It’s really up to us
Last week, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) joined with other technology leaders and organizations in asking Congress to support three areas to enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in schools. They asked the House and Senate Education Committee to 1) enhance the instructional methods of teachers, 2) create incentives to encourage students to pursue careers in STEM, and 3) expand efforts to encourage diversity in the STEM pipeline.
As one of more than 40 members of the STEM Education Coalition, the ASME hopes to improve the U.S. level of education. In a 2006 international science assessment report, for example, it was revealed that American 15-year-olds scored behind their counterparts in 28 other developed countries, scoring below the average for the 30-member OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).
Also part of this effort, with a goal to double the number of U.S. STEM graduates by 2015, is the "Tapping America's Potential" (TAP) with 16 business organization members. TAP was formed in 2005 and focuses on reforming immigration policies for highly educated workers, increasing funding for R&D, and improving STEM education.
The strength of these organizations is in their ability to publicize, apply legal pressure on Congress, and build internal programs to support STEM growth and thus improve America's global competitiveness. And while supporting these organizations and their lofty ideals is very easy to agree with, it's also very easy to just let them "do their thing." The real strength of these efforts comes when we all get involved and make our local students aware of these issues and convince them to pursue a STEM career. Providing an infrastructure to support STEM is appropriate, but we all must not forget our role in ensuring its ultimate success. I'm not above this either and on May 8th I'll spend the day promoting the value of STEM education and careers to the 1,100 students of Columbus West School in Cicero, Ill.
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As one of more than 40 members of the STEM Education Coalition, the ASME hopes to improve the U.S. level of education. In a 2006 international science assessment report, for example, it was revealed that American 15-year-olds scored behind their counterparts in 28 other developed countries, scoring below the average for the 30-member OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).
Also part of this effort, with a goal to double the number of U.S. STEM graduates by 2015, is the "Tapping America's Potential" (TAP) with 16 business organization members. TAP was formed in 2005 and focuses on reforming immigration policies for highly educated workers, increasing funding for R&D, and improving STEM education.
The strength of these organizations is in their ability to publicize, apply legal pressure on Congress, and build internal programs to support STEM growth and thus improve America's global competitiveness. And while supporting these organizations and their lofty ideals is very easy to agree with, it's also very easy to just let them "do their thing." The real strength of these efforts comes when we all get involved and make our local students aware of these issues and convince them to pursue a STEM career. Providing an infrastructure to support STEM is appropriate, but we all must not forget our role in ensuring its ultimate success. I'm not above this either and on May 8th I'll spend the day promoting the value of STEM education and careers to the 1,100 students of Columbus West School in Cicero, Ill.
E-mail the editor
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