Lancaster University and the Eden Project have appointed environmental education specialist Professor Robert Barratt as the first-ever Eden Project North Chair of Education and Engagement.

Robert, who took up his post on 1 May, is a geographer and teacher by training and researches in the field of children's participation in environmental education.

The role is focused on achieving significant and lasting improvements in the health, lives and employment prospects to those living in the Morecambe Bay area through the education and engagement elements associated with Eden Project North. This includes working with local schools and education providers to develop the ‘Morecambe Bay Curriculum’ a new approach to engaging students of all ages with subjects such as food, energy and water.

Robert will be based in the University’s highly rated Department of Educational Research, and will work with experts at Lancaster and Eden Project International Ltd to develop new international educational programmes based on the Eden Project approach to sustainable education.

He said: “It is a genuine privilege to be appointed as the first Eden Project North Chair of Education and Engagement created by Lancaster University and the Eden Project. This exciting new post initiates the development of a new radical global education offer focusing on environmental education, connecting people, and developing new sustainable solutions for living in harmony with the planet.”

Robert was the first former Head of Eden Project Learning and formerly Head of the School of Education and Professor of Education at the University of Gloucestershire. Prior to this he was Director of Education and Assistant Dean of Education at Bath Spa University. He has also held academic posts at the Universities of Oxford, Keele and Bath.

Over the last 20 years he has published extensively in the field of environmental education and has collaborated on large scale education research projects with colleagues from Australia, USA, Russia and Europe.

Robert is an active cyclist and has completed several long distance events for charity.

Lancaster’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield welcomed the announcement: “This new appointment renews our commitment to our region and underlines our strategy to become a university which truly engages locally and internationally to address the issues that concern us as a society.

“Eden Project North in Morecambe is a tremendously exciting project for our local area and the University’s partnership with Eden Project International will explore special projects in health, education, research, knowledge exchange, sustainability and the environment, engagement and outreach to enhance its impact.”

David Harland , CEO of Eden Project International ltd said : “Education and engagement are at the very core of the Eden Project’s philosophy and vision. As such, we are delighted to see Rob being able to further his already considerable work in Morecambe, as the first Eden Project North Chair of Education and Engagement at Lancaster University. It is a further demonstration of the commitment that we have made alongside our friends and colleagues at Lancaster University to the people of Morecambe, Lancaster and the wider North West.”