The knowledge of power: environmental education and the public understanding of energy

• Grant number: 17/50385-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2018
• End date: March 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Agreement: Durham University
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Roberto Jacobi
• Grantee: Pedro Roberto Jacobi
• Principal researcher abroad: Simone Abram
• Institution abroad: Durham University (DU), England
• Host Institution: Instituto de Energia e Ambiente (IEE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/03804-9 - Environmental governance of macrometropolis paulista in face of climate variability, AP.PFPMCG.TEM

Abstract

The current "energy transition" - from fossil to low carbon, non-renewables to renewables, centralised to decentralised, nationalised to neoliberal energy - relies on very complex political, social and technological transformations. The systemic and often controversial nature of energy transformations makes it difficult for the people to understand, and for experts to communicate. The public understanding energy not only involves matters of engineering, but also questions of citizenship, public health, environmental sustainability, consumer empowerment, etc. Therefore, this project aims to explore and develop innovative ways of educating and engaging with the public in order to raise awareness about the energy transition and its socio-environmental implications, whether it is through conventional (science teaching, museums) or unconventional (arts, gaming, tourism, heritage, etc.) forms of learning. The project puts together researchers from USP and Durham University with common interest in energy and education. Researchers from the LAPPES (USP) have developed a strong knowledge on questions of environmental education associated with water and c1imate change governance, while the DEI has developed innovative collaborations with social anthropologists, becoming a leading institution in Europe in the Energy Humanities. The SPRINT call is an opportunity for us to merge these two areas of expertise and push the research forward in ali matters related to the public understanding of energy. (AU)