The Role of Education in the Epoch of Anthropocene

This session will explore the concept of the Anthropocene as this has had a significant human impact on Earth’s ecosystems. Given this context, there is a need to consider the role of education towards achieving gender justice especially in relation to young learners. Precisely, the session will tackle the intersections among the Anthropocene, the sociology of education, gender justice and online environments with the aim of adopting a transformative approach to understanding and addressing the challenges imposed by the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene, characterized by significant environmental changes and crises, has also contributed to uncertainty and anxiety among adolescents. Towards this purpose, we welcome contributions of conceptual and empirical papers that explore any of the following questions:

• What role can education and institutions play in addressing gender inequalities in online environments, within the context of the Anthropocene?
• What are the intersections among the Anthropocene, sociology of education and gender justice?
• How can educational practices and policies be designed to promote gender equity and environmental consciousness simultaneously?
• In what ways does the Anthropocene exacerbate existing gender disparities?
• To what extend has the Anthropocene caused a sense of anxiety and uncertainty among young learners and how can these exacerbate social tensions?
• How can the integration of environmental and gender justice education empower young learners to adapt to an era of the Anthropocene?
• How can online communities be utilized as platforms to promote gender justice and environmental sustainability among young learners?
• What strategies and interventions can create inclusive and supportive online environments for adolescents?