Currently visiting: Fabian Pettig

31.03.2024

Fabian Pettig, geographer and expert in didactics and sustainability, is visiting professor at our Faculty from end of March until June. For him, the teaching practice of geography is situated in "a paradox between the pressure to act in the face of multiple crises and the demand for emancipatory education"; and doing research on how to deal with this tension in the classroom for him is "equally challenging, exciting, and important". Welcome!

  • Vortrag von Fabian Pettig am 22. April 2024: "Geographische Bildung im Horizont einer sozial-ökologischen Transformation" im Rahmen der Vortragsreihe der Österreichischen Geographischen Gesellschaft: Mehr

  • What is so fascinating about your research area?

Geography is the teaching subject of our time - it addresses phenomena from different perspectives, integrates them for a deeper understanding of the world and thus contributes to tackling current crisis phenomena. The teaching practice of geography is situated in a paradox between the pressure to act in the face of multiple crises and the demand for emancipatory education. Research on dealing with this tension in the classroom is equally challenging, exciting, and important.

  • Which central message should your students remember?

‘Bildung’ in the classroom becomes possible when we get involved in the process and are not solely committed to measuring and achieving educational goals.

  • Why did you decide to do research and teach at our Faculty?

I am excited about intensifying collaboration with colleagues in the Geography and Economic Education research group and exchanging ideas with prospective teachers in Vienna. In my teaching, I implement current topics and materials from ongoing research projects and look forward to inspiring discussions and new research ideas on questions of geographical education and teaching practice.

  • Which three publications characterise your work?

- Pettig, F., & U. Ohl (2023). Dealing with uncertainty in a transformative education for sustainability. In O. Muñiz Solari, & G. Schrüfer (Eds.), Understanding sustainability with pedagogical practice (pp. 29-40). Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences. Singapore: Springer.

The book chapter "Dealing with Uncertainty in a Transformative Education for Sustainbility" outlines six theory-based principles for emancipatory and transformative geography education in times of multiple crises. The article is a plea for welcoming uncertainty into the classroom and recognizing it as productive for education, instead of trying to banish uncertainty from the classroom methodologically.

- Pettig, F., L. Virchow, P. Schweizer, S. Halder & M. Neuburger (2021). Miteinander Wissen schaffen. Partizipative Aktionsforschung als transformative Bildungspraxis zwischen Gesellschaft, Schule und Hochschule. GW-Unterricht, 44(4), 14-26.

It was inspiring to reflect on formats of participatory action research in their practical educational relevance - from their origins in Latin American pedagogy and activism to their recent reception in Geography. The paper "Miteinander Wissen schaffen. Partizipative Aktionsforschung als transformative Bildungspraxis zwischen Gesellschaft, Schule und Hochschule" is the result of a productive dialog between Geography and Geography education and is therefore representative of my research.

- Pettig, F. (2021): Transformative Lernangebote kritisch-reflexiv gestalten. Fachdidaktische Orientierungen einer emanzipatorischen BNE. GW-Unterricht, 44(2), 5-17.

In the article "Transformative Lernangebote kritisch-reflexiv gestalten. Fachdidaktische Orientierungen einer emanzipatorischen BNE", I develop a model based on learning theory for designing and reflecting on Geography lessons that are committed to critical sustainability education.

Thank you & welcome to our Faculty!

About the person

Fabian Pettig from the University of Graz is visiting professor at the Department of Geography and Regional Research from 21 March until Juni 2024. In his research, he focusses on the teaching practise of geography.

For him, "Bildung" in the classroom becomes possible when teachers get involved in the processuality of learning.

Photo: Fabian Pettig in a participatory research project with students in the social-ecological transformation of our food system. (C) Elena Flucher