Tackling climate change with empathy and action
The Global Futures STEMpathy project is an international collaboration led by the Queensland Department of Education, Griffith University—Climate Action Beacon, Asia Education Foundation, and The University of Melbourne.
The project combines the ideas of STEM and Empathy to drive climate action learning and teaching in schools by focusing on the more-than-human world.
On the inaugural STEMpathy Day—24 November 2022—Years 9 and 10 student ambassadors from schools in Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and Queensland will lead primary school students in STEM-based climate action activities.
Primary school students have been invited to attend their participating local high school to learn from their peers about how empathy can drive positive climate action aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is committed to promoting quality education and combating climate change, working towards a world where education is accessible and where individuals are equipped to contribute to a more sustainable and resilient planet.
Workshops
Year 9 and 10 student ambassadors are mentored in the lead up to STEMpathy Day in weekly remote learning sessions, which they can participate in in real time or at their own pace.
The workshops take place over weeks 1-7 of Term 4 and are each 30 minutes long.
The workshops will cover:
- the relationship between climate action and empathy as a driver of positive change
- themes that affect children and young people when it comes to climate action
- examples of positive action in students’ local communities.
STEMpathy Day
On STEMpathy Day—24 November, 2022—Years 9 and 10 student ambassadors and their participating high schools will run activities for local primary school students.
STEMpathy day is a hybrid event with some students attending in person and others joining virtually in real time as activities are livestreamed across the globe. The event will also be recorded to allow schools to participate on demand.
Register your interest
We invite teachers of Years 9 and 10 students to register their interest in participating in the 2023 GlobalFutures Project.
For more information on the Global Futures STEMpathy project or to register your interest in participating in STEMpathy Day 2023, we invite teachers of Years 9 and 10 to contact Timm Hayer, Queensland Department of Education, at timm.hayer@qed.qld.gov.au or Linda Willis, Griffith University, at l.willis@griffith.edu.au
