So summer is over and it’s time to get back to school.  I took a break from WizSTEM for several reasons.  First, I got very discouraged with our school system when trying to find a good fit for our group.  I felt that they would be very interested if were offering to donate dollars.  But offering volunteers whose passion is STEM education was less interesting.

Second, a colleague who works at NIH told me of the number of PhD’s who couldn’t get funding to work on their projects.  Most of these researchers are young and working on their first or second projects.  Because they are essentially “unproven” the grant money goes to those who have a long track record for research.  This leaves many young doctorate grads. without jobs.  So he brought into question the validity of motivating students to pursue STEM careers if no jobs are available.

After reflection I’m still convinced that STEM is the right track for education.  To that end I will start as a Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee Board Member next week.  I am excited to be a part in helping to shape the curriculum of the Academies so that students can focus in on the STEM career of their choice.

I guess I realize I can’t change the world and make funding or jobs happen.  And I fully understand how the current economic conditions have made things look even more bleak.  But, if we don’t encourage children to pursue careers in STEM fields we will definitely lose young, great minds that are and have always been so instrumental in creating technological advancements.

Hopefully through small steps we can stimulate the minds of our children and encourage them to think more about science, technology, engineering and math.

From Project Lead the Way’s website..

“As the nation’s leading provider of STEM curriculum for middle schools and high schools, we’re always looking for new ways to promote the power of imagination, innovation and learning. That’s why we developed the PLTW Innova Awards to honor some of the nation’s brightest students and most inspiring teachers involved in STEM education. This year’s Innova Awards will be presented at the PLTW National Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C. on October 20, 2010, where some of the most imaginative and innovative minds, including the Innova Award winners, will come together to explore the latest in STEM education.

This award will showcase how American students are the most innovative and productive in the world by highlighting the ingenuity and creativity of projects that have changed their lives.”

So get your applications in today and showcase your project!

Since the declaration of it’s independence in 1957, Ghana has had its share of turmoil.  But, despite this the value of education has not been lost on it’s government.  Between 28 and 40 percent of its budget is spent on education.  And although there continues to be many disparities in the educational system the overall value is appreciated and continues to improve.

One hundred girls from five districts in the Northern Region are attending a week-long Science, Mathematics and Technology (SMAT) Camp at the Labone Senior High School in Accra.

…The Director of Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (STME) Division at the GES, Madam Georgina Quaisie, in a speech read on her behalf, said in order to keep abreast of new technologies, ‘it is highly necessary that we properly and adequately address ourselves to the issues to militate factors that serve as barriers to science and mathematics education’.

The STME for Girls Clinic, she said, was to arouse the interest of girls in the study of science, mathemtics and technology.

Clearly the need for greater STEM education is reaching all corners of the world.  We need to continue this push until all countries are focusing their attention on the need for more STEM education.

Obviously none of us are happy that we are in an economy that is outpaced by a tortoise.  But perhaps some good will come from it.  According to a recent article in The Guardian, it seems that students in the United Kingdom are realizing that the business world may not have the job security once thought.

“Pupils are trying to recession-proof themselves by shunning so-called soft subjects in favour of science, economics and maths, A-level results published today show.

The number of entries for maths, economics and further maths rose by 6.2%, 9% and 11.5% respectively against last year. Entries for maths and further maths reached an all-time high of almost 90,000. The last time it approached this level was in 1989 when there were 85,000 entries.”

Perhaps this trend will begin in the U.S. as well.  We can only hope.