Are you interested in Environmental Education!??

by jokay Wollongong

Im really excited to announce that the Australian Association for Environmental Education are holding some events on the Islands of jokaydia over the next few days! If you’re interested in art, the environment or environmental education, then this one is for you! ;)

The AAE’s 15th Biennial Conference in Darwin this year, and has some fascinating themes:

Communities make the system

In a time of rapid change, how can people who work in early childhood services, schools, tertiary institutions, and government and non-government organisations cooperate to make the system that we are part of more sustainable, and quickly?

Collaborative projects across our communities are a primary focus of this conference. Participants will highlight successes, difficulties and lessons learned from dealing with hot topics such as global warming, water and waste management, energy options, fire ecology, ecological footprint management and biodiversity in all sectors..

<Transcultural communication

For Australia’s diverse population, it is important to integrate global, particularly Indigenous and Asian, perspectives on how environmental education is practiced in our region. This means promoting skills that develop eco-literacy and care for the environment across cultures and languages; land and seascapes.

Indigenous-led field studies, a conference art space and an environmental art exhibition will support perspectives about how to actively communicate trans-culturally..

<Beyond rhetoric - Improving our capacity

AAEE is comprised of diverse communities, and each aims to improve current practice in environmental education. Much of the Association’s national effort is through (and supports) the National Action Plan, through the focus of this conference and through many other workshops and training conducted by state and territory chapters and special interest groups - Early Childhood, Teachers and Teacher Educators, Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, Transformative Learning, Young People and Citizenship, Research, and Vocational Education and Training.

Innovative and effective professional development approaches will be the highlight of work in this theme.

As part of this year’s event the AAEE also contracted me to help them to create an exhibition of works from the real life Conference Exhibition, and it has been a pleasure to transform the jokaydia Gallery space into a Conference Venue for the event.

We have also added some special enviro-features to the jokaydia Gallery - including water collection, worm farming, composting and solar resources from the Big Switch. I hope that it demonstrates some of the wonderful ways we are able to embed incidental learning opportunities into SL environments.

The exhibition is described by the organisers as:

Topophilia: Love of Land

Where is the landscape that gives you a sense of belonging; the place that you love and care for? These works explore emotional responses to being outside of the urban space; visual responses to the ‘natural’ world in which we find ourselves. Does this love of place help us protect it?

Artists in paint, print and photography are invited to submit work on this theme to be selected for display in the Real Life (RL) Charles Darwin University Gallery space during a the Australian Assocation for Environmental Education’s 15th Biennial conference, held in Darwin, Australia from 9-11 July 2008.

A selection of images have also been displayed here to provide a virtual meeting space for both conference participants and Second Life residents.

The exhibition contains some beautiful works, from a whole range of wonderful artists including: Linda Ford, Strider, Birut Zemits, David Rolfe, Sarah Pirrie, John du Feu, Jodie Wilson, Alison Worsnop, Daphne Cazalet, Aly de Groot, Dorothyt Napangardi, Marina Strocchi, Frank Clancy, Weaver Jack, Judy Watson, Mary Meribida, Helicopter Joe Tjungurrayi, Nabiru (Harry) Bulleen, and Ningie Nanala Nangala.

Over the next few days all jokaydians are welcome to participate, by visiting the Topophilia Exhibition. You can teleport directly via this SLurl.

Additionally, the AAEE will be staging a couple of mixed reality events where RL participants and SL participants will have an opportunity to connect:

Topophilia -Exhibition Launch in second Life

Meeting at the jokaydia Gallery inworld to discussion Conference Posters and the Gallery Space

Indigenous Print-Making Process Discussion in the Central Gallery Space

Artists discuss their practice

Special thanks thanks to Amelie Tarantal aka Birut Zemits for all her work in coordinating this special exhibition with the AAEE community, and also to jokaydians Pandora Kurranjong and Sapphire Caewlin for assisting with the facilitation of the events!

Seeya at Topophilia! ;)

July 9, 2008 | Filed Under artgallery, community, education, events, jokaydia, news 

Comments

One Response to “Are you interested in Environmental Education!??”

  1. Konrad Glogowski on July 9th, 2008 5:19 pm

    I can’t believe I’m missing this exhibition! Unfortunately, I cannot access SL from where I am right now (South Africa, with only a cell phone modem). What an amazing opportunity to talk about community building and collect some footage!

    Enjoy this one, fellow jokaydians!

    - Konrad

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