The Eden Project launches ‘green’ teaching resource

A ‘green’ online careers resource has been launched by the Eden Project charity, focusing on jobs that contribute towards a sustainable future.

RealCoolFutures.com provides interactive case studies for students and a range of teaching resources to support professionals in careers education, PHSE and across other curriculum subjects.

Tim Smit, chief executive of the Eden Project, said: “Young people are our country’s greatest asset and the Eden Project has created Real Cool Futures to inspire young adults, helping them discover careers that will meet their aspirations of making a living, and a really positive contribution to the planet we live on.

“Many young people are concerned about our impact on the climate and the environment, but can’t see what society is doing about it or what they could do to make a change. Eden has launched this initiative because we want to show that careers don’t always follow a prescribed pattern and that a huge range of experiences go into making an effective professional and that a sustainable future is theirs to make.

“Real Cool Futures provides the inspiration from a range of case studies that show that ‘growing up’ and getting a job doesn’t mean leaving your ideals and aspirations behind. On the contrary, we seek to demonstrate that those fired by the desire to make a contribution are our most valuable citizens and that lies right at the heart of this project.”

Lucy Parker, chair of the Talent and Enterprise taskforce at the DCSF, which is funding the site, agrees: “There has never been a more important time to help young people build skills aligned with their talents to enable them to pursue, or even create a fulfilling and ethically responsible career.

“Innate talent is the UK’s best natural resource and the only way out of recession is to ensure that skills and talent are given paramount importance in education and in later life. Developed countries must continue to develop; it will be our ability to innovate, to dream up the new to face the challenges of the 21st century. To be both responsible and daring will help us progress and flourish, as individuals and as a whole.”

The Eden Project, based in the south west, is home to the world’s largest greenhouses. Since fully opening nine years ago, the project has been visited by roughly 11 million people.

Jason Rainbow

(Pictured: Eden Project chief executive Tim Smit)