Building environmental engagement: Can bridging social-ecological and learning systems theories be a lever for change?

Pressing sustainability issues are rooted in human and earth systems interactions that are difficult to address because of their complex, dynamic, and unpredictable nature. Addressing these social-ecological challenges requires systems-level change, which relies on both direct improvements to natural systems and indirect drivers of change, such as educational levers. We aim to provoke more transdisciplinary work between environmental scientists and educators by bringing together key constructs from social-ecological and learning systems theories. Writing from the perspective of educators and social scientists, our objectives are to encourage ecologists and other environmental scientists to (1) recognize that learning systems are essential elements of social-ecological ecosystems and (2) embrace their role as keystones within these learning systems, uniquely positioned to drive interest in the environment and support transformative learning. We suggest potential areas of intersection between social-ecological and learning systems, seeking leverage points for transformative change toward more sustainable communities.