If there is anything the pandemic has taught us, it is that we cannot predict future events- but we can prepare for change. STEM is evolving at an incredible rate due to new technology, investment, and a focus on digital education. Think about all of the technology that has been invented during our generation’s lifetimes: self-driving cars, artificial intelligence, and virtual home assistants, to name a few. The technology, finance, and healthcare fields are expanding rapidly, and that growth could be hugely increased if more women and non-binary people were encouraged to enter STEM. According to Wilfrid Laurier University, men make up about 70% of students in information sciences! To consider the future of STEM, we need to include STEM education, new research, and job growth.
STEM innovation begins with early education. Teaching students about STEM with interaction and engagement can make it more accessible for them in later years. I still remember when my class in elementary school visited science centres and had the chance to look through a microscope, hold insects, and see fossils. It can be so fun to get hands-on experience and see science or math concepts in real life. We can connect with the world in an entirely new way outside of a textbook.
Technology has a place in the present and the future. Introducing tech to classrooms and education gives students the chance to practice digital literacy, and safely explore the possibilities of technology. As students, we will be using tech for research, creative expression, and our future careers. Experience with technology, whether it is coding, research, or using programs like Photoshop, enhances our creative and STEM-focused learning. The importance of STEM education in early grades cannot be understated: an increase in STEM jobs requires STEM students in higher education. Making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics accessible to everyone from a young age is a fundamental step to building a successful future.
When we enter the workforce, we might be applying to jobs that do not exist yet. Jobs like app developer, data scientist, and sustainability director were uncommon or even impossible before smartphones, increased data availability, and climate change activism. Getting a STEM degree can prepare you for future job growth by giving you knowledge and critical skills, but just learning about STEM can be valuable. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our view of employment has changed; remote work is normal, virtual meetings are everyday events, and employees need to be able to work independently. Everybody is turning to researchers and scientists for answers and safety tips, and basic biology knowledge is more important than ever. All of these changes are futuristic, and require one important thing: being open to innovation (and innovation being open to everyone).
In the past few years, STEM innovations and research have been remarkable, many focusing on health and sustainability. The Science Focus magazine listed some new ideas that have amazing potential. Companies like Google are trying to provide Internet access to the entire world by using microsatellites and helium balloons. In the United Kingdom, a smart needle uses a laser to detect cancer by looking for changes in molecules. A technology called “Floating Farms”, designed by Javier Ponce, produces food grown in vertical structures on bodies of water, reducing the amount of land needed to grow large amounts of food. All of these innovations use STEM research and knowledge to change the future. Can you think of an idea that could improve the world, as we know it?
Written by:
Resources
Hallett, R., & Hutt, R. (2016, June 7). 10 jobs that didn’t exist 10 years ago. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/06/10-jobs-that-didn-t-exist-10-years-ago/
Hallett, R., & Hutt, R. (2016, June 7). 10 jobs that didn’t exist 10 years ago. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/06/10-jobs-that-didn-t-exist-10-years-ago/
How will STEM Jobs Grow in the Future? | Wilfrid Laurier University. (2019, December 18). Wilfrid Laurier University. https://online.wlu.ca/news/2019/12/18/how-will-stem-jobs-grow-future
McNamara, A. (2020, August 12). Future technology: 22 ideas about to change our world. BBC Science Focus Magazine. https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/future-technology-22-ideas-about-to-change-our-world/
Raupp, A. B. (2018, November 8). Moving Target: Preparing Today’s Minds For The STEM Jobs Of Tomorrow. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2018/11/08/moving-target-preparing-todays-minds-for-the-stem-jobs-of-tomorrow/?sh=29cbd8be1477
Sharma, S., & Parr, M. (n.d.). Canada 2067 – Imagining the future of STEM education for Canada – CAP. Canadian Association of Principals. https://cdnprincipals.com/canada-2067-imagining-the-future-of-stem-education-for-canada/