Science education for a sustainable future: The role of out-of-school experiences

The wicked problems (climate change, biodiversity crisis, deforestation, etc.) that confront humanity at this moment in time are both a challenge and an opportunity for science education. I argue that out-of-school science education has a particular and unique role to play in preparing children and youth to understand and address these wicked problems. I discuss and exemplify how out-of-school institutions can transcend disciplinary boundaries, include multiple voices, engage learners in real-world problems, and prompt historical consciousness, and how these characteristics make them critical actors in the formation of citizens to promote a sustainable future. Finally, I discuss the implications of this proposal for science education in Indonesia.