Awareness of science teacher candidates about stem

The aim of this study is to examine the perceptions of Turkish and Kazakh science teacher candidates in STEM fields, their STEM awareness and the way they perceive the relationships between these fields. In the research, descriptive survey model, which is one of the survey models, was used. Purposive sampling method was taken into consideration while determining the sample in the study. The data in the research was collectred in an online question form developed to determine how 23 pre-service teachers studying at the Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Faculty of Education, Department of Science Education and 46 pre-service teachers studying at the Kazakh National Women's Teacher Training University, Natural Science Institute define the STEM fields and how they define the relationship between STEM fields. In the questionnaire, eight questions and reading text were given to determine the participants' STEM awareness. The reading text is intended to measure the skills and attitudes of the participants to relate STEM disciplines. The data of Turkish teacher candidates were collected on 10.12.2021, and the data of Kazakh teacher candidates were collected on 17.02.2022. The codes were determined by examining the answers given to the questionnaire, and themes were created according to the determined codes. The answers of Turkish and Kazakh teacher candidates were given in the form of comparative tables. At the end of the research, it was found that pre-service teachers approached science with an interdisciplinary approach and had an average knowledge of STEM disciplines.