Engineering Science Research Articles

Scalable-produced micro-elastic triboelectric sensing ground for all-weather large-scale applications

Large-scale smart floor will be one potential form for a human–machine interface, but is also facing many difficulties and challenges in the materials science and information engineering. Here, we present a straightforward method for fabricating large-scale micro-elastic triboelectric nanogenerator (ME-TENG) arrays, which can be assembled as triboelectric sensing ground for real-time interface interaction and all-weather monitoring. ME-TENG unit of 6 by 6 arrays offers a maximum power density of 5.84 mW·m−2 under a load resistance of 70 MΩ. It displays a sensitivity of 132.48 mV/kPa in the pressure range of 0 to 180 kPa. The electrical output signals have remained stable in the durability tests over 10 days with various weather conditions. Furthermore, successfully demonstrated a regional comprehensive security monitoring (RCSM) system for enabling all-weather monitoring of the features, position, and movement trajectories of an object. Even more gratifying is that the ME-TENG unit of 30 cm by 30 cm prepared by a simple and fast “all-in-one” method, takes costs of 14.84 dollars/m2 and the production period of 2 h, compared with the most cost-effective piezoelectric sensors, the cost and duration were reduced by 98.67 % and 42.86 %, respectively. This work will greatly contribute to the development and implementation of large-scale sensing and the multidimensional security system.

Exploring and Practicing the Effectiveness of Imitative Innovative Thinking of College Students in Innovation and Entrepreneurship under the Background of New Engineering Disciplines

This paper focuses on the in-depth exploration and practice of innovation programs for college students in the context of new engineering disciplines, combined with the current development trend of generative AI technology. Through nearly 2 years of practical exploration of college students' imitative innovative thinking, especially in the new undergraduate colleges and universities, college students' innovative thinking cultivation effectiveness has achieved better results. This paper focuses on analyzing the impact of AI technology on the innovation and entrepreneurship projects of college students in new undergraduate colleges under the background of new engineering and the importance of cross-border integration and innovation under the concept of new engineering education, and summarizes and puts forward an inter-disciplinary fusion of imitative innovation of college students' innovation and entrepreneurship teaching ideas in new undergraduate colleges, which focuses on innovation inspiration, project practice, competition-driven, and inter-disciplinary fusion, and aims to improve the students' comprehensive innovation ability and ability to cope with complex problems. ability and the ability to deal with complex problems. It has been proved that this borrowed innovative thinking has significant effect on the cultivation of innovative thinking of college students in new undergraduate colleges and meets the cultivation requirements of local talents in the era of new engineering science.

STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF MINERAL ADMIXTURE ADDITION ON PAVING BLOCKS' PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Paving blocks, concrete bricks made from cement and sand, are a vital alternative to ground cover. Their extensive, precast nature, water absorption capabilities, affordability, and ease of use contribute to their popularity. However, the additional ingredients, particularly mineral admixtures, hold the potential to enhance these blocks' quality and performance significantly. The mineral admixtures used, such as limestone, quartz sand, and gypsum, are instrumental in improving the performance of paving blocks, offering a promising avenue for further research and application. This research, conducted with meticulous scientific rigor, investigated paving blocks' physical and mechanical properties. Paving block test objects were created using sand, cement, and crushed stone with mineral admixtures. The mineral admixtures used in this experiment, including gypsum, quartz sand, and limestone, were crushed before being used in a stone cruiser machine to make them powder and reactive. Compressive strength test, weat resistance test, volume weight test, water absorption test, and visual inspection were conducted experimentally. The research results, derived from a robust experimental setup, revealed that paving blocks with 10% gypsum additives, 6% quartz sand powder, and limestone powder produced a more excellent compressive strength value than standard paving blocks, values of 36,884 MPa, 37,573 MPa, and 38,950 MPa with a regular paving block compressive strength value of 36,119 MPa followed by a decrease in the percentage of absorption. This suggests that using mineral admixtures at a certain percentage as an additional material can improve the quality of paving blocks. However, it is essential to note that adding too many mineral admixtures can also decrease the strength of the paving block, emphasizing the need for careful application of these materials in construction. These findings provide valuable insights for civil engineers, construction professionals, and researchers in materials science and construction technology, enhancing their understanding of the role of mineral admixtures in paving block strength.

