On 8 November 2025, the American University of Sharjah (AUS) hosted the Higher Education Climate Dialogues (HECD) Conference 2025, a student-led sustainability conference bringing together university students, educators, researchers, and environmental advocates to engage in meaningful dialogue on climate action and environmental responsibility. As part of the conference program, Erfan Firouzi, conservationist, naturalist, and founder of The Wildlife Focus, delivered a compelling session focused on the intersection of higher education, nature, and biodiversity.
Erfan’s session, held on Day 1 of the conference from 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM, welcomed more than 50 students from a wide range of academic disciplines. Centered around the theme “Hope Begins Where Nature Thrives,” the talk explored how reconnecting education systems with the natural world can help restore a sense of responsibility, stewardship, and hope in addressing environmental challenges.
During the session, Erfan highlighted the growing disconnect between modern education and nature, emphasizing that universities have a crucial role to play in reshaping this relationship. He explained that higher education must move beyond theoretical knowledge and actively foster ecological literacy, emotional connection to biodiversity, and community-based learning. According to Erfan, when students are encouraged to engage with nature directly, education becomes a powerful catalyst for long-term environmental action.
Drawing on his work as a conservationist and environmental storyteller, Erfan illustrated how science, empathy, and storytelling can work together to inspire what he described as actionable hope—a form of optimism grounded in understanding, responsibility, and collective effort. He stressed that meaningful change begins when individuals recognize their personal connection to the natural world and their capacity to protect it.
The session encouraged active participation, prompting students to reflect on their own experiences with nature and consider how their academic knowledge could translate into tangible conservation efforts. The discussion created a dynamic and inclusive space for dialogue, reinforcing the importance of youth voices in shaping sustainable futures.
Erfan’s contribution aligned strongly with the broader mission of the HECD Conference, which seeks to empower young people to engage critically with climate and sustainability issues while fostering collaboration across institutions. By placing students at the center of climate conversations, the conference continues to strengthen the role of higher education in driving environmental awareness and action.
The session concluded with a shared message of responsibility and optimism—reminding participants that hope is cultivated when education, nature, and community work in harmony. Through initiatives like HECD, and voices like Erfan’s, higher education continues to serve as a vital space for nurturing the roots of a more sustainable tomorrow.
A full video recording of Erfan Firouzi’s talk is available at the bottom of this page.
https://youtu.be/evBGwzYHupo?si=yvo9tDvSCFXlCQnl