Investigation of the relationship between the biodiversity literacy and their behaviors of environmental problems of science teachers: Mersin probability

Creating environmental awareness regarding the protection of biodiversity should be a lifelong process, starting with the family environment at an early age. The reason for the lack of ethical values in biodiversity, which is decreasing dangerously with the rapidly increasing environmental problems, lies in the inability to provide an effective education. Environmental education, beyond raising awareness, should aim at raising individuals who are active and responsible in solving problems. Although the benefits of including education in the solution of environmental problems are well understood, deficiencies have been identified in the studies conducted in determining the attitudes of teachers who have a high influence on students towards environmental problems. In this study, it was examined whether the biodiversity literacy level of teachers has an effect on their behavior towards environmental problems. The effects of variables such as gender, professional seniority and place of work on biodiversity literacy levels and behaviors towards environmental problems were investigated. A total of 150 science teachers, 87 women and 63 men, working in Mersin province participated in the study. Participants answered two scales, namely the Biodiversity Literacy Scale and the Behavior Scale for Environmental Problems, through questionnaires. The obtained data were evaluated with descriptive statistics, t test and correlation analysis. A moderate, positive and significant relationship was found between biodiversity literacy level and behaviors towards environmental problems. While gender showed a significant difference with biodiversity literacy level, it did not show a significant difference in behaviors towards environmental problems. There was no significant difference in terms of seniority and the place of residence. In order to raise the awareness of science teachers about environmental problems, increasing educational opportunities and literacy levels can make a positive contribution to teachers' behaviors towards environmental problems.