For many, the arrival of September coincides with a longer commute, the return of pumpkin flavored commodities, and a new semester for ourselves and our children. These first few months are often full of energy and the excitement of discovery that each new academic year brings. What better time is there to think about the future of STEM education and your impact upon it?
With all of the advances being made within STEM fields, there is not a shortage of career paths, but will there be a shortage of STEM professionals? How do we encourage future generations to choose a STEM career when it is rarely glamorous on a daily basis and years of minutely detailed work go into each moment of invigorating certainty—a moment that may occur only once a decade?
It may be as simple as inviting high school students to come work with you for a day.
Science Daily's recent article, High school students who experience 'job-shadow' opportunities in STEM environments more likely to consider a STEM career path, discusses a new study published in National Communication Association's Journal of Applied Communication Research. Researchers have found that among the 229 high school students surveyed, “only a few students (1.8 percent) reported that they had received messages that made them aware of the opportunities for women and minorities in STEM fields, or of the general need for more professionals in these fields.”
While it may not be practical to host an entire high school class once a semester, providing a few opportunities for students to experience the different facets of working in STEM could be a great way to play a part in inspiring the future.