Background
Environment and Sustainability issues have dominated the global discourse during the past 50 years since the 1st UN conference on environment was held in Stockholm in 1972. We are getting multiple warning signals of environmental deterioration in the form of 'code red for humanity' that should be taken seriously. We need to protect the earth, the 'only planet' from these catastrophes through concrete action at all levels forging partnerships and alliances globally. The Sustainability education could be a major catalyst and a transformative agent to make the world a better place to live sustainably.
Partnerships hold the potential to become a viable mechanism to strengthen sustainability education in a way that complement our actions. The 4th International Conference on Sustainability Education is being organized on 9th and 10th September on the theme 'Building Connections and Partnerships for Sustainable Future' which will provide opportunities to work together, make connections and strengthen partnerships for a promising tomorrow.
It has been three continuous years that the ICSE is being organized by Mobius Foundation in partnership with 30+ organisations focussing on various facets of sustainability education. The 1st ICSE in 2019 was held on a grand scale with participation of over 750 attendees from 40 countries highlighting the key role of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) on multiple themes via 15 keynote addresses in 5 plenaries, 15 thematic sessions, 25 exhibitions, 45 oral and 27 poster presentations besides inaugural and concluding plenaries. Despite the COVID pandemic, we continued the momentum of ICSE through theme based Forums followed by second and third conferences virtually. While the 2nd ICSE in 2020 focussed on the ways of transforming the learning systems in the new normal and role of youth as the advocates for bringing positive change towards environment, the 3rd ICSE in 2021 focused on ecosystem restoration and climate literacy.
ICSE 2022 has been planned keeping in mind the strong urge to build connections and partnerships both for building interpersonal relationship among learners and educators as well as sharing learnings and experiences to build back a better and sustainable post COVID world. ICSE with its past 3 versions of experience has emerged as a broad based platform for networking and partnership and its convening and integrative potential can bring forward new and innovative ideas and connections to further strengthen the much needed alliance among the community of educators committed towards sustainability. As rightly said by famous American author Helen Keller, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
Objectives
The overall objective of the conference will be on strengthening partnerships and building connections through sharing innovative ideas, experiences and case studies on sustainability education that leads to positive actions.
The specific objectives are:
- To provide a platform for connecting educators, practitioners and policy makers across the globe to promote sustainability education and learning.
- To provide opportunities for building partnerships and collaborations to strengthen Sustainability Education.
- To empower youth particularly young professionals and promote them as an agent for change.
- To ideate projects/programmes/campaigns in partnership with participating organizations/delegates to carry forward the outcome of ICSE 2022.
The 4th ICSE will be organized on September 9 (Friday) and 10 (Saturday) 2022 through hybrid mode between 10:00 – 18:00 hrs at SCOPE Complex, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Marg, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi by Mobius Foundation in partnership with some of the key environmental organizations, UNESCO, UNEP, Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE, Copenhagen), The Climate Reality Project India, The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), WWF India etc.
The conference is expected to bring together around 300 participants physically (250 Indians + 50 Foreigners) and will be joined by thousands virtually from across the globe representing multi-disciplinary and diverse group of stakeholders including: policy makers, teachers and educators, young professionals, representative of schools and education networks, youth, scientists and technical experts, as well as individuals from the private sector and civil society. There will be invited speakers/distinguished dignitaries during 5 plenary sessions including inauguration and closing ceremony. There will be sessions for contributed papers and posters also from diverse fields and professions. Presentations and discussions will be organized in the form of panel interaction, working groups, workshops, symposia, round table by ICSE partners in the form of 10 parallel thematic sessions in 2 days. There will be a special plenary for Youth4Earth campaign winners and young professionals. The Conference will also facilitate display of exhibits, stalls, projects and practices by partners and delegates to showcase their work towards sustainability.
Call for partnerships
ICSE 2022 offers opportunities for partnerships by reputed organizations/ institutions. Partnerships are open both with sponsorship or in the form of technical support. ICSE with its reach to a wider sustainability community will enable partners and sponsors in advancing their sustainability agenda and initiatives through recognition and connections. Last date for partnership/sponsorship is 16th August 2022.
Call for parallel thematic sessions
ICSE 2022 invites proposals for organizing thematic sessions/tracks/special seminars/workshops on emerging sustainability education issues and concerns. These sessions will normally be of 90 minutes duration with 4-5 speakers/panellists.
Call for papers
The conference offers opportunity for presentation of papers/posters during various technical sessions. An abstract of 300 words in English can be submitted in the prescribed format available on the ICSE website. The abstracts will be reviewed and those accepted will be intimated by 25th of August 2022 to submit full papers/posters. Contributed papers will be reviewed and published.