Towards a Convergence Between Science and Environmental Education ― The Selected Works of Justin Dillon

In the World Library of Educationalists, international scholars themselves compile career-long collections of what they judge to be their finest pieces—extracts from books, key articles, salient research findings, major theoretical and/practical contributions—so the world can read them in a single manageable volume. Readers thus are able to follow the themes and strands of their work and see their contribution to the development of a field, as well as the development of the field itself.

Internationally recognized for his research on environmental education, science engagement, learning outside the classroom, and teacher identity and development, in this volume Justin Dillon brings together a thoughtfully crafted selection of his writing representing key aspects of his life and work leading to his current thinking on the need for a convergence of science and environmental education. The chapters are organized around 7 themes: On Habitus; On methodological issues; Developing theories of learning, identity and culture; Challenges and opportunities—science, the environment and the outdoors; Classroom issues—the emergence of Science|Environment|Health; Science engagement and communication; Science, environment and sustainability.

Justin Dillon is Professor of Science and Environmental Education and Head of School, University of Bristol Graduate School of Education, UK. After taking a degree in chemistry from Birmingham University, he trained as a teacher at Chelsea College and went on to teach in six secondary schools in London. His research originally focused on teaching and learning about chemistry in England and Spain. More recently he has focused on science learning outside the classroom, particularly in museums, science centres and botanic gardens in the UK, Europe and elsewhere. Together with two colleagues at King’s College London, he co-ordinated the ESRC's Targeted Initiative on Science and Mathematics Education (TISME) and he was a member of the highly influential ASPIRES project. Dillon served as elected President of the European Science Education Research Association from 2007 to 2011. He co-edits the International Journal of Science Education, is a trustee of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, was Chair of the London Wildlife Trust for many years, and has co-edited a number of books including the International Handbook of Research on Environmental Education. He was given ‘The Outstanding Contributions to Research in Environmental Education Award’ by the North American Association for Environmental Education in 2013.