SHSU Researcher Co-Authors International Study on Climate Change Education Across Three Countries

Dr. Hatice Zeynep Inan, faculty member in the Sam Houston State University College of Education, recently co-authored a major international research study published in the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, a leading peer-reviewed journal in the field of teacher preparation and early childhood education.

The study, “Indonesian, Turkish, and U.S. Early Childhood and Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Climate Change Identities and Behaviors,” brought together an international team of researchers from the United States, Türkiye, and Indonesia to examine how future teachers understand, experience, and respond to climate change.

Drawing on data from more than 1,000 early childhood and elementary teacher candidates across the three countries, the research investigated environmental attitudes, climate change beliefs, prior learning experiences, uncertainty, and pro-environmental behaviors. The findings revealed important cross-national differences and highlighted the role of cultural, social, and educational contexts in shaping future teachers’ climate-related identities and practices.

As climate change increasingly affects children, families, and schools worldwide, the study emphasizes the critical role of teacher preparation programs in equipping future educators to support young learners in understanding and responding to environmental challenges.

The publication represents a significant international collaboration among scholars from Sam Houston State University, Brigham Young University, Utah State University, universities in Türkiye, and University Sriwijaya in Indonesia. The study contributes to the growing global conversation on climate change education and the preparation of educators for an increasingly complex and changing world.