Factors Influencing Midwives Preparedness in Postnatal Family Planning Services and Their Impact On Contraceptive Care in Independent Midwifery Practices

Midwives, as key providers of family planning services, must continually improve their education, knowledge, and skills to offer effective contraceptive care. These needs arise from the evolving landscape of scientific knowledge and technology, requiring regular updates and elevation of family planning service standards. This ensures the enhancement of the quality of contraceptive services and fosters trust among potential acceptors. This study aims to analyze the factors affecting midwives’ readiness in postnatal family planning services and their correlation with the quality of contraceptive care in independent midwifery practices (IMPs). In this study, the researchers applied quantitative research with an analytical survey design and a cross-sectional approach. The study samples comprised licensed midwives operating independent midwifery practices (IMPs) in Sleman, Yogyakarta. Samples were selected using the quota sampling technique, in which the researchers determined a minimum sample size of 30 respondents for the study. The conducted data analysis involved both univariate and bivariate analyses. Concerning the bivariate analysis, the researchers employed the regression test. In the univariate analysis, it revealed that the majority of respondents had a vocational education background (53.1%). As for the midwives’ knowledge regarding postnatal family planning, a significant majority demonstrated a moderate level of understanding (59.4%). Additionally, most midwives exhibited updated skills following contraceptive training (75%). In the bivariate analysis, the significance values for skills/update training in providing Intrauterine Device (IUD) contraceptive services, pill contraceptive services, and knowledge regarding condom contraceptive services were found to be 0.042, 0.026, and 0.019, respectively, all below the threshold of < 0.05. In conclusion, there exists a noteworthy correlation between skills acquired through contraceptive training and the provision of Intrauterine Device (IUD) contraceptive services as well as contraceptive pills. Moreover, there is a significant correlation between knowledge levels and the provision of condom contraceptive services.

Comparative Study of Indonesian and Malaysian Immigration Action Policies Towards Immigration Permit Abuse

The era of globalization, driven by advancements in science and information technology, has created a borderless world, transforming human relationships from national to international, and significantly impacting various aspects of human life. Globalization has promoted the movement of people between countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia, affecting the demographics, economy, culture, and social aspects of both countries. In this context, immigration regulations play a crucial role in controlling the flow of people and reflecting a country's legal sovereignty within its territorial boundaries. This study is a normative juridical research focusing on the analysis and comparison of immigration regulations and policies in Indonesia and Malaysia, using a Statutory and Comparative approach. Indonesian immigration policy, regulated in Law Number 6 of 2011 on Immigration, focuses on controlling the flow of people entering and leaving Indonesian territory to maintain state sovereignty. Meanwhile, Malaysian immigration policy, regulated in Malaysian Law Number 155 of 1959/63 on Immigration, covers crucial aspects such as entry and exit requirements, monitoring of foreigners, and law enforcement related to immigration violations. The immigration action policies of Indonesia and Malaysia towards immigration permit abuse have several similarities and differences. Although both countries have similar policies in handling immigration permit abuse, the implementation and law enforcement may differ depending on the specific context and conditions in each country.

Bathymetry reconstruction from experimental data using PDE-constrained optimisation

Knowledge of the bottom topography, also called bathymetry, of rivers, seas or the ocean is important for many areas of maritime science and civil engineering. While direct measurements are possible, they are time consuming, expensive and inaccurate. Therefore, many approaches have been proposed how to infer the bathymetry from measurements of surface waves. Mathematically, this is an inverse problem where an unknown system state needs to be reconstructed from observations with a suitable model for the flow as constraint. In many cases, the shallow water equations can be used to describe the flow. While theoretical studies of the efficacy of such a PDE-constrained optimisation approach for bathymetry reconstruction exist, there seem to be few publications that study its application to data obtained from real-world measurements. This paper shows that the approach can, at least qualitatively, reconstruct a Gaussian-shaped bathymetry in a wave flume from measurements of the free surface level at up to three points. Achieved normalised root mean square errors (NRMSE) are in line with other approaches.

