Biofuels may contribute to both rural economic development and climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Gota Verde Project in Yoro, Honduras, attempts to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of small-scale biofuel production for local use by implementing a distinctive approach to feedstock production that encourages small farm…

In the lead-up to the Copenhagen Climate talks in December 2009, Islington Council's Sustainable Schools Officer involved seven local schools in an engaging citizenship project entitled "Copenhagen Campaigners". The aim of the project was to raise pupil's awareness of this historic global event and empower them to take action on a local…

Concerns are growing regarding the availability of sustainable energy sources due to a rapidly growing human population and a better understanding of climate change. In recent years, the United States has focused much attention on developing domestic energy sources, which include coal-bed methane (CBM). There are vast deposits of the natural gas…

Environmental education "is a process that aims to develop an environmentally literate citizenry" (NAAEE 2004). It is an effective way to engage students of all levels and has improved learning outcomes and achievement in science and other subjects (Lieberman and Hoody 1998). Worldwide, students report that schools are a key place for…

Conferences are a great way to exchange ideas, communicate research findings, network, and more. However, as a teaching and learning community, we are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of environmental sustainability. The 2008 Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education conference organizers chose "A World of…

Never before have the stakes been so high for the role of science education in shaping how people interact with the environment. Human activities responsible for the production of greenhouse gases, the accumulation of waste, the fragmentation or destruction of ecosystems and the depletion of resources are having a substantial impact on the…

Children have a wonderful curiosity about nature and the environment, which, if encouraged through afterschool activities can have a profound impact on their health and well-being. Children also take readily to concepts of conservation which will make them excellent stewards of the future of our environment. This issue brief explores the…

What are "Green School" programs and how do they benefit students, teachers and the community? Green School programs seek to weave concepts of sustainability and environmental awareness into the social and academic culture of the school community. Green schools are high performance facilities that have been designed, built, renovated operated or…

With "greening" projects dotting the landscape of higher education across the nation, it is encouraging to witness the commitment of many colleges and universities to helping secure the future environmental viability of the nation. The challenges that come with this commitment, however, are not insignificant. A comprehensive…

People normally do not think about the future of their home in terms of accessibility. But, since Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, shouldn't their home be as accessible as possible? By doing a few simple home upgrades on overlooked items, it will lessen the burden later. To live safer and healthier use natural…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive list of student-led, campus-based climate change initiatives, and offers details on many specific cases. The paper also documents the roles students have played and considers the larger youth engagement implications. Many of these initiatives can be replicated elsewhere, thereby…

In this article, the author shares some of the observations he gained when he started researching soil degradation, climate change, global warming, and water quality. First, he observed that there were not many websites that focused solely on soil-related issues. Second, not very many of these would be useful to teachers because, while they…

Mankind's capacity to consume the earth's resources has overwhelmed nature's capacity to replenish itself, and people are polluting at a rate that nature cannot repair. This road leads inevitably to serious, and potentially fatal consequences. In this article, the author suggests that educators need to go beyond merely enabling students to…

Throughout history the oceans have directly or indirectly influenced humans. The importance of knowing how to protect this valuable resource and insure it for future generations is vital. Underwater Vehicles are tools essential for this process, and therefore research and development to perfect these devices is needed. However, the main goal of…

The authors expanded on a previous study of students' perceptions of a residential environmental education program. Immediately prior to the students' departure and again 6 months later, they used the minute-paper and muddiest-point assessment techniques to administer an instrument that explored what students found most meaningful about their…