Geography: shaping Australia’s resilient future

Organizer: GRACIELA METTERNICHT
Format: Online, Morning

Abstract:
Geography as a discipline contributes valuable perspectives into complex, multi-sectoral policy decisions through its capacity to integrate knowledge across natural and built environments, economy, society and the humanities. Post-COVID recovery messages from governments are dominated by messages replete with metaphors of resilience, such as ‘resetting, bouncing back, building back better’. Because geography is quintessentially interdisciplinary — and approaches to education that take a system view of the world are needed in education for sustainable development, youth and resilience— geographers are uniquely placed for navigating these new unchartered waters. This online forum will explore what would help young people to be better prepared for the current and future uncertain situations. 1. How do young people view the current crisis? What are the enabling conditions for young people to become active change agents for sustainability? 2. How can Geography equip young people with knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to be resilient under challenging situations? 3. How can Geography, as STEM discipline, foster more youth participation in environmental change research? 4. How can geographers foster sustainability and resilience in their local communities and in distant places? What insights can Geographers provide for Building Community Resilience? Speakers of this online Forum will represent the multiple knowledges (science, traditional, practice) that Geography as a discipline integrates to address complex issues related to sustainability described above. We will aim at having a conversation with “inter-generational voices”, so that in closing, the Forum can provide recommendations on how Geography can prepare young people with knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to be resilient in a rapidly changing world. Join this session and discover why geography matters in addressing sustainability challenges!

Themes: Knowledge-to-Action