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This article analyses the impact on Early Years Education policy of the crisis provoked by COVID 19 pandemia and raises some questions about the future. For a better understanding of this impact COVID 19, I present the construction of this educational level since the nineteenth century contrasting two essential models -- the educational assistance model and the pedagogical educational model. A current trend in Early Years educational policy has been the early adoption for this educational level of the conventional schooling standard, based on the transmissive mode. This means the extension to early childhood education of the mainstream transmissive pedagogy already current in primary and secondary education, thus tending to transform early childhood education into a prequel to primary schooling. This mainstream conventional mode was confronted with the present pandemic crisis due to COVID 19 virus. I will analyse some aspects of the educational impact of this pandemic crisis since the lockdown period to the reopening of early childhood centres.

The benefits of early childhood education are well known, but access to quality programs is a challenge for children living in marginalized communities. Mobile Creches (MC), a non-profit nongovernmental organization based in Delhi, India, pursues the mission to ensure all young children, especially the most vulnerable children, have access to the benefits of early childhood development programs. This article begins by describing the state of young children in India. It then provides an overview of MC, including its three main models of child care delivery (demonstration, employer-run, and tripartite), its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and some of its recent developments.

Environmental education that incorporates civic ecology can contribute to social-ecological resilience through programs designed to advance youth civic leadership and environmental stewardship. This research used an interpretive qualitative approach to study the environmental education activities of a Watershed Avengers at the Ocean Discovery Institute in Southern California that focused on urban canyon stewardship and restoration. The first author conducted ethnographic fieldwork with the Watershed Avengers from fall 2014 through spring 2015. Civic ecology emerged as a concept that resonated with what was observed on the ground and then informed the focus of our study. We found that Ocean Discovery Institute's strength in developing youth civic leadership was a defining feature that contributed to its other practices of collaborative urban canyon restoration and engagement in community priorities. These findings suggest that environmental education practices can build social-ecological resilience through a focus on youth leadership.

Making people aware of the interconnections between personal consumerism and its environmental consequences is fundamental for motivating them to engage in more environmentally responsible consumption practices. This interpretive study, conducted in 2018, explored how transformative sustainability learning is implemented in waste education conducted at an environmental education center within the largest waste-treatment facility in Israel, and if it initiates a transformative process. Educators were selected since they serve as societal change-agents. Data were collected from learning plans developed by the center, observations, and interviews of participants (150) during and after their visit. Findings indicate that the educational intervention comprised a "key experience", initiating a transformative process, and elicited a framework of characteristics for transformative waste education. In view of the role of consumer society in contemporary waste-related challenges, the principles emerging from this study may provide a model for other such centers, based on critical waste education that may motivate behavioral change.

Despite the attention drawn to the plastic crisis by the media and environmental campaigns, much of the practice around single-use plastic has remained unchanged. It appears that, although many know the correct position to assume regarding the issue, the 'talk' does not necessarily translate into action. This incongruity can be explained with reference to Heidegger's theory on the everydayness of discourse which suggests that a lack of authenticity underlies our everyday interactions and that what is needed is a different kind of encounter with the world. In the light of this we consider Ranciere's theory on the potential of a political artwork to disrupt the everyday and prompt a different response. Within the framework of these theories, this paper discusses a performance artwork protesting plastic pollution -- namely 12 "Plastic Monsters" by Luke Rudman -- as an alternative strategy to prompt a fresh engagement with the issue.

Purpose: To determine the nutrition competency level and training needs of agricultural extension workers (AEWs) in Uganda. Design/Methodology/Approach: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four districts with 61 private and 163 public AEWs. Data were collected using self-administered structured questionnaires and analysed using means, Chi-square and Mean Weighted Discrepancy Score. Findings: AEWs require 9 core competence domains: Basic nutrition; Nutrition needs of household members; Hygiene and sanitation; Post-harvest handling; Planning and resource allocation among others. AEWs were above average competence in most (8) competency domains. Private AEWs perceived themselves to be more competent (([x-bar] = 4.26) than the public AEWs ([x-bar] = 3.77), X[superscript 2] (224) = 20.1182, p = < 0.01). Prioritized needs by public and private AEWs were; Understanding nutrition needs of different household members, Farming systems that promote nutrition and Postharvest handling and food safety. Practical Implications: Pre-service and in-service training of AEWs should focus on the identified core competence domains and the priority training needs respectively, depending on the organization contexts. Theoretical Implications: This study demonstrates that the competency profile of AEWs should include community based nutrition education. Situations where private AEWs have higher capacity than their public sector counterparts, present an opportunity for cross-learning. Originality/Value: Community based nutrition education has been traditionally the mandate of health sector ministries, and the capacity requirements of AEWs who are not nutrition experts has been contested. This study provides empirical evidence regarding nutrition education competence needs of AEWs to enable them ably complement other sectors in multi-sectoral nutrition policy contexts.

Sustainable waste management is an urgent issue in developing countries. This study describes how lectures and group games influence knowledge in waste management of fourth-grade elementary students whose development stage is thought to be effective concerning positive attitude shifts. We employed a control-treatment design and two schools were selected for a comparison purpose in Da Nang city, Vietnam. The results showed significant differences in students' knowledge before and after 6 months of the workshop activities. Lectures and group games worked differently to improve different areas of knowledge on waste management.

The back-to-school period takes place in a particular context marked by the obligation to adopt strict health security measures to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical distancing, as one of the main measures imposed in the situation of the current health crisis, represents a major constraint to the teaching of physical education (PE) in schools. This article explores benchmarks representing a guide allowing PE teachers to safely resume their activities in this COVID-19 context.

