As an emerging field of theory, research, and practice, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) has received attention for its efforts to incorporate the arts into the rubric of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning. In particular, many informal educators have embraced it as an inclusive and authentic approach to engaging young people with STEM. Yet, as with many nascent fields, the conceptualization and usage of STEAM is somewhat ambivalent and weakly theorized. On the one hand, STEAM offers significant promise through its focus on multiple ways of knowing and new pathways to equitable learning. On the other hand, it is often deployed in theory, pedagogy, and practice in ambiguous or potentially problematic ways toward varying ends. This paper attempts to disentangle some of the key tensions and contradictions of the STEAM concept as currently operationalized in educational research, policy, and practice. We pay particular attention to the transformative learning potential supported by contexts where STEAM is conceptualized as both pedagogical and mutually instrumental. That is, neither STEM nor arts are privileged over the other, but both are equally in play. We link the possibilities suggested by this approach to emerging theories for understanding how designing for and surfacing epistemic practices linked to the relevant disciplines being integrated into STEAM programs may point the way toward resolving tensions in inter‐ and transdisciplinary learning approaches.

We present results of the HST Advanced Camera for Surveys spectroscopic ground-based redshift survey in the field of A1689. We measure 98 redshifts, increasing the number of spectroscopically confirmed objects sixfold. We present two spectra from this catalog of the Sextet Arcs, images that arise from a strongly lensed Lyman break galaxy (LBG) at a redshift of z ¼ 3:038. Gravitational lensing by the cluster magnifies its flux by a factor of $16 and produces six separate images with a total r-band magnitude of r 625 ¼ 21:7. The two spectra, each of which represents emission from different regions of the LBG, show H i and interstellar metal absorption lines at the systemic redshift. Significant variations are seen in the Ly profile across a single galaxy, ranging from strong absorption to a combination of emission plus absorption. A spectrum of a third image close to the brightest arc shows Ly emission at the same redshift as the LBG, arising from either another spatially distinct region of the galaxy or from a companion galaxy close to the LBG. Taken as a group, the Ly equivalent width in these three spectra decreases with increasing equivalent width of the strongest interstellar absorption lines. We discuss how these variations can be used to understand the physical conditions in the LBG. Intrinsically, this LBG is faint, $0.1L Ã , and is forming stars at a modest rate, $4 M yr À1 . We also detect absorption-line systems toward the Sextet Arcs at z ¼ 2:873 and z ¼ 2:534. The latter system is seen across two of our spectra.

We present a high signal-to-noise spectrum of a bright galaxy at in 14 hr of integration on VLT z p 4.9 FORS2. This galaxy is extremely bright, , and is strongly lensed by the foreground massive i p 23.10 ‫ע‬ 0.01 850 galaxy cluster A1689 ( ). Stellar continuum is seen longward of the Lya emission line at ∼7100 , while z p 0.18 A intergalactic H i produces strong absorption shortward of Lya. Two transmission spikes at ∼6800 and ∼7040are also visible, along with other structures at shorter wavelengths. Although this star-forming is galaxy fainter A than a QSO, the absence of a strong central ultraviolet flux source in it enables a measurement of the H i flux transmission in the intergalactic medium (IGM) in the vicinity of a high-redshift object. We find that the effective H i optical depth of the IGM is remarkably high within a large 14 Mpc (physical) region surrounding the galaxy compared to that seen toward QSOs at similar redshifts. Evidently, this high-redshift galaxy is located in a region of space where the amount of H i is much larger than that seen at similar epochs in the diffuse IGM. We argue that observations of high-redshift galaxies like this one provide unique insights into the nascent stages of baryonic large-scale structures that evolve into the filamentary cosmic web of galaxies and clusters of galaxies observed in the current universe.

We take advantage of gravitational lensing amplification by Abell 1689 (z=0.187) to undertake the first space-based census of emission line galaxies (ELGs) in the field of a massive lensing cluster. Forty-three ELGs are identified to a flux of i 775 =27.3 via slitless grism spectroscopy. One ELG (at z=0.7895) is very bright owing to lensing magnification by a factor of ≈4.5. Several Balmer emission lines detected from ground-based follow-up spectroscopy signal the onset of a major starburst for this low-mass galaxy (M * ≈ 2 × 10 9 M ) with a high specific star formation rate (≈20 Gyr −1 ). From the blue emission lines we measure a gas-phase oxygen abundance consistent with solar (12+log(O/H)=8.8 ±0.2). We break the continuous line-emitting region of this giant arc into seven ∼1kpc bins (intrinsic size) and measure a variety of metallicity dependent line ratios. A weak trend of increasing metal fraction is seen toward the dynamical center of the galaxy. Interestingly, the metal line ratios in a region offset from the center by ∼1kpc have a placement on the blue HII region excitation diagram with f ([OIII])/f (Hβ) and f ([NeIII])/f (Hβ) that can be fit by an AGN. This asymmetrical AGN-like behavior is interpreted as a product of shocks in the direction of the galaxy's extended tail, possibly instigated by a recent galaxy interaction.

In this era of pandemics, economic crises and civil unrest, science centres and museums have an opportunity to become truly relevant resources to society. This paper summarises a number of critical lessons from the PISEA International Symposium, a conference held the at the Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art in Vienna from the 17th–18th of October 2019. The purpose of this event was to share, learn, and discuss ways in which engagement with migrants and refugee populations might be improved within informal science learning spaces. Issues around integration, inclusive art-science practice, and shifting institutional policy and language were all explored. This paper also calls for the committed reform of informal science spaces, and a renewed commitment to responsive, equitable, and inclusive practice.