This cornerstone project consists of four projects:
- Voices of Nature
- Anthropocene Bildung
- Handlemod! (Courage to act!)
- Grønne rejser (Green travels)
Project 1: Voices of Nature
In collaboration with Herlev Gymnasium and HF, the project develops interdisciplinary and innovative teaching approaches that combine natural sciences and humanities with a focus on sustainability and the relationship between humans and nature. Through education that stimulates students' imagination and empathy, the goal is to foster a deeper understanding of and responsibility for ecosystems on land and in water. The project investigates several research questions: How can imagination‑stimulating teaching enhance students' ability to understand and engage with sustainability? How can the combination of scientific methods and humanistic perspectives support the development of a deeper connection between students and nature? And how can education contribute to ecoliteracy (økodannelse) and create mutual understanding between humans and non‑human organisms?
The target group consists of two STX classes specializing in Biology A – Chemistry B, where students will work across the subjects Biology A, Danish A, and Classical Studies C. As part of the content, students will conduct field studies in various biotopes (e.g., coastal and agricultural land), analyzing biodiversity and ecosystems; engage in eco‑critical reading and creative assignments in Danish A, highlighting the roles of the sea and land in cultural history; participate in philosophical discussions in Classical Studies C on humanity’s relationship with nature in antiquity; and create “voices of nature” through creative productions (texts, videos, audio clips) where they imagine the world from nature’s perspective.
CUHRE’s role is to facilitate workshops and professional development for teachers and to contribute research on ecoliteracy, including methods to promote imagination and an understanding of interdependence between species. Expected outcomes include the development of interdisciplinary, imagination‑driven teaching programs with concrete materials and methods for teachers; a deeper understanding of sustainability among students through increased empathy and imagination‑based activities that strengthen their relationship with nature; and, for society, new pedagogical tools and methods for sustainability didactics within the education sector.
Descriptions of projects 2, 3, and 4 will be provided in the near future.
Project participants:
Mathilda Brückner, Department of Design, Media and Educational Science
Michael Paulsen, Department of Design, Media and Educational Science
Publications and outreach:
Brückner, M., & Paulsen, M. (2025). Tracing Care for Life: An Experimental Wayfaring Practice. In “Paradise lost? Philosophical Narratives for and in Sustainability Education”. International Explorations in Outdoor and Environmental Education. (Read more)
Illeris, H., & Paulsen, M. (2024). At blive menneske i Stige Ø: kunstfagdidaktiske tilgange til dannelse i det antropocæne. In T. P. Østern, H. Illeris, K. Knudsen, S. Jusslin, & K. Holdhus (Eds.), Kunstfagdidaktikk: som kunstnerisk, forskende og oppmerksom undervisningspraksis (pp. 176-192). Universitetsforlaget. (Read more)
Paulsen, M., Wilhelmsson, L., Blenkinsop, S., Jickling, B., & Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, A. (2025). Wilding pedagogies: theorising, practising and imagining towards a changing, decolonising and reconciling world. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 41(2), 107-112. (Read more)
Paulsen, M., Illeris, H., & Reato, T. (2025). Wilding pedagogy with nature writings, propositions and minor experiences: twisting with More-Than-Humans Towards Life-Friendly education. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 41(2), 338-354.
Paulsen, M., & Tække, J. (2024). Velkommen til Antropocæn: En indføring. I Antropocæn: Menneske, samfund og dannelse i en ny tidsalder. Unge Pædagoger. (Read more)
Ziethen, M., & Paulsen, M. (2025). Dannelse i det antropocæne. Klim. (Read more)
Paulsen, M., & Ziethen, M. (2024). Dannelse i en antropocæn tid: Livsvenligt tilstedevær. I Antropocæn: Menneske, samfund og dannelse i en ny tidsalder. Unge Pædagoger. (Read more)
More information on these projects, please contact Mathilda Brückner, mbru@sdu.dk or Michael Paulsen, mpaulsen@sdu.dk.