(Des Moines) - Thirty-four business, workforce, education and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) leaders from nine Midwest states joined representatives from the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council in Des Moines yesterday to exchange best practices and collaborative opportunities regarding state and regional STEM education.
"It was inspiring to see a group of engaged and active representatives from all across the Midwest who are excited about STEM education," said Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Co-Chair of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council. "We must raise the skill level in today's workforce in order to remain competitive in this knowledge-based, global economy. All of the Midwestern states are in this together - and together we can make greater progress in STEM sooner for the benefit of the thousands of Midwestern students."
In addition to intensive brainstorming, forum guests ACT, Inc., STEMconnector and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy briefed the group on STEM learner workforce data and trends.
"The collective wisdom in the room has accelerated each of our state's STEM programs," said Jeff Weld, executive director of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council. "From here we have committed to sustaining our collective community and continuing to grow and strengthen our common interest in first-rate STEM education from toddler to tassel."
Representatives from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin joined business leaders from DuPont-Pioneer, IBM, John Deere, Rockwell Collins , Vermeer and Boston Scientific to discuss funding models, STEM schools and career academies, and other ways STEM education can be moved to the forefront of community discussions. Establishing regional networks and engaging rural communities were also topics of discussion.
To learn about STEM in Iowa, go to www.IowaSTEM.gov.
About the Governor's STEM Advisory Council: Formed in 2011, the Council is a 40-member, public-private partnership dedicated to building a strong STEM education foundation for all Iowans.
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