From Stem to Steam: Enhancing the Engineering Education Experience

A series of interactive engineering seminars has been enhanced with artworks, including photographs, oil paintings, and short video documentaries, to enhance understanding and experience. The seminars, designed as an adjunct to a postgraduate engineering course, have always encouraged two-way interaction. Students are encouraged to suggest projects, resources, and images. These seminars focus on AI and the associated environmental costs, including their energy use and the mineral resources required. The students studying the postgraduate course are from across the globe. Their suggestions for projects and environmental issues affecting their regions have significantly enriched their engagement and involvement in online discussions. These discussions cover various issues related to the Anthropocene, such as the impact on the environment, biodiversity, and climate change. Their studies also delve into how AI could alleviate some of the effects of these technologies and humans' environmental impact. Environmental artworks (eco art) were carefully selected to promote discussions, often depicting scenic images that belie troubling environmental problems. Videos and short documentaries from Indigenous communities are incorporated to provide a unique perspective on these issues. Students have appreciated the different visual representations, and feedback has indicated that this approach has enhanced impact, discussion, and engagement.