Post-PhD: Write, Walk, and Wonder

My goal as a Learning Scientist and researcher is to bridge Learning Sciences with climate change adaptation. Learning and knowledge co-production are critical to climate change adaptation. Making learning and knowledge construction processes explicit could contribute to research-based guidance on how to design, implement, and facilitate climate change adaptation. After defending my doctoral thesis in early May 2025, I have been taking various opportunities to explore and reflect on possible pathways where I can undertake this interdisciplinary and practice-oriented research. In June 2025, I attended the International Conference of the Learning Sciences in Helsinki, Finland. In October 2025, I participated in the Adaptation Futures conference in Christchurch, New Zealand. At both the learning sciences and climate change adaptation communities, I am a minority in terms of research interests. Researchers in the learning sciences community said to me that it is important and innovative to bring learning sciences perspectives and tools to investigate learning in climate change adaptation contexts. This extends the field’s research focus. People in the climate change adaptation community reflected on and advocated for attending to the learning and knowledge construction dimensions of climate change adaptation. However, learning sciences and climate change adaptation are not well linked in research or practice. After the learning sciences and climate change adaptation conferences in Finland and New Zealand, I visited the Arctic Center in Rovaniemi, Finland, and the Antarctic Center in Christchurch, New Zealand. I feel that my intended research is like trying to bring together two fields that are far apart from each other, like the Arctic and the Antarctic. 

However, I am hopeful. At both conferences, I was thrilled to learn that research on learning in climate change adaptation is emerging. At the Learning Sciences conference, I listened to the presentation by a PhD candidate from Canada on farmers’ learning in agricultural extension interventions. At the Adaptation Futures conference, there was a workshop on knowledge co-production. I connected with those researchers with similar research interests and ambitions of making an impact on practices.  I will keep listening, learning, and reflecting on my ways forward. These two fields, despite being seemingly disconnected, share the goal of contributing to a better world. New Zealand and Finland, far away from each other, share in their love and care for amazing nature and yummy pastries!!!