In this article:
- Understanding STEM education
- Benefits of STEM education
- The current state of diversity and inclusion in STEM education
- Why we need more diversity in STEM education
- Encouraging diversity and inclusion in STEM education
- Career paths in STEM
- What is the future of STEM education?
In an era of rapid technological advancements and innovation, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education is more vital than ever. STEM disciplines form the backbone of our society, driving progress in fields ranging from healthcare to information technology.
As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, fostering a robust STEM education system is a necessary determinant of global competitiveness. A report from the National Science Foundation states that “scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy.” It is a near certainty that the next generation of innovators will rely on their STEM education to tackle the problems of the future.
Understanding STEM education
Previously an easy shorthand to refer to four disciplines that share much in common, STEM has evolved into a more cohesive skillset that now includes technical areas like computer science while also emphasizing skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and design. So, what exactly is the definition of STEM today?
Defining STEM
The STEM education of the 21st century is far-reaching in scope, extending far beyond what may initially come to mind when you hear “science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” now encompassing everything from robotics and AI to an increased emphasis on incorporating elements of the arts and humanities (sometimes referred to as ‘STEAM’). The increasingly global nature of many industries means truly invaluable professionals must possess the kinds of cultural competencies and creativity you may not associate with traditional STEM subjects.
The objective of STEM education
According to the Ohio Department of Education, the goal of STEM (and STEAM) “is to foster intellectual, entrepreneurial, and technical talent through design thinking.” Students of STEM programs should receive a transdisciplinary, innovative education that prepares them for success in their future careers. When students get the kind of comprehensive education and training a high-quality STEM education can provide, they can graduate as “innovators and inventors, self-reliant and logical thinkers, and technologically proficient problem solvers,” regardless of field.
Benefits of STEM education
Although it may be great in theory to be a creative innovator, what are the real-world benefits of STEM education?
Benefits to the individual
Obtaining a STEM education means more than learning math and science. As an individual, your choices for areas of focus in STEM are vast: You could learn about math, but you could also learn about statistics, machine learning, robotics, media and technology, design, engineering, and the list goes on.
STEM learning “promotes critical thinking, curiosity, persistence, decision-making, leadership, entrepreneurship, acceptance of failure, and more.” Regardless of where your future career aspirations may lie, the skills that you’ll gain in a STEM education will make you a well-rounded, creative, and adaptable individual.
Benefits to society
The benefits to society of STEM education may appear self-evident—after all, who wouldn’t want a society filled with creative, intelligent, curious, and thoughtful people?
But the benefits are much more concrete than that. Any society that wishes to remain competitive globally in the future will rely upon a STEM-educated citizenry to tackle problems like climate change, global supply chain and sustainability issues, and feeding a growing population.
To choose a single issue as an example, we will need professionals in STEM fields to continue refining renewable energy systems so they’re affordable and practical to scale up; we’ll need them to make accurate predictions regarding rising sea levels and to measure the temperature and pH of the ocean, offering guidance on how to keep marine life alive; and STEM-related professionals will be integral to mitigating the effects of climate change on populations, including disasters like drought and famine.
The current state of diversity and inclusion in STEM education
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) populations remain woefully underrepresented across the board in STEM fields. Although “women now earn a majority of all undergraduate and advanced degrees,” they remain underrepresented in most STEM fields outside of healthcare.
Representation in STEM: a look at the numbers
- Black STEM employees make up 11 percent of the workforce in all fields but only 9 percent in STEM fields. The disparity is strongest in engineering and architecture, with Black workers accounting for only 5 percent of the workforce.
- Hispanic adults comprise 17 percent of the general workforce but fill only 8 percent of STEM roles, a statistic that holds steady across STEM fields.
- Women earned 53 percent of all college degrees as of 2018, but only 22 percent of all engineering degrees and 19 percent of computer science degrees. However, their representation in various STEM fields varies wildly. As of 2019, women made up 74 percent of all healthcare practitioners and technicians but only accounted for 25 percent of computer occupations, 15 percent of engineers and architects, and 24 percent of atmospheric and space scientists.
Even when people of color and women manage to make it in a STEM field, they tend to earn less than their white male counterparts.
According to one report, women in STEM jobs make approximately 74 percent of men’s median earnings, a gender pay gap that exceeds that of the broader labor market.
