Social Learning, Identity, and Participatory Modeling in Environmental Collective Action among Young People

Dissertation Proposal Defense

by

Rachel Szczytko

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

10:00 am ET

Room 130, Natural Resources Building

or

https://msu.zoom.us/j/94430978181
Meeting ID: 944 3097 8181
Passcode: csus

Addressing complex socio-ecological challenges across scales remains difficult, and the dynamic nature of these challenges underscores the need for adaptive, resilient approaches to systems change. Environmental collective action is one promising pathway. Yet, research has not sufficiently examined how to effectively promote environmental collective action across diverse communities—particularly with respect to social drivers. Young people (aged 26 and younger) are one such community that remains understudied. Through this dissertation, I will explore environmental collective action among young people within socio-ecological systems, focusing on the roles of social learning and identity as drivers of environmental collective action. Further, I propose novel methods to study this concept, including participatory modeling.

Weaving environmental education, environmental psychology, and resilience concepts, I will explore environmental collective action through a three-article format. The first article will present a conceptual model for social learning and environmental collective action and demonstrate how they interact to support adaptation and transformation in socio-ecological systems. The second article will share the results of a quantitative research study to understand the impact of social identities on environmental collective action among young people. The third article will present a novel method for measuring environmental collective action outcomes among young people through a mixed-methods approach. Taken together, these articles will grow conceptual, empirical, and methodological knowledge of environmental collective action.

Dr. Laura Schmitt Olabisi, Department of Community Sustainability, Environmental Science &

Policy Program, Michigan State University (Chair & Advisor)

Dr. Lissy Goralnik, Department of Community Sustainability, Environmental Science & Policy

Program, Michigan State University

Dr. Jenna Hartley, Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Dr. Rebecca Jordan, Department of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University