Join us May 13, 2017 at the White House Ellipse! Science Outside the White House is a one-day STEM festival for kids grades k-12 and a teach-in for adults to learn about proposed changes to legislation and policy that threaten access to STEM education. Science outside the White House is a plea to the President, the Secretary of Education, and Congress to support science; invest in science educatio
n; and ensure access to STEM education for all children. ABOUT
The White House held a Science Fair from 2010 to 2016. The new administration cancelled this wonderful tradition, symbolically turning their backs on our kids, their education, and their opportunities to grow into global leaders in STEM fields. The White House Science Fair sent a message to industry leaders, Congress, and the Department of Education that investment in STEM education is investment in America’s future. Science Outside the White House will pick up the mantle of the previous administration’s science fair to promote access to quality STEM education for all children. Science Outside the White House is a one-day science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) festival for kids grades k-12. Kids, parents, educators, and scientists will share science experiments and demonstrations on-site. In addition to providing a fun, safe, inclusive opportunity for kids to experience science first-hand, Science Outside the White House includes a teach-in for adults on legislation and policy that enables attendees to advocate for education policies that will support all students to excel in STEM subjects. If STEM education isn’t a priority issue inside the White House, we can celebrate Science Outside the White House. For all.) STEM:
In recent decades, American education has fallen behind in international standards for STEM education[i]; yet, it is our mastery of these fields that enabled America’s past success and will secure America’s future on the world stage. If we want to nurture global leaders in fields like economics, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing, we need to invest in STEM education. STEM jobs are the jobs of the future,[ii] and will be necessary if we are to maintain America’s strong position in the global economy. Non-partisan, apolitical acceptance of science is a key to our future success. Education:
Science Outside the White House provides a fun, safe, educational experience that gets kids excited about science! Our teach-in puts adults in touch with policy experts who can demystify the current state of education, and explain proposed policy and legislation that may threaten equal access to quality STEM education. For all: Evidence shows that the quality of American education depends on students’ socio-economic status.[iii] American STEM training programs must improve, and access to these programs must be guaranteed for all kids. Science Outside the White House encourages our federal government to incentivize and prioritize growth of Science and STEM programs for children of all races, classes, incomes, identities, and geographical locations. GOALS
1. To provide a fun, safe, educational experience to get kids excited about science!
2. To advocate for non-partisan, apolitical acceptance of science as a key to our future success.
3. To encourage our federal government to incentivize and prioritize growth of Science and STEM programs for children of all races, classes, incomes, identities, and geographical locations.
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[i] Pew Research report on international STEM rankings:
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/15/u-s-students-internationally-math-science/
US PISA exam rankings, compared internationally:
http://www.businessinsider.com/pisa-worldwide-ranking-of-math-science-reading-skills-2016-12
[ii] US Chamber of Commerce on the importance of STEM education:
https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/content/stem-education-talking-points
Bureau of Labor Statistics chart, top growth industries:
https://www.bls.gov/emp/images/top_occupations.jpg
Employment projections by industry to 2022:
https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2013/article/industry-employment-and-output-projections-to-2022.htm
Manufacturing workforce statistics:
https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag31-33.htm
MIT Technology Review on the future of manufacturing jobs:
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/602869/manufacturing-jobs-arent-coming-back/
CNN Money on the future of manufacturing jobs:
http://money.cnn.com/2016/03/29/news/economy/us-manufacturing-jobs/
[iii] National Center for Education Statistics, Differences by Socioeconomic Status
https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_tva.asp
American Psychological Association, Education and Socioeconomic Status
http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/publications/factsheet-education.pdf
