Feature Articles

Environmental Education as the Mountain – Exploring Chinese-ness of Environmental Education

Xia Ji^a1 c1

^a1 University of Regina

Abstract

What experiences have infuenced Chinese educators' environmental consciousness and their involvement in environmental education work? Using the autobiographical inquiry approach the author explored this question with fourteen master environmental educators from various regions of China and examined in depth their signifcant life experiences (SLE). Participants described several paths to become involved in environmental education work. Multiple factors impacted their environmental consciousness. Out of ten main categories of SLE three themes emerged: serendipity, , and a strong sense of responsibility toward the environment and toward environmental education work. This study illuminates the Chinese-ness of environmental education from the angle of life experiences and reflections of environmental educators in mainland China, which also has relevance to and implications for the wider international environmental education community.

Keywords:

• environmental education;
• Chinese environmental educator;
• signifcant life experiences;
• Chinese-ness of environmental education;
• environmental consciousness;
• teacher educator;
• Environmental Educators' Initiative

Correspondence:

^c1 Address for correspondence: Dr. Xia Ji, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada. Email: xia.ji@uregina.ca

Xia Ji is an Assistant Professor of Science and Environmental Education at the University of Regina in Canada. As a President's Teaching and Learning Scholar, she works to integrate teaching, research, and community engagement in the areas of teacher education, deep pedagogy, environmental learning and leadership, and civic discourse in science and environmental education. She also works to advance the environmental movement and sustainability education in mainland China.