ROMANIAN, SPANISH AND US SECONDARY SCIENCE TEACHER PERCEPTIONS OF THREATS TO THE BIOSPHERE - Volume 2 - Number 3 (2009)

Oct 15, 2026

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This paper reports findings from a study of 41 Romanian secondary science teachers and compares them with a previously published dataset of 89 Spanish and 42 US secondary science teachers. All groups completed a two-part questionnaire in English, Spanish, or Romanian based on their sample. The study investigates whether citizens with different environmental experiences perceive biosphere threats differently and how that perception shapes science instruction. Five research questions are addressed, including technological and environmental problems discussed at the 2002 Johannesburg Earth Summit.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background

Volume 2, Number 3, 2009 ROMANIAN, SPANISH AND US SECONDARY SCIENCE TEACHER PERCEPTIONS OF THREATS TO THE BIOSPHERE Michael Robinson, Adrienne Kozan Naumescu, Bob Ives Abstract: This paper presents the data from a current study involving 41 Romanian secondary science teachers and a previously published study that compared 89 Spanish and 42 US secondary science teachers. All three groups were convenience samples who answered a two part questionnaire that was given in English, Spanish or Romanian, depending on the sample. The overriding question was whether citizens in countries that have different environmental experiences perceive threats to the biosphere differently and teach about different environmental problems/threats in science classes if at all. Five specific research questions were addressed including the following two: 1) What were some of technological and environmental problems and or threats that were discussed in the 2002 Johannesburg Earth Summit? 2) Can you describe any reasons why you do or do not teach about environmental and technological problems and or threats in your science classes? The results indicated considerable differences in the three nationalities perceptions of and understanding of threats to the biosphere. Perhaps the most important conclusions were: First, perceptions of environmental threats are based to a large degree on citizens personal experiences with the threat/s in the environment in which they live even when those threats may not be the most urgent global threats; and second, if all citizens, no matter where they live, are to become better informed about global threats to the biosphere faced by the world as a whole, there must bea common global science curriculum that addresses these threats. Key words: intercultural education, science education, environmental education 1. Introduction It has become clear that all countries of the world need to begin addressing the many technology based global environmental problems/threats that are causing harm to the biosphere and that if not addressed soon may reduce the ability of the earth to support life as we know it. Global climate change is the most obvious and perhaps most pressing of these threats. In the continuing efforts to get all countries to agree on plans to decrease carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, the recent UN sponsored Bali Climate Change Conference with 180 countries represented, was the latest step (UN, 2007) . Earlier UN sponsored world environmental conferences in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 (The Earth Summit)1, Kyoto in 1997 (UN, 1997) and the Johannesburg UN Summit in 2002 (UN, 2002) also addressed environmental problems/threats. 1 The Rio Earth Summit influenced all subsequent UN conferences, which have examined the relationship between human rights, population, social development, women and human settlements—and the need for environmentally sustainable development (UN, 1997) . Received: 12 August 2009, accepted: 24 September 2009, published 30 September 2009 The Kyoto protocol was an international and legally binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide that came into force in February 2005 after being ratified by 174 nations. The intent of the pact was to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by developed countries to at least 5% below 1990 levels by 2008-12. It was never signed by the US and Australia and President George W. Bush said it would hurt the US economy. The first commitment period to the Kyoto protocol will expire in 2012 and a new pact is urgently needed that must include the US, China and India. According to the UN scientific report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) it is clear beyond doubt that climate change is a reality which poses a serious threat to the future development of the world's economies, societies and ecosystems (Aldred, 2007) . 2. Background The above information makes it clear that human efforts that address the nee

FAQs

Which international events are referenced as addressing environmental threats?

The paper references UN-sponsored conferences such as the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (1992), Kyoto (1997), and the Johannesburg UN Summit (2002), as well as the Bali Climate Change Conference (UN, 2007).

Oct 15, 2026

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