Keywords: Systems-thinking, sustainability, rural children, indigenous knowledge
Bio: An environmental scientist by training, Radha Gopalan had a career in consulting for close to 20 years after which she became an educator for middle and high school children. She has an abiding interest in phenomenological education and food sovereignty.
Homogenization and uniformity of education destroys creativity, destroys a child’s ability to think, destroys the confidence of the child
In this interview, Radha traces her interest in teaching to her frustration with the dominant educational system and its uncritical views on development, much of which now stands to endanger life-supporting systems on this planet. According to her, transforming educational practices and goals is an urgent endeavour, especially because the younger generation stand to be disproportionately affected by the ecological disruptions.
Further Reading:
- Gopalan, R., Sathaye, S. (2013). Educating to be a Part of not Apart from the Environment. J. of the Krishnamurti Schools. Issue 17, January 2013.
- Gopalan. R. Livelihoods and the Commons – the backbone of life in the Drylands.(2014). Biodiversity (Official Publication of the Biodiversity Conservancy International), Volume 15, Nos. 2 – 3. Drylands Special Issue. June-Sept. 2014.
- Gopalan R. (2016). Science and the Scientist in a Changing Climate. Economic and Political Weekly. Vol. 51, No. 28, July 9, 2016.
- Gopalan R. (2018). Getting to the Soul of the Soil. i wonder… Science Magazine, Issue No. 4. January 2018. Azim Premji University.
- Murugamma. A., Anandrao., Charanya. R, Adinarayana. N., Nookaraju, S., Gopalan, R., Ramdas, S.R., Satyamma, Ramarao, S., Vaikunta, S., Shyamamma, Food Sovereignty Alliance, India. Rev. Abraham, M., Maliekal, A., Valsangkar, S., Catholic Health Association of India. Ibrahim, G., Thar, R., Jain, A. Nirmala Niketan College of Home Science. (2018) Exploring the Potential of Diversified Traditional Food Systems to contribute to a Healthy Diet. Food Sovereignty Alliance India, Catholic Health Association India. 2018. Published by Catholic Health Association India.
- Gopalan, R. (2021). Plant-based Diet isn’t Best for Nutrition and Combating Climate Change. The India Forum. July 15, 2021.
