Integrating Circular Economy Principles into Mathematics Education Through AI-Inspired Optimization Models: Advancing Sustainable and Climate-Smart STEM Learning in Local Communities, A Case Study Focus on Obudu, Cross River State, Nigeria

We can address climate action and sustainability to combat waste build-up through circular economy (CE) learning in mathematics. Mathematics learning inspired by the circular economy can be an effective pedagogical approach that reinforces the curriculum and learning outcomes to help shape students’ character. In this paper, we provide context on how CE math can be applied to sustainable and climate-smart STEM education through artificial intelligence-inspired optimization using indigenous knowledge for emerging communities with limited access to AI. We focus on Obudu, Nigeria, as our case study community, learning mathematics through real-world contexts that encourage learners to care for the environment while building mathematical skills through low-tech AI-inspired applications. Four themes emerged: (1) math applied to quantifying waste using low-tech devices, (2) connecting mathematics to real life using CE and indigenous knowledge through community projects, (3) making CE math a reality with limited resources and technology, and (4) CE math best practices using low-tech optimization algorithms. Learners demonstrated improved ability to analyze data and developed an appreciation for sustainability by creating recycling-centered math projects inspired by AI genetic algorithms. The project was done using low-tech materials to calculate the height and volume of waste collected in Obudu and charting climatic data obtained from the Obudu Plateau. The convergence follows the recent approval by the Cross River State Ministry of Education for STEAM clubs to operate across the state. CE-inspired mathematics can be used to encourage climate action and sustainable learning in Nigeria’s local communities without AI.