Like many, I found the month of January to be a time for reflection and renewal. The month was especially meaningful for advocates of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education with the inauguration of Barack Obama for a second term—a president that has made both scientific and technological innovation, and the preparedness of students for STEM careers, major priorities of his administration.
The STEM agenda, combined with Obama’s goal of increasing Americans’ completion of postsecondary education, has propelled a field of advocates and practitioners—many of whom worked tirelessly on these issues long before now. And despite a political landscape of competing interests and issues, STEM education remains a leading priority across party lines and across the many sectors that support and benefit from a strengthened STEM workforce and greater scientific literacy by all Americans.
Looking ahead to 2013, the STEM education community is riding on several years of high-profile investments and a strong national rhetoric for reform in math and science education, which is why we must place diversity at the center of the STEM education agenda in 2013.
The STEM agenda provides a unique opportunity to advance diversity goals. There are few national—and indeed international—movements that have such a broad base of support and the potential to deeply resonate with individual citizens as well as policymakers from all political persuasions.
