Bridging Ethics and Sustainable Learning in Science and Environmental Education

A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 127

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, 75 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Interests: science and environmental education in diverse learning settings; science and the environment in the media; qualitative research and discourse analysis

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Guest Editor
Ciência Pacífica LabZero, Três Coroas, RS, Brazil
Interests: environmental education; science education; animal biology; animal ethics

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Guest Editor
Department of Educator and Teacher Training University of Algarve, Campus da Penha, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Interests: environmental education; science education; animal biology

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79802-030, MG, Brazil
Interests: science education; environmental education; moral philosophy; philosophy of ecology

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Guest Editor
School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, USP, São Paulo, Brazil
Interests: animal ethics; critical animal pedagogy; environmental education; sociology

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Guest Editor
Milton Santos Institute for the Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
Interests: environmental ethics; animal ethics; environmental humanities; history of sciences; animal law; animal studies; environmental law; agnotology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Children and young people have very little contact with non-human animals and plants. As a result, these “other” living beings are often misunderstood from utilitarian and economic points of view. In other words, this separation, which may be caused by a misled sense of human supremacy,  turns animals and plants into mere commodities and disregards all the moral and ethical aspects involved in their existence and their relationship with us.

In this context, our species must develop a strong consciousness of socio-environmental responsibility based on solid moral and ethical values toward the sustainability of the planet.

Recognizing that animals and plants have frequently been overlooked in scientific and environmental education, this Special Issue will acknowledge their role in attaining sustainability, as well as the moral and ethical considerations around it.

We invite authors to submit research (theoretical and practical) that explores the intersection of moral and ethics with a (multi)(inter)(trans)species-oriented science and environmental education gaze. This will foster respectful and empathetic attitudes and behaviors for all forms of life, especially amongst the young.

We welcome contributions that consider the following:

  • Investigate innovative science and environmental education pedagogical approaches that integrate (multi)(inter)(trans)species perspectives framed by moral and ethics;
  • Examine case studies highlighting successful implementations of this type of education;
  • Discuss theoretical frameworks that support respectful (moral and ethical) interactions between humans and non-human beings;
  • Explore the moral and ethical implications of science and environmental education in (multi)(inter)(trans)species contexts.

Join us in advancing educational practices that promote empathy and respect for the rich tapestry of life on our planet.

Submission Guidelines:

Please submit your papers by 30 November 2025.

Manuscripts should be at least 4000 words and formatted according to the APA style guide.

For inquiries, contact mark.su@mdpi.com.

We look forward to receiving your contributions!

Prof. Dr. Giuliano Reis
Dr. Elna Mugrabi
Dr. Rute Rocha
Dr. Nei de Freitas Nunes Neto
Dr. Tânia Regina Vizachri
Prof. Dr. Thiago Pires-Oliveira
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Education Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • science education
  • environmental education
  • ethics
  • sustainable learning
  • moral
  • values
  • animals
  • speciesism

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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