STEM Ed Update 05/01/15

Welcome!

Please enjoy this week's STEM Ed update.

Coalition Update:

STEM Education Coalition Featured on the Eliot Hine Network

Top Article:
What Cities Need to Close the Skills Gap for 'Smart Jobs'

Governing

It may seem that Wichita, Kan., is exaggerating just a bit when it calls itself the "Air Capital of the World." But the

city is home to several major aircraft manufacturers that play an outsized role in supporting the region's economy. So when industry executives said they were having trouble finding workers with the latest skills, local leaders listened.
Read more here.

Stay in the Know:

Latest STEM Education Policy News Across the U.S.

Revisiting the STEM Workforce
National Science Board

Does the United States have a "glut" or "shortage" of STEM workers? It's a question that has long permeated policy conversations about the U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce. But is this the right question to be asking? Revisiting the STEM Workforce, a new report by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) National Science Board (NSB), offers insights about long-standing workforce debates and seeks to catalyze constructive policy discussions about this critical and dynamic component of the nation's economy.

Read more here.

Read report here.

Does Your Child's School Have a Quality STEM Program?

The Huffington Post

Responding to growing calls to improve science, technology, math and engineering (STEM) education,

schools are touting their specialized STEM programs, largely centered on special technology or a particular set of course offerings. Parents and community leaders should focus on initiatives to determine the extent to which efforts are based on what research shows will increase STEM knowledge and problem-solving skills.
Read more here.

The Future Postponed: Why Declining Investment In Basic Research Threatens a U.S. Innovation Deficit

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

U.S. federal government support for basic science research is the lowest it has been since World War II. Declining government spending on basic research is

holding back potentially life-saving advances in 15 fields, from robotics and fusion energy to Alzheimer's disease and agriculture. MIT released a report highlighting opportunities in basic STEM research that could help shape and maintain U.S. economic power, and benefit society.

Read more here.

How Intel and Boeing Are Helping These Kids Learn STEM Skills

Time

An entire region in Arizona

has made education - and especially STEM education - a core tenet of its economic development strategy. These communities are working together with the world class companies and educational institutions in our region to ensure the most educated workforce is ready for our future.

Read more here.

A Contest in the Bronx Helps Young Scientists Explore
The New York Times

Lawrence Abu-Hammour always knew he wanted to do scientific research, but he did not get into the Bronx High School of Science or any of New York City's other elite schools with robust science programs and activities. Instead, he ended up at a small school, the Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics.

Read more here.

From Around the Community

Washington Facts: STEM Edition

In the April 22, 2015, issue of the New York Times, Newt Gingrich writes about one particular moment in time when a Republican Congress and a Democrat Administration came together in a bipartisan move to double the budget for the National Institutes of Health. (Newt Gingrich, a Republican, was speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999).

Read more here.

Focus on the Future: Kentucky, Toyota Expand Early Childhood Academies

Preparing parents helps prepare students...which leads to a prepared workforce.Today half of the children in Kentucky arrive at kindergarten unprepared. The United Way Born Learning Academies meet a critical need in Kentucky communities: helping parents turn everyday moments into learning opportunities to help prepare their kids for kindergarten and beyond.
Read more here.

DoD Joins Forces to Invest in STEM Education
From cell phones to household computers, STEM keeps the world connected. The Department of Defense (DoD) is making an investment to ensure military children have access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education with the expansion of the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) College Readiness Program.
Read more here.

To Build an Army of STEM Workers, Look to Veterans

While the U.S. job market has been gaining strength in recent months, there's one group of Americans who are still struggling to find work: veterans. According to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment among post 9/11 veterans was 6.7 percent in Februarya full point higher than the population at large.
Read more here.

Eliot Hine Radio/TV: Technology Being Used As a Creation Tool

Join the Coalition!

We at the STEM Education Coalition hope you have enjoyed this week's edition of the STEM Ed Newsletter.

Any organization may join the Coalition, and there is no cost to become an Affiliate Member. Affiliate members are listed on our website, receive periodic communications on policy matters, and will be signed up for the weekly newsletter.

Your organization can also apply to join the Coalition's Policy Council, where they play an active role in setting the public policy agenda for the Coalition and are invited to participate in frequent interactions with policymakers.

If you would like to join the Coalition at any level, please read our message to prospective members or email us at [email protected].

We appreciate your continued support and involvement.

Our Coalition's Co-Chairs

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