Kirsten Somerville
PhD researcher at University of Glasgow. Researching storytelling in geographical and environmental education, teaching critical and academic literacies.
#EducationForSustainability / #LearningDevelopment / #WideningParticipation
- The emergence of GenAI really brings into focus the distinction between belonging and mattering in Higher Education. When conformity to convention is prioritised over authentic contribution, those who already feel they don't belong are disproportionately incentivised to outsource their expression.
- Writing up mantra, courtesy of Amyl and the Sniffers youtu.be/xYOjGaBY-20?...
- Reposted by Kirsten SomervilleThis is brilliant: www.storiescourse.org/new free online ecolinguistics course "The Search for New Stories to Live By" (Arran Stibbe) discourses that can help build a fairer and more ecological world
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- Reasons to love Elisée Reclus: the only geographer, to my knowledge, to have been immortalised in a punk song youtu.be/KMLPvseoF94?...
- (If anyone's aware of any other geographers immortalised in song, punk or otherwise, let's start a thread)
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- Having completely overhauled my "What is Nature?" course in light of these principles - centring authentic, situated engagement with texts in pedagogy and assessment - seeing the sparks fly in class and in students' writing has made it all worthwhile.
- "The real crisis is that the system itself has already reduced learning to a game where authentic engagement gets crowded out by the logic of accumulation and exchange." Insightful article on the structural incentivisation of AI outsourcing in #HigherEd trevoraleo.substack.com/p/against-sc...
- Currently overhauling my introductory "What is Nature?" course and delighted to discover a new book has been published on exactly this topic since I last taught it. Thanks @asleuki.bsky.social for a perfectly-timed announcement of your book prize shortlist! yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
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- Reposted by Kirsten SomervilleSay hello to #communiMap - a new community science app that helps you notice, share & map what matters in your neighbourhood - trees, wildlife, flooding & more. Co-designed by UofG's @communigallant.bsky.social & local communities — it's everyday noticing turned into climate action. gla.ac/4eVwYMU
- Just back from a fantastic experience at the International Conference of Historical Geographers at Fudan University, Shanghai. As well as catching up with my old #GeoEducation buddy Hermione, I gained new perspectives on my field, including the Scottish poet I wrote my undergraduate dissertation on!
- Reposted by Kirsten SomervilleFascinating & useful article 'What if we think of the arts as knowledge rich' by @patthomson.bsky.social on Cultural Learning Alliance website. Useful for anyone working in #artseducation. How do we translate into practical framing/messaging? www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk/think-of-art...
- Reposted by Kirsten SomervilleThis #WorldPeatlandsDay we're sharing a new free learning resource all about poetry & peatland, created for our Bog Talk project. 🌿 designed for upper KS2 learners (but full of fun ideas for all!) 🌿 written by @clareshawpoet.bsky.social 🌿 illustrated by Louise Crosby 🔗 bit.ly/BogsTalking
- Reposted by Kirsten SomervilleWe're excited to announce that we're taking part in the Glasgow Science Festival! Come along to our session in partnership with @uofglasgow.bsky.social on 14 June and explore languages in nature at the Botanic Gardens! More info: loom.ly/xjOQ_Hk #GlaSciFest
- "Our current crises stem from narrow, technocratic thinking: a mindset that externalised environmental harm, reduced nature to property, and prioritised short-term gain over long-term survival. The humanities help us challenge that logic." #EnvHum #HigherEducation #ESD wonkhe.com/blogs/our-fu...
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- Reposted by Kirsten Somerville✍️ Words of the Wild is back — and submissions are OPEN! This year’s theme is From source to sea, exploring the journeys our rivers, coasts & wild waters inspire. 🌊 Full details + how to enter: bit.ly/4m1a4qQ #WordsOfTheWild #NatureWriting
- This month, we're discussing the affordances of drama for exploring the psychosocial dimensions of climate change in education. Join us this Wednesday at 4pm (UK time).
- Feeling energised after yesterday's PGR conference on Social and Environmental Sustainability at @uofgdumfries.bsky.social. It was a great prompt to consider my own work through the lens of the UN #SustainableDevelopmentGoals, as well as hearing a range of critical, cross-disciplinary perspectives.
