**3. STEM education and connections to UNESCO's education goals**

To this point, this chapter has provided examples from the United States. As presented, the U.S. has responded to several critical reports about the status of STEM Education. There is another series of reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that has many in the U.S. thinking more globally. These reports have sounded the alarm about climate change and its impact on all facets of life. Beyond testing comparison such as PISA, what is the role of STEM Education now that there is a crisis that impacts everyone regardless of nationality? The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) aims to address this crisis through STEM education, which is closely related to the education goals set by UNESCO, as outlined in its Education 2030 agenda. The goals emphasize the importance of quality education for all, lifelong learning opportunities, and the

### *Integrating STEM: An Interdisciplinary Approach to PreK-12 Education DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.114009*

promotion of sustainable development. STEM education aligns with several key aspects of UNESCO's education goals.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established by the United Nations in 2015 in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, are a set of independent yet interconnected goals created with the twenty first century skills framework in mind. **Figure 2** lists the 17 SDGs that weave STEM disciplines throughout with the collective goal of ending poverty, protecting the health of our planet, and providing equitable educational opportunities to ensure that, by 2030, all members of civil society can engage in prosperous and fulfilling lives.

Quality Education (SDG 4) is dedicated to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for everyone on a global scale. STEM education plays a significant role in achieving this goal by providing students with the knowledge and skills needed for success in our changing world. SDG 4 specifically employs 21CS through the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills, which are essential for lifelong learning and personal development. Additionally, one of UNESCO's key priorities is the promotion of gender equality in education. STEM fields have historically been male-dominated [21], and UNESCO aims to address this gender gap by empowering girls and women to pursue STEM education and careers (SDG 5) as well as competitively enter all areas of the global workforce. SDG 4 also emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning, from informal and formal education opportunities to continuous skill development and knowledge acquisition throughout one's lifetime. STEM education encourages a mindset of curiosity, questioning, inquiry, and adaptability. It promotes lifelong learning and active engagement in civil society.

In addition to education, the SDGs cover a wide range of global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, life on land and below water, as well as environmental sustainability in all areas. STEM education plays a crucial role in addressing every one of these challenges. For example, STEM subjects provide the foundation for advancing healthcare and technology to improve people's lives (SDG 9), which address environmental issues and the development of clean energy solutions (SDG 7) and smart and sustainable urban solutions (SDG 11). STEM enables us to better understand and protect our ocean, which regulates our climate, generates

#### **Figure 2.**

*Sustainable development goals. (Graphic used with permission by the division of science policy and capacity building, UNESCO natural sciences sector: https://en.unesco.org/sustainabledevelopmentgoals).*

over half of the world's oxygen, and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. STEM education is vital for understanding and conserving marine and terrestrial ecosystems (SDGs 14 and 15), and it prepares students to better understand how to contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Addressing climate change (SDG 13) requires a strong understanding of science and technology. STEM education prepares students to engage in climate-related research and the development of green technologies, as well as equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for environmental research, conservation, and sustainable resource management. From SDG 1 (ending poverty) to promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships (SDG 17), STEM education advances essential 21CS that cross all areas of civil society and equip students with the skills they need to drive future innovation in our rapidly evolving world, preparing the next generation to address global challenges and actively contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.
