What Is STEM and Why Should I Care?

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What is STEM & Why Should I Care?

Sponsored by the Regional Career Education Partnerships of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton Counties

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Sponsored by:

Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton & Philadelphia

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Materials, an archived copy of the webinar and follow-up resources will be available at:

http://careerreality.wikispaces.com

+Our Presenters

Kathy Fadigan

Assistant Professor of Science Education

Abington College, Penn State University

Meg Tredinnick

Technical Service Engineer

Heraeus Materials Technology

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What is STEM & Why Should I

Care?

+What is STEM?

STEM stands for…ScienceTechnologyEngineeringMathematics

+What is STEM?

Forget the stereotype of the mad scientist working alone in the lab.

+What is STEM?

Real scientists come in all shapes and sizes and colors.

+What is STEM?

And work in a diverse array of settings.

+What is STEM?

Utilizing a wide variety of skills and knowledge.CommunicationMathematicsCuriosityAttention to detail

+What is STEM?

Science attempts to better understand our living and non-living world

+What is STEM?Science includes areas such asAgricultureBiologyChemistryPhysicsMeteorologyEnvironmental Science

+What is STEM?

Technology deals with:Information ScienceComputer-related occupations

Helping usersTechnicians in science

+What is STEM?

What is an Engineer?Noun – a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problem

+What is STEM?

What do engineers do?Design roller coasters. Produce fuel-efficient cars. Create the next cool cell phone.

+Areas of Engineering

+What is STEM?

Mathematics includesActuariesMathematiciansStatisticians

+Why Should I Care?

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Why Should I Care?

The gathering storm is rapidly approaching a Category 5

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What are the top actions that federal policymakers could take to enhance the science and technology enterprise so that the United States can successfully compete, prosper, and be secure in the global community of the 21st century?

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Recommendations

1. Move the United States K-12 education system in science and mathematics to a leading position by global standards.

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Recommendations

2. Double the real federal investment in basic research in mathematics, the physical sciences, and engineering over the next seven years (while, at a minimum, maintaining the recently doubled real spending levels in the biosciences).

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Recommendations

3. Encourage more United States citizens to pursue careers in mathematics, science, and engineering.

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Recommendations

4. Rebuild the competitive ecosystem by introducing reforms in the nation’s tax, patent, immigration and litigation policies.

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A Few Factoids

In 2009, 51 percent of United States patents were awarded to non- United States companies.

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A Few Factoids

Of Wal-Mart’s 6,000 suppliers, 5,000 are in China

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A Few Factoids

The world’s largest airport is now in China.

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A Few Factoids

During a recent period during which two high-rise buildings were con- structed in Los Angeles, over 5,000 were built in Shanghai.

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A Few Factoids

No new nuclear plants and no new petroleum refineries have been built in the United States in a third of a century, a period characterized by intermittent energy-related crises.

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A Few Factoids

United States consumers spend significantly more money on potato chips than the government devotes to energy R&D.

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A Few Factoids

In 2000 the number of foreign students studying the physical sciences and engineering in United States graduate schools for the first time surpassed the number of United States students.

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A Few Factoids

Sixty-nine percent of United States public school students in fifth through eighth grade are taught mathematics by a teacher without a degree or certificate in mathematics

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A Few Factoids

Ninety-three percent of United States public school students in fifth through eighth grade are taught the physical sciences by a teacher without a degree or certificate in the physical sciences.

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A Few Factoids

The United States ranks 27th among developed nations in the proportion of college students receiving undergraduate degrees in science or engineering.

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A Few Factoids

The United States ranks 20th in high school completion rate among industrialized nations and 16th in college completion rate

+Fostering STEM Career Development

+Fostering STEM Career Development

Look for early signs of interests in STEMCuriosity of the natural worldCuriosity of how things work

The child that would rather take apart his or her toy than play with it

+Fostering STEM Career Development

Encourage STEM learning at homeBooks, television, videos, playing

outside, playing with toys that promote the development of spatial skills and creativity

+Fostering STEM Career Development

Encourage STEM learning at school Homework, internships,

job shadowing, extracurricular activities such as science fairs and science clubs

As many math and science courses as possible.

+Fostering STEM Career Development

For example, engineering requires At least four years of Math

Including Pre Calculus (1 year of Calculus is preferable)

Three years of science Including chemistry and physics

+Fostering STEM Career Development

STEM literacy is very important!Not all kids will grow up to be scientists,

but…We want them all to be well educated

adults capable of making informed decisions about their personal lives

And, lots of students change their minds as young adults

+Average Salaries

Engineers depending on field: $52K to $83K

Software Engineers: $85K

Chemists: $66K

Medical Scientists: $73K

Geoscientist: $79K

Environmental Scientist: $60K

Biochemist/Biophysicist: $83K

+Top Careers

O*NET OnLine Help http://www.onetonline.org/find/career?c=15&g=Go

http://www.onetcenter.org/green.html

+Emerging Green Jobs

Air Quality

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Carbon Capture and Sequestration Systems Installers

Chief Sustainability Officers

Climate Change Analysts

Energy Engineers

Environmental Restoration Planners

Fuel Cell Technicians

Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists

Nanotechnology Engineering Technicians

Recycling and Reclamation Workers

Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Water Resource Specialists

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

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+Career Resources

The Life Science Career Alliance http://www.lscalliance.org/

Explore Your Future http://www.exploreyourfuture.org/

Sloan Career Cornerstone http://www.careercornerstone.org/

Green Jobs https://greenjobs.workforce3one.org/

+Web Sites to Explore

www.braincake.org

www.engineergirl.org

www.engineeryourlife.org

www.manufacturingiscool.comA site for students interested in summer camps, scholarships and other opportunities in manufacturing

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids

http://www.brainpop.com/

http://stem.discoveryeducation.com

+Thank you!

Kathy Fadigan – kxf24@psu.edu