73 ESD through Praxis: Case Studies from Maynooth University

Dr Patricia Healy Kettle presented an ESD approach grounded in praxis, emphasising the interconnections between ecological systems, human health, food production, and social relations. Drawing from environmental sociology, her work highlights the need for paradigm shifts that reunite nature and society, counteracting processes of disconnection, disembeddedness, and loss of traditional ecological knowledge. Dr Healy Kettle stressed that sustainable development requires both unlearning entrenched assumptions and cultivating new forms of literacy — particularly nature-based, soil, and ecological literacies that expand student understanding of human–nature reciprocity.

She illustrated this through two case studies. The first derives from her work with the Sustainable Ecosystems Research Group, an interdisciplinary platform integrating natural and social science perspectives on soil health, biodiversity, crop management, and sustainable practices. The group undertakes research, community engagement, collaboration with local authorities, and public-facing activities such as Science Week, Research Week, and nature walks, developing multiple avenues for experiential sustainability learning.

The second case study focused on the Maynooth Green Campus Sustainable Food and Agriculture Working Group, where Dr Healy Kettle serves as chair. The group has created an edible garden by transforming a previously unused grey space into a vibrant pedagogical landscape. The garden supports interdisciplinary teaching, student wellbeing activities, outreach with local schools, and community engagement. Events such as World Health Day, intercultural celebrations, and sustainability-themed workshops are regularly hosted in the space. The project demonstrates how campus environments can function as living laboratories that nurture reciprocal relationships with nature and remove barriers to participation by providing accessible, hands-on learning opportunities.

Dr Healy Kettle argued that achieving sustainable agricultural transitions and broader societal resilience requires collaborative efforts among educators, policymakers, communities, and practitioners. She highlighted the need for enhanced nature literacies, interdisciplinary integration, and holistic approaches that value ecological, human, and economic dimensions. Her work underscores the transformative potential of praxis-based ESD in reconnecting learners with land, food, and ecological systems.