Rick Kool is founder of the MA in Environmental Education and Communication, which began in 2003. A self-confessed generalist and academic dilletante, he has published on the walking speed of dinosaurs, Northwest coast native whaling, museum exhibit design, ciliated protozoans and the sex life of marine invertebrates, along with work in environmental education and communication. His recent work has related to environmental education and how it confronts hope and despair, the potential role and place of religion in environmental education, and conceptions of change in environmental education and communication. Of particular interest is the challenges of engaging in science, health and environmental communications to science-resistant religious communities.
Experience
Kool began his professional life as a secondary school science teacher on the west coast of Vancouver Island. He then taught biology and ecology at Vancouver’s Douglas College before returning to Vancouver Island to work at the BC Provincial Museum (now Royal BC Museum) as an education officer, ending his time there as director of public programs. Kool was the environmental education co-ordinator for the BC Ministry of Environment, and co-ordinated park interpretation within BC Parks.
Education
1997
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Brigham Young University
1976
Master of Science (Zoology)
University of British Columbia
n.d.
Bachelor of Arts (Zooloy)
University of New Hampshire
Publications
Ashurst, D., Kool, R., & Snively, G. (2018). Cross-cultural marine science—Incorporating Indigenous and Western science in a culturally inclusive curriculum for all learners. In G. Snively & L. W. Williams (Eds.), Knowing Home: Braiding Indigenous Science with Western Science. University of Victoria Library. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/knowinghome2/chapter/chapter-7/
Denning, D., & Kool, R. (1993). Environmental Citizenship and Literacy: A Focus for Environmental Education and Learning about Sustainable Societies in British Columbia Schools.
DiGiuseppe, M., Karrow, D., & Kool, R. (2019, November 22-25). Environmental and Sustainability Education in Canadian Faculties of Education 2019 Global Conference on Teacher Education for Education for Sustainable Development, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
DiGiuseppe, M., Karrow, D., & Kool, R. (2020). Environmental and Sustainability Education in Canadian Faculties of Education: Not Yet in the Mainstream Canadian Society for Studies in Education, Toronto.
