From Intelligence to Responsibility in the New Space Age
: STEAM Education

for Action Competence and Planetary Wellbeing

Dr. Kristof Fenyvesi

Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä

Experience Workshop STEAM Network, Finland

(www.experienceworkshop.org)

As space exploration becomes increasingly accessible and artificial intelligence redefines learning environments, education faces urgent challenges in aligning technological advancement with ethical responsibility. The so-called New Space Age—driven by commercial interests and rapid innovation—demands a reorientation of educational aims to address planetary and interplanetary futures. This keynote explores how STEAM education can support the development of Action and AI Competence to prepare students for complex ecological, ethical, and technological challenges. Grounded in the frameworks of Education for Planetary Wellbeing (EfPW) and the GreenComp sustainability competence model, the talk emphasizes the need for transdisciplinary learning that integrates systems thinking, critical reflection, and civic engagement. Building on the concept of cosmogogy (Lindsay, 2025) and creative ecologies (Harris, 2017), the presentation positions schools as ecosystems where students not only gain digital and scientific competencies but also develop ethical awareness and collective agency. The focus is on how education systems—through experiential, project-based, and AI-enhanced pedagogies—can cultivate responsible futures thinking and support sustainable action within and beyond Earth. The keynote draws on Finnish and international educational practices to illustrate practical approaches to implementing these goals, while raising critical questions: How can we ensure responsible use of AI in educational contexts? What competences are necessary for learners to contribute meaningfully to planetary and space-related sustainability? And how can STEAM education serve as a bridge from technical expertise to ethical foresight?