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Thursday, July 2, 2009
How I See It
Engaging young people in STEM is a community job
Breaking down the MIT $100K
MHT's Doug Banks: 10 Women to Watch in tech
MHT managing editor Rodney Brown on NECN: 22 tech companies give back to community
I had the distinct pleasure to participate in a panel discussion at the recent Massachusetts Business Roundtable’s STEM Business Leaders Breakfast in Boston. The topic was science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and the recently published report “Tapping Massachusetts Potential: The Massachusetts Employers’ STEM Agenda.”
Following the passionate and constructive dialogue between the panel and the more than 150 business and technology leaders in attendance, Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray announced that Gov. Deval Patrick would file an executive order creating the Governor’s STEM Coordinating Council. This is an exciting opportunity and tremendous first step toward coordinating statewide initiatives to innovate STEM education.
That said, to be successful, the private and public sectors must also work together at both the state and national level to motivate and create incentives for Massachusetts students, parents and employees to study and enter STEM careers and remain in the state after graduation.
As a leading technology company in Massachusetts, EMC has supported advances in STEM education for some time. Joe Tucci, EMC’s CEO, president and chairman, served as chair of the Business Roundtable’s Education Taskforce, which led the release of the more expansive earlier report Tapping America’s Potential in 2005, which recommended that we increase the number of STEM graduates by 2015.
One of the Tapping Massachusetts Potential report’s most compelling statistics revolved around the tremendous educational and career opportunities for those interested in pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that employment in science and engineering will increase about 70 percent faster than the overall growth rate for all occupations. Additionally, the National Science Foundation predicts that nearly one-third of science and engineering degree holders in the current work force are approaching retirement.
Whether you’re a student, parent, job seeker or employer, we all have an opportunity and responsibility to invest the time, talent and, when possible, the financial resources to further programs that engage young people in STEM and build strong foundations for educating future technology innovators and fueling the science and engineering pipeline in Massachusetts. The success of our business, citizens and communities — and our ability to compete in the global economy — depends on the innovative, skilled work force we foster within our public and private education systems.
Irina Simmons is senior vice president and treasurer at EMC Corp.
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