This study aims to determine the demands and tendencies of individuals using recreational areas and parks in the central districts of Ankara. Individuals using recreational areas were given a questionnaire and asked to complete it on a voluntary basis. The findings were evaluated and interpreted according to the sub-dimensions of the scale.

Adequate infrastructure plays a critical role in early childhood development (ECD) facilities providing high-quality early learning services. An ECD facility is a partial care facility that provides an early childhood programme that encompasses early learning and the development of children before they start formal schooling. Hence early learning in South Africa is primarily accommodated in privately owned facilities that range from registered to unregistered facilities. For this reason, the inadequate infrastructure that characterises conditions under which most ECD facilities operate in South Africa has been noted with concern in numerous studies. This paper assesses the state of the physical infrastructure of ECD facilities in Philippi, an impoverished township in the City of Cape Town in the Western Cape. Owing to the regulatory function of the state in the ECD sector, through which compliance standards have to be met to secure subsidisation, the authors analyse the impact of ECD legislation on the state of ECD infrastructure in Philippi. The analysis shows statistical differences in the infrastructure of 10 registered and 10 unregistered facilities. The infrastructure differs partly due to the registration status and the location in which the facilities are situated. We therefore deduce that the current state's avoidance of infrastructure investment in ECD facilities amounts to the denial of positive early learning outcomes to these children in Philippi.

This photo essay reflects on Rafiki Theatre's recent work exploring Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues in refugee camps in Northern Uganda. The images portray the context, challenges and ways in which Rafiki responded to the aims set by the project donor.

This article focuses on designing and conducting action research in diverse settings. Action research is a collaborative approach to problem solving. It involves consultative problem identification, reflects context, encourages reflexive examination, and ultimately encourages and empowers beneficiaries for desirable change. In that regard, it puts all stakeholders at the core of the change process. The process of change from research project conceptualization to analysis and policy implications is thus made more understandable and meaningful to community actors (beneficiaries). The chapter features three empirical models from diverse parts of the world. These are Model 1: Photo-voice as a form action research depicting an underused footbridge in Barbados; Model 2: DANIDA Community Water and Sanitation Project, Ghana; and REACH After School Enrichment Program, USA.

Scent matters in the lives of humans (and other living creatures). However, thus far, it is largely unexplored in ethnographic work in education. Drawing on and adding to the literature on 'smellscapes' as a way of conceptualising space, this paper adds new insights into early childhood education and care (ECEC) by reporting on the differentials in scent between the staffroom and the baby room in a nursery in Central London. In so doing, the distinctive aromas of disinfectant and spices, which characterised these two spaces, are interrogated in order to consider children and educators' embodied experiences of scent as well as well as to evidence examples of generational and racial inequities.

Clean water is a basic necessity for sustaining life. Not only important for drinking, water is also necessary for good health and sanitation. The United Nations emphasizes the need for clean water in their Sustainable Development Goal 6, which seeks to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all people of the world by 2030. Despite the global attention related to accessing clean water, many future educators are not aware of issues related to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (i.e., WASH) nor are they aware of the extent of the global water crisis. It is imperative that teacher education helps prepare teacher candidates to become globally competent as well as equipped to guide classroom students into taking action on WASH-related issues, including the global water crisis. The aim of this article is to describe and report on a case study of the implementation of a global service-learning project with teacher candidates. The case study is situated at a regional, teaching-focused university located in the southcentral region of the United States (n = 49). Our study examines teacher candidates' perceptions of the service-learning project in relation to developing global competencies like "Investigating the World" and "Taking Action" about WASH issues.

In the coronavirus "infodemic," people are exposed to official recommendations but also to potentially dangerous pseudoscientific advice claimed to protect against COVID-19. We examined whether irrational beliefs predict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines as well as susceptibility to such misinformation. Irrational beliefs were indexed by belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, COVID-19 knowledge overestimation, type I error cognitive biases, and cognitive intuition. Participants (N = 407) reported (1) how often they followed guidelines (e.g., handwashing, physical distancing), (2) how often they engaged in pseudoscientific practices (e.g., consuming garlic, colloidal silver), and (3) their intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Conspiratorial beliefs predicted all three outcomes in line with our expectations. Cognitive intuition and knowledge overestimation predicted lesser adherence to guidelines, while cognitive biases predicted greater adherence, but also greater use of pseudoscientific practices. Our results suggest an important relation between irrational beliefs and health behaviors, with conspiracy theories being the most detrimental.

Purpose: The literature has acknowledged that good health is a crucial component of well-being. This study explores the country-specific understanding of slum dwellers' occupational activities and their environmental behavior. Design/methodology/approach: Using the environmentally responsible behavior model, the study utilized exploratory qualitative approach to purposely sample 35 respondents, who responded to health-related behaviors through in-depth interviews. Findings: Findings show that respondents are engaged in diverse socio-economic occupational activities such as selling of cooked and uncooked food in polythene bags, selling of sachet water and burning the waste generated from these activities in the slum environment. In addition, the study found specific occupational activities of masons, carpenters, tilers, salon beauticians, scrap dealers and unhygienic waste disposal in the slums. Finally, this study uncovered divided opinions in terms of respondents' environmental responsibility and awareness of environmental ramifications. Therefore, issues such as health hazards, unhealthy environment and soil deterioration are common at the slum dwellings. Research limitations/implications: The study findings and the conclusion drawn cannot be generalized to represent the entire population of slum dwellers in Ghana due to the qualitative methodology employed. Practical implications: This study revealed a country-specific understanding of the environmentally responsible behavior of slum dwellers based on their occupational activities, which can inform health policies. Originality/value: The outcome of this study advanced contextual culturally specific understanding, concerning health-related behavior of slum dwellers, which is important to policymakers and practitioners in contexts.

