Future Earth Academy

Future Earth Academy is a departure from industrial era models of education. It is a new model that invites high school aged learners to amplify and accelerate engagement in the real world through direct mentorship by practitioners in emerging fields and technologies. Learners have voice and choice in what issues they engage and how, and all activity is guided by purpose, ethics and a custodial responsibility for community and biosphere. We are currently running a learning experiment with VR and 360 filmmaking (the "VR Beta"). The purpose of the VR Beta is to explore how virtual reality might support, amplify and innovate Future Earth Academy's purpose and curriculum as well as the voices and agency of its global Learners. The VR Beta is running January to May of 2021 (19 weeks) with 12 global Learners between the ages of 14-17, each representing a unique combination of age, gender, race, and geographic location, and each possessing a unique interest in biology and biotech.