Building a training course about complex environmental issues, with a focus on interactive strategies and conflict resolution.

Our research stems from a long-lasting interest in the use of interactive methodologies - i.e. role-play - to help people to acquire knowledge, competencies and abilities to deal with complex and controversial environmental issues. In this research we present the experience of six experimental training courses addressed to various categories of professionals. During the activity of role-play players debate the controversial aspects of intensive shrimp farming in tropical countries (Colucci&Camino, 2000). Two ways of dealing with the controversial issue are proposed: one involves the two groups into an adversarial debate, which leads to the victory of a group over the other. The other way involves all players in a cooperative effort to find a solution through mutual consent. Our results show that participants improve their performance when they are assisted in developing awareness of interconnections and interdependence. An adequate setting is crucial to allow participants to engage in the role-play with cognitive as well as emotional components, which it has been seen an essential premise to changes of attitudes and to assumption of responsibility. In the end the results of this experimentation offer insights on how different categories of educators react to the idea to face complex and controversial environmental problems by the way of the nonviolent conflict resolution approach.