Purpose: Municipal solid waste (MSW) consists mainly of several recyclable materials such as paper and cardboard. Inside the educational institutes, especially universities, MSW is generated from several facilities including offices and cafeterias. Without an effective management program, solid waste can have detrimental impacts on the environment. This paper aims to assess the solid waste management practices followed at the main campus of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), Dammam -- Saudi Arabia. Design/methodology/approach: The MSW samples were collected from different sources inside the IAU campus such as the college buildings (such as the teaching rooms and staff offices), the administrative buildings and services buildings (e.g. the main library, the photocopying center, the restaurant and cafeteria) at least one time per week during a full academic term (January-May) of the academic year 2017-2018. The collected MSW samples were segregated into seven categories, and the net amount of each category and the overall weight of the MSW were determined once every week. The MSW samples were characterized for physical and chemical properties including moisture, carbon and ash contents. Food product waste (FPW) of the main university restaurant was studied separately. Findings: Data on the composition of MSW samples revealed that 80% of wastes were recyclable, 19% as compostable materials, while only 1% of the materials were a non-recyclable waste. More than 73% of the recyclable materials include paper and plastic warranting dire need of an effective solid waste management program. The highest value of FPW was recorded for the breakfast meal. Originality/value: Most of the waste generated from the university campus was recyclable type that needs to be handled carefully to avoid its mixing with other types of the waste stream. Waste characterization is an important tool that helps in understanding the amount and pattern of waste generation. It can be used as a decision-making tool for implementing sustainable waste management programs for universities.

Purpose: Universities are an example of institutions that aggregate people around work/study who consume water, energy and produce waste daily in their activities, generating an impact on the environment. The purpose of this study is to determine the quantity, composition and recycling potential of waste generated at the Faculdade UnB Planaltina (FUP) campus, of the University of Brasilia in the Federal District, Brazil, to develop a waste management strategy compatible with national legislation and sustainable global practices. Design/methodology/approach: This study was based on conducting on-site visits to identify the sources of generation, hazardousness, management and gravimetric characteristics of residual waste from 2015 to 2016. In 2016, a selective collection was implemented on the FUP campus, and since then, actions to raise awareness for the selective disposal and monitoring of waste were conducted with the academic community. Findings: The results showed that the campus generates 148 kg of waste/day, whereas the per capita generation is 92 g/day. The production of hazardous waste is related to campus laboratories which manage it under a specific program. The campus restaurant is the place that generates the most waste, of which organic waste is the most representative. When categorizing the waste generated on campus, the authors found that the majority are recyclables at 67% of the total. This category includes material composed of cardboard, paper and plastic, all able to be recycled in the Federal District. Practical implications: The recyclable waste generated at the FUP campus is being diverted from the city's landfill because they are donated to a recycling cooperative. These actions promote income generation, social inclusion of waste pickers and a circular economy, all in compliance with the National Solid Waste Policy. As a result, the FUP campus is more in line with Brazilian legislation and the global context of adopting sustainable waste management amongst higher education institutions. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the literature on sustainability in higher education by reporting the process of implementation of a waste management strategy in a university campus. Further, it presents tools and methods that can be used to achieve sustainability in waste management. The study also identifies that the crucial factor for the success of such actions is the mobilization and participation of the academic community in the process. It does so by presenting findings demonstrating how the University of Brasilia has been concerned with adopting pro-environmental measures for sustainable development.

This research makes a contribution to the ongoing debates about strong changes in the education system of developing countries to overcome the shortage of finance, infrastructure and managerial faults. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is the best solution in this respect. When the Government collaborates with other actors as the private sectors, civil social club, independent experts then it attains its responsibilities finer than doing all this individually, because PPPs can achieve the results by enhancing the potential and boosting up the availability of resources. The main objective of the study was to check the role of public private partnership in provision of physical facilities in the schools running under Punjab Education Foundation in District Bhakkar. The field based, exploratory type of study was conducted in District Bhakka and was strengthened from data collection. Probability cluster sampling technique and a structured interview schedule was used as a tool for data collection. The findings of the study indicated that public-private partnership has an impact on qualification of teachers, infrastructure, facility of library, laboratory, class rooms, play ground, safety and security. This study highly recommends that the role of PPP should be examined at higher level and comparative studies between public and private schools should also be conducted to examine the strengths and weaknesses in both type of schools.

Environmental health issues are major risk factors in the global burden of disease. This paper therefore focuses on the most important link between health and environment. It discusses the most important environmental threats to health in the 21st Century especially in the low and middle income countries. It reviews the burden of disease from unsafe water supply, hygiene, sanitation, outdoor and indoor poor pollution toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). It examines the contributions of personal hygiene to reduce the burden of environmentally-related health problems, comment on the consequences of environmental health problems on human health and explain the future global challenges to reduce the burden of disease in the community. Towards the most cost-effective ways of reducing the global burden of environmental related health problems, it was therefore recommended that there should be a reduction in the air pollutants to enhance health status of the inhabitants through the use of improved stove or gas for cooking at homes. There is need to focus on investment in low-cost environmental sanitation, improve water quality for human consumption and inculcate the handwashing habit to reduce the burden of food-water borne infections.