Black full-time workers in STEM occupations earn about 78 percent of what their white counterparts do, while Hispanic STEM workers earn about 83 percent. Interestingly, Asian STEM workers earn more than white workers, earning about 127 percent of what a white worker can expect to earn.
Barriers to diversity and inclusion in STEM
It is crucial for institutions of learning to recognize the socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic barriers to participating in STEM education that students face so they can actively work to increase their representation in the classroom and the field. Factors that can act as a barrier to access to STEM education include:
- Underrepresentation: If you don’t see anyone who looks like you working in a certain role, it can be more difficult to imagine it for yourself.
- Geography: Rural schools often receive less funding than urban and suburban schools, meaning it’s less likely for a teacher to specialize in STEM subjects, potentially diluting the quality of the STEM education provided.
- Socioeconomic status: School systems in poorer areas are often underfunded since school funding is tied to property taxes. The additional staff and training necessary for developing a robust STEM curriculum may be outside the scope of what lower socioeconomic status school districts can accomplish.
- Discrimination: The implicit and explicit biases and prejudices of those teaching and working in STEM can actively discourage minorities and women from pursuing STEM. It can also make it more challenging to stay in the field if you face a hostile working environment or if you struggle to find employment due to biased recruitment strategies.
Why we need more diversity in STEM education
Increasing diversity across STEM fields is essential to closing economic and class gaps, fostering innovation, and bringing a diverse set of perspectives to the fore when problem-solving.
The power of diverse perspectives in innovation
Every individual has a unique lived experience, and with that comes a unique perspective and knowledge base. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a diverse team of problem-solvers outperforms a more homogeneous one, even when the less diverse team is made up of higher-skilled individuals. STEM fields need creative thinkers, and exposure to people with diverse backgrounds helps foster creativity, increasing innovation by up to 20 percent according to a Deloitte study.
Fostering equity through STEM education
Improving equity in STEM education can have a ripple effect across society. Since STEM fields are such a driving force in the global economy, encouraging more diverse participation in STEM programs at an early age can help them go on to flourish in a STEM-centric job market.
Encouraging diversity and inclusion in STEM education
Hopefully, by now you’re on board with the idea that an increase in diversity in STEM education and STEM fields is beneficial to us all. Wanting an increase in diversity is one thing. How can we make it happen?
Strategies for schools and educators
STEM educators can foster diversity in many ways, including:
- Using inclusive language and avoiding stereotypes
- Creating teaching materials that speak to a range of backgrounds and cultures
- Encouraging students to participate in group projects where they can practice working with others who have varied perspectives
- Participating in cultural competence and implicit bias training
- Actively recruiting BIPOC and women to STEM education programs starting at an early age
Role of government and policies
The government has a significant role to play in diversifying STEM. Efforts should include:
- Closing the resource gap between rural and low-income school districts and their wealthier and urban/suburban counterparts
- Funding national organizations that help young people network with established STEM professionals
- Developing policy initiatives such as grant and outreach programs that can both expose underrepresented communities to STEM and make accessing such education more affordable
- Enforcing policies like Title IX that prohibit discrimination based on sex and gender
Career paths in STEM
From research and medicine to aeronautics and marine biology, the potential career paths in STEM are nearly endless.
Traditional STEM careers
When you think of STEM fields, the following careers may be among the first to spring to mind:
- Engineer
- Scientist
- Mathematician
- Architect
- Technician
Emerging STEM fields
As we briefly touched on, the scope of STEM is ever-broadening. The STEM fields of tomorrow may look very different than those of the past. Currently emerging STEM fields include:
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Bioinformatics
- Big data and data science
- Environmental science
- Computer science
What is the future of STEM education?
For our society to continue to be competitive on the global stage, we must continue to strive for increased access to STEM education, including an increase in diversity. The United States is currently falling behind other developed nations regarding the numbers of STEM workers, with a notable lack of women and diverse representation.
Do you want to be part of the future of STEM? Consider the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences at Penn LPS Online. With a variety of courses and concentrations to choose from, you can craft an educational experience uniquely suited to your career aspirations. We also offer several certificate options for professionals interested in closing a skill gap or brushing up their knowledge base. Whether your STEM interests are in climate change, data analytics, or neuroscience, we have the certificate program to help you demonstrate professional and academic achievement. Have questions? Contact us to learn more.
