STEM Education and Innovative Methodologies for Sustainability
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Education and Approaches".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 1234
Special Issue Editors
Interests: science education; stem education; educational technology; history of science; pedagogic theory
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: emotional intelligence (general education; special education; social; workplace; psychological; leadership; digital technologies; serious games; social robots; STEM education); emotional skills; teacher education; pedagogy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue addresses the critical role of STEM education in promoting sustainability through innovative methodologies that prepare learners to respond to the complex challenges of the 21st century. The global transition toward sustainable development requires not only scientific and technological expertise but also new ways of teaching and learning that foster creativity, systems-focused thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration. By emphasizing pedagogical innovation, this Special Issue seeks to highlight approaches that empower learners to actively engage with sustainability challenges and to co-create solutions that are scientifically sound, socially just, and environmentally responsible.
The focus of this Special Issue is threefold: (a) to explore innovative STEM methodologies that advance sustainability education in diverse contexts; (b) to showcase research that bridges disciplinary boundaries and applies emerging technologies, such as digital tools, simulation models, or robotics, in sustainability-oriented learning environments; and (c) to provide evidence on how innovative practices contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the emphasis is on scientific and pedagogical innovation, the Special Issue also acknowledges the importance of cultivating complementary skills—including emotional, social, and critical competences—that enable learners to collaborate effectively, demonstrate resilience, and approach sustainability with empathy and ethical responsibility.
This Special Issue supplements the existing literature by linking STEM education with sustainability not only as a content area but also as a methodological framework. It seeks to integrate cognitive, practical, and socio-emotional perspectives to strengthen the transformative potential of education. Ultimately, it aims to inform research, policy, and practice by providing insights into how innovative methodologies in STEM can accelerate progress toward more sustainable societies.
Prof. Dr. Constantine Skordoulis
Dr. Chara Papoutsi
Dr. Nikolaos Larios
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- STEM education
- sustainability
- innovative methodology
- interdisciplinary learning
- educational innovation
- sustainable development goals (SDGs)
- systems thinking
- pedagogical approaches
- socio-emotional competences
- future-oriented education
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
