Page 36 - TLU magazine - The Way to The Top

36
TALLINN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE / NO. 14 / SPRING 2020
The members of SEEMIK, together with their partners from Finnish universities, going through the Avastusrada trail. Jaanus Terasmaa
how can we save the world from
ENVIRONMENTAL
COLLAPSE?
A group of researchers from Tallinn University are trying to find new science- based solutions to think and act in a way that is better for our planet.
In a situation where politicians, businesses and citizens are largely unaware of the nature of complex environmental problems, we tend to accept too basic solutions. For example, sorting garbage, planting trees or waiting for a techno- logical breakthrough.
However, achieving more meaningful, sustain- able societal approaches requires understand- ing and changing the way we think about the environment, how we perceive the connections within the ecosystem and how important they are to our wellbeing. In modest terms, the task is enormous and requires skilful intertwining of different scientific disciplines.
Concerns about the environment and the feel- ing that the problem cannot be tackled alone brought together a group of Tallinn University researchers. For some time now, they have been trying to find new science-based solutions to direct our thinking and behaviour in a way that would benefit the planet. Believing in the power of education, synergies are focused on finding ways to shape young people's understanding of the environment through schools and non- formal education. For an effective approach, several fields of study have joined forces:
– ecologists are defining environmental issues and offering solutions
– psychologists are studying the basic processes of environmentally conscious thinking and behaviour
– educational technologists and digital technologists are developing and testing evidence-based learning tools and methods
– communication scientists are testing the performance of messages related to environ- mental problems in different target groups
One of the seeds of the research group was
the application Avastusrada (avastusrada.ee) launched in 2013. Originally a freeware applica- tion for expanding outdoor learning opportuni- ties that allows teachers to create study trails in the nature, it has proven to be a great repository for exploring teaching through a database.
More information: seemik.tlu.ee The members of the group are ecologists Jaanus Terasmaa, Mihkel Kangur and Liisa Puusepp (Institute of Ecology of the School of Natural Sciences and Health), educational psychologists Grete Arro and Elina Malleus (School of Educational Sciences and School of Natural Sciences and Health), educational technologist Terje Väljataga (Centre for Excellence in Education of the School of Educational Sciences), communication scientists Arko Olesk and Esta Kaal (BFM) and digital technologists Priit Tammets and Triinu Jesmin (School of Digital Technologies).
Members of the research group Seemik