ASH alumna Elena-Theresa Arndt works as a research assistant in environmental education at Naturschutz Berlin-Malchow. Arndt studied Education in Childhood (EBK) at ASH Berlin from October 2018 to March 2022. In this interview, we find out how her studies shaped her attitude, how her work ensures that Berlin remains a city worth living in and why biodiversity in the big city is often greater than in the countryside.
How did studying EBK at ASH Berlin prepare you for your current job?
Elena-Theresa Arndt: Children of nursery and primary school age are actually one of our main target groups, even though we offer environmental education to all Berlin residents. The course was a valuable foundation for my work as an environmental educator. By focusing on early childhood development, pedagogical concepts and the design of learning processes during my studies, I was able to acquire skills that I can transfer directly to environmental education. By this I mean, for example, the ability to design learning content and the associated learning processes in a child-friendly way and according to the age group. But also a form of attitude: taking children's thoughts and feelings seriously. Because only if I do this can I support individual development processes and also inspire enthusiasm for knowledge.
Is there a key experience from your studies that still has an impact today?
I wrote my Bachelor's thesis in the form of an empirical research paper on "The possibilities and limitations of digital environmental education" and conducted interviews with environmental educators. The reason for this was the coronavirus pandemic and the associated contact restrictions. This was dramatic for many environmental education institutions, as environmental education thrives on experiencing nature together. Environmental educators therefore tried to use the internet to encourage people to get in touch with nature and the environment. Videos were made, information sheets and observation tasks were designed and podcasts were produced. During this time, our association developed the learning platform www.kidslernennatur.de.
None of this replaced the direct experience of nature, nor should it. Nevertheless, many environmental educators realized that the unpopular digital media can be a useful addition to environmental education. If only because it reaches target groups that are not reached by everyday environmental education work. This also had a lasting effect on me, as I was skeptical about digital media in environmental education.
Describe a typical working day...
When I start my working day, the first thing I do is go to our Arvid Goltz freshwater aquarium. I'm not only an environmental educator, but also a trained zoo animal keeper and, as a research assistant, I'm responsible for our freshwater aquarium. During my tour, I check on the animals to make sure the aquarium technology is working properly and prepare the food for the day. In the office, I get an overview of my day on the computer and check my emails. If an event has been booked for the day, I usually go to our courtyard at 9 a.m. and meet the group there. I'm usually busy with this until 12/13 o'clock. After that, there are all the other things I have to do: accepting and coordinating bookings, advising teachers on environmental education offers, planning and organizing events, feeding and caring for the animals in the freshwater aquarium, maintaining our adventure garden and the environmental education elements in it, acquiring funding, communicating with our cooperation partners... However, I don't have to do all of this on my own, but am always supported by my colleagues and our volunteers!
A whole lot of nature in the big city
Nature and the big city only go together at second glance, don't they?
That is by no means the case! Speaking specifically for Berlin, we are an incredibly green city. We have parks, gardens, landscape conservation areas and nature reserves, lots of different bodies of water, woodland and, and, and... So there's a whole lot of nature in the big city. Even cemeteries and allotment gardens can be real gems. What many people often underestimate is the biodiversity that exists in the city - it is often even greater in the city than in the countryside. This is due to the fact that the city is more structured and therefore has many different habitats in which many different animals and plants thrive. By the way: If you want to get an overview of the possibilities for discovering nature in Berlin, we recommend the website of the Coordination Offices for Nature, Environment, Climate and Sustainability Education Berlin www.naturstadt.berlin. An interactive map there shows public green spaces as well as environmental education facilities.
How important is it for Berlin to protect its natural resources?
The protection of natural resources is essential for Berlin, from an ecological, social and economic perspective. Like everywhere else, climate change can also be felt in Berlin: we are all familiar with long periods of drought and increasingly hot temperatures in summer. But also storms and heavy rainfall that cause flooding and other damage. If there is a lack of nature in the city, this change hits us all the harder. Green spaces, for example, ensure that the city does not heat up too much through evaporative cooling. Rain can seep into the ground on them. Trees, in turn, clean the air: they filter the fine dust that is omnipresent in the city. If we protect natural spaces in Berlin, we not only create a habitat for flora and fauna, but also ensure that Berlin remains a city worth living in.
Your offer is aimed at all age groups. Is there an "aha" moment that young and not-so-young visitors share?
Young and old alike have an "aha" moment when they have the opportunity to come into contact with nature and see it up close. Probably the most popular are "our" white storks, which breed on the Naturhof every year. All age groups are equally enthusiastic about them, and some visitors even come to us just because of the storks. Many stay in front of the nest for a long time. Questions often arise while watching: Why does the stork rattle its beak? What do the adults feed the young? Why does the stork build its nest so high and so close to people? Anyone who finds answers to these questions has created their own personal "aha" moment - and in the best case scenario, a lasting enthusiasm for nature and the environment.
A tip for current students: What do you wish you had known before studying?
You grow a lot during your studies - not only professionally, but also personally.
The questions were asked by Denis Demmerle.
Naturschutz Berlin-Malchow
Dorfstraße 35, 13051 Berlin
Website: www.naturschutz-malchow.de
Education and Training in Childhood (EBK)
