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We asked a lot of questions on our drive around the US about how we're enabling the next generation of innovation, the new engineering classes.
We found many STEM challenges but a lot of inspiration, from Don Morgan — a one-man Army of inspiration in the Georgia public school system — to engineer Christina Richards in Texas to Rene Scully and Joy Franco in San Jose, Calif.
The infographic below shows the STEM battle has been long fought and is far from over:
This article was originally published on EBN's sister publication Drive for Innovation.
I would like to add like following. Parent also plays very important role for inculcating values and education in child. For this to happen, society in general is responsible to give them descent work and salary. Once society is properly balanced and parent earns good money to take care of child, they may be able to help achieve goal of STEM.
All family income must be much above poverty line.
Our industry can do a lot to promote STEM… We need to get kids excited about these subjects earlier. We need to help them be aware of all the cool possibilities for employment later. My brother in law is a rocket scientist (yes, really) and he often does programs for younger kids–five, or eight or ten year olds–where they make rockets and paper airplanes and talk about all the ways that science can help you keep stuff up in the air. It's basic stuff…but it gets them pointed in that direction.
@Hailey: Generally speaking, my exprience is that:
– parent with too much money may not be that worry about higher education. May be higer education is not the best way to get more money.
– Parent below poverty line struggle to find time and money to send child for higer education. They are busy to resolve daily problems.
– However, middle class parents looks more fortunate. They have little money and more time to spend for kid's higer education.
Also, this looks cyclic in nature from one generation to another.
@_HM Good point, but can this be possible for a large percentage of parents?
@ Hailey, I consider what your brother is doing as something amazing, -explaining something that seems so complex and breaks it down for the generation next to understand.
@Adeniji:
I have also learned that in most culture there is adage for this.
Yes, I have observed this very closely. This is true as per 80/20 rule.
@Jacob: Why do you feel the cash flow is secondary? I feel that cash flow resource is a mist since that can make a huge difference. Business processes depend heavily on the cash flow
“Why do you feel the cash flow is secondary? I feel that cash flow resource is a mist since that can make a huge difference. Business processes depend heavily on the cash flow”
Nimantha, I feel academic-industrial collaborations are more important than cash flow. Sharing the knowledge and resource are important than funding.
I was surprised to hear that shale gas makes up 44% of the USA natural gas production. I hope this abundancy of low cost hydrocarbon fuel does not derail in any way the push for clean technology and energy conservation. I know that chemical plants in the UK are already importing such gas from the USA until we frack our own fields.
Its a good move to get back manufacturing to US. Although finicancially it works or not time will tell. But definitely from quality point of view and national pride its good.
@SP I agree. There is also marketing value in being able to say “Made in the USA.” Some buyers willingly spend more to support the workers in their country and to obtain what they believe is a better quality products.
Inexpensive, abundant energy definitely helps to fuel the economy. It also provides raw materials for various chemical industry products. Some time ago, I remember reading that some of the small percentage constituents of the raw natural gas can be separated out and purified for consumption in the chemical supply sector – I think that included products such as helium.
It would be great if an ample supply of energy would encourage a resurgence in domenstic manufacturing. Among other things, we need to support and retain the manufacturing skill base.
@_HM, your perspective is interesting. I think there are big cultural differences (in addition to economic) and also geographic (in that in some places schools are more or less available). I have a daughter going to college next year–and she hopes to study medicine. It's been a daunting process to figure out where the money is: grants, scholarships, work study, etc. You are absolutely right that getting kids educated takes a signifigant investment in time and attention from the parents. I've never filled out so many forms in my life!
“The more shale gas that's used in the transportation and logistics industry, the more chances there are for overall transportation costs to drop, which will make the cost-sensitive supply chain professional smile.”
Jennifer, in certain countries, petroleum and gasoline are selling through the well connected pipe line networks. Shale also can think about migrating the conventional method of transportation to pipe lines and hence cost can be reduced.
“The more shale gas that's used in the transportation and logistics industry, the more chances there are for overall transportation costs to drop, which will make the cost-sensitive supply chain professional smile.”
Sp, various states and federal government are trying for that, but whether companies are willing for such migration?
@Flyingscott, i hope so too…but by all accounts it seems not. I am in California, which is perhaps more forward thinking than other parts of the country, but wind, solar, and other alternatives are always being considered…and i see new and large installations all the time.
@SP and Ariella, the Made in USA label has some clout, but i think that there's a new generation of customers who are going to have to be educated in this respect. I think the younger generation is much more globally minded.
@Hailey: Finance for medicine is much facsile as compare to other branches like engineering and others. Best way is to borrow it from bank with backup insurance.
Once she finishes study – paying back loan money is easy – reason, they earn so much more.
Best wishes to your daughter to become wonderful doctor and serve people.
@Ariella, quite agree there are many people in US who would like to buy products made in US. Although its hard to find those kind of products.
@Hailey – I think the 'Made in USA' label does have some clout. Unfortunately, it is all to difficult to find that option. I can tell you that, when it come to food products, I find it extremely important.
IEEE USA has a group that supports STEM with projects, people, and limited funding.
http://www.ieeeusa.org/
http://www.ieeeusa.org/volunteers/committees/pec/index.html
http://www.tryengineering.org/
There are resources all across the country available for the asking. I personally have created clubs at middle schools and done programs aligned to the curriculum frameworks. One project was integrating low cost / no cost engineering in the classroom to fit in with subjects being mandated. The idea is to make the subject come alive for the students while covering all the details, without overwelming the teacher. If a teacher asks we try to help.
@mchipguru, thanks for the links. I think these types of efforts are critical to our success. I'm in California and school budgets are tight so “Low cost, no cost” goes a long way. More importantly, it sems like middle school is where some kids, especially girls, start to lose steam around STEM. I'm all for anything that keeps the excitement alive.