Teaching as if the Planet Matters: What if science education could save the world?
Oct 28, 2025 — 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Join us for the next event in our Research Conversations Series entitled “Teaching as if the Planet Matters: What if science education could save the world?” with Norris Igbinosa Erhabor, PhD, Anna Cecília de Alencar Reis, PhD, and Shimaa Mohamed Fahem, PhD. Register for this event happening on October 28, 2025, at 12 PM.
Description
In an era of climate crisis and environmental urgency, science education stands at a pivotal moment. We can no longer afford to teach science in isolation from the planetary challenges that define our students' futures. This event brings together an international group of researchers in our faculty – 1 postdoctoral fellow (Brazil) and 2 visiting scholars (Nigeria and Egypt) – who are trying to reimagine the teaching of science for planetary healing. This presentation will discuss how their combined research aims to blend science, art, innovation, and sustainability to create educational experiences that are both deeply engaging and urgently relevant, especially in contexts with limited resources.
Norris Igbinosa Erhabor, PhD
Speaker
Norris Igbinosa Erhabor, PhD, is a lecturer (faculty) in the Department of Health, Safety, and Environmental Education at the University of Benin, Nigeria, and a visiting researcher at the University of Ottawa. His teaching and research focus on environmental education, climate change adaptation, conservation behavior, and sustainability. He has published extensively in international journals and contributed to advancing environmental literacy through innovative, low-cost, and context-sensitive teaching approaches. Erhabor is also an Open AIR Fellow, a program that fosters African innovation and knowledge sharing, where he contributes research on sustainability and inclusive innovation. In addition, he serves as President of the Africa Network for Canadian Studies, where he leads international collaborations, and serves as Associate Editor for the British Ecological Society journal. His research and professional activities emphasize affordable innovation in science teaching, with the goal of empowering educators and students to respond effectively to global sustainability challenges.
Anna Cecília de Alencar Reis, PhD
Speaker
Anna Cecília is a Brazilian postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa (2025–2027), under the supervision of Professor Giuliano Reis. Her project, funded by the MEOPAR network, explores the aesthetic dimension of Ocean Literacy activities within the context of Blue Schools in Canada. She holds a PhD in Education from the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), with a research stay at the University of Geneva, a Master's degree in Cultural Studies from the University of São Paulo (USP), and two Bachelor's degrees: one in Natural Sciences (USP) and the other in Educational Sciences (Unifesp).
Her research interests lie in exploring the relationships between the arts, sciences, and education, particularly through the design of interdisciplinary didactic sequences. She is also involved in research projects addressing socioenvironmental issues and has been actively involved in educational initiatives related to blood donation since 2014.
Shimaa Mohamed Fahem, PhD
Speaker
Shimaa Fahem, PhD, is a lecturer in Curriculum and Science teaching methods for elementary science teachers at Faculty of education Tanta university, Egypt. And a visiting researcher at the University of Ottawa under the supervision of Professor Giuliano Reis. Her teaching and research focus on Argument-Based Inquiry approaches to improve the teaching of elementary science. She earned her Ph.D. in Science Education in 2019 (recipient of Tanta University’s Best Ph.D. Dissertation Award), gained international experience as a visiting researcher at the University of Iowa (2014–2017), and has served on committees for community engagement, examinations review, and statistical analysis. She has co-authored publications with the late Prof. Robert Yager and other colleagues.
Shimaa Fahem designs practice-centered professional-learning programs for science teachers in STEM contexts and develops classroom practices grounded in argument-based inquiry for the elementary level. Her work aims to deepen pupils’ conceptual understanding while equipping teachers with practical tools and assessments that sustain scientific dialogue. Through international collaborations, she bridges research and practice by producing classroom-ready units and evaluation frameworks that schools in Egypt and across the Arab region can readily adopt.