2009 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

A Study on the ideal type of the Japanese environmental education based on international comparisons

Research Project

Project/Area Number	18500656
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Science education
Research Institution	Meiji University
Principal Investigator	SHIBASAKI Fumikazu Meiji University, 政治経済学部, 教授 (90260124)
Project Period (FY)	2006 – 2009
Keywords	環境教育
Research Abstract	This study makes three proposals for ways to improve environmental awareness in Japan. The first proposal is for the introduction of a new subject called "Environmental Studies", a change that would require drastically revising the current subjects of "Integrated Studies," "Home Economics" and "Technology." The second is that civil organizations focused on environmental education reduce their membership fees to the level of American and European organizations, as by thus encouraging more people to join they would likely become more effective in their work. It is also important to create conditions that will make it easier for experts from such environmental organizations to contribute to improving environmental education in schools. The third proposal is that Japanese organizations which already have the rights to American environmental education programs should extend these rights, where appropriate, to other organizations that are engaged primarily in promoting environmental education.