‘We’re All in This Together’
STEM Education Prepares for Jobs of the Future
By U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, D-Arizona
On my first flight into space, I took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. I’ll never forget when I was able to get out of my seat and look out the window for the first time. You look down and see this giant blue ball just floating in the blackness of space. You get this strong sense that we’re all in this together. It’s a view I’d never seen before and one I’ll certainly never forget.
It’s hard not to recognize the important role of science and teamwork that make a moment like that possible. Behind each astronaut in space, there is a STEM education that prepared them for these challenges, and there are teams of engineers, researchers, and civil servants that work together to support our mission in many ways. It was this perspective that informed my commitment to training the next generation of scientists and engineers with the skills to work the jobs of the future. That’s why I worked so hard to get our bipartisan STEM Ecosystems Act passed and signed into law through the CHIPS and Science Act.
The mission of a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) ecosystem is to provide a variety of enriching experiences, both formal and informal, that create learning opportunities for young people and lead to pathways into STEM careers.
Our legislation, now law, will improve ecosystems’ access to federal funding, helping them better connect communities and students to a range of STEM career possibilities.
Our work could not come at a more critical time. As the demand for engineers, physicians, and researchers continues to increase, these ecosystems, built of cross-sector partnerships, will play an essential role in building the workforce of the future. After all, these ecosystems have the infrastructure in place to guide and scale up STEM training or initiatives that can expand the talent pipeline to meet workforce needs in new and growing industries.
While it took hard work to get our STEM Ecosystems Act signed into law, now is when the real work begins. I hope this briefing will help make the case for increased support for STEM ecosystem partners, or offer useful information that strengthens your existing efforts.
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U.S. Senator Jerry Moran
“STEM Ecosystems are effective at bringing together nonprofits, schools districts, businesses, museums, universities, and more. I have been a longtime supporter of STEM education.”
- U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, R-Kansas.