Empowering Gifted Students as Environmental Change Agents: A Transformational Education Model Ayverdi, Leyla Kozan, Ege Erol Gevenesli, Bengisu Tanem Transformational Giftedness in Environmental Education Leyla Ayverdi - Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University - 0000-0003-2142-0330 Ege Erol Kozan - Balıkesir Karesi Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Science and Art Center - 0009-0003-7015-3635 Bengisu Tanem Gevenesli - Balıkesir Karesi Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Science and Art Center - 0009-0001-3249-9438 Recepción: 14.05.2025 | Aceptado: 10.06.2025 Correspondence by ORCID: Leyla Ayverdi - 0000-0003-2142-0330 Area or category of knowledge: Science Education of Gifted According to Sternberg (2020), transformational giftedness is the ability to enact enduring, significant, and constructive societal change. Gifted individuals can substantially influence environmental and sustainability issues, which are increasingly critical. Current study examined the practices of 9th-grade gifted students and their teachers to increase environmental awareness in 5th and 6th-grade gifted students. Drawing on Sternberg’s concept of “other transformational giftedness,” the research emphasizes high school students leading initiatives to improve younger students’ understanding of environmental challenges. A simultaneous nested mixed methods research model was adopted in the current study. In the eight-week study, environmental education activities planned by talented high school students, educators, and experts were implemented. Gifted students raised awareness among their peers about the greenhouse effect, the causes of global warming, and environmental pollution. Both qualitative and quantitative data confirmed the program’s success in boosting environmental consciousness through peer-led efforts. The model highlights interdisciplinary, interactive methods to foster transformational giftedness and address global issues. 2025-10-31T08:29:16Z 2025-10-31T08:29:16Z 2025-06-10 journal article Ayverdi, L, Kozan, EE, & Gevenesli, BT (2025). Empowering gifted students as environmental change agents: a transformational education model. REIDOCREA, 14(24), 337-350. 2254-5883 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/107621 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ open access Atribución 4.0 Internacional Universidad de Granada