Generative artificial intelligence for environmental sustainability: Enhancing science education toward eco-citizenship

¹ Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Faculty of Sciences, Solid-State Physics Laboratory, Fez, Morocco
² Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Materials Engineering for the Environment and Natural Resources Laboratory, Errachidia, Morocco
³ Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Engineering of Organometallic, Molecular Materials and Environment, Fez, Morocco
⁴ Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Applications (LM2A), Fez, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The world is confronting environmental and socio-ecological challenges, with climate change, biodiversity loss, and natural resources management. Addressing these environmental challenges requires some competencies that qualify citizens to understand the natural ecosystems and to adopt the right actions for sustainable development. In this context, adopting eco-citizenship has become a strategic goal within educational frameworks and policy agendas. Science education plays a fundamental role because it helps with scientific literacy development, it enables learners to understand environmental phenomena, analyse socio-scientific challenges, and participate in informed decision-making related to environmental challenges. Science education in educational systems is needed for reaching the goals of sustainable development as defined by UNESCO's 2030 agenda, Through learning scientific concepts, critical thinking, and inquiry-based practices. At the same time, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is establishing new prospects for innovation in educational practices. GenAI through large language models (LLMs) and multimodal generative tools, present innovative opportunities for exploring complex environmental phenomena, supporting scientific modelling, and engaging learners in active learning processes. This scoping review explores the prospective of GenAI tools as a pedagogical mediator to promote environmental sustainability and eco-citizenship through science education. It investigates how GenAI integration into science classes can improve science literacy and the development of citizens capable of understanding modern environmental issues and acting responsibly in the face of sustainability challenges.