Keynote Speaker

Prof Douglas Bourn

Professor of Development Education, IOE - Curriculum, Pedagogy & Assessment, University College London

Pedagogy of Hope for Global, Social and Environmental Justice

We are living at a time of what could be called a climate crisis and many young people around the world are concerned about the future of the world. This has led to the use of the term eco-anxiety. This keynote will review the debates around the usage of this term and suggest that a critique is needed that goes beyond individualistic responses to one that locates understanding of these challenges within a pedagogy of hope. Influenced by the ideas of Paulo Freire and Henry Giroux this lecture will outline how literature and educational practice from within education for sustainable development and global citizenship education can provide a framework for engaging learners to see how they can make a positive contribution to education for social change.

Further information about Professor Bourn’s work can be found in his publications.