We are a supportive network that aims to develop, facilitate, and network those interested in climate change, sustainability and biodiversity. It is a forum:
- for practitioners to share their research and activities with other practitioners and Sheffield Institute of Education researchers and make links for future climate change and sustainability research.
- for researchers from Sheffield Institute of Education and from our partner school and settings and organisations to share their research findings, projects and engage in developing collaborative approaches.
- to support capacity building for developing climate change, sustainability and biodiversity education and research.
Activities include
- Monthly eBulletin updating on local and national projects and funding opportunities
- Termly #EcoTeachMeets – bringing together practitioners and organisations to share good practice, latest research and activities
- Termly newsletter with more in detail information
- Regular blog entries
- Showcasing events taking place in and around Sheffield and South Yorkshire (for practitioners and students)
The network is coordinated by Lee Jowett, Climate Change and Sustainability Fellow at Sheffield Hallam University.
Lee Jowett MA MSc PGCE CSciTeach
Climate Change and Sustainability Fellow
I am a Climate Change and Sustainability Research Fellow in the Sheffield Institute of Education at Sheffield Hallam University. I am a Chartered Science Teacher (CSCiTeach) with the Association for Science Education and chair a Multi-Academy Trust, reflecting a commitment to educational leadership that runs alongside my research work.
Following a first degree in Zoology, I spent ten years as a secondary science teacher in Sheffield before leading a local authority climate education team for nine years, working directly with over 100 schools. More recently at Sheffield Hallam, I co-designed and led the Think Climate Project in a Box, delivered through the South Yorkshire Children’s University, which reached over 600 pupils across 50 schools in the region. Recent publications, available under the publications section, include a 2024 study investigating how teachers engage with cutting-edge climate change research and a 2023 case study exploring climate education in a SEND school setting.
I lead the network, a forum established in 2023 to support practitioners across Sheffield and South Yorkshire in developing quality climate and sustainability education from early years through to higher education. I work in partnership with a range of organisations including Let’s Go Zero, the National Education Nature Park, The Wildlife Trusts, Eco-Schools, and Global Action Plan to drive meaningful change in how climate education is delivered across English schools and educational settings.