Student Climate Commons

In this FREE three-hour event, Year 8 to 11 students will explore the current impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, and the inspiring ways young people are leading the charge toward resilience and action.

Through interactive group activities across the museum and engaging discussions, students will deepen their understanding of how climate change is affecting communities and ecosystems today. They’ll also hear from youth leaders and experts who are driving innovative solutions and community-based responses.

This event, co-designed with students, addresses a key conundrum – how to teach the critical content around climate change and its impacts while supporting young people to process the worry and grief this may evoke.
Students will leave with evidence-based information, inspiring stories, and tools to take meaningful steps in their own communities.

Students will experience

• Inspiring talks by experts in biodiversity conservation and climate science.
• Challenge activities across the museum, encouraging collaboration and problem solving, whilst connecting with other students.

Students will learn

• About the scientific work being undertaken to understand natural systems, conserve biodiversity and develop sustainable resource practices in multiple fields.
• That worry or concern is a completely natural response to the climate crisis.
• Strategies for peer support and empathetic communication when others encounter challenge or adversity.
• How collective experiences can help break-down and understand complex ethical and existential challenges.

Other key information

• Teachers are encouraged to consider bringing any year 8 to 11 students who have been exposed to climate messaging through their schoolwork, who have a keen interest in this area, or who have expressed climate worry or distress.
• This event is designed to augment and support climate change understanding, to provide very necessary emotional and mental health supports.