Why STEM?

Over the last several years reports have shown that the United States lags behind other countries in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, more commonly known by the acronym STEM.
These same statistics also show that the U.S. has an engineering problem.  There aren't enough student engineers to meet the demands of our high standard of living.

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has presented the U.S.A. with a challenge: "Changing the Conversation".  By changing the conversation, the NAE is hoping that the perception of engineering will also be changed.

The four main topics of engineering's image problem are:

• public views of the profession
• lack of diversity in the field
• how the US engineering workforce compares with other countries
• ways engineers communicate to non-engineers

To change the conversation the NAE recommends using taglines such as:

• turning ideas into reality
• because dreams need doing
• designed to work wonders
• life takes engineering
• the power to do
• bolder by design
• behind the next big thing

As a FRC team we are actively changing the conversation with everyone we meet.  If you want to find out more about changing the conversation about engineering visit the National Academy of Engineering's Changing the Convesation website at engineeringmessages.org 

Discovery Channel provides an excellent source for STEM activities.
Check it out at http://www.discoveryeducation.com/STEM/connect-the-dots.cfm?CFID=2177430&CFTOKEN=86314237