On April 23, 2026, the Up-STEAM project reached a major milestone with the successful organisation of its Final Conference, “STEM Education for Sustainable Futures”, held at the House of Connections in Groningen, the Netherlands. The event, co-organised with the INFINITE project, brought together approximately 70 participants, including educators, researchers, and stakeholders from across Europe, to explore innovative approaches to STEM education.
The conference opened with an engaging panel discussion on “STEM education for sustainable futures: Focusing on AI and informal education”. The panel featured distinguished experts, Justin Dillon (University College London), Digna Couso (Autonomous University of Barcelona), Christina Fox (Utrecht University), Luana Silveri (University of Groningen), and Carol Garzón López (University of Groningen, Campus Fryslân). Moderated by Mohammad Gharesifard and Francisco Castillo (University of Groningen), the session sparked insightful discussions on the evolving role of STEM education in addressing global challenges and the increasing relevance of artificial intelligence and informal learning environments.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of the Up-STEAM Digital Toolkit, one of the project’s main outcomes. Participants had the opportunity to explore the toolkit through interactive workshops, focusing on both cross-cutting modules that promote interdisciplinary learning and content-specific modules tailored to subject-based teaching. These sessions demonstrated how the project equips educators with practical tools to implement inclusive, innovative, and sustainability-oriented STEM education.
The conference concluded with poster presentations, informal discussions, and networking opportunities, reinforcing collaboration and knowledge exchange among participants. The strong engagement throughout the day highlighted the relevance and impact of the Up-STEAM project and its contributions to advancing STEM education in Europe.
As the project came to an end, the Final Conference not only celebrated its achievements but also set the stage for the continued use and dissemination of its results. The Up-STEAM consortium remains committed to supporting educators and stakeholders in adopting innovative practices that contribute to sustainable and inclusive futures in STEM education.