The Growth of STEM Education

For this month’s News You Can Use, we’ve tracked some of the latest news from the STEM community both across the nation and in Seattle, as well as one young student making a difference through STEM.

During his second inaugural address on January 21, President Barack Obama again focused on the power of STEM when he emphasized innovation and risk taking, saying we must “harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools and empower our citizens.” He encouraged entrepreneurism and pledged to invest in infrastructure, education and science.

In an effort to invest in STEM education, the Seattle Times reported that a successful Seattle tech entrepreneur will launch a new foundation. Brothers Hadi and Ali Partovis’ foundation will help raise the profile of computer science education in schools across the country, with hopes of making it a core part of curriculum. The pair believes expanding computer science education will create opportunity for students, which will ultimately help our country.

Meanwhile, a recent report found that over the past nine years high school students have become increasingly interested in STEM-related studies and careers. Education Week discussed the details of this report, including students’ top career choices and interest rates by gender and demographics.

And finally, a 14-year old from New Hampshire recently demonstrated STEM in action. The teen won America’s Top Young Scientist prize for her innovative clean water system which could potentially provide water for 1.1 billion people across the world that do not have access to clean water.