On the Crossroads of Ecology and Education

Abstract

The interrelations between education at all levels, including K-12, undergraduate, graduate, and adult education, and the field of ecology are multiple, come from both domains, often relate to social change (Wright and Hill, 2021), and build on the expansion of the field of ecology education over the past 30 years. Discussions at the crossroads of ecology and education are particularly important to all those interested in better understanding how ecology can foster change among educational institutions. In this context, this article offers a review of key discussions on how education and ecology, as distinct domains of study and application, inform each other and support transformational shifts among educational institutions at all levels. It is shown that the teaching and learning of ecology among educational institutions have been key concerns for ecologists historically and that educational philosophers and theorists have been finding it important to increase awareness of our interconnectivity with natural systems through education.