Samar Kirresh, a Palestinian from Jerusalem, has a B.Sc. in Biology and Medical Technology and an MA in Science Education. She had an active career in teaching and teacher training. Member of the Advisory Board for the College of Education at Birzeit University. She held a position as a Senior Research at A.M. Qattan Foundation between 2011 till June 2021. Samar is an expert in Maker Education, Science Art Education and has an experience in exhibit development. She is a self-learner in visual arts and a maker.

Samar has a hands-on experience in research, developing content and management of science festivals, designing interactive science activities and designing and implementing public collaborative science art experiences. She put her academic experience together with her passion and longtime engagement she in researching art, tinkering and making in founding AlElieh for Science Environment and Art as the first Palestinian maker space in her home city of Jerusalem. Also, still following on her private art project “Tattoo” and co-founded artisans' participatory platform "Art Market Jerusalem".

Connecting Systems of Knowledge with Systems of Practice to
Influence Policymaking on the Environment

Environmental Education (EEd), Science Communication (SciComm), and Environmental Literacy (EL) are interconnected or even entwined fields with Policymaking. EEd, SciComm, and EL are part of formal and informal learning systems. They put forward the knowledgeable individual as the goal and means for policymaking and change.

EEd promotes a literacy that fosters an understanding of the interdependence between humans and the natural world; an EL on environmental issues, natural systems, biosystems, biodiversity, and sustainable practices that encourages better behavior and advocacy for environmentally safe policies. EEd empowers communities to critically evaluate existing environmental policies and provide constructive feedback for improvement based on real-world examples aligned with the needs of the community. Therefore, policies will be grounded in scientific knowledge and public interest. Insights from EEd can help establish evidence-based policies.

SciCom creates informed practicing citizens who provide suggestions for effective acceptable and possible environmental policies. They can raise awareness, open public discussions and create action groups. EEd encourages sustainable behaviors that can also influence policy decisions and regulations. Such policies in turn will be designed to support these behaviors. Educational institutions can integrate EEd into their curricula and adopt sustainable practices. They can enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals in education and policymaking and update them on the latest scientific findings and innovative solutions. This will open a constructive dialogue in support of the environment and better inform policymaking.

EEd is a shared concern nationally and internationally. It serves as a transboundary connection and demands collaboration between systems of knowledge and systems of practice for the benefit of future generations all over the world.

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