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What is Stem? Why is it important?

What is STEM? STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths. It's a way of thinking and doing, and it is also an essential skill set.

By Lousia Sophie WilsonPublished 3 years ago 4 min read

You might be wondering what is STEM. You must be thinking it is the stem on a flower or the stem on an apple, but those are different kinds of stems. Here we use the acronym STEM, meaning each letter represents a different word. It's a way of thinking and doing, and it is also an essential skill set. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, but it's not about being an expert in all of those things.

What is Stem?

Stem: Science.

What is Science? Understanding and being curious about the physical and natural worlds is what science is all about. Scientists use a proper process to study different aspects of nature, from tiny particles to vast universes. By using evidence and logical reasoning, science helps us discover new knowledge, solve problems, and improve our lives.

sTem:Technology.

Technologies are things created by humans that can make our lives easier or solve problems. all humans have basic needs such as getting water and food and shelter. Technology makes life easier. Years ago, we had to go down the lake to get water but instead now humans have invented a way that brings water straight to our homes with indoor plumbing instead of going down to the lake to get water humans invented a way to bring it straight to our homes with indoor plumbing. All types of designers work together to make daily tasks more effective.

stEm: Engineering

Engineers don't just wear hard hats, they are problem solvers who work on some of the world's most difficult tasks, such as developing bionic limbs for people with disabilities or exploring the universe. An engineer is interested in learning how and why things work. Now I'm curious about how and why things work, but does it make me an engineer? Not quite. Besides, an engineer designs and builds things like machines, systems, or structures, that help solve a specific problem. There are various types of Engineers But all of them have to ask themselves the three most important questions when they're working.

1. What is the problem that has to be addressed?

2. Who has the problem that has to be addressed?

3. Why is this problem important to solve?

Let's take a look at some examples.

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California is a well-known example of engineering. As there are different kinds of engineers, and the civil engineer designs and constructs buildings, roads, and, bridges

What was the challenge that the designer of the Golden Gate Bridge wanted to solve? without a boat People couldn't get in or out of San Francisco, which is surrounded by water on all sides.

Who had the problem? Folks living in San Francisco, mostly anybody who had to travel in the area.

Why was the problem important to solve? They didn't want a whole bunch of San Fransisco residents trapped in San Fransisco forever. Even if it's a super cool city. They also wanted those living outside of San Francisco to be able to freely go to the city if necessary.

Therefore, the Golden Gate Bridge was constructed as a solution to this problem. There are also a lot other types of Engineers like mechanical, electrical, chemical, computer, nuclear, and software engineers.

steM: Mathematics.

What is Mathematics? Galileo, a great philosopher, once said, "The laws of nature are written in the language of mathematics". Just like other languages, Math is also a human language as it allows people to communicate. Even in ancient times, people needed it to conduct trade, build pyramids, and measure long distances. It is a powerful aid to the human mind and the most glorious creation of the human intellect.

Math is everywhere, from planets' shapes to an atom's properties. Our universe is completely mathematical. It is your identity, you can't quote your age without it. It is the historical timeline. Math is used by engineers to build infrastructure and telecommunications, and by doctors to prescribe the right dose of medicine. by researchers to prove research, by pilots to navigate, by politicians to count votes, and even by gamblers to find their chances of winning and this list goes on and on.

We will not have to master all of these skills, teamwork is an essential STEM skill.

Teamwork

Consider the search for new energy sources: geologists and geophysicists look for gas deposits, engineers help you design and run platforms and processing plants, and construction teams work under the supervision of project managers to build essential infrastructure, and environmental scientists work with everyone at every step of the way. Playing to your strengths and working in a team will have you create a more significant impact than if you are working alone. It would cost the Australian economy 9.3 billion in lost productivity, profitability, and employee satisfaction.

Why STEM?

STEM skills are useful in almost every career. 75% of today's fastest-growing careers require. STEM skills and 82% of today's employees say they value STEM skills, even if they're not required for the job. STEM skills can possibly help you earn a higher paycheck or become more employable. You don't have to get a degree in STEM to be successful either. There are many courses for STEM available. Numbers show the demand for STEM careers has grown 79% since 1990, but enrolments in STEM degrees are at an all-time low compared to the last 20 years. And despite the job opportunities, just 16% of STEM professionals are women. STEM careers start small, and then change the world. Participation in school STEM classes, learning how to code, beginning a home research project, or competing in a science competition could be your first step. And that's just the beginning. We don't yet know what kind of jobs will exist 10, 20, 30 years from now but with STEM you're prepared for anything.

stem

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