nature curriculum – Out There Learning

Why we need to find a way to reconnect with Nature

1 Comment / Julian's Blog, Nature Connection / Julian Thomson / nature connection, nature curriculum, nature education

Receiving theSCANZ science communication prize for 2019

After 12 years living my dream job at GNS Science in New Zealand, I left the organisation in early January 2020 to become a self employed educational consultant and science communicator. So why leave GNS and expand my horizons? Here is my Why: There have been so many incredible highlights from my time being connected with GNS, going back as far as 2001 that I find it hard to write a full list, but here is a taster: running field trips for students and teachers all over New Zealand, including exploring glaciers in the Southern Alps, on the volcanoes and many other fascinating locations, being the logistics manager for the Alpine Ice Core project, drilling ice on several glaciers in the Southern Alps working in Antarctica as an educator for the ANDRILL sediment coring programme Being a script editor, science advisor and presenter for several TV documentaries shown to a worldwide audience Creating the GNS Science YouTube channel, by far the most popular video channel for any New Zealand university or Crown Research Institute Creating the GeoTrips website that shows interested non specialists where they can explore geological outcrops, landforms or informative displays. Science Communicators’ Prize for creating the GeoTrips website Visiting and exploring many fascinating locations in New Zealand and Indonesia to document the work of science teams out in the field, including areas affected by the Christchurch Earthquake, Kaikoura Earthquake, Volcanoes such as White Island, Tongariro, Ruapehu and the Auckland Volcanic Field. Discovering fossils in remote areas including an unknown species of fossil whale Best of all has been to get to know a huge range of teachers, scientists, students and others, many of whom I hope to continue to work with. In my new role I will continue to work independently with science organisations, schools and individuals who are interested to communicate about geoscience, ecology, education and adventure in the outdoors. Julian Thomson, Rangipo Desert with logs burnt by the Taupo Eruption,

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Developing a nature and outdoor education programme in Taiwan

Leave a Comment / Julian's Blog, Nature Connection, Projects / Julian Thomson / high school programme, nature adventure, nature curriculum, nature education, outdoor education, steiner school, Taiwan, Taiwan ecology, Taiwan geology, waldorf school, yilan province

Stone circle art at Nanao River, NE Taiwan

I have been asked to work with a group of teachers and school administrators in Cu Xin school, Dongshan Township, Yilan, Taiwan, to help them develop and refine their nature and outdoor education programme in the high school. I will be there for the month of February 2020 and this will be the first visit, with possibly more to follow. The rationale for this initiative is that outdoor education can be designed to offer several benefits, including physical fitness, psychological challenge and resilience, aesthetic appreciation and scientific learning. One thing that interests me in particular is the relationship between being in or near to green spaces and natural environments; specific nature connectedness activities; psychological well-being and environmental action taking. These are topics that I will elaborate on at a later date. For now let me leave this video with you that is the way I see things in this space of education and nature:

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Nature Connectedness 2020

1 Comment / Julian's Blog / Julian Thomson / appreciating nature, Experiencing Nature, learning outdoors, Nature connectedness, nature curriculum, out there learning

Julian being filmed for 'Beneath New Zealand' doco

After 12 years as the Outreach Educator and Science Communicator at GNS Science New Zealand, I am now an independent educational and science communication consultant. Behind this new move is a desire to focus my work on breaking down the barriers that inhibit people, especially young people, from getting outside, connecting, exploring, adventuring, discovering and enjoying everything that is to be experienced in natural environments. Visiting vs connecting with natureResearch is showing that those people who engage in nature by actually taking notice of the environment even to a limited extent, have measurable physical and mental health benefits. It has also been shown that nature connectedness – by using the senses, experiencing beauty, responding emotionally and compassionately increases the likelihood that people will make positive choices that conserve or enhance the environment. Connect people with nature to benefit both people and nature. How to explore nature?There are countless ways to increase nature connectedness. There are also many barriers that have become significant in our modern screen dominated urban lifetyles. What used to be the most self-evident and natural thing in the past – that people engaged with and spent lots of time in nature, has become something we have to do intentionally . Exploring the way to a new nature connection curriculumIn February I will be spending a month with teachers in Yilan Province, NE Taiwan, exploring the environment in the region of their school and helping design their high school outdoor education curriculum.

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