The Fashion Institute of Technology [FIT] is implementing STEAM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics] educational opportunities that focus on cross-disciplinary collaborations and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.  This effort has been led by the college's mission statement which includes the following commitment, “FIT fosters creativity, career focus, and a global perspective and educates its students to embrace inclusiveness, sustainability, and a sense of community” (mission statement), this college wide goal has required a multi-faceted approach.  This approach includes curricula and program development focused on the  expansion of interdisciplinary/problem-based STEAM curricula and programming within the department ofScience and Math and throughout the college. The foci of this effort include (1) the creation and implementation of new courses with curricula focus areas of Emerging  “Green” Materials using the intersection of science and design as a driver innovative solutions (2) development of new green chemistry-based curricula and programs including a minor in sustainable materials and expansion of the offerings with the minor in Sustainability and Ethics.  The problem based curricula initiatives  within the department of Science and Math have been partnered with a college-wide effort to reach across disciplines and break traditional academic silos to better prepare students –mostly women– for science aspects of careers in art, design and fashion industries.  This effort includes numerous opportunities for expanded learning related to United Nations Sustainable development goals, supply chain and workshops related to engaged student learning and hands-on design-related STEM exploration.  These efforts have been supported by outside funders including the NSF, NEA and the Hearst Foundation as well as internally.  Pathways to curricula and program development will be discussed.   FIT has utilized a team approach that has resulted in education models for program/curricula transformation that uses the principles of problem based experiential learning to support knowledge of green chemistry principles and to to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.   Program development that promotes the graduation students who have an understanding of innovation, global social, environmental and economic challenges will be discussed.

Supporting “green” innovation and the UN sustainable development goals with cross-disciplinary collaborations

ACS Spring 2022

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