Associate Professor & Stacey Nicholas Endowed Chair of Climate & Environmental Education Asli Sezen-Barrie Delivers Keynote on Transformative Climate Education at USC Conference
March 31, 2025
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Asli Sezen-Barrie, Associate Professor and Stacey Nicholas Endowed Chair of Climate and Environmental Education at UC Irvine’s School of Education, delivered the keynote address at USC’s annual Research for Impact Conference, where she shared a bold vision for transformative climate change education.
Titled “Beyond Awareness: Transformative Climate Change Education for a Just and Thriving Future,” Sezen-Barrie’s keynote challenged educators and researchers to go beyond simply teaching facts and figures, and instead embrace climate education as a transdiciplinary, emotionally grounded, and action-oriented practice. Her talk emphasized the urgency of preparing students - not just to understand climate change, but to actively shape solutions grounded in equity, justice and hope. |
Asli Sezen-Barrie (left) and Gale Sinatra, Associate Dean of Research, USC Rossier School of Education
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“We can’t afford to teach climate change as if humans aren’t part of the ecosystem,” she noted, referencing recent disasters like Superstorm Sandy and the California wildfires as wake-up calls. Sezen-Barrie outlined her three-part approach to climate education:
Sezen-Barrie continues to lead critical research and dialogue at the intersection of education, environmental justice, and climate science—work that is increasingly essential as students face the realities of a warming world.
She was also recently appointed to the National Academies expert group contributing to the to the report “Education for Thriving in a Changing Climate.” Her selection underscores her national leadership in advancing climate education that is equitable, research-informed, and action-driven. [View the full list of contributors here..]
- Teach climate change across disciplines and contexts
- Embrace community-based, participatory learning
- Prioritize emotional well-being to combat climate anxiety and cultivate hope
Sezen-Barrie continues to lead critical research and dialogue at the intersection of education, environmental justice, and climate science—work that is increasingly essential as students face the realities of a warming world.
She was also recently appointed to the National Academies expert group contributing to the to the report “Education for Thriving in a Changing Climate.” Her selection underscores her national leadership in advancing climate education that is equitable, research-informed, and action-driven. [View the full list of contributors here..]
