Abstract:

The proMETERuse project offers schools a tangible objective to show teenagers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines what professionals are doing today with some of the skills that they are learning in the classroom. We bring our partner schools in contact with academics that speak on behalf of the scientific community about the evidence of climate change and the challenges of the transition towards a sustainable society. The project then helps each school set up an entrepreneurial and scientific project in which pupils reduce the carbon footprint of their establishment and quantify their accomplishments. This hands-on experience of science and numeracy is designed as a modular activity in which teachers need not dedicate more than four hours a year, but are supported by the project for additional involvement. We are notably organising exchanges with partner schools in European countries, course material on energy topics, advice on funding opportunities, smart meter soldering workshops and two serious games to support the information presented in the classroom. The project is extra-curricular to allow students in different countries to follow the same syllabus, but draws on topics covered in most 8-11th year mathematics, information technology and natural science courses (targeting students between the age of 14 and 17). The rationale is that by putting STEM skills to use on an open-ended problem that teenagers can empathise with, our participants will appropriate the skills they are using at the same time as the project, and experience the thrill of working as researchers and engineers.

Keywords:

STEM, science, international, sustainability, energy, climate.