Dr. Natalia Ryzhova

 

Education

• Moscow State University, Department of Geography, biogeography as her major (graduated with distinction);

• Botanical Institute of Academy of Science, Saint-Petersburg University Department of Biology: postgraduate student, PhD in Biology;

• Moscow Pedagogical State University: Doctorate, PhD in Education;

• In 2000 Natalia Ryzhova became the first researcher in the country to present the Doctorate thesis on ecological education of children of early age (“Ecological Education in Preschool: Theory and Practice”).

 

Working experience

• Researcher at the Institute of Biology of the Academy of Science,

• Leading researcher at the Federal Department of Environmental Protection,

• Head of the Ecological education laboratory at the local teacher training institute,

• Teaching Professor at several universities (Department of Geography, Institute of Education and Psychology), professor of the Open Teacher Education Institute (Department of ecological education for Sustainable Development).

• Leading scientific researcher at the “Preschool Childhood” Center (Department of playing and learning environment), where she put her educational programs into practice in primary schools and kindergartens.

 

Achievements

• Creation of the unique ecological education program for sustainable development aimed at children of early age, which has been in use since 1996 in thousands of kindergartens and received support from Russian Ministry of Education.

• Contribution to other preschool education programs (“Sources”, “World of Discoveries”): general concept, parts about cognitive development, contact with nature, ecological education, environmental safety and others, which have been supported by the Federal Institute of Education and introduced into preschool curricula.

• Developing conception of ecological education of children from 2 to 7 years old;

• Creating a series of methodological guidelines for pedagogues in the area of ecological education for sustainable development for children of early age, that contain environmental fairy-tales, among other materials.

• Creating the author’s ecological education for sustainable development program “Nature Is Our Home”, aimed at children from 2 to 10 years old.

• Work as scientific supervisor of experimental work in kindergartens on the following subjects: “Ecological education of preschool children”, “Support of children’s initiative and independent activities”, “Creating a developing environment in kindergartens”, “Integration of educational space based on ideas of sustainable development”;

• Participation in creation of natural protected areas and city eco-trails by local authorities;

• Being the chief scientific advisor of the project "Nature and Us" (pre-school and elementary environmental education). The project was a part of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. It was also a part of the pilot project "Moscow Education: from infancy to school" jointly implemented by Moscow Department of Education and UNESCO;

• Work as the national leader of the OMEP International Project in education for sustainable development for children of early age;

• Work as scientific supervisor, author of methodological guidelines and chairman of the Panel of the Moscow City’s Contest in ecological education for sustainable development (for primary schools and kindergartens);

• Project expert on environmental education and education for sustainable development at the United Nations Development Program, United Nations Environmental Program, Global Environment Facility Network and Sustainable Development of the Arctic (Russian Departments).

• The national consultant of preschool institutions that took part in the Comenius Project “What is Europe?”

• Chairman of the Panel of the yearly contest “Preschool teacher of the year”

 

Books and publications

Natalia Ryzhova is the author of more than 350 scientific studies, textbooks and guides for teachers, research papers, tales and stories for children, handbooks for parents and teachers. She holds regular seminar trainings for Russian pedagogues.

 

Her books for educators include, among other titles:

• “Ecological education in kindergartens”

• “Ecological certificate for a kindergarten: environment, health, safety”

• “Ecological project “Our Tree”

• “Laboratory in kindergarten, primary school and at home: ecological experiments for children”

• “Ecological project ‘Write A Letter To The Owl’”

• Educational program “Nature Is Our Home”

• “Environmental Atlas of the City” (co-authoring Igor Ryzhov)

• “Water Around Us”, “Air Around Us”, “Soil, The Living Earth”

• Project “Young ecologists: environmental education for sustainable development” (co-authoring Igor Ryzhov)

• and others.
   

She created a number of educational films for pedagogues, students and parents:

• “Young Researchers”, “Projects for Children and Adults: Our Environment”, “From the Child’s Viewpoint: a Mosaic of Project”, “I Can Do It Myself! Support for Children’s Initiative and Independence”, “Secrets of Nature”,

• And others, 20 films in total.

• Two of her films took part in the USA OMEP FILM Festivals.

 

• Natalia Ryzhova, as a member of the National OMEP Council, has presented her country at the European meetings and World Assemblies in Croatia, Poland, Ireland, China (including Hong Kong), and Cyprus. She presented her reports at academic and project meetings and conferences (including plenary sessions), as well as led workshops on various topics (Sweden, Ireland, Russia, Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Spain, Czech Republic, Poland, China, Norway, etc. ) you can find more information in the Events section of the website.

 

• Natalia Ryzhova is a deputy editor of the OBRUCH educational journal for teachers and parents and a member of the editor’s panel of the “Journal of Teacher Education and Educators”