Description: In a world where the environment is under increasing strain, what are the competencies that allow citizens to positively transform their communities? Futures thinking? Risk prediction? Strategic planning? Dr. Pruneau’s research team examines the competencies that allow citizens to improve the sustainability of their communities. They have observed citizens who, in their efforts to construct sustainable neighbourhoods, have demonstrated the complementary competencies of problem-solving, decision-making, openness to new situations, planning, linking, futures and retrospective thinking, and risk prediction. During this presentation, Dr. Pruneau will offer a synthesis of her team’s research on sustainability competencies, and on the educational strategies that help students reason in terms of viability, sustainability and vitality.

Suitability:  Educators of all ages

Diane Pruneau is a professor at the Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, who specializes in environmental and science education. She is the Director of the Littoral et vie Research Group (www8.umoncton.ca/littoral-vie), whose objective is to help adults and young people become more aware of the state of their environment and to successfully take action. Dr. Pruneau’s research programs have dealt with the understanding of the link people have with their environment, climate change education, healthy cities education, the process of taking on environmental actions and the development of sustainability competencies such as risk prediction, futures thinking, decision making and liveable planning. She has conducted research projects in Morocco, Romania and Brazil.