BIODIVERSITY AND INTERCULTURAL EDUCATION. REFLECTIONS FROM A WORK- SHOP EXPERIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CATANIA

Environmental education inherently promotes the recognition of diversity and interconnection, highlighting biodiversity as a vital value to respect and pre- serve. It emphasizes the importance of ecological balance, fostering awareness of the interrelationships that sustain natural systems. Simultaneously, it sup- ports intercultural relationships by encouraging mutual support and under- standing of diverse perspectives. Through this dual focus, environmental edu- cation links safeguarding the environment with intellectual growth and the preservation of cultural heritage. Biodiversity serves as a lens to understand the complex relationships between different phenomena, bridging environ- mental and intercultural education by prioritizing connections and systemic thinking. This connection is explored in a study of 250 students in the “Intercul- tural Pedagogy with Laboratory” course at the University of Catania. Through activities in the “Green Education Lab”, students engaged with biodiversity via photography during visits to the Botanical Garden. The study’s thematic analy- sis revealed strong links between ecological and cultural systems, demonstrat- ing the potential of environmental education to foster systemic and intercul- tural understanding. This approach emphasizes human-nature connections and highlights environmental education as a pathway for cultivating awareness, re- silience, and respect for diversity in both natural and cultural contexts.