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What Do Students Know about Rivers and Their Management? Analysis by Educational Stages and Territories

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  • Rubén Ladrera

    (Area of Didactics of Experimental Sciences, Department of Agriculture and Food, University of La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain)

  • Pablo Rodríguez-Lozano

    (Department of Geography, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain)

  • Iraima Verkaik

    (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management Research Group, University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Narcís Prat

    (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management Research Group, University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain)

  • José Ramón Díez

    (Department of Mathematics and Experimental Sciences Education, University of the Basque Country, 48940 Leioa, Spain)

Abstract

The overall purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge that students have about the ecosystem concept of rivers and their sustainable management. A survey of nine questions gathered responses from 3447 students at three different Spanish education levels (Primary, Secondary, and bachelor’s degree in Primary Education) and six different geographic territories in the Iberian Peninsula. Respondents showed a limited understanding of rivers, much simpler than the ecosystem concept, which was related to proposals of unsustainable management of these ecosystems. Although the results were analogous among territories, undergraduate students had a more complex concept of rivers as well as more sustainable ideas regarding their management compared with Primary and Secondary Education students. This study demonstrates the lack of knowledge transfer between science and students regarding river ecosystems. Current educational programs should be adapted to address, even at early stages of education, the sustainability challenges around river ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Rubén Ladrera & Pablo Rodríguez-Lozano & Iraima Verkaik & Narcís Prat & José Ramón Díez, 2020. "What Do Students Know about Rivers and Their Management? Analysis by Educational Stages and Territories," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:20:p:8719-:d:432220
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Aude Zingraff-Hamed & Mathieu Bonnefond & Sebastien Bonthoux & Nicolas Legay & Sabine Greulich & Amélie Robert & Vincent Rotgé & José Serrano & Yixin Cao & Raita Bala & Alvin Vazha & Rebecca E. Tharme, 2021. "Human–River Encounter Sites: Looking for Harmony between Humans and Nature in Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, March.

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