Austin tech companies should seek ways to encourage STEM careers

STEM may seem like a buzzword, though the acronym has earned respect.

After all, careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math — the fantastic four fields known as STEM — are growing at 17 percent, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Compare that to other occupations growing at 9.8 percent and it’s clear to see the lifelong value of instilling a love of STEM at a young age.

As STEM careers lead the way into the future, we need to encourage children to pursue STEM education and careers more than ever. That’s why Emerson is hosting I Love STEM Day this week, where Austin-area students are invited to flex their learning muscles with a full day of engineering-focused activities. The students will tackle hands-on projects to help them learn about scientific principles like physics, geometry, balance, circuits, the fundamentals of problem-solving and inventiveness in a kid-friendly, memorable way.

Designing a roller coaster or building a bridge capable of holding a textbook using only candy gumdrops and toothpicks aren’t the only paths to growing a love of science and engineering — but they’re a strong start. We know that STEM education helps kids develop critical thinking, supports innovation and boosts science literacy and an understanding of how the world works.

We also know that starting kids early in engaging, focused STEM education can create a lifelong interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. A 2010 study from Raytheon Co. found that of the 1,000 middle-schoolers surveyed, 44 percent would rather take out the trash than do math homework — and a whopping 56 percent would rather eat broccoli than tackle their math homework. Putting aside my surprise that kids would rather eat broccoli than take out the trash, this statistic shows the leaps we must make to become a society that values STEM.

A lack of exposure to STEM options follows American students throughout the education system. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates there will be 1.4 million computer specialist job openings in 2020 — but that U.S. universities are expected to produce enough qualified graduates to fill just 29 percent of these jobs.

Demand for scientists and engineers has also never been stronger, but many young people don’t understand the opportunities. Emerson recently undertook a survey to gain insights into how U.S. adults feel about STEM careers. What we learned was telling: Forty-two percent of respondents would have considered a career in STEM fields had they better understood a potential career path. Meanwhile, a third of respondents didn’t pursue a STEM career because it seemed too hard. Additionally, women were significantly more likely than men to avoid a career in STEM because they were afraid they wouldn’t succeed.

We’re falling behind — but we can catch up. The I Love STEM Day for Austin students is one of a handful of programs supporting Emerson’s commitment to STEM this year, but it’s just a single piece of a larger puzzle.

Austin is full of thriving, innovative tech-focused companies that have a lot to offer the youth of our region. We encourage other businesses in our region to continue looking for opportunities to make an impact, whether it’s hosting a STEM-focused day, funding scholarships for STEM camps or an entirely different, out-of-the-box solution. When the future of our children is at stake, every step counts.