U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth) said that the country’s STEM efforts are in danger.
“The future of our #STEM enterprise is at risk. In order to remain a leader in science and technology, we must take action to strengthen opportunities and diversity in STEM careers for all,” Veasey said in a Twitter post.
More college students change majors within the STEM pipeline than leave the career path of science, technology, engineering and mathematics altogether, according to a study by the University of Georgia, as detailed in an article by Phys.org.
The study showed that of 921 students who stayed in the biomedical pipeline through graduation, nearly half of them switched their career plans within the biomedical fields.
As detailed in a news article by KOCO News 5, Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Oklahoma) introduced a bill that would require the National Science Foundation to direct grants and research dollars to figure out the best way to avail the best STEM education to rural areas.
The article also states that bringing STEM education faces challenges including getting small-town students exposed to STEM careers, infrastructure and a lack of high-speed internet.
