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Youth Engagement

An important area of the Community, Environment, and Justice Research Group (CEJRG) is youth engagement in environmental action and sustainability. This includes the development of an evaluation framework for youth engagement programs and a theory of engagement, development of the Environmental Action Scale, a variety of empirical studies, curriculum and workshop development, and consultation.

Topics of interests include engagement through a focus on system thinking, empathy, and environmental justice, environmental action vs. behaviour change, the ripple effect of youth engagement programs, and sustaining engagement over time.

Projects

Presentations and Talks

Community Psychology

  • Riemer, M. (2015, April). Psychology, environment, and action: How psychology can help fostering engaged citizenship. Invited talk at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Learning

  • Riemer, M. (2013, November). Education for complexity: Transformational learning on environmental justice. Invited talk at the 2013 Greening Education conference in Karlsruhe, Germany.
  • Riemer, M. (2013). Using community psychology to engage young people in environmental action locally and internationally. In Riemer (Chair). Using community psychology to engage young people in environmental action: An empirical exploration. Symposium conducted at the 2013 Biennial Conference of the Society for Community, Research, and Action, Miami, FL. June 26-29, 2013.
  • Riemer, M. (2013, June). Psychology, Environment, and Justice: From Consciousness to Action. Invited Address at the 2013 Convention of the Canadian Psychological Association, Quebec City, Quebec.
  • Riemer, M, (2013, May). Engaging young people in environmental action: From consciousness to action. Invited presentation at the Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Environment, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
  • Riemer, M. (2013, January). Psychology, sustainability and environmental justice. Invited presentation at the Applied Social Psychology Speaker Series, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON.
  • Riemer, M. (2012, November). Being green is not easy: Psychological applications to global climate change, sustainability and environmental justice. Invited presentation at the Psychology Speaker Series, Colby College, Waterville, Maine.
  • Riemer, M. & Metternich, A. (2012). The microwave revolution. In Hickman, G.M. (Chair). Youth Leading Environmental Change: The opportunities and challenges of engaging youth in environmental activism. Symposium conducted at the International Community Psychology Conference, Barcelona, Spain. June 21-23, 2012.
  • Hickman, G.M. & Riemer, M. (2011). Promoting Youth Engagement through Raising Critical Consciousness about Environmental Justice. In Riemer, M. (Chair). Engaging young people in political and community activism: Opportunities and challenges. Symposium conducted at the biennial conference of the Society for Community, Research, and Action, Chicago, Illinois. June 15-18, 2011.
  • Riemer, M. & Lynes, J. (2011). Engaging youth in environmental change: A theoretical perspective. In Riemer, M. (Chair). Engaging young people in political and community activism: Opportunities and challenges. Symposium conducted at the 13th Biennial Conference of the Society for Community Research and Action (Division 27 of the American Psychological Association), Chicago, Illinois, June 16-19.
  • Dittmer, L.D. & Riemer, M. (2010). Expanding the scope of pro-environmental behaviour change: Consciousness raising among youth. Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference of Community Psychology, Puebla, Mexico, June 3-5, 2010.
  • Dittmer, L.D., Wicks, S., & Riemer, M. (2009). Evaluation of a community-based approach to environmental conservation and climate change mitigation. Paper presented at the 2009 Ecology and Ethology Colloquium, Queens University, Kingston, ON.

Contact Us:

E: veris@wlu.ca
T: 519.884.0710 x2982
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