This research aimed to assess the composition of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) species, particularly dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), over the traditional wastewater treatment operations in three biological nutrient removal (BNR) wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Jordan. It had been found that the DON percentage was up to 30% of TDN within the effluent plant; which restricted the plant's ability to eliminate nitrogen to minimal amounts. Effluent DON levels from the three plants varied from 11.7 to 34.8 mg N/L and would not fluctuate substantially, even if there seemed to be a substantial difference inside influent organic nitrogen levels. The main transforming of DON and biodegradable dissolved organic nitrogen (BDON( along the treatment train had been noticed in the aerobic method. More than 70% of effluent DON was consisting of hydrophilic materials, which promote algal growth. The research presented significant information for foreseeable future improving of WWTPs or the choice of DON elimination techniques to satisfy additional challenging nitrogen release limits. [Note: The volume number (vol. 6) displayed on this PDF is incorrect. The correct volume number is 5.]

The purpose of this research was to construct a model of solid waste management based on multilateral cooperation in semi-urban community. Its specific objectives were to 1) study the solid waste situation and involvement of community in the solid waste management in Wangtaku Sub-district, Muang District, Nakhon Pathom Province; 2) construct a model of solid waste management based on multilateral cooperation in the semi-urban community of Wangtaku Sub-district; and 3) evaluate the efficiency of the model. The study followed the mixed method research design. The data were collected by using a questionnaire with 380 persons, in-depth interviews with 12 persons, and a focus group and an evaluation for the efficiency with 36 persons. The research results were as follows. 1) The situation and problems of solid waste in the community were at the high level (X-bar = 3.69) and the involvements of community in solid waste management were at the middle level (X-bar = 2.52). 2) The model of waste management based on multilateral cooperation in semi-urban community comprised occupational multilateral cooperation, solid waste management, local administrative organizations, community health promotion, and environmental networks. 3) Regarding the evaluation for efficiency of the model by the experts, the fitness of the model was at the highest level. The knowledge, awareness and practice about solid waste management of the participants with different genders, education levels, and occupations after joining the activity were increasingly higher than those of before joining the activity with statistical significance at the level of 0.05. The knowledge, awareness and practice about solid waste management of the participants with different genders, education levels, and occupations after joining the activity were not different.

The article illustrates a theoretical approach to scenario modeling of economic indicators of regional waste management system. The method includes a three-iterative algorithm that allows the executive authorities and investors to take a decision on logistics, bulk, technological and economic parameters of the formation of the regional long-term (10-25 years) waste management program.

This study reviews a group approach in empowering the community through waste recycling activities related to the development of human resources in Jakarta. The specific objectives to be achieved are the wish to understand and find: (1) Conditions of waste recycling empowerment in Jakarta, (2) Mechanisms of a group approach in empowering communities in Jakarta, (3) Formulating hypothetical model of a group approach in community empowerment. Concepts and theories used are community empowerment and Education for Sustainability Development (ESD) as the grand theories. The supporting concepts and theories are logic models and dynamics. This study used a qualitative approach with the design of case studies towards groups of waste recycling. Data were collected by deep interviews, documentations and observation. Sources of the data were obtained from waste recycling group domiciled in Jakarta. Analysis of the data was done through the stages of the process of data reduction, data display, making conclusions. Results of the study are: (1) The waste recycling group in doing community empowerment does not carry out the selection phase of the region, (2) There has not been a mechanism of a group approach to the instrumental input which is an indicator of training curriculum and research yet, (3) A formulation of hypothetical model of the group approach in community empowerment.

Workers handling chemicals need to understand the risk to health involved in their work, and this requires training. In this study effectivity of concept attainment teaching methodology (CATM) as training strategy for cleaning workers was assessed. CATM was used to train workers on chemicals information and health hazards. Pictures, illustrations, and hazards/precautionary statements presentations were used in reception-based strategy, while printed pictures and information cards on chemicals health hazards were used in selection-based strategy. The experimental group was given a pre-training test which was repeated on completion of the training (post-test1). The test was repeated after a month to determine level of knowledge retention. Cleaner (n = 307) from hospitals, a municipality and from a privately-run company took part. Certified cleaners and supervisors, the control group, were also tested. The tests scores were compared to assess for learning attainment and knowledge retention. Compared mean scores showed improved scores after training. ANOVA of the group means showed the differences were statistically significant. The objectives of the training were met, and with good knowledge retention as indicated by the improved scores in the post-tests. This indicates the efficacy of the method in training cleaning workers.

The objective of this study is to determine the attitudes of preservice social studies-teachers towards solid wastes and recycle. This study used the screening model, In order to determine the attitudes of preservice teachers towards solid wastes and recycle, we used the "Scale for the Attitudes of Preservice Teachers towards Solid Wastes and Recycle", which was developed by Karatekin (2013). The study group of the study consists of 860 preservice teachers receiving education in the department of social studies teaching in 5 different cities of Turkey. As a result of the study, it has been determined that preservice social studies teachers have positive attitudes towards solid wastes and recycle in general. It is seen that preservice teachers have a higher total attitude score average in the dimensions of "belief" and "concern and sensitivity", whereas they have a lower total attitude score average in the dimension of "intervention and participation" in the scale. While the attitudes of participants towards solid wastes and recycle show a significant difference according to the variables of gender and level of income; they do not show a significant difference according to the variable of class level.

Safe and high-quality water is essential from both the health and environmental perspectives. Water quality is so important that the United Nations has included water in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Thus, the adequate control and treatment of water are necessities. These tasks must be performed by a wide variety of professionals, including chemists, technicians, environmental scientists, .... Regarding the last group, one competency that they must develop throughout their university training is the ability to implement an environmental management system. Regarding water management, in addition to its well-known positive effect on the environment, wastewater treatment allows for the acquisition of water that is suitable for human consumption and use in agriculture. The relevant wastewater treatments are not complex, but they involve the participation of practitioners of several areas of study including engineering, chemistry, microbiology, .... This paper describes a laboratory exercise for students seeking university degrees in environmental sciences that aims to instruct them about wastewater treatment. Specifically, the experiment involves the decontamination of water polluted with the common textile dye methylene blue. The experiment is performed with different samples of activated carbon of agricultural origin (sustainable), and the results are compared with those obtained vs a carbon of petrochemical origin. The characterization of the decontamination process is performed via spectrophotometric measurements of the presence of methylene blue. The results obtained following the use of different quantities of adsorbent material are also compared.

