STEM Education & Careers in Pittsburgh

It was reported recently in tech news in Pittsburgh that the Carnegie Science Center is set to host its Engineer the Future event. The event will enable engineering students to find out more about their field from professional engineers. Scientists and engineers representing The Society of Women Engineers, the Institute for Complex Engineer Systems at Carnegie Mellon, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers are slated to attend the event. This top news in technology for Pittsburgh showcases how the scientific community is coming together to support efforts to encourage local students in their pursuit of STEM education.

STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, is a White House initiative that is looking to increase the number of students entering these fields in the United States. The need for a STEM focus is fueled in part by the fact that only 16% of high school students in the U.S. are deemed proficient in mathematics. This rate places the country at risk of losing its edge in technological and scientific research and innovation, with the country rankings in mathematics and science 25th and 17th respectively among industrialized nations.

“Engineer the Future” Celebrating Over Two Decades of Success

The Carnegie Science Center’s Engineer the Future program has provided information about the various scientific fields to Pittsburgh-area students for over 20 years. The goal of the program is to promote interaction between students and those individuals who make a living in science and engineering. This interaction seeks to increase an understanding of science, and create interest among those students less likely to pursue additional educational opportunities in science. Engineers from both the local area as well as from across the country attend the event to speak with students and give them a better picture of the field.

The program’s director, Linda Ortenzo, credits the initiative with helping students, parents and members of the public see firsthand what it is that engineers do and how their work impacts many aspects of our lives. About 50 presenter tables and booths will be set up during the event, scheduled for February 14-15, 2014, to provide information, demonstrations and a hands-on experience for students and attendees to learn more about science.

Technology has become a major industry for Pittsburgh, especially with the encouragement of programs like Engineer the Future. For more technology news and events in Pittsburgh, keep checking in with Techburgher.