Educating students in solutions-oriented science

The climate crisis is upon us. Our physical world is changing as our climate veers away from its historical state and societies comprehend the magnitude of this disruption. Youth, students, and many others are in the streets, demanding deeper, faster, and more equitable action to protect their future. Simultaneously, we as ecologists, environmental scientists, and climate and sustainability educators are confronting an increasingly distressed and disempowered public. Higher education is being buffeted by this confluence of crises in 2020. How can we educate students to become effective citizens across the scientific, ethical, cultural, and policy landscapes that they are plunged into, without exacerbating their burden of eco‐anxiety? We believe that solutions‐based student learning that facilitates active participation in policy‐making processes is one way to accomplish this goal.