The study focused on construction waste reduction awareness as a step within Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The method of collaborative action research was used with a questionnaire as an instrument. Data collected from 61 participants were analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, and t-test) and multiple regressions. Results revealed that there were graduates of different degree levels and non-graduates working at the construction sites, where 4.9% and 27.9% had PhD and Master degrees, respectively. Improper material storage was agreed to be the main cause of construction waste, while the most effective reduction measure was applying source reduction through the calculated procurement. Multiple regressions revealed that awareness was significantly positively predicted by gender, qualification and status. However, both cause and reduction of construction waste were noted to be human related, thereby necessitating a campaign against construction waste at various sites, with the aim of raising motivated and inspired change agents.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of video modeling and visual task analysis on the acquisition, maintenance, and engagement of washing cars for three Chinese adolescents with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. Video-based training was conducted in the conference room of a university-affiliated autism research center in China, and the hands-on training using visual task analysis took place in a local car wash. Three male adolescents (16-19 years old) participated in this study. A multiple probe across four tasks design was used. Results indicated that the training was effective in increasing independent and accurate responses of car wash tasks for all participants, and two of the three participants had a relatively high level of task engagement after the training. The acquired skills and improved task engagement were maintained for up to 6 months without practice. Implications in vocational skills training for Chinese adolescents in the community are discussed.

To understand critical problems associated with solid waste and its consequences for the environment, a laboratory experiment is presented on the synthesis of aluminum-based metal-organic framework (MOF) MIL-53(Al) from household waste (PET bottles and aluminum foil/can), for undergraduate students of chemistry. This work is designed to teach students the research methodology and basic understanding of MOFs and their application in carbon capture and storage (CCS). Students also learnt several instrumentation techniques such as UV--vis spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and gas sorption to characterize the physicochemical properties of MIL-53(Al). The facile production of MIL-53(Al) enabled the students to investigate its applicability in CO[subscript 2] sorption. The calculations of essential parameters such as CO[subscript 2] over N[subscript 2] selectivity and the use of statistical tools in data processing are also explained to the students. In the end, the instructor presented his/her feedback by evaluating the answer sheets (pre- and postlab work) and by demonstrating the overall lab work through a model presentation.

The weeks leading up to summer break can be stressful for instructors and administrators, as they are ultimately responsible for inspecting and cleaning up their STEM education facilities to ensure a safer start the following academic year. In this article, the authors present a three-pronged approach to aid in safely closing down a makerspace or lab in preparation for summer break while simultaneously preparing for the following academic year.

Background: The health-care community has a responsibility to address the environmental impact of delivering health-care services. Educational programmes present ideal fora to confer 'environmental competencies' to future health system leaders, managers, practitioners and researchers. The aim of this review is to synthesise the literature on health-care competencies, education and training of relevance to issues of environmental sustainability and climate change in the health sector. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of English language articles on environmental competencies in healthcare in the MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and ProQuest databases published from inception to April 2019. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics were used to synthesise the findings and develop a typology of environmental competencies. Results: Of the 902 unique citations, we identified 23 articles that met our inclusion criteria. Environmental competencies that align with general management skills were most frequent (40%), followed by research skills (37%). Three competencies specific to the environment (22%) were identified: resource stewardship (n = 16), systems thinking (n = 14) and social and environmental justice (n = 7). The majority of work was identified in nursing, medicine and public health. Competencies were most commonly embedded in existing curricula or offered as new courses or workshops. Conclusion: Incorporating environmental competencies into education programmes will serve to raise awareness of, and advance the significance of, the health sector's impact on climate change and environmental sustainability. Our findings that environmental competencies align with previously validated health-care competencies support the perspective that these competencies represent essential knowledge and skills for the health-care workforce.

Waste created by modern lifestyles is of key concern to sustainable development globally. Early childhood centres engage in sustainable practices, and waste management is one of these practices. Past research has indicated that early childhood staff are challenged to implement sustainable practices. However, the National Quality Standard requires centres to engage in sustainable practices. This study reports on research undertaken to examine the effectiveness of effectiveness of a waste management professional learning programme run in 30 early childhood centres in Australia. The data collected was interviews of the directors of 16 centres, 6 months after the programme. Findings found the programme to be effective in encouraging waste management practices as all centres changed practices to reduce or recycle waste. The majority of the centres had a staff member who championed environmental education and was an inspiration for other staff, but barriers to good waste management practices were experienced because of external stakeholders' power over decision-making, owners not agreeing to make changes, and, internally, from having to maintain hygienic standards. Recommendations are made for future professional learning programmes.

