Webinar: Understanding and resisting the fossil fuel industry in the science and geography curriculum

How do fossil fuel companies make their way into our classrooms? From glossy STEM resources provided by industry, to “energy literacy” programmes tied to professional sports, to entire curricular units developed by oil majors, schools are increasingly targeted as sites of influence. Scholars refer to this as petro-pedagogy: the use of teaching resources and practices that normalize fossil fuel dependence and hinder climate justice.

This webinar will explore what petro-pedagogy looks like in practice — in Canada, the UK, and beyond — and consider how teachers can identify and resist it. We’ll look at classroom examples, unpack common strategies of industry influence, and share approaches for building critical awareness with students without losing sight of hope and possibility. Join us for a dynamic discussion that connects research with the everyday realities of teaching, offering practical strategies to counter fossil-fuelled narratives in education.

For: Secondary school teachers

Speaker Biographies

Travis Fuchs is a SSHRC Canada Postdoctoral Fellow at Brock University, an Honorary Norham Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Department of Education, and Researcher in Residence at Crofton House School. He is a co-founder of the Oxford Education Deanery Sustainability Team.

Anne Keary is a researcher, climate activist, and parent based in Toronto, Canada. Originally from Australia, she holds a Ph.D. in history from UC. Berkeley. She currently serves on the Board of Environmental Education Ontario, is co-chair of Toronto Climate Action Network, and is a regional coordinator for Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. She is lead author of Polluting Education: The Influence of Fossil Fuels on Children’s Education in Canada, 2025.

Alexis McGivern is Head of Stakeholder Engagement and a Research Fellow at Oxford Net Zero, where she translates research into action to promote credible, justice-aligned net zero strategies. Her work focuses on the governance of corporate net zero commitments, advancing high-integrity guidance through voluntary initiatives and standards. Alexis’ work involves revising net zero standards for professional services providers, specifically. Alexis leads the Serviced Emissions Hub, which is a research and engagement initiative helping professional services providers (law firms, consulting firms, ad agencies) take responsibility for the climate impact of their advice. She co-created and co-leads the Global Youth Climate Training Programme, which has equipped more than 5,000 young climate activists with a deep understanding of the UNFCCC negotiations. Alexis is a member of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Technical Working Group, contributing to the first revision of the Corporate Standard in two decades. In addition, she co-leads the Oxford Sustainable Business Programme, an executive education initiative designed to empower sustainability leaders.

Clarissa Salmon is a Stakeholder Engagement Officer at Oxford Net Zero, where her work focuses on corporate accountability, net zero standards and youth engagement. Through the Serviced Emissions Hub, she mobilises professional service providers to take action on the climate impact of their services. Through the Global Youth Climate Training, she supports youth engagement in the UNFCCC. Clarissa also works at UCL as a Community Research Initiative Coordinator, supporting knowledge exchange and community engaged research. She is the youngest ever trustee of the Climate Coalition, the UK’s largest climate and nature coalition, where she brings an intergenerational perspective to the board.