Association between serum vitamin D levels and prostate tumor: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Prostate cancer is among the most frequent neoplasms of the male reproductive system, and its relationship with serum vitamin D level is a controversial subject. The present study intended to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the risk of prostate carcinoma. Materials and Methods: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis based on the PRISMA tool. The search was conducted in databases Web of Science, Cochrane, ProQuest, PubMed, and Google Scholar Search Engine until December 1, 2023. Data was analyzed using STATA 14 software. Results: There was no significant relationship between serum vitamin D levels lower than 50 nmol/L (vitamin D level <50 nmol/L) and prostate cancer. In Finland, the risk of prostate carcinoma in male individuals with serum vitamin D levels lower than 50 nmol/L was 34% higher (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.54). In South Korea, on the other hand, serum vitamin D levels lower than 50 nmol/L prevented prostate cancer (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.99). There was no significant relationship between the serum vitamin D levels lower than 50 nmol/L and prostate neoplasm in men aged 60 to 69 years old (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.83, 1.07), in men 50 to 59 years old. On the other hand, serum vitamin D levels lower than 50 nmol/L increased the risk of prostate tumor by 32% (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.55). Furthermore, no significant relationship was observed between serum vitamin D levels higher than 50 nmol/L (vitamin D level ≥ 50 nmol/L) and the risk of prostate cancer (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.14). Conclusion: Generally, there was no significant relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the risk of prostate carcinoma; however, the relationship in some subgroups was statistically significant. We therefore recommend conducting additional studies on this subject. Registration: This study has been compiled based on the PRISMA checklist, and its protocol was registered on the PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023491012) and Research Registry (UIN: reviewregistry1773) website.

Darcy–Brinkman model for Boussinesq–Stokes suspension tetra dusty nanofluid flow over stretching/shrinking sheet with suction/injection

This study examines the Darcy–Brinkman model for 2-D magnetohydrodynamic fluid flow across porous stretching/shrinking surfaces. We consider water as a traditional base fluid in which the Al2O3, Silver (Ag), Titanium dioxide (TiO2 ), and Gold (Au) nanoparticles are submerged in preparation of a tetra-dusty nanofluid. The novelty of the present problem is to examine the influence of Boussinesq-Stokes suspension tetra dusty nanofluid flow with the Darcy–Brinkman model. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations are transferred to a set of ordinary differential equations through suitable similarity conversions. The methodology, the governing equations of fluid and dusty phases is transformed into nonlinear ODEs using similarity transformations. The findings demonstrate that the tetra nanofluid phase heat and mass transpiration performance is greater compared to the dusty phase. Developing tetra dusty nanofluid has significantly upsurged the heat transmission for manufacturing with numerous applications in engineering, biological, and physical sciences.

VISIR-2: ship weather routing in Python

Abstract. Ship weather routing, which involves suggesting low-emission routes, holds potential for contributing to the decarbonisation of maritime transport. However, including because of a lack of readily deployable open-source and open-language computational models, its quantitative impact has been explored only to a limited extent. As a response, the graph-search VISIR (discoVerIng Safe and effIcient Routes) model has been refactored in Python, incorporating novel features. For motor vessels, the angle of attack of waves has been considered, while for sailboats the combined effects of wind and sea currents are now accounted for. The velocity composition with currents has been refined, now encompassing leeway as well. Provided that the performance curve is available, no restrictions are imposed on the vessel type. A cartographic projection has been introduced. The graph edges are quickly screened for coast intersection via a K-dimensional tree. A least-CO2 algorithm in the presence of dynamic graph edge weights has been implemented and validated, proving a quasi-linear computational performance. The software suite's modularity has been significantly improved, alongside a thorough validation against various benchmarks. For the visualisation of the dynamic environmental fields along the route, isochrone-bounded sectors have been introduced. The resulting VISIR-2 model has been employed in numerical experiments within the Mediterranean Sea for the entirety of 2022, utilising meteo-oceanographic analysis fields. For a 125 m long ferry, the percentage saving of overall CO2 expenditure follows a bi-exponential distribution. Routes with a carbon dioxide saving of at least 2 % with respect to the least-distance route were found for prevailing beam or head seas. Two-digit savings, up to 49 %, were possible for about 10 d in a year. In the case of an 11 m sailboat, time savings increased with the extent of path elongation, particularly during upwind sailing. The sailboat's routes were made approximately 2.4 % faster due to optimisation, with the potential for an additional 0.8 % in savings by factoring in currents. VISIR-2 serves as an integrative model, uniting expertise from meteorology, oceanography, ocean engineering, and computer science, to evaluate the influence of ship routing on decarbonisation efforts within the shipping industry.

