Research Trends in Sustainability-Oriented STEM Education

Abstract

Education plays a fundamental role in promoting sustainability by equipping learners with the knowledge, skills, and values required to address complex environmental, social, and economic challenges. In this context, STEM education has emerged as a powerful framework for fostering interdisciplinary thinking, problem-solving, and innovation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. This review examines recent advances in the integration of sustainability into STEM education across different educational levels, from primary education to higher education. Particular attention is given to current pedagogical approaches, interdisciplinary learning, teacher training, emerging digital technologies, and institutional strategies that facilitate the incorporation of sustainability into STEM curricula. To complement the qualitative discussion, a descriptive publication analysis is presented to identify research trends, major thematic areas, and emerging directions in the field. Furthermore, a conceptual framework is proposed to organize the relationships among educational context, resources, pedagogical processes, learning outcomes, and societal impact. Overall, this review highlights the opportunities and remaining challenges for developing sustainability-oriented STEM education and provides recommendations for future research, curriculum development, and educational policy.