An integrated framework for STEM education experiments with focus on sustainability and renewable energies

In a global world, within the context of an unprecedented climate crisis, STEM education may decisively contribute to sustainable economic growth. Within this context, Portugal has been following EU guidelines by creating programs that encourage students and teachers to envision STEM education with innovative methodologies. Today’s schools should provide students with motivating approaches to increase their interest in enrolling STEM courses and professions. Despite all the efforts, the results are still far from the desired goals in some areas, such as electrical engineering. In this paper, an articulation program between Coimbra Institute of Engineering (ISEC), secondary schools, and a Private Social Solidarity Institution – CASPAE, being developed under the PO ISE Program, co-financed by EU, is described. The main objective of this program is to promote STEM subjects next to young students, in an interesting, experimental and interactive environment. The program proposes several experiments that are closely related to renewable energies and sustainable energy use, in which STEM knowledge is mandatory. With technical support from ISEC, a set of interactive experiments of real-world problems was developed. To make each experiment more appealing, a multidisciplinary approach was used, bringing together experts in electrical engineering, computer science, and art designers. Four experiments called "Energy Rivers", "A Breath of Wind", "Sun Flower" and "Kilometer by Kilometer" integrate a physical prototype and a simulator of a Hydroelectric Power Plant, a Photovoltaic Panel, a Wind Turbine, and an Electrical Vehicle, respectively. Each experiment is integrated into an attractive design that suggests the purpose of the experiment, enclosed in portable modules. The set of experiments will travel to schools, thus increasing the project audience target.