Markov Decision Processes with Observation Costs: Framework and Computation with a Penalty Scheme

We consider Markov decision processes where the state of the chain is only given at chosen observation times and of a cost. Optimal strategies involve the optimization of observation times as well as the subsequent action values. We consider the finite horizon and discounted infinite horizon problems as well as an extension with parameter uncertainty. By including the time elapsed from observations as part of the augmented Markov system, the value function satisfies a system of quasivariational inequalities (QVIs). Such a class of QVIs can be seen as an extension to the interconnected obstacle problem. We prove a comparison principle for this class of QVIs, which implies the uniqueness of solutions to our proposed problem. Penalty methods are then utilized to obtain arbitrarily accurate solutions. Finally, we perform numerical experiments on three applications that illustrate our framework. Funding: J. Tam is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [Grant 2269738].

Gram matrix: an efficient representation of molecular conformation and learning objective for molecular pretraining.

Accurate prediction of molecular properties is fundamental in drug discovery and development, providing crucial guidance for effective drug design. A critical factor in achieving accurate molecular property prediction lies in the appropriate representation of molecular structures. Presently, prevalent deep learning-based molecular representations rely on 2D structure information as the primary molecular representation, often overlooking essential three-dimensional (3D) conformational information due to the inherent limitations of 2D structures in conveying atomic spatial relationships. In this study, we propose employing the Gram matrix as a condensed representation of 3D molecular structures and for efficient pretraining objectives. Subsequently, we leverage this matrix to construct a novel molecular representation model, Pre-GTM, which inherently encapsulates 3D information. The model accurately predicts the 3D structure of a molecule by estimating the Gram matrix. Our findings demonstrate that Pre-GTM model outperforms the baseline Graphormer model and other pretrained models in the QM9 and MoleculeNet quantitative property prediction task. The integration of the Gram matrix as a condensed representation of 3D molecular structure, incorporated into the Pre-GTM model, opens up promising avenues for its potential application across various domains of molecular research, including drug design, materials science, and chemical engineering.

Climate concepts for supporting political goals of mitigation and adaptation: The case for “climate crisis”

AbstractClimate concepts are crucial to understand the effects of human activity on the climate system scientifically, and to formulate and pursue policies to mitigate and adapt to these effects. Yet, scientists, policymakers, and activists often use different terms such as “global warming,” “climate change,” “climate crisis,” or “climate emergency.” This advanced review investigates which climate concept is most suitable when we pursue mitigation and adaptation goals in a scientifically informed manner. It first discusses how survey experiments and social science reviews on climate frames draw normative recommendations about which terms to use for public climate communication. It is suggested that such normative claims can be refined by including the scientific alongside lay uses of a climate concept, and by using explicit assessment conditions to evaluate how suitable a concept is for formulating mitigation and adaptation goals. Drawing on philosophical theories of conceptual change in science and conceptual engineering, a novel framework with two assessment conditions is introduced and then applied to “global warming,” “climate change,” “climate emergency,” and “climate crisis.” The assessment suggests that currently, “climate crisis” is most suitable to formulate and pursue climate mitigation and adaptation goals. Using this concept promotes the epistemic goals of climate science to a high degree, bridges scientific, political, and activist discourse, and fosters for democratic participation when articulating climate policies.This article is categorized under: The Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Climate Science and Decision Making The Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Knowledge and Practice Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Communication

Kedudukan Anak Luar Kawin Dalam Pewarisan Suku Minangkabau Ditinjau Dari Hukum Waris Adat

The status of extramarital children can be grouped into three kinship systems in Indonesia, namely patrilineal kinship, matrilineal kinship, and patrilineal kinship. The position of an extramarital child according to customary law is not the position of heirs or natural heirs of the father's descendants. Extramarital children only have a relationship with their mother and relatives. However, related to the context of the Supreme Court case law and the Constitutional Court decision Number 46/PUU-VIII/2010, this is an opportunity for extramarital children to get inheritance and legal protection from suspected biological fathers. So even an unrecognized extramarital child automatically has a civil relationship with his mother and his mother's family. Thus, the necessity of a mother to recognize her extramarital child as mentioned in the Burgerlijk Wetboek is no longer necessary. Likewise, it has been affirmed in the Constitutional Court Decision Number 46 / PUU-VIII / 2010 which is also part of legal reform, so that the child also has a juridical relationship with his biological father if it can be proven based on science technology and / or other evidence according to law.

