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Contact:
David Zandvliet, 604.291.5680, dbz@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media/PR, 604.291.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca

Making believers of people who do not believe the world's climate is changing requires a holistic approach to environmental education. That theme underscores an upcoming conference co-sponsored by Simon Fraser University's faculty of education. “The environmental crisis we're facing is largely due to a problem with education,” says David Zandvliet, an assistant professor of science and technology in SFU's faculty of education, and a former wildlife biologist. “We have CEOs and industrialized nations making environmentally damaging decisions because our education system focuses on educating people about economic and scientific advancements, but not environmental sustainability.”

To address that lack of education Developmental Education for a Sustainable Future, Aug. 19-22 at the Burnaby campus, will update a new breed of educators on the latest strategies in environmental education. “A holistic approach doesn't try to indoctrinate people or tell them the right way to live,” explains Zandvliet. “It tries to raise awareness about the complexity of our environment, and generate discussion about many perspectives on how to preserve it.”

This holistic approach to environmental education rests on six principles, including teaching students about environmental ethics and helping them directly experience the environment. The four-day conference will feature four keynote speakers, including Joseph Cornell, an American public school teacher, naturalist, and the author of Sharing Nature with Children. The book of activities connects children with the outdoors. Among the many workshops, there will be one on making environmental studies part of the middle school curriculum. For more information see: www.educ.sfu.ca/eecom/

The Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication, the Environmental Educators' Provincial Specialist Association and the Environmental Educators of B.C. are also sponsoring the conference.

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Websites:
Joseph Cornell: www.efl.org/html/sharingnature.htm
The Canadian network for environmental education: www.eecom.org/english/
Environmental educators of BC: www.eebc.ca/index.cfm