Learning Sciences Lunch and Learn with Dr. Okhee Lee “STEM Education With a Focus on Equity and Justice: Traditional Approaches, Contemporary Approaches, and Proposed Future Approach”

The disproportionate impacts of societal challenges (e.g., climate change, air and water pollution) on minoritized groups expose systemic injustices and compel STEM educators to reframe the role of STEM education in society. In the presentation, I describe traditional approaches, contemporary approaches, and our proposed future approach in science and STEM education with a focus on equity and justice. First, I begin with conceptual framing for equity and justice. Second, for each era (traditional, contemporary, future), I describe the intersections among (a) what counts as science and STEM subjects; (b) what role phenomena, problems, and societal challenges play in science and STEM education; and (c) how students learn science and STEM subjects. Third, I propose a potential future approach—justice-centered STEM education—that addresses societal challenges by leveraging multiple STEM subjects while centering justice. I close by calling for the science and STEM education communities to address increasingly complex societal challenges by centering justice for minoritized groups.

Okhee Lee is a professor and Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University. She is committed to advancing research, policy, and practice that promote STEM and language learning for all students, particularly multilingual learners. Her work involves integrating science, language, and computational thinking with a focus on multilingual learners. Her latest work addresses justice-centered STEM education with multilingual learners by integrating multiple STEM subjects, including data science and computer science, to address societal challenges using the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lee is the recipient of many honors, awards, and fellowships. Lee provides leadership for organizations and institutions across multiple fields.