STEM

What is STEM?

Our country's international competitiveness, based in large measure on our strengths in science and technology, is being challenged. Many of our citizens have little understanding of science even though the entire country - and our economy - benefits from the resulting advances in technology. Even more importantly, these advances challenge and impact the core of our culture, calling for decisions that need participation by all our citizens. The SRVEF is partnering with the SRVUSD to develop a major Science Initiative to address this need. Led by local teachers working to enrich the science curriculum and supported by a cadre of scientists from our community the Initiative is underway. Stan Hitomi, the District's Math and Science Coordinator, provides innovative leadership for the District.

The Science Initiative grew out of the local science community's belief that the science programs in our schools should reflect the wealth of talent and potential in our students. Former Deputy Program Leader at Lawrence Livermore Lab and Chairman of the Science Advisory Board, Bick Hooper put it this way. "It is time to make science the fourth 'R.' Science is as fundamental to modern culture as great literature and the arts. Science learning should start early for children, opening doors for those who have a special aptitude and interest in science, so that it becomes a realistic career choice when their time comes to make that decision."