Communications of the ACM
Computer Science/stem Leaders Explain How to Spark STEM Interest in Youth
The leadership of the SC16 international conference suggests the time is rip to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering, and math in today's youth.
Credit: weewatch.com
With discrimination discouraging women and minorities from pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), the time is ripe to encourage interest in today's youth, according to scientists leading the ACM/IEEE-hosted SC16 international conference, which takes place Nov. 13-18 in Salt Lake City, UT.
Students@SC16 chair Jeanine Cook from Sandia National Laboratories says a lack of diversity in STEM leadership "adds up to a steady drumbeat that can drive people out of science study and work."
Nevertheless, STEM careers promise to be both lucrative and rewarding. Interest in them is being sparked by the growth of coding clubs, robotics classes, and other hands-on experiences. The Obama administration also has led a national effort to prioritize STEM education and prepare 100,000 STEM teachers over the next decade.
SC16's leaders suggest parents can nurture STEM interest in their children by first recognizing and rejecting any outdated norms about their own experiences with science, math, and academic achievement.
Another suggestion is to overcome personal biases and read to their children about science, math, and technology, and encourage and reward them for being curious from a young age.
Parents also should enroll their children in after-school enrichment programs, find STEM mentors and teachers for them, and always encourage them despite any difficulties they might encounter.
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