Education Through Landscape – Challenges in Science Communication and Ecoturism

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to summarize the science communication activities of the Faculty of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism, which are also required to include familiarisation with the image of landscapes formed by society. In 2006, the Faculty of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism of Szent István University integrated the issue of environmental education in its curricula. Parallelly with the arrangements for environment education programmes, the traditional admission programmes of the Faculty have been renewed and extended since 2016. Landscape communication is also made possible for landscape architects as designers in the course of planning nature interpretation facilities, or putting this the other way around: examination of the content of nature interpretation facilities can provide information to explore the receptiveness and knowledge of society on landscapes. In the current stage of our research it was found that from the 29 nature trails analysed 23 featured land-scape-related content; most characteristic topics included landscape history, traditions, current landuse, and cultural heritage. All in all, science communication is both a tool and a target in landscape architecture education, developing new skills and competencies for our students, just as enhancing the society’s general knowledge of the landscape and landscape architecture, moreover, providing essential experiences for ecotourism planning and design projects.