STEM Skills for Sustainable Development

& Curriculum Innovation

Esin Esat

AOC Sustainability Portfolio Group Vice ChairDirector of Sustainability, Bedford College

Presentation Outline

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

The UK STEM Skills GapYouGov 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.

What are STEM skills?

Source: http://www.starfisheducation.com

ScienceTechnologyEngineeringMaths

http://www.starfisheducation.com/2013_12_01_archive.htmlhttp://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

Sustainable Development

Environment

Economy

Society

STEM Skills for Sustainable Development

ScienceTechnologyEngineeringMaths

Problem solvingTeam

buildingSelf esteemMotivation

CreativityCommunicati

onCritical thinking

Technology skills

Global awarenessEmotional

intelligence

Environmental Development

Economic Development

Social Development

STEMNET STEM Challengeshttp://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 developme

nt

Economic developme

nt

Personal developme

nt

Sustainable Energy Systems

Passive (energy from natural sources)Carbon Neutral (energy used = energy generated)Net Positive (energy used < energy generated)

Passive Energy Systems

Carbon Neutral Systems

Carbon Negative (Net Positive) Systems

What makes buildings Sustainable?

Timber frame

Rammed earth

StoneAdobeStraw bale

Arbour sculpture

Green walls Green roofs

Low Carbon Retro-fit Strategies

http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/

http://www.wrap.org.uk/

Circular Economy

Circular Economy Scenarios

Raw materials

Design & Develop

RetailUse

Compost Natural Crafts

Energy crops

AD plant

Compost

Contaminated land Energy

generation

Food crops

Harvesting, Distribution, Consumption

Organic wasteWaste water

Reed beds

Treated water

Domestic water use Waste

water treatment

Sourced materials

Design & Develop

RetailUse

Re-use, repair, recycle

Crafts from

reclaimed materials

Product Design & Development for a Circular Economy

http://www.pinterest.com

Raw materials

Design & Develop

RetailUse

CompostBio-

plasticsReuse

http://www.pcpro.co.uk http://www.edudemic.com

Design for Disassembly Up-cycling

Bedford CollegeEco Innovation Awards

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…….

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 TeamDemonstrations, 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

Education for SD resources

http://www.greenbedfordcollege.com

STEM Skills for Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development

Generic Skills

STEM

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

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

SD STEM Challenge

Any questions?

Esin Esat

eesat@bedford.ac.uk07891 640 09701234 291 384