Exploring Pre- and In-service Science Teachers’ Green Chemistry and Sustainability Awareness and Their Attitudes Towards Environmental Education in ISRAEL

In this study, 271 pre- and in-service science teachers in Israel were surveyed on their level of awareness about green chemistry and sustainability, as well as attitudes toward environmental education. Of the total participants, 123 were in-service science teachers with different seniority levels teaching in elementary, middle, and high schools. The remaining participants were teacher candidates studying at different institutions. The main source of the data was derived from a 34-item questionnaire that assessed teachers’ awareness of green chemistry and sustainability and attitudes toward environmental education. The findings illustrated that the teachers’ sustainability and green chemistry awareness was low in general, although their views on environmental education were mostly positive. In-service science teachers were found to have more knowledge about green chemistry and sustainability than pre-service science teachers. Notably, in-service science teachers with more than 10 years of teaching experience were found to have more knowledge than those who have less experience. Teaching implications and possible future studies were presented as well.