SENSE. The New European Roadmap to STEAM Education

Project summary

The SENSE. project

There is a widespread understanding that the future of a prosperous and sustainable Europe depends to a large extent on the quality of science education of its citizens. Ascience-literate society and a skilled workforce are essential for successfully tackling global environmental challenges, making informed use of digital technologies,counteracting disinformation, and critically debunking fake news campaigns. A future-proof Europe needs more young people to take up careers in science relatedsectors.

Research shows that interest in STEM subjects declines with increasing age. Thiseffect is particularly pronounced among girls and young women; even those of themwho take up science studies gradually forfeit their motivation. But despite all image campaigns and efforts to remove the awe of science only “one in five young peoplegraduates from STEM in tertiary education” and only half as many women as men, according to the European Skills Agenda.The disinterest in science is striking and evokes the question of its causes. Stereotypes and lack of female role models seem to be only a part of the explanation. Nor is there a lack of career prospects that could explain a reorientation despite initial interest. 

SENSE. has identified two major problems in current science education that need tobe addressed: a) A distorted teaching logic that progresses from abstract models toprocedural applications (“reverse ontology”) and b) The inability to implement alearner-centred pedagogy linking students’ everyday knowledge to science-basedknowledge, thus promoting motivation, self-directed and life-long learning. SENSE. advocates for the development of a high-quality future-making education that is equally accessible to all learners and promotes socially conscious and scientifically literate citizens and professionals. 

SENSE. aims at radically reshapingscience education for a future-making society. By promoting the integration of all human senses into exploring and making sense of the world around us we will challenge conventional ideas of science and science education. Considering thepitfalls of current science education practices and the advantages of artistic andaesthetic activity, this innovative approach also considers social inclusion and spatialdesign as core components for a new STEAM education paradigm. With‘SENSE.STEAM’ future science learning will be moving away from the standardised classroom shapes and furniture layout entering new learning landscapes.

The project seeks to develop an accessible educational roadmap promoting socially conscious and scientifically literate citizens and professionals. It addresses outdated perceptions of current science education as well as gender stereotypes byintegrating the arts, social inclusion, and spatial design as its core components.SENSE. will establish 13 ‘STEAM Labs’ across Europe to develop and evaluate the‘SENSE. approach’ to STEAM subjects alongside students, educators, teachers,businesses, and other stakeholders.The ‘New European Roadmap to STEAM Education’ will take the shape of a STEAM learning companion to support tomorrow’s educators and learners – be it in theclassroom, in a museum or on a drilling rig. A digital hub will be established, where practitioners from all ages and backgrounds across Europe will be able to access tried and tested educational practices to increase engagement within these subjects.