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The Freudenthal Institute is launching a new interdisciplinary collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences. Dr. Michiel van Harskamp (Freudenthal Institute), Dr. Andrik Becht (Social Sciences) and Prof. Dr. Sander Thomaes (Social Sciences) have been awarded an Invigoration Grant from the ÀÖÓãºǫ́ research theme Dynamics of Youth for their research on the role of emotions in young people's responses to climate change.

The study, to be conducted in 2025, combines multiple unique datasets to better understand how emotions such as hope and concern relate to climate action among young people aged 12 to 15. By analyzing both large-scale questionnaires and recordings of conversations during science lessons, the researchers can map general trends while also understanding the underlying mechanisms.

"We see that science teachers sometimes struggle with the emotional aspects of sustainability issues in their lessons," explains Van Harskamp. "This research aims to provide practical tools for teachers to better handle these situations in the classroom." The project will conclude with a symposium in December 2025, where findings will be shared with other researchers and people with interest in this field.

This collaboration between the Freudenthal Institute and the Faculty of Social Sciences demonstrates the value of interdisciplinary research in addressing complex societal issues such as climate education.