The document discusses integrating sustainability concepts into STEM education. It notes a skills gap in the UK between business needs and skills of education graduates. STEM skills like problem solving and critical thinking can help develop skills for sustainability across environment, economic and social issues. Curriculum innovations at Bedford College aim to embed sustainable development themes into STEM subjects through challenges and competitions. Examples of challenges address topics like energy, buildings, transport and the natural environment. The goal is to engage students and staff while enhancing students' STEM and generic skills for tackling global issues.

1. STEM Skills
for Sustainable Development
& Curriculum Innovation
Esin Esat
AOC Sustainability Portfolio Group Vice Chair
Director of Sustainability, Bedford College

2. Presentation Outline
• STEM
• Sustainability and Circular Economy
• SD and the STEM curricula
• Bedford College Eco Innovation Awards
• Developing STEM Skills for Sustainability

3. The UK STEM Skills Gap
YouGov research among businesses and academics (Oct 2013)
• 59% of businesses & 79% of universities
surveyed believe there are not enough skilled
candidates leaving education to meet
industry’s employment requirements.
• 83% businesses and 89% academics think the
skills gap needs to be bridged in order for the
UK to be competitive in the world economy.

4. What are STEM skills?
Source: http://www.starfisheducation.com
Science
Technology
Engineering
Maths

5. http://www.starfisheducation.com/2013_12_01_archive.html
http://www.starfisheducation.com/2013/06/The-Brown-Bag-STEM-Challenges.html
• Marshmallow
Towers
• Pom Pom Cannons
• Paper Helicopters
• Roller Coasters
• Paperclip Sailboats
• Building Windmills
• Hovercrafts
• Zip Lines
• Solar Ovens
• Lunar Landers

6. Sustainable Development
Environment
Economy
Society

7. STEM Skills for Sustainable Development
Science
Technology
Engineering
Maths
Problem solving
Team building
Self esteem
Motivation
Creativity
Communication
Critical thinking
Technology skills
Global awareness
Emotional intelligence
Environmental
Development
Economic
Development
Social
Development

8. STEMNET STEM Challenges
http://www.stemchallenges.net/challenges/
Creating
Sparks for
Energy
Unveiling of an eco-friendly house….. Create a human-
powered invention to start the bio-fuel generator
Travel &
Carbon
Footprints
Propose sustainable travel plans for the journey from
your school or home to two different event venues
Catching the
Drugs Cheats
A 10 min. presentation proving you have the skills and
quality to provide a proficient anti-doping laboratory
service
Design an App
or Website
(1) Design an app to support a sport or STEM related
event at your school or to promote STEM in your
school or local area, or
(2) design a website for a disabled sportsperson to help
raise their, their sport’s profile & motivate more
young disabled people to get involved in sport.
Sports
Facilities for
Disabled
People
10 minute presentation on your research on the sports
facilities available to disabled people, and your
recommendations to increase disability sports that are
available in your school and local area
Sustainable
buildings &
energy
Sustainable
transport
Health &
well being
Social
development
Economic
development
Personal
development

9. Sustainable Energy Systems
Passive (energy from natural sources)
Carbon Neutral (energy used = energy generated)
Net Positive (energy used < energy generated)

10. Passive Energy Systems

11. Carbon Neutral Systems

12. Carbon Negative (Net Positive) Systems

13. What makes buildings Sustainable?
Timber frame
Rammed earth
StoneAdobeStraw bale
Arbour sculpture
Green walls Green roofs

14. Low Carbon Retro-fit Strategies

15. http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/
http://www.wrap.org.uk/
Circular Economy

16. Circular Economy
Scenarios
Raw
materials
Design &
Develop
Retail
Use
Compost Natural
Crafts
Energy
crops
AD plant
Compost
Contaminated
land
Energy
generation
Food crops
Harvesting,
Distribution,
Consumption
Organic waste
Waste
water
Reed
beds
Treated
water
Domestic
water use Waste
water
treatment
Sourced
materials
Design &
Develop
RetailUse
Re-use,
repair,
recycle
Crafts
from
reclaimed
materials

17. Product Design & Development for a Circular Economy
http://www.pinterest.com
Raw
materials
Design &
Develop
RetailUse
Compost
Bio-
plastics
Reuse
http://www.pcpro.co.uk http://www.edudemic.com

18. Design for
Disassembly
Up-cycling

19. Bedford College
Eco Innovation Awards

20. Bedford College Eco Innovation Awards (Schools)
Guidance includes:
• In teams of 3-4, learners to design,
make & test their product and
record its performance.
• Submit entry posters, including 200
word summary, performance data
by…….
• Submit products by…….

21. Bedford College Eco Innovation Awards (Internal)
(Theme: Circular Economy)
Activities
Presentation to Curriculum Managers
Planning with curriculum teams
Project & competition briefings for
student groups
On-line sustainability primer
Projects in progress
Ongoing dialogue with, and support for,
curriculum teams
Entries submitted to the Sustainability
Team
Demonstrations, shortlisting, judging
Showcasing entries & Awards Ceremony
Results
Staff engagement & CPD
Embedding sustainable development into the
curricula
Students’ SD awareness & relevance to specific
disciplines
Independent learning
Development of learners’ STEM & generic skills
Staff engagement, curriculum development &
CPD, with a particular focus on economic,
social and environmental considerations
Meeting deadlines
Public speaking & confidence building
Confidence building

23. Education for SD resources
http://www.greenbedfordcollege.com

24. STEM Skills for Sustainable Development
Sustainable
Development
Generic
Skills
STEM

25. Embedding SD into STEM Curricula: Sample themes
Energy
Buildings
Transport
Natural
Environment
Technology
Innovation
Social
Development
Business
Innovation
Generation, utilisation, efficiency
Healthy, comfortable, fit for purpose, energy
efficient, alternative energy, natural materials
Energy efficiency, alternative technologies & energy
Biodiversity, treatment of contaminated land, flood
prevention, energy crops, food crops, green cities
Alternative energy, products for a circular economy,
sustainable building technologies
Impact of climate change and fuel costs on society
Low carbon operations, products and services for a
circular economy

26. SD in the STEM Curricula: Sample challenges
Energy
• Passive energy use in isolated communities
• Renewable energy generation to power a community centre
Buildings
• Construct a rammed earth, straw bale,…. wall. Test its performance
(strength, thermal mass, etc.)
Transport
• Pedal powered mobile phone charger to use while on holiday
• Use solar energy to power an electric bike
Natural
Environment
• Strategies for treating contaminated land (energy crops, leisure facilities, etc.)
• Design a green city with a focus on biodiversity, health & well being
and food security
Technology
Innovation
• Select an item currently used in a classroom or office . Re-design
(and make) it using the circular economy principles
Social
Development
• Strategies for building local resilience to climate change
• Strategies for tackling isolation within communities
Business
Innovation
• Devise a closed-loop business strategy for a network of local
businesses, using locally sourced natural &/or up-cycled resources

27. SD STEM Challenge

28. Any questions?
Esin Esat
eesat@bedford.ac.uk
07891 640 097
01234 291 384