UCI School of Education to relaunch a statewide environmental and
climate change education effort
UC-CSU Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects is launching on Sept. 15 through the support of the School of Education, in partnership with the ECCLPs executive committee
Irvine, Calif., Aug. 24, 2022 – The UCI School of Education, in its commitment to advancing environmental science education and education access, and the Environmental and Climate Change and Literacy Projects (ECCLPs) Executive Committee are relaunching ECCLPs – a UC and California State University systems partnership focused on advancing prekindergarten to 12th grade environmental and climate change literacy, justice and action. A School-supported relaunch event on Sept. 15 will be held in person at UCI and virtually on Zoom to engage stakeholders and serve as a launchpad for several new UC-CSU initiatives for research, teaching, learning and community partnerships.
The reception and interactive event was made possible by the transformational $3 million gift from longtime UCI supporter Stacey Nicholas, which provided seed funding to relaunch the ECCLPs and supports a new School of Education endowed chair in environmental education and the chairholder’s teaching, research and service activities. Next month’s celebration will highlight and showcase the work of students, educational leaders, indigenous voices and community organizations engaged in climate and environmental justice.
“We are so proud to be supporting the relaunch of the Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects and for UCI to serve as a hub for this partnership. Now, more than ever, access to environmental and climate education for students across prekindergarten through 12th grade is crucial to the stewardship of our communities. This generous gift from Stacey Nicholas will enable the UCI School of Education to serve as a leader on climate and environmental education,” said Frances Contreras, UCI School of Education dean and professor.
The ECCLPs collective mission is to educate all California high school students to be literate and informed decision-makers in climate change and environmental justice issues and solutions by their graduation. Comprehensive efforts will center on exciting the next generation of youth about science and nature; preparing current and future teachers to address climate crisis issues in the classroom; and outreach and engaging regional community partners to create student-focused, culturally relevant and responsive solutions.
The ECCLPs is the nation’s first partnership to connect public universities through a systemic and concerted approach to meet the large scale and urgency of the climate crisis. It is comprised of UC-CSU educators, faculty and researchers – as well as environmental advocates, policymakers and nonprofits, including key community partners like Ten Strands.
“With the help of Stacey Nicholas’ gift, the relaunch of this statewide initiative will allow us to resume in-person activities that were previously paused because of the pandemic,” said Richard Arum, UCI School of Education and Sociology professor, and ECCLPs faculty director and executive committee member. “Moving forward, we will take advantage of what we learned while organizing virtually over the past two years, to embrace digital as well as in-person activities that will increase our impact.”
A livestream of the event will take place via Zoom, Twitter and YouTube from 3:30 to 6 p.m. (PT) on Sept. 15, 2022. Registration for the Zoom Webinar is open until Sept. 8, 2022. The in-person event is by invitation only. Learn more about the relaunch event at the ECCLPs website.
The reception and interactive event was made possible by the transformational $3 million gift from longtime UCI supporter Stacey Nicholas, which provided seed funding to relaunch the ECCLPs and supports a new School of Education endowed chair in environmental education and the chairholder’s teaching, research and service activities. Next month’s celebration will highlight and showcase the work of students, educational leaders, indigenous voices and community organizations engaged in climate and environmental justice.
“We are so proud to be supporting the relaunch of the Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects and for UCI to serve as a hub for this partnership. Now, more than ever, access to environmental and climate education for students across prekindergarten through 12th grade is crucial to the stewardship of our communities. This generous gift from Stacey Nicholas will enable the UCI School of Education to serve as a leader on climate and environmental education,” said Frances Contreras, UCI School of Education dean and professor.
The ECCLPs collective mission is to educate all California high school students to be literate and informed decision-makers in climate change and environmental justice issues and solutions by their graduation. Comprehensive efforts will center on exciting the next generation of youth about science and nature; preparing current and future teachers to address climate crisis issues in the classroom; and outreach and engaging regional community partners to create student-focused, culturally relevant and responsive solutions.
The ECCLPs is the nation’s first partnership to connect public universities through a systemic and concerted approach to meet the large scale and urgency of the climate crisis. It is comprised of UC-CSU educators, faculty and researchers – as well as environmental advocates, policymakers and nonprofits, including key community partners like Ten Strands.
“With the help of Stacey Nicholas’ gift, the relaunch of this statewide initiative will allow us to resume in-person activities that were previously paused because of the pandemic,” said Richard Arum, UCI School of Education and Sociology professor, and ECCLPs faculty director and executive committee member. “Moving forward, we will take advantage of what we learned while organizing virtually over the past two years, to embrace digital as well as in-person activities that will increase our impact.”
A livestream of the event will take place via Zoom, Twitter and YouTube from 3:30 to 6 p.m. (PT) on Sept. 15, 2022. Registration for the Zoom Webinar is open until Sept. 8, 2022. The in-person event is by invitation only. Learn more about the relaunch event at the ECCLPs website.
About the University of California, Irvine School of Education
The UCI School of Education is focused on advancing educational sciences and contributing to improved educational opportunities and outcomes for individuals across the entire lifespan. A diverse, dynamic and collaborative institution, the School of Education’s research, community partnerships and programming are dedicated to producing innovative scholarship, addressing the needs of local schools, and inspiring future generations of educators. Led by Dean Frances Contreras, the School of Education is ranked No. 10 graduate school of education and No. 4 among public schools of education by U.S. News & World Report. Currently, more than 1,000 students are enrolled in the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs, and a network of more than 10,000 alumni. The School of Education has been a part of the University of California, Irvine since 1967, when it was established as an Office of Teacher Education. In 1991, it grew into the Department of Education and, in 2012, became the School of Education.
Media Contact:
Stacey Wang Rizzo
Director of Communications and Marketing
UCI School of Education
949-824-7173
[email protected]
The UCI School of Education is focused on advancing educational sciences and contributing to improved educational opportunities and outcomes for individuals across the entire lifespan. A diverse, dynamic and collaborative institution, the School of Education’s research, community partnerships and programming are dedicated to producing innovative scholarship, addressing the needs of local schools, and inspiring future generations of educators. Led by Dean Frances Contreras, the School of Education is ranked No. 10 graduate school of education and No. 4 among public schools of education by U.S. News & World Report. Currently, more than 1,000 students are enrolled in the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs, and a network of more than 10,000 alumni. The School of Education has been a part of the University of California, Irvine since 1967, when it was established as an Office of Teacher Education. In 1991, it grew into the Department of Education and, in 2012, became the School of Education.
Media Contact:
Stacey Wang Rizzo
Director of Communications and Marketing
UCI School of Education
949-824-7173
[email protected]