Objective: Using a participatory action research (PAR) model, this paper reports on findings from a mixed-methods study which aimed to discover whether specifically developed health education resources (A Germ's Journey) aid children's understanding of health-hygiene principles, and how these findings can inform the future development of culturally relevant resources to teach children in low- and middle-income countries about the association between bacteria, handwashing and disease. Design: Educational health-hygiene workshops were conducted at 13 case study sites (n = 651) in collaboration with local organisations in Ahmedabad, India. During Phase 1 of the study, children's and teacher--trainer workshops were conducted using UK resources. Following suggestions from local teachers, a Gujarati book was co-created and in Phase 2, workshops (using the Gujarati book) were delivered. Methods: Data were collected from children using quasi-experimental methods, using pre-workshop questions, follow-up questions, observations and baseline and post-workshop assessments. Data were collected from teachers using questionnaires. Results: Following teacher-trainer workshops during Phase 1 of the study, 100% of teachers stated that they would use the resources with their pupils in the future. Two months after participating in the workshops, 60%-73% of children knew how germs can cause illness, and 76%-80% knew how to remove germs from hands. When assessed during Phase 2 of the study, 54% of children scored higher after the intervention, showing an increased understanding of microbiology after using the resources. Conclusion: The results indicate that children had an improved understanding of the causes of bacterial disease and the health implications of not using adequate health-hygiene practices. Recommendations for the future development of resources include the use of a PAR model of research, co-creation with end users, and working alongside local organisations and participants in order to access 'hard-to-reach' areas.

This paper adds to the body of evidence demonstrating the efficacy of action learning to achieve measurable progress toward sustainability goals. It supports prior assertions that action and reflection develop the conditions of "awareness," "agency" and "association" required to develop the circular economy. The early outcomes of a Business Resource Efficiency Program delivered in Tasmania, Australia, are presented and prompt us to revisit the true place of Questioning in Revans' Learning Equation. The findings add new insights to observations on the capabilities required for radical innovation to meet the challenges of disruptive times, and compel us to question the legitimacy of higher education as the solution to the really big problems of our age.

Technological advances, artificial intelligence innovations, and widespread computing have all combined to necessitate a new generation of knowledge workers where data becomes a ubiquitous part of decision making (Sutton, 2006). Teaching today's students through the application of this "new" knowledge to long-established fields represents a key opportunity for innovation, improvement, and progress (Vasisht, et al., 2017). The authors present here their experience, and the accompanying materials developed, while working with high school students in a setting that intentionally combined "new" knowledge--derived from high-tech sensors and aerial imagery captured by a drone--with the longstanding practices and traditions of irrigation in agriculture. In this lesson, they teamed up with a local teacher and several students attending a rural high school to develop materials related to aerial imagery collected from an agricultural drone and an associated design challenge aimed at reducing water waste in irrigation practices. To introduce students to data and help them understand the imagery provided by drones in agricultural applications, the authors introduced them to the sensors involved, the image acquisition process, the data processing performed, and visualization techniques prior to them flying the drone. Although, like many of the existing drone software packages, the software utilized by the students in this scenario (FieldAgent) performed many data-processing and visualization steps automatically, they felt it was important to help students understand both the technology involved and the imaging pipeline prior to interpreting the data and utilizing their findings to inform their design decision making while attempting to devise solutions to reduce water waste in irrigation. They believe this emphasis on both data acquisition and application is important for influencing the students' designing and introduction to data-driven decision making.

Using the empowering tool of PhotoVoice, this study invites a group of Palestinian-Israeli high-school students to document and report problems in their environment to an invited audience of influential figures from their community. In a context where the focus is on teaching linguistic skills and standards detached from students' lives, students are engaged in literacy activities that are connected with environmental activism. What drives this research is the social responsibility to advance society through fostering environmental awareness and empowering minority students to become more involved and cognizant of their potential to be responsible citizens, leaders, and social change agents, especially with the numerous environmental problems prevalent in their area.

Home-based care facilities provide basic healthcare services to people too sick or frail to access formal clinics and hospitals. These facilities produce 'healthcare risk waste' which must be managed responsibly, and it is the work of Environmental Health Practitioners working within municipalities to ensure that the waste produced by home-based care facilities is managed in line with legislation. This paper presents a case study of a twenty-seven-month expansive learning intervention in a South African municipality that sought to transform its healthcare risk waste management practices. Limited knowledge and inadequate knowledge-sharing practices were identified as the main hindrances to effective waste management. The practitioner-researcher facilitated a series of inter-agency, formative intervention workshops with municipal employees and Community Health Workers using the Developmental Work Research methodology. These workshops strengthened both groups of practitioners' knowledge of the 'who, how, what, why and when' that underpins effective healthcare risk waste management, and enabled 'boundary crossing' for practitioners to work across their specialist areas towards co-defining and analysing problems and constructing new solutions.

Increasing visitor use in U.S. national parks leads to myriad challenges, one of which is the large amount of waste generated. In this research, visitors to three parks were surveyed to identify potential leverage points for communicating with visitors that may help increase desirable behaviors in visitors as part of the Zero Landfill Initiative (ZLI). The findings suggest that visitors' psychological constructs largely align with ZLI goals. However, moral norms and perceived difficulty significantly predicted behavioral intentions. From these results, a variety of management actions are suggested that may increase desirable behaviors and reduce waste in national parks.

Although the existence of and access to clean water are essential for sustaining life on Earth, multiple studies have demonstrated students' nascent understanding of basic water principles. Students have misconceptions related to the water cycle (Ben-zvi-Assarf and Orion 2005), groundwater (Dickerson and Dawkins 2004; Covitt et al. 2009), and the effects of pollution (Bingol 2017). Regardless of the number of science classes taken, students' knowledge of water remains stagnant, with misconceptions becoming more prevalent over time (Brody 1993). The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) address the need for students to develop a depth and breadth of understanding of water, specifically within the high school Earth Science domain on the intersections of Earth and human activity (National Research Council 2012). The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a blueprint for addressing enduring global challenges by 2030. The SDGs are grounded in global consensus and set targets to be reached by all countries. In this interdisciplinary Project-Based Inquiry (PBI) Global (Spires et al. 2019), students engage in collaborative inquiry across multiple academic disciplines around SDG 6 ("ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all") (United Nations General Assembly 2015). Through their inquiry, students create multimodal learning products to share their research findings with a broader audience and take social action to address global water and sanitation challenges.

