Design Thinking for Sustainability Education

Framed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this text empowers educators and policymakers to integrate critical and creative problem-solving skills into their practice through a focus on sustainability and the pedagogical approach of design thinking. It also presents applied solutions through case studies grounded in contemporary sustainability practices.

Driven by the urgent need to address climate change and environmental challenges, there is growing interest in sustainability education and the integration of sustainable practices into policy and curricula. This edited collection applies a range of design thinking models to curriculum reform across all educational levels, emphasizing the importance of equipping future students, curriculum designers, and policymakers with the tools to implement and sustain meaningful change. Through real-world environmental experiences written by educators, the book engages teachers and students in collaborative, community-based approaches to developing sustainable solutions. With a strong emphasis on practical application, the first section offers 'how-to' chapters that combine relevant literature, actionable ideas, and practical support to guide implementation. The second section, authored by experienced educators actively engaged in the field, presents examples and case studies from diverse global contexts, illustrating how the approaches from Section I have been applied in classrooms and the impact on student learning.

This essential resource for teachers, pre-service educators, and higher education faculty across disciplines provides a comprehensive guide to fostering impactful sustainability practices in education.

Rachel Sheffield is a Professor of Science Education and former Chair of the Curtin Academy at Curtin University, Australia. Prior to her academic career, she was a secondary science educator in Australian schools. She is a Principal Fellow of Advance HE and a committed advocate for STEM education, with a particular focus on the advancement and empowerment of women in the field. Her work has had a significant international impact, including being commissioned by UNESCO to produce a report on global citizenship education in the Asia-Pacific region.

Rekha Koul is a Professor and Deputy Head of Science Education at Curtin University. Australia. She specializes in classroom environment research and program evaluation. Rekha has authored books and secured significant research grants and leads the International Conference on Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education.

Sherry Bawa is an Associate Professor and the Deputy Head of School for the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance at Curtin University, Australia. She has more than 20 years of teaching experience in higher education across Australia and India. Sherry is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and co-Chair of Curtin Academy.

Lisa Tee is a Professor and Deputy Director of Learning and Teaching at Curtin Medical School, Australia, with over 30 years of research and teaching experience. Recognized for excellence and innovation in teaching, she developed MyCourseMap and co-founded VitOOLs, a virtual learning platform. Lisa’s current work involves transforming 2D medical imaging into 3D visualizations for complex clinical diagnoses. Lisa is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK).

Ben Milbourn is Deputy Director of the Curtin Autism Research Group and Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy at Curtin University, Australia. He focuses on community-inclusive research with autistic individuals, promoting social inclusion and well-being. Ben has won awards for his strengths-based programs and actively engages the community in his work.

Madeline Ayoub is a PhD candidate at the School of Education at Curtin University, Australia, and is researching and teaching in sustainable education and sustainable mindset.