STEM

Hi, Energy Academicians!

Welcome to our 2013 Energy SSEAT Blog. This site was created for you to network, share ideas, to keep touch after the Academy, and generally to provide a casual digital forum for us to talk energy!

Why should we support education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)?  The answer is simple yet profound.  We must all recognize that we live in an era of constant scientific discovery and technological change, which directly affects our lives and requires our input as citizens.  And we must recognize that as our economy increasingly depends on these revolutionary new advances, many new jobs will be created in STEM fields.

In recent years, Pinterest has grown to be one of the most influential social platforms on the Internet. According to Mediabistro, Pinterest hit 10 million unique visitors faster than any site in history and has grown by over 2,000% since May 2011. Pinterest boasts some pretty amazing statistics proving that it is the ultimate tool used for gathering and organizing content found on the web.

Absolute excitement. That is how I would describe the atmosphere of the Smithsonian's Teachers' Night on Friday, November 15. For those who are not familiar, Teachers' Night is a special night for educators to find new resources to use in the classroom and attend demonstrations showcasing Smithsonian programs and materials.

What drives a student's interest in STEM? Some people believe that these concepts come naturally to certain individuals, thinking that the "math gene" or the "science gene" gets bestowed on the lucky ones, like the tooth fairy leaving a quarter under their pillow. While this may have been believable at one time or another, now students have access to countless channels of information, STEM subjects are becoming a higher priority in classrooms, and learning is evolving into more of a fun activity.

It is important for STEM educators to get together and share their ideas with the community. As an organization, we find it valuable to communicate with educators to let them know about all of the resources that are available to them. This is why we were ecstatic to co-sponsor the first ever DC Share Fair.

In case you missed it, the first DC Share Fair occurred on Saturday, March 8.

There are many career opportunities that exist within the realm of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). One of the most common misconceptions about these career paths is that they require years in the classroom, highly advanced degrees, and a great amount of student debt. It doesn't have to be this way! We have listed five STEM careers that range from a certificate to a doctorate. The best part is, many of them reside in the fastest growing job markets in the world and have excellent entry level pay.

With less the one week remaining, anticipation is rising for the 2014 4-H National Youth Science Day, taking place October 8, 2014. The seventh annual science event explores the ins and outs of aerospace engineering with the 2014 National Science Experiment, Rockets to the Rescue!

To get you prepped for this exciting 4-H event, here is what you need to know about this year's 4-H NYSD!

The Experiment

On April 18, the National Math Festival comes to Washington, D.C., inspiring people of all ages with activities that demonstrate the beauty, fun, and importance of math.

Two days before the fun starts--on April 16--educators and policymakers will gather on Capitol Hill for the National Math Festival's Policy Day, which includes timely conversations about what it takes to build a world-class corps of math teachers in America.