Solar Distillation as a Sustainable STEM Tool: Bridging Theory and Practice

Margarita Castillo Téllez, Beatriz Castillo-Téllez (), Diana Concepción Mex Álvarez, Octavio García-Valladares, Alfredo Domínguez Niño and Gerardo Alberto Mejía-Pérez ()
Additional contact information
Margarita Castillo Téllez: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Campeche 24039, Campeche, Mexico
Beatriz Castillo-Téllez: Centro Universitario de Tonalá, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tonala 45425, Jalisco, Mexico
Diana Concepción Mex Álvarez: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Campeche 24039, Campeche, Mexico
Octavio García-Valladares: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Temixco 62588, Morelos, Mexico
Alfredo Domínguez Niño: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Temixco 62588, Morelos, Mexico
Gerardo Alberto Mejía-Pérez: Centro Universitario de Tonalá, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tonala 45425, Jalisco, Mexico

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: This study addresses a gap in STEM education by integrating solar distillation as a sustainable, hands-on learning tool to enhance students’ comprehension of heat transfer concepts and increase their awareness of environmental challenges. Guided by Bruner’s constructivist theory, this project-inspired approach aims to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, particularly sustainability. Students participated actively in the solar still’s design, construction, and analysis phases, allowing them to apply scientific principles in practical contexts. The findings demonstrated that students understood heat and mass transfer concepts more profoundly and developed an appreciation for renewable energy technologies and sustainable practices. Additionally, the project highlighted the impact of external climatic conditions on system performance, promoting an awareness of environmental factors affecting sustainable solutions. This research illustrates the potential of combining constructivist learning with sustainable technology education, preparing students to address pressing global issues such as water scarcity and energy conservation.

Keywords: STEM education; constructivist approach; solar distillation; heat transfer; desalination; Bruner’s theory; ecological awareness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/594/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/594/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:594-:d:1566464

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().