The Teaching Climate and Sustainability community of practice’s Climate and Connection conference will take place on the morning of Tuesday 24 June, 2025 at the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) from 9am to 1pm. University of Edinburgh staff and students are invited to book a place to explore interdisciplinary, nature-based, and place-based approaches to teaching climate and sustainability. A group of interdisciplinary students listen to the community ranger at the Pentlands forest restoration site to learn about tree planting as part of the Students and Change Agents course at the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI). Climate and connection The Department of Social Responsibility and Sustainability in collaboration with Learning for Sustainability Scotland, will be hosting a half-day in-person conference to mark two years of the University’s internal Teaching Climate and Sustainability community of practice.The morning event will focus on the importance and value of using connection to teach for climate and sustainability in higher education. In a time where we face so many global challenges accelerated by a lack of connection, particularly the climate and biodiversity crises; our graduates must develop the skill of systems thinking needed to achieve the Edinburgh student vision to “thrive in a changing world.”Embedding a culture of connection throughout their studies can develop this skill, among others needed for sustainability, as suggested by UNESCO. The Unseen Crises of Human-Nature Connection [external]Competences in education for Sustainable Development [external PDF] Join us Book your place through the MyEd events page to join us at the Climate and Connection conference.Date: Tuesday 24 June, 2025 Time: 9am to 1pm Venue: Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI)This in-person event is free. Refreshments, including lunch, will be provided. Book your place Learn more about support for teaching climate and sustainability, and join the Community of Practice Teams channel. Support for Teaching Climate and Sustainability What to expect Through workshops, a panel, a keynote, and discussions, attendees will explore three different means of connection:connection across disciplines,connection with nature,and connection with place and communities.Throughout the conference, there will be opportunities to connect with other members of the University, share thoughts through open space discussion, and learn more about how taking a connected approach to teaching can benefit practice and sustainability.A diversity of voices, including staff and student perspectives, will be highlighted throughout the day, but this event will be most beneficial to those delivering or supporting teaching. Download the full, most up-to-date agenda attached below. Document Teaching Climate and Sustainability through Connection Conference Agenda (82.7 KB / PDF) Two years of the Teaching Climate and Sustainability Community of Practice In the two years since the creation of the university’s Teaching and Sustainability Community of Practice, over 140 members have joined from twenty different teaching areas to collectively improve how we embed sustainability into teaching at the University of Edinburgh.This group was set up to capture the pockets of relevant good practice happening across the University and share knowledge between passionate educators. Staff and students taking part in a workshop at the Launch of the Community of Practice in Spring 2023. We are so proud of all the work these members have done to progress education for sustainable development in their areas and the support they’ve given each other. While this event will partly celebrate the achievements of this community, the conference is open to all University of Edinburgh staff and students. Teaching Climate and Sustainability Teams Channel If the link doesn’t work, use this code to join: a782wn5. Publication date 09 Apr, 2025
