XXI IOSTE 2024: Science and Technology Education for Sustainability and Social Justice e-proceedings / Margaret Chan Kit Yok ... [et al.]

A happy and warm welcome to you all to the XXI International Organisation for Science and Technology Education (IOSTE) 2024 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Twelve years ago, I attended the XV IOSTE 2012 in Yasmine Hammamet, Tunisia supported by Sarawak Convention Bureau to bid for the next symposium to be hosted in Kuching. Ten years has passed since XVI IOSTE Borneo 2014, we are back in Kuching in between 4 other symposia in Braga, Portugal (2016), Malmö, Sweden (2018), Daegu, South Korea (2020) and Recife, Brazil (2022). The only symposium that I did not attend physically was in Daegu, South Korea due to the unprecedented COVID19 pandemic. A wave of nostalgia swept over me when I think of Recife, Brazil. Not only going there completed my journey to all the continents of the world, I took over the chair of the Organization from Prof Dr Agnaldo Arroio from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Since then, the new board has faced many issues and challenges, and some have yet to be resolved. Taking over to organise the symposium, within a year of preparation, it has been very great that we have been able to make the XXI IOSTE happens. This conference would not have been possible without the unfaltering support of a great team behind me. Everyone in the organisation had contributed in one way or another to undertake the formidable task that ultimately led us to where we are. Science and technology education appears to be not able to catch up with the manifold crises that threaten our world: climate change, feeding the world population and geopolitical conflicts. In addition, in the growing world economy in both emerging and developed countries, there are critical global needs for the well-educated in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). Thus, the theme Science and Technology Education for Sustainability and Social Justice has been chosen with a Roundtable Discussion on “Is STEM really too hard”? This symposium has gathered researchers, policy makers, lecturers, teachers and others who are concerned about how STEM can contribute to the IOSTE mission statement. The organising committee coming from the Executive Board of IOSTE, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Institute Teacher Education of Malaysia, Institute Teacher Education, Batu Lintang Campus, Institute Teacher Education, Tun Abdul Razak Campus and the Invention and Design Association, Sarawak are very honoured to have the Minister for Education Innovation and Talent Development, Sarawak, The Honourable Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn as our Patron. The support from the Business Event Sarawak is invaluable. There are also many other prominent people, strong advocates of the science and technological learning community who have assisted along the way and by not mentioning them is by no means that they have been forgotten. On behalf, I take this opportunity to record my appreciation to the keynote speakers, invited speakers, presenters and reviewers of the papers submitted. We strongly believe that this conference will be a remarkable success with the attendance of the rest of you as participants.