From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia STEM fields
STEM fields
The acronym STEM stands for science, technology, en- International Mathematical Social, Be-
gineering, and mathematics. The STEM fields are those Science & Engi- & Physical havioral &
academic and professional disciplines that fall under the neering Sciences Economic
umbrella areas represented by the acronym. According Sciences
to both the United States National Research Council and
Cyberinfrastructure Polar Pro-
the National Science Foundation, the fields are collec-
grams
tively considered core technological underpinnings of an
advanced society. In many forums (including political/
(Some cross-cutting programs have been omitted from
governmental and academic) the strength of the STEM
this listing.)
workforce is viewed as an indicator of a nation’s ability to
The Department of Labor identifies fourteen sectors
sustain itself.
that are "projected to add substantial numbers of new
jobs to the economy or affect the growth of other indus-
Examples tries or are being transformed by technology and innova-
tion requiring new sets of skills for workers."[2]
An exhaustive list of STEM disciplines does not exist, but
some common disciplines are[citation needed]:
Advanced Automotive Construction Financial Ser-
Manufacturing vices
Physics Chemistry Mathematics
Geospatial Homeland Se- Information Transportation
Computer Biochemistry
Technology curity Technology
Science
Aerospace Biotechnology Energy Healthcare
Computer Electrical Mechanical
Engineering Engineering Engineering Hospitality Retail
Civil Engi- Aerospace Chemical Engi-
neering engineering neering The Department of Labor’s O*NET site, which offers
about 1,000 occupational descriptions, allows the data-
Astrophysics Astronomy Nanotechnology
base of occupations to be searched by eight STEM disci-
Nuclear Mathematical Operations Re- Bioinformatics
plines:
Physics Biology search
Neurobiology Biomechanics Chemistry Computer Engineering Environmental
Acoustical Geographic Atmospheric Science Science
Engineering Information Sciences Geosciences Life Mathematics Physics/Astronomy
Systems Sciences
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the only Amer- The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics
ican federal agency whose mission includes support for publishes its Occupational Outlook Handbook that de-
all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except scribes a very wide variety of jobs and careers, and in-
for medical sciences,[1] so another way to identify STEM cludes forecasts for job growth in those areas. STEM-re-
fields is to look at the NSF strategic plan and the fields it lated careers are some of the best-paying and have the
supports. It lists its disciplinary program areas as: greatest potential for job growth in the early 21st centu-
ry.
Biological Sciences Computer & Education
Information
Science &
and Human
Resources
In US politics
Engineering Maintaining a citizenry that is well versed in the STEM
fields is a key portion of the public education agenda of
Engineering Environmental Geosciences
the United States of America. Substantial lobbying is un-
Research &
derway in Washington, DC to raise awareness of STEM
Education
education issues.
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia STEM fields
American Competitiveness Initiative America COMPETES Act of 2007
In the State of the Union Address on January 31, 2006, The America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69) became law on
United States President George W. Bush announced the August 9, 2007. The act responds to concerns that the
American Competitiveness Initiative. Bush proposed the United States may not be able to compete economically
initiative to address shortfalls in federal government with other nations in the future due to insufficient in-
support of educational development and progress at all vestment today in science and technology research and
academic levels in the STEM fields . In detail, the initia- science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
tive called for significant increases in federal funding for (STEM) education and workforce development. The
advanced R&D programs (including a doubling of feder- America COMPETES Act is intended to increase the na-
al funding support for advanced research in the physical tions investment in science and engineering research
sciences through DOE) and an increase in U.S. higher ed- and in STEM education from kindergarten to graduate
ucation graduates within STEM disciplines. school and postdoctoral education.
In 2006, the United States National Academies ex- The act authorizes funding increases for the National
pressed their concern about the declining state of STEM Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards
education in the United States. Its Committee on Science, and Technology (NIST) laboratories, and the Department
Engineering and Public Policy developed a list of 10 ac- of Energy (DOE) Office of Science over FY2008-FY2010.
tions federal policy makers could take to advance STEM
education in the United States to compete successfully in
the 21st century. Their top three recommendations were
to:
Measures of effectiveness
• increase America’s talent pool by improving K-12 Robert Gabrys, Director of Education at NASA’s Goddard
science and mathematics education; Space Flight Center, articulated success as increased stu-
• strengthen the skills of teachers through additional dent achievement, early expression of student interest
training in science, math and technology; and in STEM subjects, and student preparedness to enter the
• enlarge the pipeline of students prepared to enter workforce.