- Volume 9 of [X]position, the undergraduate journal of @uofglasgow.bsky.social, showcases research across all four colleges on the theme of An Evolving Digital World. It was a privilege to mentor some of the authors through the publication process. Check it out! www.talkaboutx.net/xposition
- "There is much that could be learnt from the approach taken by Scotland. Its learning for sustainability vision takes a cross-curricular, solutions-focused approach." #NaturalHistoryGCSE #LearningForSustainability #ClimateChangeEducation theconversation.com/a-new-natura...
- Reposted by Kirsten Somerville❗New❗Launching this term, we are running a series of Open Access workshops for primary practitioners on the theme of outdoor learning🍃. These in-person workshops are free to attend. Sign up to the session closest to you: loom.ly/GVnjN3k
- Not @jstor.bsky.social embedding academic literacies into its citation tool. We love to see it! #AcademicLiteracies #LearningDevelopment
- "We think of culture as this kind of side issue that our enemies use to distract people away from more material concerns, but that's exactly backwards." www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...
- Another excellent episode of the Communicating Climate Change podcast on the transformative power of fiction, the kinds of stories we need now, and where to find them. open.spotify.com/episode/7KFZ...
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- Excited for the 10th Anniversary of the Let's Talk About [X] conference #LTAX25 tomorrow and Friday @uofglasgow.bsky.social! We'll be showcasing undergraduate research across all four Colleges - check out the programme here: www.talkaboutx.net/letstalkaboutx
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- Inspiring talk by @georgemonbiot.bsky.social at Words by the Water Keswick this evening, on the naturalisation of neoliberalism and the need for new narratives www.penguin.co.uk/books/455534...
- Reposted by Kirsten Somerville📢 Deadline approaching for our Words for the World competition! Focusing on 'Water', learners design a postcard, including a written message to the First Minister, with their words of advice for the world. Submit entries by 22 March. More info: loom.ly/N2cC-3A #languages
- Reposted by Kirsten Somerville🌍 Sustainable Travel Week 2025 at UofG is here! Join in for free bike repairs, workshops, active travel events, and more to make your commute to campus greener. The programme runs until 15 March: gla.ac/3DlBVRb
- Join us tomorrow to explore collaborative storytelling across disciplines in #EducationForSustainability #EfS
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- TOMORROW: we'll be discussing how #drama can support #ClimateChangeEducation - come join us!
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- Reposted by Kirsten SomervilleCalling all artists and scientists! Do you want to elevate your field sketches? Or maybe you’d like to incorporate more science into your art practice? Join The Creative Geo Club on Patreon! 🪨🎨 www.patreon.com/c/vojtahybl Keep reading to learn more ⬇️ #SciArt #illustration #science
- Can I apply to a second PhD before I finish the first one...? I guess not, but I am *very* excited to follow this research into the environmental legacy of #RobertBurns
- From fields to fauna, Robert Burns saw poetry in every blade of grass. @uofglasgow.bsky.social @glasgowburns.bsky.social @paulinemackay.bsky.social @dr-ron.bsky.social unveil new PhD scholarship researching the bard's profound connection with the natural world #BurnsNight gla.ac/3PKLkUS
- Reposted by Kirsten SomervilleRegistration is open for Scotland's Nature Student Conference! snsconference.wixsite.com/2025. Click the link to register: forms.gle/sEhSQWsF5SXK...
- "Hero figures can motivate others to follow suit, but a University of Sydney study suggests the way the energy sector shapes this narrative sets individuals up to fail."
- “Taking a very character-based approach can help reveal aspects of future scenarios that you might not necessarily get from a more pulled-out approach.”
- Reposted by Kirsten SomervilleCalling young frontline storytellers! How do you envision a desirable climate future in 2075? Climate Futures invite you to submit a proposal to Climate Storytelling 2075 - an anthology series dedicated to exploring the complexities of climate change. Submit by 31 Jan >> tinyurl.com/32pkfp4k
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- Critical media literacy is a vital part of #EducationForSustainability - great to see this addressed in professional learning for primary and secondary teachers in Scotland
- We hope everyone had a good break and are getting back into the swing of things! Looking to get stuck back in? Check out the next two months of offerings we have for CLPL twilights here: www.signpostsglobalcitizenship.org/current-clpl...
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