Michiel successfully acquired funding with which he could finance his PhD research (NRO, under project number 40.5.18540.030). This research lasted four years (from 2019 to 2023) and focused on sustainability issues and environmental citizenship in lower secondary education. Michiel worked together with six teachers (biology, chemistry) from schools in the Utrecht region in a Lesson Study team. They jointly developed, observed, and researched lessons (modules, including teacher manuals, available in English and Dutch) based on Socio-Scientific Inquiry-Based Learning.
His dissertation that resulted from this project, entitled 鈥淎sk, Find out, and Act,鈥� can be found .
Currently, Michiel is working as a postdoctoral researcher in the EU-funded , where he collaborates with universities and other organisations across seven countries in Europe. The consortium aims to develop an assessment framework for sustainability and climate change education.
Additionally, Michiel is main applicant for "A mixed-methods view on young people鈥檚 efficacy of environmental influence", where the team investigates coping strategies of young people when they think about climate change. This project employs a mixed-methods view where insights from quantitative and qualitative data are combined.
Next to this, Michiel is the main teacher of the course Socio-Scientific Issues (FI-MSECSSI, Master Science Education and Communication, 2,5 EC).
Michiel is a member of the (Sustainability Education Working group), with whom he organises the teacher conference 'Lessons for a Hopeful Future, among others.