college and graduate with STEM degrees.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration also
has implemented programs and curricula to advance
Mentoring
STEM education in order to replenish the pool of scien- Mentoring is especially important to the STEM fields in
tists, engineers and mathematicians who will lead space order to increase retention of STEM professionals in the
exploration in the 21st century. United States. MentorNet[5], a non-profit organization
The NASA Means Business competition, sponsored by based in Sunnyvale, California, focuses on e-mentoring
the Texas Space Grant Consortium, furthers that goal. for women and those underrepresented in the STEM
College students compete to develop promotional plans fields. MentorNet has matched over 27,000 mentorship
to encourage students in middle and high school to study pairs since 1997 with over 150 college, university, cor-
STEM subjects and to inspire professors in STEM fields to poration, society and professional society organizations.
involve their students in outreach activities that support Over 8 months, mentors and protégés are guided through
STEM education. a relationship that takes less than 15 minutes per week in
The National Science Foundation has numerous pro- communication. The privacy and security of online con-
grams in STEM education, including some for K-12 stu- versation enables protégés and mentors to be more open
dents such as the ITEST Program that supports The Glob- about issues in the workplace.
al Challenge Award ITEST Program.
See also
The STEM Education Coalition
• Hard and soft science
"The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathemat-
• NASA RealWorld-InWorld Engineering Design
ics (STEM) Education Coalition [3][4] works to support
Challenge
STEM programs for teachers and students at the U. S.
• Pre-STEM
Department of Education, the National Science Founda-
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
tion, and other agencies that offer STEM related pro-
Network
grams." A list of organizations that are part of the STEM
Coalition can be found on its homepage. Activity of the
STEM Coalition seems to have slowed since September, References
2009. [1] The National Science Foundation. What We Do.
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia STEM fields
[2] U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and
Training Administration by Jobs for the Future.
External links
The STEM Workforce Challenge: the Role of the • STEM Education STEM Education Blog - Blog,
Public Workforce System in a National Solution for Resources, Articles, Interviews
a Competitive Science, Technology, Engineering, • STEM Education Coalition Website
and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce April 2007. • On Diversity: Standing Our Ground: A Guidebook for
[3] The STEM Coalition STEM Educators in the Post-Michigan Era (AAAS,
[4] Bybee, R. W. (2010). "What is STEM Education?". October 2005)
Science 329 (5995): 996–996. Bibcode • On Diversity: Increasing Doctoral Participation of
2010Sci...329..996B. doi:10.1126/science.1194998. Underrepresented Minorities in the Science,
PMID 20798284. Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
[5] http://www.mentornet.net Fields by Scott A. Bass, University of Maryland,
Baltimore County
• On Women in STEM Fields: Mary Kirk’s book (2009).
Further reading Gender and Information Technology: Moving Beyond
• STEM Career - For Those Seeking and Promoting Access to Co-Create Global Partnership. Hershey, PA: IGI
STEM Careers Global. ISBN 978-1-59904-786-7
• STEM Coalition Argues for Federal Support of STEM • On Women in STEM Fields: "The Gender Chip
Education Programs (August 25, 2005) Project" A documentary by Helen De Michiel*On Sir
• STEM Coalition Statement To House & Senate James Dyson’s article on STEM students in The
Appriopriators In Support Of STEM Education And Telegraph
NSF Education (May 24, 2005) • Game-based STEM learning The Global Challenge
• ASME: Position Statements and Model Bill on K-12 • The COMETS Initiative: (Career-Oriented
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Mathematics, Engineering, Technology and Science)
• Panel on Educating the Knowledge Workforce: The COMETS Initiative
Graduate Education and American Competitiveness • Sloan Career Cornerstone Center: Sloan Career
by Claudia Mitchell-Kernan (March 9, 2005) Cornerstone Center Provides in-depth career
• Association for Career and Technical Education information for over 190 fields in STEMM (science,
articles on STEM education technology, engineering, mathematics, and
• [NC State’s Chancellor] Oblinger Joins New National medicine).
Coalition To Attract STEM Students • STEM Careers: STEMCareer.com - Provides a wide
• House Higher Education Bill Would Promote STEM variety of information on STEM (Science,
Careers (American Institute of Physics, August 29, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) for students,
2005) counselors, and teachers.
• In August 2008 Sir sabrina commented on the lack of • Encourage students to enter STEM fields: STEMout
STEM and engineering students in the UK in an • STEM2Stern: stem2stern.org - US Navy’s Program to
interview with The Telegraph. promote STEM careers.
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Categories: Education by subject, Education policy, Science education
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