The U.S. News and World Report – Allie Bidwell
“Engaging students in science, technology, engineering and math fields over the last five years has emerged as a national priority not just for the nation’s educational system, but also for the economy, as forecasts have shown a need for millions more workers with STEM skills. And though the tide is turning, educators, politicians and employers alike say there’s still a long way to go. More students are earning degrees in STEM fields – driven by a growth in the “hard sciences,” such as computer science, engineering and physical and biological science – and an increasing number of high school students are expressing interest in STEM. Nearly 900,000 students who took the ACT in 2014 reported an interest in STEM. That level of interest has remained steady, at about half of ACT test-takers, even as the pool of college-bound students increases. But as the country inches toward improvement, there are students who are on the cutting edge of innovation in STEM fields. U.S. News & World Report is proud to introduce 16 of these students, age 13 to 21, as the Next Generation of STEM.”(more)