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[PANEL] Teaching Climate Change Beyond Facts: Pioneering Pedagogies, Mental Health and Science-Policy Interfaces

Sertaç Arabacıoğlu, Sanae Okamoto, Nidhi Nagabhatla

This panel aims to take climate change education and its intended learning outcomes beyond the mere transfer of factual knowledge. Our goal is to explore and discuss how innovative pedagogical approaches can recognise and address the emotional dimensions related to climate change as experienced by students, families, and communities. By doing so, we aim to promote educational strategies that teach children how to engage complex climate information, mitigate the impacts of climate change, as well as promote climate resilience and long-term well-being within broader sustainability frameworks. The panel session will be two-fold: First, expert panelists will share their insights and exchange points in a moderated format, and then the floor will open for audience questions. 
Organised within the framework of the COST Action CA23113 – CliMent (Climate change impacts on mental health in Europe), our panel will focus on:

  • Sharing innovative teaching methods, including experiential learning, collaboration with scientists, digital learning resources, and local action projects,
  • Exchanging ideas for developing educational materials that address the emotional aspects of climate change,
  • Discussing how to integrate the connection between climate change and mental health into educational policies, and
  • Exploring ways to build bridges between scientific evidence and education policy.

By the end of the panel, participants are expected to:

  • Gain insights into innovative teaching strategies they can apply within their institutions,
  • Find inspiration and concrete examples to develop community-based projects that focus on emotional resilience, and
  • Achieve a deeper understanding of how scientific research can inform and shape educational policy-making.

Short bios of the panelists:

Name Institution / Country Expertise / Background
Dr. Sertaç Arabacıoğlu Trakya University - Türkiye Associate Professor at Trakya University, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Education and Director of the Project Coordination Application and Research Center. Focuses on science education, teacher professional development, and integrating innovative technologies such as augmented reality, 3D printing, and mixed reality into STEM teaching. Has a multidisciplinary background in Science Education and Educational Technologies, collaborates with European partners on projects related to Green STEM education, sustainability, and digital transformation in education. Actively contributes to international networks and COST actions, bridging research, practice, and policy. Holds a PhD in Science Education and has led numerous outreach and training initiatives to support teachers and students in adopting inquiry-based and technology-enhanced learning approaches.
Dr. Sanae Okamoto United Nations University - MERIT / Netherlands Senior Researcher at the United Nations University – MERIT and the School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University. Psychologist and behavioural scientist with a multidisciplinary background in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Behavioural Economics. Applies psychology/behavioural science insights to global objectives including Sustainability, Climate Resilience, Digitalisation, and Mental Health from multiple perspectives such as Youth, Water, Health, Disasters, Plastics, and Business. Active in addressing the mental health impacts of global challenges such as climate change and emerging technologies like AI. Holds a PhD in Psychology from Maastricht University, Netherlands. Earlier research on social group dynamics was conducted at Kyoto University, University of Louisiana, USA, and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany.
Dr. Nidhi Nagabhatla Belgium (University of Ghent and UNU CRIS) Specializes in the intersections of sustainable development, environmental governance, and human security. Has more than two decades of experience working across United Nations agencies, academia, and collaborative research networks, advancing work in climate resilience, water security, nexus research contexts, and climate migration studies. Currently at UNU-CRIS Belgium, leads the Nature, Climate and Health program and coordinates numerous projects on environmental stress, mental well-being, and public participation in climate policy. Also serves as a Research Professor at U Ghent, Belgium. Scholarly track record includes peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, conference presentations, and commissioned policy briefs. Bridges theory and practice by guiding early-career researchers, shaping multi-stakeholder dialogues, and mentoring doctoral candidates. Known for interdisciplinary and inclusive approaches, designs research methodologies grounded in robust evidence and local realities. Recent research has explored the mental health impacts of climate change and advocates for integrating psychosocial perspectives into climate education and resilience planning.
17.09.2025 / 869 times read.