Why We Need More of Our Youth in STEM Fields

Science, technology, engineering, math (and in the author’s opinion, this should include medicine as well) is essential for our future. The youth of today should be encouraged to learn and be a part of one of these fields. The Department of Education has invested millions in supporting STEM education – and for good reason, our future and our growth as a society depends on it.

Today’s climate is constantly evolving, and future generations should be prepared with the fundamentals of STEM education. This includes the complex challenges of problem-solving and making sense of important information. It involves gathering and examining information to make the best decisions that will most likely have a lasting impact on our society. To meet the demands of a dynamic workforce, having fluency, skills, and knowledge in STEM fields are critical.

So, how do we encourage and motivate our young people to study and participate in these fields? According to a study at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, "Science instruction at an early age showed improved abilities in subjects outside of STEM, including literacy, language-learning, math, and executive functioning."

Some researchers even suggest that exposure for students as early as elementary school, (as an example, adding STEM-related topics naturally into the curriculum) shows students continuing to have an interest in a future STEM-related occupation. If they are learning about it young, they’re more likely to pursue these fields at universities and colleges. Building a strong STEM foundation now will set students up for success in the coming years.

STEM learning is a discipline that is more than just books, experiments, and studying – it can allow for that spark in a child’s mind that encourages them to continue this path all the way into the professional world. It goes beyond school subjects by giving a skillset that governs the way we think and behave. It helps us to solve the challenges the modern world faces today. It influences the development of our society with project-based learning and a problem-solving mindset.

STEM learning also drives teamwork and enhances communication. In this way, it prepares the world for the future. The collaboration of people with problem-solving skills and inquisitive minds isn’t based on being an expert in each particular subject, rather it enables people to become part of a highly qualified workforce, functioning in collaboration. This in turn, brings about an increase in productivity, work satisfaction, and overall profitability. Our world is continuously changing, so the only way we can be ready for what’s to come is through communication and collaboration.

When we combine our knowledge and capabilities, we can move forward in advancing the betterment of our society and hopefully have a global impact as well.

There’s a high demand for STEM skills in society. As if not stressed enough, we have a responsibility to help drive our youth in this direction. These subjects are focused on providing solutions to the concerns society has today.

As society innovates and technology advances, we're in need of professionals who understand how these technologies work. These professionals will be able to propose practical solutions to ever-evolving technology.

A recent example is the Covid-19 pandemic - this only reinforced the importance of technology. With more people turning to Zoom, Slack, and other tools to connect with family members and coworkers, we all saw the important need to equip young professionals and students to use and develop technology. Even after the peak of the pandemic is over, many people and workplaces have adopted and retained some of their new technology habits.

To sum it all up, the world we live in is changing, and we must keep pace with it. STEM fields allow young people to be flexible, find connections, look for patterns, and evaluate information. STEM opportunities afford us the chance to move towards a knowledge-based economy, helping us to grow as individuals and society as a whole. ~