Science And Technology

Due to the fact that American students have recently scored poorly in the science and math sections of standardized tests, President Obama recently unveiled initiatives to improve educational programs in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. These efforts have been extended to the higher education sector, inspiring many organizations, institutions and state governments to promote education on STEM subjects.

Fortunately for students, many of these initiatives include financial incentives to help them complete campus-based or online degree programs in these fields. Texas Governor Rick Perry recently announced his support of a $100 million program to help students pursuing STEM-related degrees or certificates.

The STEM Challenge Scholarship program is intended to foster regional partnerships between colleges, school districts and employers in order to create and distribute financial aid awards in order to attract students to degree programs and careers in related industries.

Governor Perry said the scholarship program is intended to “encourage higher education institutions to design STEM programs that meet local employer needs, while providing Texas students the opportunity to pursue the education they need as they fulfill their potential.” He also proposed a plan to expand the state’s UTeach program, which provides tuition assistance to college students pursuing teaching careers in math and science.

Currently, the state provides $80 million to universities to help them increase their graduation rates, particularly in STEM fields. Prospective employers in these industries are launching similar initiatives to entire students to pursue STEM-related careers. For example, Tech Collective, a Rhode Island-based information technology (IT) and bioscience association, recently partnered with three other organizations to launch scholarship programs for students working toward degrees in IT-related subjects.

A total of five scholarships worth $7,000 are available through three different awards. The Lighthouse Computer Services/Tech Collective scholarship will provide two $1,000 awards to high school or college students who are working pursuing careers in the IT industry and have some affiliation with the U.S. military.

The company will partner with Fibertech Networks to award a $3,000 scholarship to a female high school student planning to enroll in a college degree program in information systems, computer systems or another IT-related field. Female and minority students who demonstrate commitment, dedication, academic excellence, leadership and determination are eligible to apply for the $1,000 Doug Schwinn/Tech Collective Scholarship.

Students who wish to take advantage of the growing opportunities in STEM-related industries may consider applying for similar awards that can help them finance higher education.

Until today, I considered myself an incredible designer, implementer, and problem solver. I am a female, in a male dominated computer software engineer world. I can declare variables, parse difficult data into the latest and greatest format, and even use Photoshop to finish up my GUI’s plain gray form face. That was all until today. Today, I went to a children’s science museum with my three and five year old boys. It left me perplexed about my inabilities and shortcomings in a world I have not yet tapped. I have never built a “LEGO” car, “LEGO” space ship, or even a “LEGO” monster.

My little boys ran up to the massive heap of plastic brick blocks with shrills and delight, knowing the name brand without knowing how to read. My three year old, stacked similar colored blocks in a perfect block shape and then grew it larger and larger. My five year old was fortunate enough to find the remnants of an automobile with wheels intact to begin his creative adventure. I sat, and within a single blink of an eye realized I was outside my center of comfort. I was supposed to know this stuff! I own a toy store; I am a computer geek, why have I not been exposed to Lego’s? I am almost 35 years old and have no idea how to form a rubber ring to a flat plate and make it work.

I looked around. There were 100% boys that surrounded the table. There were many girls at the museum, but they were working with art, motion, and much to my surprise, sitting in smaller groups talking. There were very few girls actually ENGAGED in science.

Lego had an idea a few years back to create a “girl” series of Lego’s. The futuristic sticks, and people that were predominately pink and purple left little to the imagination and added no base building skill and logic components that the core Lego brand teaches with primary colors, dinosaur, car, and male-focused building sets.

I am truly disappointed that this toy has missed a complete gender. The LEGO is ingenious. Every skill from simple colors and counting all through complex robotics are found with this plastic snap toy.