Young people and policy makers will come together to generate urgently needed education policies that better address the impacts of climate change, AI, and pandemics on young people.
The problem
Slow emergencies are crises such as climate change, AI, and pandemics which progress invisibly over longer time scales and thus do not catalyse the policy action seen with more immediate capital ‘E’ Emergencies. Initial research suggests the convergence of slow emergencies is impacting the sense of future for young people, including resulting in increased mental health diagnoses and suicide rates.
The proposed research
Prof. Marcia McKenzie and colleagues are exploring how participatory policy making methods involving young people can help open policy windows on slow emergencies. Through interviews, policy forums, and tools and outputs distributed across states and territories, this research examines: (1) how the combined effects of slow emergencies impact young people’s senses of future; (2) how sharing young people’s experiences with policy makers can enable policy change; and (3) how these policy changes may need to vary to account for political dynamics in subnational jurisdictions. Understanding and use of the research will be furthered nationally through collaboration with policy makers; and the release of policy briefs, an online platform to support policy decision-making, and online toolkits for use with young people.
The intended impact
The research is expected to build new knowledge on how the slow emergencies of climate change, AI, and pandemics are together affecting young people’s hope for the future. The research findings will inform policy to better address the impacts of slow emergencies on young people. Ultimately, the project will contribute to more hopeful futures for young people, while building capacity to transition to post-carbon economies and manage the rapid development of AI and the effects of future pandemics.
The research team
Prof Marcia McKenzie
Professor in Global Studies and International Education
marcia.mckenzie@unimelb.edu.au
Prof Sam Sellar
Dean of Research (Education Futures) and Professor of Education Policy, Adelaide University
Sam.Sellar@unisa.edu.au