According to a recent survey by the Lemelson-MIT Program, 77 percent of twelve to seventeen-yearolds are interested in pursuing a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) career, a fact that encourages many experts who believe that the future of the U.S. economy is dependent on innovation and educating America’s youth. In order to support this trend, NewsHealthDigest suggests a number of things that educators can do to encourage teen interest in the sciences. These include: giving teens the opportunity to build and do experiments outside of the classroom such as taking field trips to local companies, museums or planetariums which can help students further their understanding of the sciences; taking a hands-on, interactive approach to learning both in the classroom and at home by integrating animations, simulations, building skills and lab tools into students’ assignments; and lastly, providing role models that can help teens better understand the impact that STEM professionals have on society, which often greatly increases teen interest in the subjects.
Do you think it is important for a country to have more scientists? Why?