‘Developing creative approaches to address controversial sustainability issues’ – our 2024 AGM and Annual Gathering
On 09 January, we welcomed members from across Scotland for a wonderful online morning of sharing and celebration for our 2024 AGM and Annual Gathering – themed around the concept of ‘developing creative approaches to address controversial sustainability issues’.

Click here to view the final programme.
Recordings of all of the presentations given, and additional hyperlinks to relevant resources, are available in each section of the following article. They are also summarised at the bottom of this page.
1. Setting the scene
We began at 10:00 with a warm welcome from our Chair, Dr Rehema White; who set the scene with a thoughtful and inspiring overview of creative approaches to sustainability issues.

2. An overview of our work in 2024
Rehema then shared an update on the national and global context for Learning for Sustainability – as well as an overview of our activity over the past year. An in-depth summary of all of our work in 2024 can be found in our 2024 Annual Report.
Click here to watch this input from Rehema.
3. Staffing changes at Learning for Sustainability Scotland and our new Steering Group
Rehema then shared the warmest thanks of the LfSS Secretariat, Steering Group, and members to Professor Pete Higgins, who stepped down as Director of LfSS in Autumn 2024; and Betsy King, who is retiring from the role of Development Manager after more than ten years. We wish them both all the very best and look forward to continuing to work with both of them through the wider work of Learning for Sustainability Scotland as Scotland’s national Regional Centre of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development.
Our search for a new Development Manager has now begun. Please click here for details of the role and how to apply. The closing date for applications is Monday 03 February.
Thanking our outgoing Steering Group and welcoming our new one
Betsy then expressed the thanks of the Secretariat to the members of our outgoing Steering Group; whose advice, input, inspiration, and support since 2023 have been invaluable. She then welcomed our new Steering Group for 2025-2027, and you can read more about them all here. We’re delighted to have such a strong pan-sectoral representation from across the Scottish education landscape, and are very much looking forward to working with them over the next two years.

4. Inspirational and creative approaches to sustainability issues: our Members’ Story-Share.
Betsy then handed over to our new Director, Dr Beth Christie, who introduced our four ‘member story shares’. These provided wonderful reflections on the theme of creative approaches to sustainability issues from a variety of different perspectives; perfectly illustrating just some of the infinite diversity of possibilities across all forms of learning.
4. 1. How Green is my School?
Julia Römer, PhD researcher at Glasgow School of Art, shared approaches to co-researching primary school pupils’ learning for sustainability through creative and diary engagement. She also shared an opportunity for participants to take part in a monthly ‘Creative Methods in Education for Sustainability’ reading group.

4.2. Positive Imaginings and Future Influencers
Lucy Power, Co-Director at Rowanbank Environmental Arts and Education, shared more about their creative and wellbeing-centred approach to climate education and communication; using some of their current and past projects as examples.

4.3. Crafting Approaches to Needs-Led Innovation
Ronald Macintyre, Director at Roughbounds Consulting, shared more about his work on needs-led innovation with the public, private and third-sectors; including some sensitising concepts that shape the focus, and some of the tools used.

4.4. Under the Scissors
Kerry McInnes, Research Fellow in the Just Transition team at UHI Moray, shared collaborative work with Hair and Beauty students and the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban to stimulate conversations about sustainability across the College and in the local community.

This was followed by a short comfort break; during which participants were inspired by our short ‘Planet’ video; made for us by the talented Ella Higgins.
4. Group conversations
Participants then went into small group discussions to;
- Share the inspiration drawn from these shared approaches, and other approaches based on personal experience
- Discuss the challenges and opportunities in using creative teaching and learning approaches to address controversial sustainability challenges.
Reflections from participants can be viewed on our Padlet – and we warmly welcome additional contributions to this discussion! Just click on the ‘add comment’ function under each heading to add your own thoughts.
5. Keynote Speaker
We then welcomed our keynote Speaker: Lewis Hou, Director of Science Ceilidh. This is ‘an award-winning organisation connecting communities, research, culture and wellbeing, and encouraging us all to be curious, get creative, build knowledge and networks, and action social change in our communities’.

Lewis shared engaging and thought-provoking insights around the theme of ‘Exploring sustainability through trans-disciplinary creative teaching and community-led research’; which provided ‘food for thought’ for all present; particularly around provocations around the role of traditional arts and cultures across the world to support shared learning and understanding around sustainability issues.
He explored issues such as the vital importance of place-based local knowledge in research, and how we ‘value’ those different perspectives and knowledge to enable more sustainable futures. A key consideration was an exploration of how we broaden who gets involved in conversations and action around sustainability; and the need for research and researchers to actively ensure an ethos of co-creation and collaboration when engaging with communities: moving from the often-experienced process of knowledge-gathering being ‘done to’ communities to a more ‘co-created and collaborative’ ethos.
Click here to watch Lewis’ keynote address.
6. Final reflections
Finally, Rehema shared a summary of, and her reflections on, the event; reminding us that the multiple crises currently facing our world will require significant ways of engaging people emotionally, as well as through the acquisition of knowledge and skills. If we are to meet these challenges successfully, we need to inspire people to do things differently.
The use of creative (and fun!) interventions can help to normalise interactions with, and aid with everyday understanding and a sense of purpose, when it comes to complex – and often overwhelming – issues such as climate change. Providing opportunities and spaces for people to think differently and creatively can lead to multiple and different possibilities; enabling a sense of agency and hope for educators and learners alike. She encouraged everyone present to make creativity part of their practice in 2025 (and beyond!) and to continue these kinds of conversations.
She thanked everyone for their participation and left us with an inspiring image from the Falkland Imagineers; reflections from the young people at Falkland Primary School in Fife who have been supported to imagine what their local environment and community could look like in the years ahead.

Finally, she encouraged those who are not already members of Learning for Sustainability Scotland to consider signing up as members to our free-to-join, pan-sectoral network.
Click here to watch this input from Rehema.
Our warmest thanks goes once again to all those who made our AGM and Annual Gathering such a success. Particular thanks goes to all of our contributors and speakers; whose expertise provided our audience with such a wonderful range of insights and skills, but also to our members; whose ongoing support, passion, and creativity continues to contribute so much to advancing Learning for Sustainability across Scotland and beyond.
Here’s to 2025!
Content summary
Recordings
Click on the links to view recordings of each section:
- Setting the scene
- An overview of our work in 2024
- Staffing and Steering Group changes at Learning for Sustainability Scotland
- Members’ Story Share:
- 4.1 ‘How Green is my School’? Julia Römer, Glasgow School of Art.
- 4.2 ‘Positive Imaginings and Future Influencers’ Lucy Power, Rowanbank Environmental Arts and Education.
- 4.3 ‘Crafting Approaches to Needs-Led Innovation’ Ronald Macintyre, Roughbounds Consulting.
- 4.4 ‘Under the Scissors’ Kerry McInnes, UHI Moray.
- Keynote speaker: Lewis Hou, Science Ceilidh
- Summary and final reflections
Resources
Click on the links to view the resources shared: