Project - AI4BioSTEM -- AI in STEM Education to address Biodiversity challenges

Overview

Biodiversity loss is one of the most critical consequences of the climate crisis, posing a direct threat to ecosystems, human well-being, and climate stability. Ecosystems such as forests, oceans and wetlands act as major carbon sinks; however, global wildlife populations have declined dramatically in recent decades, pushing many species towards extinction. Addressing biodiversity loss is a global priority, as reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 15. At the same time, emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and computer vision, are increasingly recognised as powerful tools for monitoring ecosystems, analysing species behaviour and supporting conservation efforts. It is therefore essential to educate young people about these challenges and equip them with relevant digital skills, enabling them to act as informed agents of change.

The AI4BioSTEM project addresses this need by developing a structured curriculum and complementary project guidebook for secondary education. These resources focus on the practical and ethical use of AI within STEM education to address biodiversity challenges. The project supports teachers' professional development while providing students with real-world, hands-on learning scenarios that demonstrate how AI can be applied to biodiversity conservation. By combining environmental education, STEM pedagogies, and AI literacy, the project aims to raise awareness of biodiversity issues, encourage sustainable behaviours, and promote inclusive participation in science, including the increased engagement of girls in STEM subjects.

• Help teachers & students understand the importance of biodiversity conservation in the fight against climate change & how AI can support this.
• Enable teachers to implement a curriculum in the class enriched with 4 AI hands-on STEM projects, showing ways of preserving biodiversity within a STEAM approach & encouraging girl’s active participation.
• Help teachers enhance their continuous professional development & improve their skills in delivering AI through biodiversity & STEM education

The main project results are:

• The AI4BioSTEM Curriculum (including literature review on biodiversity & AI, learning objectives, methodology, real-case learning scenarios on using AI for addressing biodiversity challenges in STEM context, tips for increase girls participation, OERs).
• The AI4BioSTEM Project Guidebook (including 4 AI projects with teacher guides, student worksheets & OERs).
• Blended teacher training in 2 rounds.
• Pilots in all partner schools in 2 rounds.
• Evaluation of pilots, lessons learned, recommendations for policy makers.

IN2 coordinates the AI4BioSTEM project, leads the curriculum development and provides its domain expertise and applications in the AI domain.

Alongside IN2 as the project coordinator, the consortium includes the following organisations:

• Edumotiva, Greece
• Université Côte d'Azur, France
• Dragomanov Ukrainian State University, Ukraine
• Berufliches Schulzentrum Leonberg, Germany
• Intercultural Junioe High School of Athens, Greece
• Life Bloom Education, France
• Municipal extracurricular school "Kyiv Junior Academy of Sciences", Ukraine
• World Wide Fund for Nature, Greece