Purpose: The University of A Coruña (UDC) elaborated the SOSTAUGA project, aiming to reach a higher sustainable level of its water management. SOSTAUGA defined four priority points of action: the restoration of the natural courses on the campus; the adoption of an ecological sanitation model; the sustainable management of urban runoff; and the reduction of water consumption in university facilities and activities. This paper aims to present the methodology, the actions and the results related to the reduction of water consumption and the potential for the use of endogenous resources. Design/methodology/approach: The agents involved were the senior management of the centres, the committees of the Green Campus, the scholarship students and the Office for the Environment. Several actions have been experienced: audit of water consumption in sanitary services; flow reduction in washbasin taps by means of valve adjustment (and repair of the valves when necessary); replacement of tap aerators with other more eco-efficient ones; replacement of faucets; introduction of dual-flush (DF) in cisterns; and information to users (eco-label). Findings: Water audit reached 68% of the total number of washbasins and tanks in the UDC. Efficient aerator installation covered 16% of taps and valve adjustment covered the further 33.5% and provided flow reduction of 42%. Another 20% of valve units required repair. The current situation in toilets combines tankless flush valves and cisterns with single flush mechanisms. The introduction of DF mechanisms was assessed and proposed. The cost of these actions was very low, as evidenced by the investment return period while showing a high potential for user awareness. Originality/value: Both from the environmental (water saving) and from the economic and social points of view, this study shows that similar projects aimed at the efficient and rational use of water are applicable to the universities and other public and private schools, with potentially positive results on sustainability and people awareness.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to focus on the way to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Through the introduction and learning of a specific case, this paper summarizes the specific process of green campus's development and construction and directly discusses how to achieve the goal of sustainable development. By analyzing the achievements and measures of its construction, on the one hand, the experience and shortcomings of its green campus construction are summarized; on the other hand, the impact of Stanford's own green campus construction on the local community is discussed. Design/methodology/approach: This paper takes Stanford, one of the best green campuses assessed by sustainability tracking, assessment and rating system (STARS), as a case study in three steps. First, it introduces the academics, energy supply and demand, water and land, waste, management, food and living, buildings and transportation of its campus construction in detail; second, it uses the STARS to make a comprehensive sustainable evaluation of Stanford; finally, it discusses the development relationship between Stanford and local community. Findings: The four characteristics of its green campus development model are summarized, namely, based on its own scientific research; from the aspect of environmental friendliness; to achieve joint participation; and forming complementary development with the community. The construction of green campus has changed from a single triangle framework composed of SDGs, STARS and universities to a compound triangle framework composed of SDGs, universities and communities on the existing basis, greatly expanding the way to realize SDGs. Practical implications: This development mode will have direct guiding significance for the sustainable construction of other campuses. Social implications: This paper also discusses the development concept from green campus to sustainable community to provide positive reference to achieve the global SDGs from the perspective of colleges and universities. Originality/value: According to the historical track of its development, this paper combines the two (SDGs and green campus) to discuss by using campus construction as an effective way to achieve the SDGs. On the basis of literature research and case study, STARS sustainable assessment is introduced. This will lead to quantitative analysis of sustainable construction in the discussion of the specific case, judging the specific sustainable degree of all aspects of campus construction, to provide a scientific basis for summarizing its characteristics of development mode.

International political discourse has implied that upskilling leads to higher productivity and growth. Combining aspects from skills theory and institutional theory, this article asks what role upskilling can play in making bad jobs better, drawing on previous research about the process of professionalising the cleaning occupation in Norway. In line with institutional theory on educational transfer, it interprets a change in educational skills -- the introduction of the trade certificate for cleaners -- as a way of legitimising an occupation with a dubious reputation, 'borrowing' legitimacy from the educational system. The trade certificate functioned as a component in the 'reverse signalling' of skills towards procurers of cleaning services and potential employees, which was intended to improve skill use and by that, job quality. I suggest this strategy was founded on a reliance on knowledge society narratives: that education and skills yield complexity, productivity and job quality. However, this change in 'formal structure' did little to change industry job quality, which was subjected to a strict tender-based regime where price generally outweighed skills. A general application of a collective wage agreement was necessary to improve job quality, demonstrating the limits of upskilling for changing work design, even in a collective bargaining system.

Purpose: This study sought to assess the process of initiating a sustainable recycling program at the University of Jordan. It illustrates the potentials of recycling, perceived awareness of recycling by the students and staff, as well as challenges to a sustainable waste recycling program. This study aims to identify the barriers and challenges that face a sustainable waste recycling program at the University of Jordan. Design/methodology/approach: The study consisted of investigating waste recycling potential on campus, inspecting general environmental awareness toward recycling and running an experimental recycling study on part of the campus. A waste characterization study was conducted to assess the current waste status and recycling extent. A questionnaire survey was carried out to obtain information on the students' and staffs' awareness of waste recycling and management on campus. In the experimental recycling study, seventy units of waste segregation bins were distributed on campus. The recycling efficiency was evaluated at two schools; the School of Engineering and the School of Medicine. The administrative support and collaboration while running the recycling program were also observed. Findings: Overall, waste recycling at the University of Jordan has an appreciable opportunity and potential. A substantial amount of waste can be diverted from going to the landfill. Data showed general positive recycling rates except for plastic. Also, the recycling rates show great potential for enhancing. The recycling at the University of Jordan faces several barriers and obstacles. The greatest barrier was identified as the lack of cooperation of the administrative system on campus. The administrative support for the recycling program was strong only at the initiation of the recycling program. Administrative support has a vital influence on the recycling program. It has the potential of boosting it or bringing it to halt. Future studies should focus on investigating recycling efficiency for the entire campus and focus more on increasing pro-environmental behavior among students and staff in higher education institutions. Originality/value: The value of this research lies in it being conducted in a large campus university in a developing country. Also, the study used a diagnostic approach that is based on evaluating an environmental sustainability program as it evolves inside a higher education institution. The study illustrates the challenges that face universities in developing countries while adopting green campus initiatives.

