Creating a STEM Power Grid: The Next Step for STEM Learning

STEM Next launches at the University of San Diego building on the legacy of the Noyce Foundation

It is no understatement that STEM learning has never been more important than it is today. Nearly 80 percent of careers in the future will require at least some STEM skills, with STEM job creation outpacing non-STEM jobs significantly. Yet despite this fact, too few students have access to learning and educational paths that lead to careers as chemists, mathematicians, aerospace engineers, software developers and countless other STEM-related careers. 

To improve this access, the University of San Diego, with the generous support of a $12 million gift from the Noyce Foundation, launched STEM Next today. STEM Next will act like a power grid for STEM learning. STEM Next will power more and better STEM learning experiences for kids across the country by:

• Championing great STEM learning, sharing evidence, best practices and new ideas;
• Connecting STEM organizations, programs and communities;
• Supporting systems to improve and expand STEM learning, including cross-sector partnerships, effective professional development and assessments, and better ways to measure student outcomes; and
• Catalyzing effective new investments in STEM learning. 

If we can inspire and prepare more students to succeed in science, mathematics, engineering and technology, we can unlock their access to the fastest-growing jobs in our global economy. Their passion, knowledge and skills can solve the world’s pressing environmental challenges, drive new technological advances,and take the world places we can only now imagine. 

I am thrilled to be a part of this next step in STEM learning.

Learn more about STEM Next at: sandiego.edu/stemnext. Follow us on Twitter at @STEMNext and please share this post on LinkedIn.