliation:
Applied Ecology, Research Group, University of Canberra
Ian Robottom
Affiliation:
Centre for Studies in Mathematics, Science and Environmental Education, Deakin University
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Abstract

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This article reports on experiences gained in two postgraduate programs in environmental education—one at the University of Canberra and one at Deakin University. The paper draws from the work of several postgraduate students who are exploring environmental issues in their communities as part of their postgraduate studies. The paper addresses some issues associated with community-based environmental education, including:

• research as participation in the critical appraisal of environmental situations

• the need for the research to be responsive to the needs and interests of the community

• the role of the researcher as change agent.

The article concludes that community-based environmental education research is a powerful learning experience for postgraduate students who are at the forefront of the research process and communicating directly with the community.

Type
Research Article
Information
Australian Journal of Environmental Education , Volume 13 , 1997 , pp. 49 - 54
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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