Undergraduate students are increasingly aware of complex global challenges and have a strong desire to take action and create change. Course-based undergraduate research experiences can offer a wide range of students the opportunity to gain skills needed to address these challenges. At a small liberal arts college in New England, we developed the Integrated Sciences First-Year Program (ISFP) to engage our students and support them in developing these important skills in their first year while building a community of learners. We designed ISFP-I (fall semester) for both science concentrators and nonconcentrators to conduct collaborative research in teams across three linked courses in hydrology, mathematical modeling, and microbiology. Students explored sustainable building practices using a new building on campus. We used pre-/postcourse surveys, student self-evaluations, and faculty evaluations of student work to assess student progress on the goals of learning inquiry and building community. During the three-year pilot program (2015-2018), we found students showed growth in science content and skills as well as changes in attitudes and understanding of the nature and process of science. Further, the collaborative nature of the courses helped socialize students on campus and cultivate an intellectual community within the sciences.

Purpose: Some universities have a commitment to both academic education and sustainable development, and the sustainable development goals can support several sustainable actions that universities may take as principles and attitudes. From this perspective, the purpose of this study is to present environmentally sustainable practices at a federal university in Brazil and to analyze and discuss the potential environmental impacts associated with an environmentally sustainable practice implemented using life cycle assessment (LCA) and its benefits for the university's decision-makers. Design/methodology/approach: To accomplish that, the study combines a description of environmentally sustainable practices at the 13 campuses of the Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR) in terms of education, water and electricity consumption, waste management and emissions. As a result of this analysis, one campus identified that a high volume of disposable plastic cups were being disposed of, for which the use of reusable plastic cups was introduced. In addition, an LCA study (ISO 14040:2006 and 14044:2006) quantified the benefits of the introduction of said reusable plastic cups. Findings: The results show that the university is working on environmentally sustainable initiatives and policies to become greener. At the same time, using a systematic LCA made it possible to measure that replacing disposable plastic cups for reusable ones reduced waste generation but increased water consumption on the campus. Faced with this, a sensitization was carried out to reduce water consumption. Finally, the current study provides lessons on the environmental performance to universities interested in sustainable practices, fostering perspectives for a better world. The findings of this study encourage organizations to accomplish environmental actions toward greener universities. The study shows that institutions need to be reflective and analytical about how even "greening" measures have impacts, which can be mitigated if necessary. Practical implications: The sustainable practical implications were reported, and an LCA was conducted to assess potential environmental impacts of reusable plastic cups. It was identified that raw material production is the phase that generates most environmental impacts during the life cycle of the product, along with the consumer use phase, due to the quantity of water used to wash the reusable cups. In addition, the practical contributions of this study are to provide insights to institutions that aim to use environmental actions, i.e. suggestions of sustainable paths toward a greener university. Originality/value: This is one of the first studies to investigate and discuss sustainable practices at UTFPR/Brazil. The study assessed one of the practices using a scientific technique (LCA) to assess the impacts of reusable plastic cups distributed to the students of one of the 13 campuses. Although there are other studies on LCA in the literature, the value of this study lies in expanding what has already been experienced/found on the use of LCA to assess environmental practices in university campuses.

Since 2014, India's Swaach Bharat Mission (Clean India), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has garnered international attention for dispersing millions of toilets across the subcontinent. The five-year campaign goes much further, though, in the educational realm, where it attempts to make sustainable change through the country's national school curriculum. Alongside the initiative's goal of an open-defecation free India by 2019, Swaach Bharat's focus on the education system aims to involve teachers, students, and the wider school community in changing behaviors and norms. Through these efforts, the Government of India hopes to redefine how its citizens view and treat their environment. This article discusses the relationship between a clean India and clean schools. The values of the Clean India Mission are present in both formal and informal curricula. Peer interactions also present an opportunity for the initiative to double down on its messaging. The Government of India also has taken the opportunity to integrate girls and women within the scope of the Clean India Mission. The Clean India Mission has been designed to empower women within their communities, as well as change attitudes and misconceptions about their capacity to contribute to society. India's Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation encourages the promotion of gender-sensitive outreach, specifically targeting boys and men. From this effort, the Clean India Mission hopes to transform the role of girls and women from one of homemaker to one of changemaker.

In many parts of the world, multiple challenges affect children's ability to access and benefit from education. Innovations that provide multiple solutions can be truly transformative. This article describes the impact one company has had for good on rural villages in Ghana. Empower Playgrounds has developed electricity-generating playground equipment that turns children's play into renewable electricity that charges lanterns the children can use to study at night. Since Empower Playgrounds began in 2008, they have installed 60 merry-go-rounds at schools throughout rural Ghana. The resulting access to electricity has helped children elevate their reading levels. As those reading levels have increased, so has their attendance and desire to attend school and learn more. Students have begun to thrive in ways previously not possible. Additionally, Empower Playgrounds has partnered with Days for Girls to deliver feminine hygiene kits to each of our schools. Each kit is delivered with a UNICEF education pamphlet specifically made for girls in Ghana. Training is provided to the girls, their parents, and the teachers. The training material expands upon the basic Ghanaian health curriculum and includes practical information on menstruation, health, and hygiene.