Mrs Gulsah Yildirim
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
School of Education
College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences
Prior to pursuing doctoral studies, Gülşah dedicated seven years to working as a science teacher in middle and high schools in Türkiye, where she witnessed firsthand the importance of fostering students' connection with nature. Inspired by her teaching experiences, Gülşah developed a deep passion for environmental education, which led her to start a PhD journey focused on investigating the influence of environmental education programs on students' nature connectedness.
Gulsah's research focuses on exploring the influence of environmental education programs in South Australian schools on students' nature connectedness. Through a mixed method approach, her study aims to evaluate changes in students’ connection with nature over the course of a school year. This research seeks to address critical gaps in understanding of effective strategies for fostering connectedness to nature among students. By analyzing both effective educational techniques and potential barriers, the study endeavors to contribute valuable insights into how schools can enhance students' relationship with the natural world.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 - 2023 | Science Teacher | International Schools in Türkiye |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| 2020 - 2022 | Akdeniz University | Turkey | M.S |
| 2009 - 2016 | Boğaziçi University | Turkey | B.Sc |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Yildirim, G., Willison, J., & Bentley, B. (2026). Nature connectedness framework for adolescents: an integrative review. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1721907. |
The University Adelaide Research Scholarship - 2023