What Will it Take: Plugging the Leaky STEM Pipeline

Minority, low-income and female students often face cultural barriers that prevent them from pursuing Science, Math, Engineering and Technology (STEM). Join East End House at the Broad Institute Auditorium (7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge) on Thursday, April 18, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. to hear the latest research about "plugging the leaky STEM pipeline." 
 
While all students are exposed to basic STEM information at school, students are lost at every stage of the pathway from education to career -- the STEM education pipeline is leaky. The national Office of Science and Technology Policy found that only 35.1% of all students involved in STEM learning in the 2003-2004 school year had earned a STEM degree by 2009, and only 5.7% were still pursuing STEM education. These statistics are even more startling for low-income students, minorities and women. Women account for only 25% of all STEM employees, and more than 70% of STEM workers are white.

Building upon last year’s “Growing Science” roundtable, this discussion will bring together specialists in the fields of education, out-of-school time learning, science, and workforce development to share the latest research and ideas for plugging the leaky STEM pipeline. From 6:00-6:30 p.m., children and youth from Cambridge schools and out-of-school time programs will present some examples of their science work. At 6:30 p.m., a facilitated community conversation will explore how we can collaborate to inspire the next generation of young scientists.