A programmable topological photonic chip

Controlling topological phases of light allows the observation of abundant topological phenomena and the development of robust photonic devices. The prospect of more sophisticated control with topological photonic devices for practical implementations requires high-level programmability. Here we demonstrate a fully programmable topological photonic chip with large-scale integration of silicon photonic nanocircuits and microresonators. Photonic artificial atoms and their interactions in our compound system can be individually addressed and controlled, allowing the arbitrary adjustment of structural parameters and geometrical configurations for the observation of dynamic topological phase transitions and diverse photonic topological insulators. Individual programming of artificial atoms on the generic chip enables the comprehensive statistical characterization of topological robustness against relatively weak disorders, and counterintuitive topological Anderson phase transitions induced by strong disorders. This generic topological photonic chip can be rapidly reprogrammed to implement multifunctionalities, providing a flexible and versatile platform for applications across fundamental science and topological technologies.

Challenges of Innovation in the Health Economic-Industrial Complex: A Case Study on Implementation of Research Results in a Brazilian Science and Technology Institution

In addition to advancing scientific knowledge, science and technology institutions (STIs) must translate research outcomes into practical applications, thereby addressing societal needs and challenges. Consequently, this study examines the outcomes produced by a public STI, employing the morphology of the Health Economic-Industrial Complex (HEIC) as an analytical framework. Notably, 77.8% of these outcomes have benefited populations marginalized by public policies. The research underscores a robust correlation between the institution's capacity for technological innovation and the chemical and biotechnological industrial subsystems, particularly in diagnostics and diagnostic services. Significantly, the primary impact of these innovations manifests in formulating and enhancing public health policies, thereby directly influencing governmental initiatives aimed at bolstering the Unified Health System.

Health and wellbeing in the face of crises associated with climate or conflict: how can knowledge from the humanities and social sciences help us respond to disasters?

This commentary considers how SHAPE (Social-Sciences Humanities & the Arts for People and the Economy) disciplines contribute to interdisciplinarity, inclusiveness and international cooperation in work to address the challenges to health and wellbeing arising from crises and to inform strategies for crisis preparation, response and recovery. It reviews examples of strategies to address growing international concerns about the global challenges we face, given the increasing scale and frequency of crises arising due to geopolitical conflicts and climate change. In spring 2023, the British Academy, aided by funding from the Wellcome Trust, held three virtual workshops to discuss how we can protect and sustain good health during and after crises precipitated by extreme events associated with climate change or conflicts in various settings around the world. The discussion highlighted the need for Interdisciplinary perspectives, and how knowledge and experience from SHAPE disciplines can complement STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) perspectives, helping to inform disaster response strategies and to develop more ‘systemic’ preparedness to protect health during crises. The significant roles of governmental agencies and non-governmental organisations, and the importance of international cooperation were acknowledged. The discussion also emphasised the need to acknowledge the importance of using effective means to engage with stakeholders in communities at the local scale, whose lived experience and knowledge, often embedded in cultures and traditions, can usefully inform ‘joined-up’ policy and practice. A case was also made for more inclusive strategies: for example, acknowledging the vital roles of women during and after disasters.

Contribution of Plant Transfer Printing to Sustainable Fashion

Nowadays, there is a growing awareness of environmental protection, new findings in the field of sustainable chemistry, the use of biodegradable materials, and the increased use of eco-friendly textile products. For this reason, natural dyes are being used more and more frequently, giving rise to a new way of decorating textiles, namely, plant transfer printing, popularly known as “eco-printing”, in which the shape and/or pigment of a plant is transferred to the textile. In addition, the great interest of the young generation in the application and research into the use of natural dyes can create incentives for cultural and social sustainability through the preservation of national heritage. Plant transfer printing is a method that combines scientific technology and artistic design with corresponding benefits for the eco system. The very fact that the patterns are unique and unpredictable brings out the notion of artistic freedom. In the work, plant transfer printing was carried out on undyed cotton material and on material dyed with pomegranate peels, walnut leaves, coffee, and aleppo pine bark. The influence of the pH value and the capillarity of the fabric, as well as the treatment of the leaves with iron(II) sulphate heptahydrate solution, on the aesthetics of the print and the colour fastness during washing was investigated. Based on the optimised parameters and a sustainable fabric design, the clothing collection “Hamadryad”, inspired by Greek mythology, was realised.

