Integrating Biodiversity in STEM Curricula to Educate Future Conservationists and Researchers
Abstract
This paper hopes to discuss and suggest a systematic, interdisciplinary model of integrating biodiversity education in STEM education, with the aim of increasing ecological literacy, encouraging interdisciplinary problem-solving, and encouraging positive attitudes towards conservation careers. It is also assessed how this integration affects student engagement and learning outcomes in the study. It used a mixed-methods design, which included baseline curriculum mapping, a teacher survey, and the introduction of a biodiversity-based integrated module of STEM. The course syllabi, learning objectives, and instructional materials were reviewed in Biology, Environmental Science, Data Science, and Engineering subjects, and the curriculum mapping. The intervention session consisted of problem-focused and evidence-based tasks, and the pre- and post-intervention tests consisted of ecological literacy, understanding of biodiversity, and STEM application skills. Student reflective journals and open-ended surveys based on qualitative data were used to collect the data. There was also no difference between the baseline curriculum mapping: 92.5% of the biology and 83.3% of the Environmental Science courses included the content on biodiversity, in contrast to 30% of Data Science and 18.2% of Engineering. The results of post-intervention assessments indicated a great enhancement of students in the following areas: Ecological literacy level increased to 72.3 ± 8.4 (Cohen's d = 1.76), Biodiversity concepts to 70.1 ± 7.1 (Cohen's d = 1.89), and STEM application skills to 74.4 ± 9.5 (Cohen's d = 1.65). Biodiversity in STEM education improves academic achievement and student learning. The paper has identified the necessity of Curricular reforms to overcome the low level of inclusion of biodiversity in Data Science and Engineering. This evidence indicates that interdisciplinary biodiversity education delivers cognitive and affective learning outcomes, making students ready to work in the conservation field and environmental research.