Why+STEM

 STEM education has received a lot of attention over the last few years due to the increased need for skilled workers in the STEM fields. To make matters more complicated, unlike the need for skilled technicians during the industrial aged, the new STEM workers need extensive and expensive training that usually culminates in a Ph.D. or an equivalent degree. Up until recently, there was not a major initiative to attract students to the STEM fields to attract them to the various STEM doctorate programs. Tom Farmer notes at NASA, “The reality has been that not enough students have chosen science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) tracks in college, so it’s more difficult to find the necessary engineers, chemists, programmers and pilots required to propel the space program to new heights. Yet Farmer also highlights how organizations such as NASA are now focusing on improving STEM education and inspiring students to pursue a STEM related fields. Clearly, there is ample attention being paid to the need to increase student interest in STEM related subjects, however, the purpose of the STEM strand is not solely to create a “high tech” vocation program. While there is certainly the need for technicians to build, repair, and maintain new advance technology such as solar panels and wind turbines, the purpose of our STEM program is to provide students with the skills and ability to think critically and solve complex problems.
 * Why STEM? **