Approaches to environmental issues in Physics teacher education programs

Abstract In this study we aim to investigate the possibilities for approaching environmental issues in Physics Teacher Education programs. Inspired by Content Analysis procedures, we analyzed the curricula of 15 Physics Teacher Education programs, offered by public Higher Education Institutions in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. In this analysis, we selected 70 required and 8 elective courses, organized into a set that explores the insertion of environmental issues in elementary education and aims to prepare the teacher to approach the topic in physics classes; and another set of courses that analyze and describe the environment, natural phenomena and environmental impacts caused by technological development. All analyzed programs have at least one course that addresses aspects of the environmental issues and, because they propose diverse approaches, we highlight different possibilities dealing with the topic in the Physics Teacher Education.