Research · Programme
Digital Education for Sustainability
Researching digital education that supports informed decision-making and action in response to the climate crisis.
The Digital Education for Sustainability research programme brings together academics from multiple disciplines to investigate how innovative, equitable digital education can contribute to addressing the urgency of the climate crisis. The programme examines how pedagogies, practices, systems, and values shape climate-focused learning across sectors, disciplines, and social contexts, with the aim of supporting informed individual and collective action, and long-term sustainability transitions.
Situated within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals – particularly quality education, climate action, reduced inequalities, and sustainable innovation – the programme recognises that climate change is not only a scientific and technical issue but also a social, cultural, and ethical challenge. It explores how digital education can support systems thinking, critical engagement, and transformative learning through collaboration across fields including education, science, social sciences, health, business, and the creative arts.
The programme builds on sustainability-focused work within IET, including projects such as Every1, as well as IET’s experience in developing and evaluating curricula that support educators in responding to the climate crisis within their professional practice. Drawing on expertise in educational technology, learning design, AI, XR, learning analytics, and equitable education, the programme integrates conceptual, empirical, and design-led research approaches.
A distinctive strand of the programme examines the environmental footprint of digital education itself. As the use of educational technologies expands, including AI-driven systems, the programme investigates energy use, data infrastructures, procurement practices, platform design, and device lifecycles. It explores how institutions and educators can make informed, responsible decisions about technology use and how pedagogical practices can support more sustainable digital learning.
Overall, the programme investigates both the transformative potential and the unintended consequences of digitally mediated sustainability education, developing evidence, models, and design principles to support climate-responsive, socially just, and environmentally responsible digital learning.
Our academic team
Selected insights and findings
- Chandler, Kathy; Aristeidou, Maria; Ball, Simon; Charitonos, Koula; Kent, Carmel; Perryman, Leigh‐Anne and Rets, Irina (2025). Collaboration and care in climate education: Brave responses to an uncertain future. The Curriculum Journal, 36(2) pp. 294–308.
- Rets, Irina; Whitelock, Denise; Edwards, Chris; Perryman, Leigh-Anne and Goshtasbpour, Fereshte (2024). Energising the energy literacy debate for environmental education: Exploring citizens’ interest levels, knowledge gaps and individual differences. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 40(4) pp. 740–757.