Executive Summary
Europe faces multiple social challenges, such as an urgent need to address sustainability and technological change. These imminent issues, coupled with declining student interest and performance in science, require a scientifically literate and democratic society, thus necessitating transformative and inclusive science education.
Persistent gender stereotypes, educational segregation, and socioeconomic barriers limit equitable access to STEAM education. Women remain underrepresented in STEM and higher education leadership, while marginalized communities encounter compounded challenges from limited educational resources and structural inequalities.
The SENSE project advocates for gender-equitable and inclusive STEM education by harnessing the transformative power of science and fostering social creativity through transdisciplinary STEAM approaches. Targeting barriers that affect disadvantaged groups, SENSE. empowers learners of all ages, genders, and backgrounds to pursue STEAM fields. Addressing these disparities promotes equity and yields economic benefits through improved scientific literacy, workforce readiness, and diversity.
EU policies envision accessible, gender-equal education across all sectors, yet Europe is still far from reaching these goals. Despite numerous initiatives, progress has been slow, highlighting the urgent need to recalibrate and strengthen our approach to science education.
Through rigorous research and development, SENSE. provides innovative educational alternatives that enhance both learner experience and outcomes in science education. Evaluations indicate strong STEM identities among female participants, with high levels of engagement, wellbeing, and interest. The SENSE. project employs the following approach:
- Learner-Centred Pedagogy – Shifts students from passive recipients to creators of knowledge, fostering self-directed learning and empathy
- Reflective Feedback – Encourages self-assessment and social creativity
- STEAM Inquiry – Blends scientific and artistic inquiry, fostering processes of creation and critical thinking.
- Citizen Science & Participatory Art Practices – Engages students with real-world scientific and artistic practices to approach community issues.
This brief focuses specifically on social creativity and gender inclusion, and advocates for the following recommendations:
- Inclusive Needs Assessments – Develop science education policies and practices that recognize diverse needs through comprehensive gender analyses.
- Multi-modal & Reflective Assessment – Replace rigid grading with assessments that capture diverse learning styles, boosting motivation and engagement, especially among girls.
- Holistic Learning Experience – Reduce compulsory schooling and rigid grading to make way for a more learner-centred and holistic educational experience.
- Flexible Learning Pathways – Provide diverse alternatives to traditional schooling, such as community centres and apprenticeships, to accommodate varied learning styles and promote the educational continuum.
- Integration of Arts & Citizen Science – Incorporate artistic and citizen science activities in STEAM to foster empathy, creativity, and resilience.
- Future-Oriented Curricula – Support the emotional and empathetic engagement of students in learning by implementing curricula centred on awareness, action and advocacy in STEAM.
Questions to IAB
How can we reach policy and decision makers and how to push for political change?