Abstract:

This work integrates university knowledge and practices in the field of energy in buildings together with high school students. The objective is to strengthen the relationship between secondary education and university studies through a pilot project about energy strategies to be implemented in the secondary school of “Deustuko Ikastola”, as well as to promote scientific vocations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in younger people, with special emphasis on the female gender. The project carries out an energy study in the school developed with the collaboration of researchers from the university and high school students, as well as with professional staff from the Laboratory of Building Quality Control (LBQC) of the Basque Government. The objective is to motivate and reinforce the students' qualities in STEM education, in order to awaken interest and closeness, as well as to promote knowledge on the subject of energy efficiency in buildings.

Technical education receives special attention given the industrial and social need for people trained in this field. However, fewer and fewer people are enrolled and the gender gap is still significant, perhaps due to the lack of references in these technical and engineering areas. Therefore, the STEM projects proposed and implemented in this work aim to bring younger people closer to subjects such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Linking high school students with these fields is essential to generate interest and motivation for the choice of a future career and to be trained for it. Consequently, the main activities carried out are as follows:
1. Analysis of the current state of energy consumption of schools, as well as projects related to STEM vocations.
2. Design and implementation of informative talks in schools to motivate energy saving.
3. Experimental implementation of in-situ practical tests in the school building. Such as:
- Visit to the thermal installations and analysis of the components;
- Calculation of classroom infiltrations by means of blow-door tests;
- Thermographic tests to analyse thermal bridges and temperature distribution;
4. Collective proposal of the students to develop projects to improve the energy efficiency of the school.
5. Visit to the LBQC to get closer to the professional reality of the energy use in building.
6. Design and implementation of a conference for students.

In conclusion, it has been very enriching for the students to work with energy efficiency professionals such as university lecturers, to develop proposals for energy improvement of the school based on real audits tests.

Keywords:

STEM, scientific capital, secondary education, university, energy audits, energy efficiency.