New evaluation: delivering environmental sustainability messaging through STEM outreach

Last updated: 23 May 2025
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New evaluation report: 6 lessons for delivering environmental sustainability messaging through STEM outreach 

A new report from EngineeringUK shares how environmental sustainability can be effectively integrated into STEM education and careers outreach. 

A selection of young people are working to complete a task with materials such as scissors, card, recyclable pots and paper clips. Some are sitting, some are standing. A volunteer watches on to support.

Drawing on evaluations from programmes like The Big Bang Fair, Big Bang at School, and Climate Schools Programme, it provides practical guidance for STEM outreach providers, educators and careers leaders.

Key insights include:

  • Students connect strongly with sustainability topics – especially when linked to real-world engineering solutions
  • Repeated exposure across subjects and year groups supports lasting learning
  • Linking to curriculum and school-wide green initiatives makes content more usable
  • Up-to-date, solutions-focused content helps reduce climate anxiety and inspire green career pathways

Teachers involved in our programmes valued adaptable, ready-to-use resources and reported increased student awareness of how STEM can drive positive change.

Find out more

Environmental sustainability is a topic that resonates strongly with young people. Through our outreach work, we’ve seen how integrating this theme can engage students with this topic and open up conversations about green careers and engineering's role in building a sustainable future.

— Laura Fowler, Evaluation Officer, EngineeringUK
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