Factors Influencing E-learning Adoption when Teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Disciplines at a Science and Technology University in Ethiopia

eLearning technology in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) instruction may positively impact the quality of education in preparing a competent 21st-century workforce in developing countries. Adopting eLearning technology in higher education institutions' STEM departments in developing countries is critical in allowing its graduates to compete in the global workforce. Information technology integration into STEM disciplines in higher education in developing countries may have two purposes: course access and technology skill development. Training this labor force with skills to use eLearning integrated into STEM disciplines increases their technical competencies. However, using eLearning to teach STEM disciplines in higher education institutes in developing countries still needs improvement. Understanding the factors influencing eLearning adoption and use is critical to understanding this phenomenon. This case study explored factors influencing eLearning adoption when teaching STEM disciplines. The study occurred at a mid-sized science and technology university in Ethiopia. A qualitative research approach examined how faculty members describe factors influencing eLearning technology adoption and use in the STEM departments on campus: the data collection method combined semi-structured individual interviews, focused group interviews, and document reviews. Seven faculty members and department heads participated in the personal interviews, and three participated in focus group interviews. An inductive method was used to analyze data collected from participants. Five themes emerged from qualitative data analysis: nature of the course, technology, institution, user's attitude, and environment. Challenges related to technology infrastructure, lack of training and technical support, the course nature, and lack of eCurriculum design were significant factors in adopting and using eLearning. The concerted effort of stakeholders, specifically faculty members, institutional leaders, and technical support teams, to adopt and use eLearning in STEM instruction positively impacts the quality of education in preparing a competent 21st-century workforce in developing countries.

Scalability and Performance Optimization Strategies in Large-Scale System Architectures

This paper aims to break away from traditional thinking paradigms by introducing theories and methods from complexity science to provide innovative and effective solutions for scalability and performance optimization of large-scale system architectures. The paper first constructs a complex network model for large-scale system architecture, which includes nodes (services), edges (interactions), and global attributes, along with dynamic models reflecting key metrics such as system performance and scalability, providing a theoretical foundation for subsequent research. Subsequently, from a complexity perspective, it innovatively proposes scalability strategies, including adaptive scalability strategies for complex network optimization, data-driven complex system regulation, and elastic computing and service orchestration mechanisms. In terms of performance optimization, it applies tools such as complex systems observation theory and network flow theory to explore insights and breakthroughs in complexity related to full-link performance monitoring and diagnostics, asynchronous communication, task scheduling, and software-hardware collaborative optimization. Finally, the paper summarizes the research findings, distilling the core concepts and methodological innovations of scalability and performance optimization strategies from a complexity perspective. It also looks ahead to the prospects of further integrating complexity science and information technology in the future, along with potential research topics in new scenarios and challenges.

Studying children’s small science and early engineering learning process to help shape their cultural identity in culturally valued play-based experience

There are no conflicts between intentional teaching and play-based learning. However, educators find it challenging to establish the pedagogical relationship between them as they struggle to conceptualise and enact their role in the play-based context. In particular, educators’ confidence level is not enough to teach science and engineering in a play-based context. However, there is an increasing demand to integrate teaching practice for STEM learning in early childhood settings. Play is a pleasure and a leading source for children’s learning and cultural maturation process as part of their social and cultural experiences, and adults’ support can enhance children’s STEM learning process in a play-based context. This paper investigates how educators’ intentional teaching plan can support children’s small science and engineering learning process in culturally valued play. A total of 50 h of video data, representing 64 children aged from 10 months to 5 years, were collected through digital video observation over a period of seven weeks in an early childhood centre in Australia. This paper uses the dialectical interactive approach to analyse a 95-min video clip of children’s (3 to 5 years of age) play in a cultural context. It is argued that educators progress their learning and confidence to teach science and engineering in play-based settings when they could choose the activity from their community culture or centre-based practice. The findings of the study provide a pedagogical model for educators, which provides a conceptual framework for STEM-based learning in a culturally valued play.