Educators are embracing STEM like never before! They see it as an essential component to helping students develop high-demand 21st Century Skills while connecting core subjects to real-life problem solving. Not convinced? Here are what we consider the top five [5] interesting facts about STEM and the importance of STEM Education:

1. Workers in STEM fields earn more than other workers with similar education. 1

2. Many STEM workers are highly educated, but about ⅓ have not graduated college.

3. STEM training in college leads to earning more after college, even if graduates don’t work in STEM.

4. Blacks and Hispanics are underrepresented in the STEM workforce.

5. More women than ever work in life and physical science, but the number of women in computer sciences is actually decreasing.

6. NextWaveSTEM helps prepare all students for STEM careers, whether they plan to attend college or not, by getting them excited about emerging technologies like coding, robotics, 3D printing and artificial intelligence.

Ok, we snuck the sixth one in there!

To learn more about how NextWave STEM partners with schools and organizations to bring emerging technologies into the classroom (even if your instructors haven’t taught these subjects before), review our slide deck here or contact us to learn more.

Sources:
1. Graf, Nikki, et al. “7 Facts about the STEM Workforce.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 21 Aug. 2020, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/01/09/7-facts-about-the-stem-workforce/.

2. “Why-so-Few-Women-in-Science-Technology-Engineering-and-Mathematics.” Https://Time.com/Wp-Content/Uploads/2015/05/Why-so-Few-Women-in-Science-Technology-Engineering-and-Mathematics.