WS C: Notions of quality and criticality in environmental and sustainability education research

A key concern for any research network is to qualify notions of research quality, also elucidating conceptions of criticality, originality and significance. In the context of the ECER conference, research quality turns specific and concrete in the submission and review process ending with acceptance or rejection. In that process certain criteria are mobilized, supposedly accommodating the diversity of research approaches and methodological considerations that constitute a research field.

At this workshop, that also serves as an opening event for Network 30 at ECER 2026, we will address notions of research quality in environmental and sustainability education research. We invite the participants to identify, share and discuss main concerns that stand out as vital to adhere to in the identification of quality in ESE research.

The workshop will be carried out with two group discussions, bringing up vital issues and concerns within the network. They will be divided by two ignite talks.  In the first group discussion the participants will be asked to consider what they think counts as quality in ESE research. While many criteria are obvious, some may appear to be more decisive than others. They are encouraged to bring in examples from their research field in an open exploratory talk. We will also draw on processes that act to monitor quality, such as peer reviews, state-led quality review processes and the assessment of PhD theses/dissertations. Such examples also demonstrate how research quality also is a notion connected with ideology and power relations.

The workshop then open up for two ignite talks. The first is addressing the tension between criticality and care in review processes, also emphasizing the ethical responsibility of the review process. The second ignite talk is discussing challenges of accommodating the plurality of methodological approaches distinguishing environmental and sustainability education research. A particular concern is here to review emerging methodologies (Art-based research, post-human approaches etc.). What counts as ’rigour’ in evolving paradigms? 

The final group discussion connects with the ignite talks, continuing the reflections on quality by suggesting some central concerns that the groups agree or/and disagree upon. 

The workshop ends with a final plenary summing up the concerns brought up by the groups.