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Members of the STEM Advisory Council alongside academic, business, public policy and nonprofit leaders and passionate volunteers took part in a six-month quest to chart the course of STEM in Iowa.

Delivery of many critical services to STEM learners across Iowa through Scale-Up, regional festivals, and more is only possible thanks to six Regional Hub Institutions, each operated by a Regional Manager, and each jointly over-seen by a Hub Institution supervisor. And just as December brings an end to the calendar year, this month also concludes Dr.

2020 has been an unforgettable year. While it played out differently than anyone may have expected, STEM principles were spotlighted in many ways during this pandemic year. From medical professionals addressing mitigation efforts to statisticians analyzing patterns, the impact of STEM education in our everyday lives was even more apparent.

 

[This is an excerpt from a December 2, 2020, Des Moines Register column by executive director Jeff Weld titled “What is the Next Step for STEM Education in Iowa”]

 

Inspiring Iowa’s young people to become innovative, enterprising contributors to our future workforce is part of the mission of the STEM Council. The STEM BEST Program and high school Registered Apprenticeships both work towards this goal and offer work-based experiences in preparation for future careers.

 

Each year, the STEM Council engages nearly 100,000 students and thousands of educators to increase interest and achievement in STEM studies and careers.

The STEM acronym goes beyond science, technology, engineering and mathematics and incorporates many other disciplines and skill sets for both students and educators. BCLUW High School Science Teacher Roberta Vanderah has experienced this first-hand through their STEM BEST Program.

 

The STEM Council created an initiative eight years ago to identify some of the best STEM education lessons, activities, digital tools and other learning experiences available within Iowa and across the globe. The program is called Scale-Up, with the goal to bring top STEM education opportunities to all learners, especially those historically underserved.

Season 2 of the STEM Essential podcast is under way focusing on STEM Jobs of the Future. This series covers the current state of STEM jobs, the outlook for STEM jobs, the talent needed to fill them and the strategies for meeting the demand for STEM jobs in Iowa.

Six Iowa leaders recently joined the STEM Advisory Council, appointed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The STEM Council is comprised of representatives from all over the state, including leaders in higher education and business, Pre-K through 12 formal and informal educators, nonprofit leaders, as well as state and local government officials.