Adam Savage Learns from STEAM Educators

6 thoughts on “Adam Savage Learns from STEAM Educators”

1. I agree that children should be exposed to the arts, but I don’t really understand the STEAM moniker. What is taught in school that isn’t STEAM? I can only think of history and gym class, which is probably more important than ever before. So when we say “invest in STEAM,” we are really saying “invest in schools”. I’m all for greater investment in education, but we should just say that. People who advocate investment in STEM specifically mean a shifting of priorities away from the liberal arts.

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2. Nice, really nice.

   Adam, you should check out Sallie Ride Science (https://sallyridescience.com). They are sorta local for you (San Diego). They hold annual science festivals around the US for girls in middle school. The students hang out with female scientists, engineers, mathematicians and even economists (me). We put on demonstrations and talk about what we do. I was part of one of the festival at Rice University in Houston. The day includes a visit from one of the Astronauts. The day blew me away. The program is amazing.

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3. Hi, I think that you raise some really good comments. I agree that liberal arts is really important – math and my field (economics) are in liberal arts programs.

   The STEM (or STEAM) movement is one effort to respond to the major absence of women and persons of color working in STEM-related fields. I am a female economist. At most academic sessions, I am in the only woman or a small share of participants. My two fields are dominated by men (urban and computational). Over time, I have learned that the geekier the topic, the more likely I am the only female presenter. My male colleagues are very cool and supportive and also do not have a clue why there are so few women and persons of color, it is not their choice. I do know that there were no role models to speak of in math and economics when I was in elementary and high school. STE(A)M brings together a diverse set of role models for students interested in learning more about topics in these fields. Check out the Sally Ride’s program.

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4. By including the A, it illuminates the fact that creativity and self-expression is a big part of academic pursuit and one’s subsequent career within a STEM discipline.

   Because, even though most if not all who work in those fields will tell you it is creative and fun, the image of STEM subjects, especially to certain groups and demographics, is not a very exciting one.

   The lack of role models from those fields plays a big part, people most readily dream about becoming like people they can identify with, and it may take a long time and a lot of effort before that has balanced out.

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5. In terms of providing role models, I couldn’t agree more- we should make sure that students have role models for whatever aspirations they have. I associated the STEM terminology more with the efforts to change school curricula than with outreach efforts, which are obviously essential.

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6. Just to put it out there, in many spheres, the A in STEAM stands for Architecture

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