The Road-STEAMer roadmap was presented at the European Commission during the 'STE(A)M ATLAS' event

Horizon Europe project Road-STEAMer

A panel of experts sits at a table during a roundtable discussion dedicated to STE(A)M education, addressing an attentive audience in a university lecture hall or conference room. The screen behind them displays the list of speakers, including researchers from the Louvre and representatives of the European Commission, highlighting the international and multidisciplinary nature of the event. The atmosphere is that of a high-level academic debate, where discussions on future educational challenges meet the sharing of institutional and scientific perspectives.

The Department of Design contributed to the project Road-STEAMer, playing a key role in developing the interactive roadmap for STEAM Education research within EU funding programmes. The roadmap, the result of a three-year collaborative effort, was presented at the European Commission during the 'STE(A)M ATLAS' event, alongside related projects. It outlines strategies to foster innovation in European education systems, focusing on inclusivity, flexible learning environments, and career guidance.

The Horizon Europe research project Road-STEAMer aims to develop a STEAM roadmap for science education, a strategic plan that offers guidance to the EU’s key research and innovation funding programme on how to foster greater interest in STEM subjects by integrating artistic approaches. This involves promoting creative thinking and the applied arts — the 'A' in STEAM.

The roadmap was recently presented at the European Commission, marking a major milestone and the culmination of three years of work by the Road-STEAMer consortium. The Department of Design played an active role in the project, with a team composed of Sabrina Bresciani, Francesca Rizzo, Sunit Joseph, and Yuhao Jiang leading the development of the interactive roadmap.

The roadmap was presented at the event 'STE(A)M ATLAS' organized on July 2nd jointly with the 3 projects funded under the same call, the SEER and SENSE.STEAM collectively forming the Atlas to STE(A)M Education in Europe.

A speaker in a red dress presents the "STE(A)M ATLAS" project from a podium, addressing an audience during an academic conference. Behind her, a large screen displays the presentation title "Three Roadmaps. One STE(A)M Destination," along with the logos of European partners involved, such as "SENSE" and "ROAD STEAMER." The scene captures a key moment of scientific dissemination and international coordination, highlighting the institutional commitment to defining new guidelines for education in technical, scientific, and artistic disciplines.
A speaker presents funding strategies for STE(A)M education and systemic change during an institutional event at the European Commission's Covent Garden building in Brussels. The screen displays the presentation for "The STE(A)M ATLAS" project, while an audience of professionals, academics, and policymakers follows the talk. The scene illustrates a moment of high-level European coordination, focused on discussing educational policies and the allocation of resources for scientific and artistic innovation on an international scale.

The day opened with remarks from European Commission representatives, including Maria Mecenero (DG RTD), followed by a keynote speech from Francesca Maltauro, Deputy Head of Unit for Digital Education at the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, who presented the EU STEM Education Strategic Plan, part of the Union of Skills agenda.

The event also featured participatory sessions and a roundtable discussion moderated by Maria Podlasek-Ziegler, Policy Officer for School Education and Multilingualism at the European Commission (DG EAC). The panel included:

  • Anne Krebs, Honorary Researcher, Musée du Louvre, Paris
  • Claudia Carter, Professor of Environmental Governance and Planning, Birmingham City University
  • Cassie Hague, Senior Analyst, OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI)
  • Zbigniew Karpinski, Associate Professor of Sociology, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw

This final event of the project builds upon multiple iterations of co-creation and dialogue with the European Commission, culminating in the working lunch 'STEAM Education – The road ahead', held in Brussels on April 30th at the presence of representatives of the European Commission and industry players. The event was organized by The Lisbon Council, and was followed by the high-level 2025 Skills Summit – Transforming STEM Education for Competitiveness and Social Fairness, opened by European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Minzatu.

A speaker in a red dress illustrates the concept of "Making space to act differently" during an operational meeting or professional workshop, addressing a group of experts seated around a horseshoe-shaped table. A presentation projected on the screen at the back of the room shows images of hands-on and experimental activities, suggesting a focus on process innovation and creative collaboration. The modern and functional setting highlights a moment of idea exchange and strategic planning among professionals within an institutional or academic context.
A speaker in a light blue jacket speaks during an institutional meeting or a business dinner, addressing a table of professionals in a formal and elegant setting. Behind her, a screen displays a presentation focused on "Enhancing Teacher Training and the Learning Environment." The scene captures a moment of strategic dialogue and high-level networking, where discussions on educational policies and innovation take place within a professional, convivial atmosphere.

The Road-STEAMer projected roadmap aligns with the EU STEM Education Strategic Plan and the broader Union of Skills framework, proposing three main directions for future research:

  • A Mission on Education: supporting systemic innovation of educational systems and assessment practices, focusing on skills, transdisciplinarity, and inclusiveness, enhanced by digital education technologies, artificial intelligence, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
  • Flexible and Inclusive STEAM Learning Environments: investigating the effectiveness of AI-driven, blended, hybrid, and online learning models; and exploring the sensory and spatial dimensions of learning environments, suitable for learners with sensory sensitivity or on the autism spectrum, aiming to foster creativity, motivation, and equal access across socio-economic backgrounds.
  • Career and Life Design Pathways: strengthening connections between education, industry, and organizations to support students in discovering meaningful career paths, increasing well-being, promoting entrepreneurship, and encouraging uptake of STEM careers.
Francesca Maltauro, Deputy Head of Unit for Digital Education at the European Commission, delivers a keynote speech to an audience of professionals during an institutional conference. On the screen behind her, a slide introduces her role within the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), also mentioning the "STE(A)M ATLAS" project. The image documents a moment of institutional leadership and the dissemination of European strategies, highlighting the importance of digital and multidisciplinary skills in the international educational landscape.
A detailed infographic illustrates the "STEAM roadmap for Science Education in Horizon Europe," outlining research actions and funding instruments for the future of interdisciplinary education. The document is structured into four priority areas: strengthening the curriculum at national and EU levels, enhancing teacher training, aligning education with societal and industrial needs, and promoting equity through inclusive paradigms. Using a complex matrix of colored icons and timelines (extending to 2034), the image represents the strategic vision of the "ROAD STEAMER" project to drive systemic change in the European educational system, integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
The image shows a moment from a professional conference dedicated to the "STE(A)M ATLAS" project. A speaker on the right, standing behind a transparent lectern, addresses an audience whose shoulders and heads are visible in the foreground, seated in red chairs. In the center of the scene, a large screen projects a slide with the title "STE(A)M ATLAS - THREE ROADMAPS. ONE STE(A)M DESTINATION," accompanied by the logos of European partners such as "SENSE" and "ROAD STEAMER." On the left, another speaker is seated at a table with a laptop, while a member of the audience takes a photo with a smartphone, highlighting the importance and institutional interest of the ongoing debate.

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