Science Education: Fit for the Future

In a world grappling with the climate change polycrisis, biodiversity loss, misinformation, and deepening inequality, the way we teach science must change. Our rangatahi are not just stepping into this world; they’re already living it. The latest editorial in Research in Science Education by Peta White and Russell Tytler makes a compelling case: if school science is to remain relevant and impactful, it must evolve to meet the complex demands of our time.

Classroom setup featuring a model solar panels and wind turbines on a table, used for teaching renewable energy concepts. Image source: Adobe Stock

The challenges of the Anthropocene may be rooted in science, but their consequences—and solutions—span across human, societal, and ethical dimensions. In response, school science must move beyond siloed disciplines and neutral content delivery. Instead, it needs to foster systems thinking, futures literacy, critical reasoning, and student agency through real-world, interdisciplinary learning.

This means helping students navigate uncertainty, explore multiple perspectives, and find pathways to hopeful, meaningful action—even in the face of overwhelming realities.

As White and Tytler (2025) note,

"The OECD PISA 2025 Science Framework and its associated paper, ‘Agency in the Anthropocene’, strongly support a shift toward science education that develops students’ capability to engage with complex socioscientific issues, and to act with hope and efficacy in shaping a more just and sustainable future.”

The editorial is a must-read for science educators who are interested in finding out what Aotearoa New Zealand needs to do in order to deliver an internationally recognised science education system.

Science education must transform. Not incrementally—but boldly.

Read the Original Article | Go to Editorial

Related Webinar: Are you interested in how science education can empower local communities to engage with urgent global challenges—from climate change to pollution to food insecurity? Monash University is holding a free webinar, Global Challenges, Local Classrooms: Empowering Through Science.