White House Science Fair highlights STEM education
March 23, 2013
Initiatives to introduce students to technical and scientific fields were recently highlighted at the 2013 White House Science Fair. The need for skilled professionals in related fields may be a reason for students with college scholarships to consider tech-based degrees.
President Barack Obama attended the fair and announced an initiative to develop his Educate to Innovate Campaign, emphasizing STEM education to focus on math, science and technology fields.
"We've got to do everything we can to make sure that we are giving these young people opportunity to pursue their studies and discover new ways of doing things," Obama told students at the White House. "And we've got to make sure that we're also leaving behind a world that is safer and cleaner and healthier than the one we found. That's our obligation."
At the college level, tech-based degrees have gained popularity. For example, the Census Bureau notes that in 1980 students earned close to 70,000 bachelor's degrees in engineering, while in 2009 almost 85,000 bachelor's degrees were earned in the same field. This growth may not be keeping pace with increased job demand, however.
As more students choose these degrees, they may be able to fill open career positions in the technological fields.
