Teaching Groundwater Resources and Geoethics in Portuguese Secondary Schools

Abstract

The growing importance of geoethics justifies its inclusion in formal education, particularly, when related to essential themes to the sustainability on Earth. In Portugal, the study of groundwater resources is part of the curriculum of subject areas, such as geology and geography. In order to evaluate the possibility of address geoethics while teaching about groundwater resources in secondary education, we analysed the curriculum reference documents of biology and geology (11th grade - 16th years old students), geography A (10th grade - 15th years old students), geography C (12th grade - 17th years old students) and geology (12th grade). The data obtained show that, although the concept of geoethics is not formally integrated into the analysed curricula, it is possible to explore the principles and moral values about the importance of preserving the Planet, throughout formal activities. This is important as we consider it to be fundamental that, by the end of upper secondary education, students should have acquired a responsible and geoethical awareness that could influence their daily life and actions. In our opinion, this should not only be a competence of Earth science professionals but, should involve all professions and all citizens, to which the promotion of non-formal activities can also contribute.